As investors shun asset-backed securisation, banks are using unwanted mortgages as security for covered bonds. And thanks to a new regime introduced in the UK last month, banks could find these instruments attract even more investors.
The new legislation, which became law on March 6, brings UK covered bonds under the European Ucits (Undertaking for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) Directive, widening the potential investor-base and making covered bonds an attractive instrument for mortgage-laden banks.
"A similar sort of portfolio backs securitisations and covered bonds," said Angela Clist, a partner at Allen & Overy who was consulted on the new regime....