Preferred market expects one ‘decent’ deal this week; Medley plans add-on; secondary firms

By Stephanie N. Rotondo

Seattle, Feb. 13 – Preferred stocks were starting the week with a positive tone, though a lack of liquidity led one market source to opine that “price movements are less meaningful.”

The Wells Fargo Hybrid and Preferred Securities index improved by 14 basis points. The U.S. iShares Preferred Stock index was meantime up 10 bps.

A trader said that “we are hearing at least one decent deal this week.” According to the buzz, the issue could come as early as Tuesday.

The trader was not sure who was doing the deal, but said it “sounded like” it could be a utility, a bank or an insurance company.

The primary did see one new issue hit the tape, albeit a small one. Medley LLC said it planned to sell up to $28.75 million – including a $3.75 million greenshoe – of its 7.25% $25-par notes due 2024 (NYSE: MDLQ) via an add-on offering.

The company initially sold $30 million of the notes on Jan. 13. A $4.5 million greenshoe was then exercised, bringing the total amount outstanding to $34.5 million.

FBR Capital Markets is running the books.

In the wake of the announcement, the existing paper declined 25 cents to $25.40.

As for the rest of the secondary, there continued to be action in GSE-linked preferreds. Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc.’s 5.85% series K fixed-to-floating rate noncumulative preferreds (NYSE: MSPrK) were also on the busier side.

Fannie Mae’s 8.25% series S fixed-to-floating rate noncumulative preferreds (OTCBB: FNMAS) rose 14 cents, or 1.33%, to $10.70. Freddie Mac’s 8.375% fixed-to-floating rate noncumulative preferreds (OTCBB: FMCKJ), however, slipped a penny to $10.19.

As for the Morgan Stanley paper, it added 7 cents, closing at $25.58.

Also relatively active were Barclays Bank plc’s 7.1% series 3 noncumulative callable dollar preference shares (NYSE: BCSPrD), a $1.38 billion issue that has been called for March 15.

The shares ended the session at $25.45, up 3 cents.

The redemption was announced on Thursday. The call price is par of $25.00 plus 44.375 cents of accrued dividends.

Ally Financial Inc.’s 8.125% series 2 fixed-to-floating rate trust preferred securities (NYSE: ALLYPrA) also made the day’s active list, ticking up 8 cents to $25.68.

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