Heartland Bank aim for separate units

WELLINGTON: Heartland Bank’s Australian reverse mortgage business is constrained by Reserve Bank prudential rules and that is why it needs to be carved out into a separate entity, chairman Geoff Ricketts says.

The lender’s board wants shareholders to vote for a split of the New Zealand bank and the Australian unit into distinct entities, operating under an umbrella company.

Mr Ricketts told shareholders at yesterday’s annual meeting the new division would give the Australian unit a chance to flourish, with access to deeper funding pools across the Tasman.

As it stands, Reserve Bank rules prevent the reverse mortgage unit from exceeding more than a third of the group’s total assets, and restrict the group’s wholesale funding lines to 20% of assets.

‘‘The restructure will remove constraints on the growth and funding capabilities of the group’s business currently arising from Reserve Bank regulation,’’ Mr Ricketts said.

‘‘Heartland is of the view that it is in the group’s and share holders’ best interests to fund the Australian activities outside the New Zealand bank, so that the Australian business can continue to grow using its current funding sources.’’

If shareholders approve the deal and it is ratified by the High Court, Heartland Bank will become a whollyowned subsidiary of a new listed entity called Heartland Group Holdings, which will hold the Australian businesses apart from the bank.

The move would unpick an amalgamation three years ago when Heartland deemed the separate units were overly com plicated and required a separate board for the licensed bank.

Provided shareholders agree, Heartland will seek a foreign exempt listing on the ASX, which Mr Ricketts said would provide sources of new capital to fund future growth opportunities.

Chief executive Jeff Greenslade told shareholders the company still only focused on markets where it had either the best product or the only product in the market. That was why it quit lending to big business, and was also behind its pursuit of livestock finance customers over larger rural lending.

Mr Greenslade said the Australian reverse mortgage business remained a significant opportunity after growing 31% in the 2018 financial year.

‘‘In the 2019 financial year, we expect underlying asset growth to continue, particularly in reverse mortgages, motor vehicle and small business lending,’’ he said.

‘‘The changes we are voting on today give us ability to grow in Australia but give flexibility with regard to our business in New Zealand and demonstrate that we are not an ordinary bank.’’ — BusinessDesk