Investec R2 billion Residential Mortgage

Backed Securitisation Successfully Placed

Investec successfully placed its first issue of R2 billion under its new R20 billion Residential Mortgage-Backed Securitisation (RMBS) Programme, Private Residential Mortgages. Not only were all the classes of notes fully subscribed, the issue was over subscribed with total bids up to R2.7 billion

The issue comprised of Classes A1; A2; A3; B and C with a final maturity date of 15 November 2032. More specifically, Class A1 (Secured Floating Rate) and A2 (Secured Fixed Rate Notes) and A3 (Secured Floating Prepayment Rate Note) which received a Moody's rating of Aaa.za, raised R1 405 million; R230 million and R120 million respectively. The Class A1 Notes were issued at 0.40% above 3-month JIBAR (Johannesburg Interbank Acceptance Rate), the Class A2 Notes at 0.30% above 3-month JIBAR and A3 at 0.43% above 3-month JIBAR. The Class B Notes (rated Aa2.za) were priced at 0.55% above 3-month JIBAR, raising R93 million and the Class C Notes (rated A2.za) raised R152 million at a price of 0.75%. All the notes have been listed on the Bond Exchange of South Africa.

"The issue not only backed newly originated assets but also refinanced the existing assets under Private Mortgages 1. This refinancing caters for the redemption of Private Mortgages 1 on 15 December 2006. The issue also catered for the securitisation of jumbo loans (between R3 million and R5 million), a first for RMBS in South Africa. The Programme also allows Investec the flexibility to list and issue notes offshore catering for further investor diversification and funding flexibility," said Marianna Papadopoulos, a Debt Capital Markets Consultant within Investec's Treasury & Specialised Finance division.

Marianna further commented "The success of the transaction is a tribute to Investecs high-quality home loan book and as evidenced by the success of its prior residential mortgage-backed securitisations schemes".