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| West Bromwich reaches debt deal | West Bromwich reaches debt deal |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The West Bromwich Building Society has reached an agreement with debt-holders to boost its financial strength. | The West Bromwich Building Society has reached an agreement with debt-holders to boost its financial strength. |
| The society's difficulties led to fears it may be broken up. Converting £182.5m of debt into capital should avoid this. | The society's difficulties led to fears it may be broken up. Converting £182.5m of debt into capital should avoid this. |
| Analysts say this will allow the society, which has announced an annual £48.8m pre-tax loss, to keep its independence or to merge at some point. | Analysts say this will allow the society, which has announced an annual £48.8m pre-tax loss, to keep its independence or to merge at some point. |
| Savers and borrowers at the West Brom will not see any changes in the ways that their accounts and mortgages work. | Savers and borrowers at the West Brom will not see any changes in the ways that their accounts and mortgages work. |
| The society now has a financial buffer to absorb losses and avoid insolvency. | The society now has a financial buffer to absorb losses and avoid insolvency. |
| Controversial? | Controversial? |
| KEY FACTS Employs 850 staff and has 350,000 customersIt has 46 branches, primarily in the MidlandsIt is the eighth-largest building society in the UKHas been a mutual building society for 160 years | KEY FACTS Employs 850 staff and has 350,000 customersIt has 46 branches, primarily in the MidlandsIt is the eighth-largest building society in the UKHas been a mutual building society for 160 years |
| The society said the debt deal would strengthen its core tier one capital ratio - the measure of a bank's financial strength from a regulator's point of view - to be amongst the highest in the sector. | The society said the debt deal would strengthen its core tier one capital ratio - the measure of a bank's financial strength from a regulator's point of view - to be amongst the highest in the sector. |
| However, BBC business editor Robert Peston said that the way the debt-for-equity swap had been set up was likely to be "pretty controversial". | However, BBC business editor Robert Peston said that the way the debt-for-equity swap had been set up was likely to be "pretty controversial". |
| This was because the deal offered to the institutions that West Bromwich owed money was similar to giving them regular shares - because it would give the holders a slice of the society's profits. | This was because the deal offered to the institutions that West Bromwich owed money was similar to giving them regular shares - because it would give the holders a slice of the society's profits. |
| This equated to a semi-demutualisation of West Brom, but without a stockmarket listing or getting the approval of its members, our business editor added. | This equated to a semi-demutualisation of West Brom, but without a stockmarket listing or getting the approval of its members, our business editor added. |
| The City watchdog, the Financial Services Authority, said that the society's debt-holders would only be paid a dividends on their shares if it made a profit. | The City watchdog, the Financial Services Authority, said that the society's debt-holders would only be paid a dividends on their shares if it made a profit. |
| Losses expected | Losses expected |
| The West Bromwich employs about 850 staff in 46 branches and has about 350,000 customers. It is the UK's eighth largest building society. | The West Bromwich employs about 850 staff in 46 branches and has about 350,000 customers. It is the UK's eighth largest building society. |
| For West Brom doing this deal was probably a no-brainer. The alternative would have been the end of a 160-year history Robert Peston, BBC business editor Read Robert's blog | |
| It described its loss of £48.8m in the year to the end of March as "very disappointing", with the society having been hit by difficulties in its involvement with commercial property and buy-to-let lending. | It described its loss of £48.8m in the year to the end of March as "very disappointing", with the society having been hit by difficulties in its involvement with commercial property and buy-to-let lending. |
| But it said it planned to be predominantly funded by traditional retail savings in the future, withdrawing from the commercial and buy-to-let markets, which are now seen as riskier. | But it said it planned to be predominantly funded by traditional retail savings in the future, withdrawing from the commercial and buy-to-let markets, which are now seen as riskier. |
| There will also be a focus on lending on homes within the West Midlands, its traditional heartland. | There will also be a focus on lending on homes within the West Midlands, its traditional heartland. |
| The West Bromwich had "carefully managed and refocused its business, driving through a programme of cost reduction to improve dramatically the efficiency of the Society", said chief executive Robert Sharpe. | The West Bromwich had "carefully managed and refocused its business, driving through a programme of cost reduction to improve dramatically the efficiency of the Society", said chief executive Robert Sharpe. |
| Safe home | Safe home |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| The West Bromwich has been at the centre of mounting speculation as concerns have grown over its health, and recent reports had suggested the mutual could be subject to a Dunfermline Building Society-style rescue sale and break-up. | The West Bromwich has been at the centre of mounting speculation as concerns have grown over its health, and recent reports had suggested the mutual could be subject to a Dunfermline Building Society-style rescue sale and break-up. |
| Last month, the West Bromwich, along with four other societies, was downgraded by the credit ratings agency Fitch. | Last month, the West Bromwich, along with four other societies, was downgraded by the credit ratings agency Fitch. |
| The agency said that the weakening economic environment had increased the credit risk of the societies, and it cut its long-term outlook rating for the West Bromwich to BBB+ from A-. | The agency said that the weakening economic environment had increased the credit risk of the societies, and it cut its long-term outlook rating for the West Bromwich to BBB+ from A-. |
| But a spokesman for the society said it remained "a safe and secure home for members' savings". | But a spokesman for the society said it remained "a safe and secure home for members' savings". |