© 2024 M&T Bank and its affiliates and subsidiaries. All rights reserved.
Wilmington Trust is a registered service mark used in connection with various fiduciary and non-fiduciary services offered by certain subsidiaries of M&T Bank Corporation including, but not limited to, Manufacturers & Traders Trust Company (M&T Bank), Wilmington Trust Company (WTC) operating in Delaware only, Wilmington Trust, N.A. (WTNA), Wilmington Trust Investment Advisors, Inc. (WTIA), Wilmington Funds Management Corporation (WFMC), Wilmington Trust Asset Management, LLC (WTAM), and Wilmington Trust Investment Management, LLC (WTIM). Such services include trustee, custodial, agency, investment management, and other services. International corporate and institutional services are offered through M&T Bank Corporation’s international subsidiaries. Loans, credit cards, retail and business deposits, and other business and personal banking services and products are offered by M&T Bank. Member, FDIC. 
M&T Bank Corporation’s European subsidiaries (Wilmington Trust (UK) Limited, Wilmington Trust (London) Limited, Wilmington Trust SP Services (London) Limited, Wilmington Trust SP Services (Dublin) Limited, Wilmington Trust SP Services (Frankfurt) GmbH and Wilmington Trust SAS) provide international corporate and institutional services.
WTIA, WFMC, WTAM, and WTIM are investment advisors registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration with the SEC does not imply any level of skill or training. Additional Information about WTIA, WFMC, WTAM, and WTIM is also available on the SEC's website at adviserinfo.sec.gov. 
Private Banking is the marketing name for an offering of M&T Bank deposit and loan products and services.
M&T Bank  Equal Housing Lender. Bank NMLS #381076. Member FDIC. 
Investment and Insurance Products   • Are NOT Deposits  • Are NOT FDIC Insured  • Are NOT Insured By Any Federal Government Agency  • Have NO Bank Guarantee  • May Go Down In Value  
Investing involves risks and you may incur a profit or a loss. Past performance cannot guarantee future results. This material is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the sale of any security or service. It is not designed or intended to provide financial, tax, legal, accounting, or other professional advice since such advice always requires consideration of individual circumstances. There is no assurance that any investment, financial or estate planning strategy will be successful.

Moving your capital markets transactions to a new trustee can not only be faster and easier than you think, but also provide you with competitive advantages.

There is an unusually high level of uncertainty in today’s global capital markets. From interest rates, inflation, and geopolitical problems to regulato­ry/tax proposals and the move to new reference rates, issuers need to successfully manage an overload of questions. In this environment, the last thing they should have to worry about is their trustee/agent.

Issuers must move quickly and efficiently, so it is critical to have a stable, full-service, experienced partner in the role of trustee/paying agent. But as they consider their needs for now and the future, issuers may be reluctant to change trustees because they perceive the process as complex and time consuming.

In most cases, this perception does not match real-world experience. Read on for a list of key myths and realities surrounding the process of trustee transition.

Myths

  1. An issuer can only source a new trustee on a new deal.
  2. Most leading trustees can easily provide customized solutions.
  3. Transitioning a trustee relationship requires months to process.
  4. All trustees are depository institutions.
  5. Trustees that are part of a legacy bank require lengthy andexpensive approvals before taking on a new issue.
Myth: An issuer can only source a new trustee on a new deal.

Reality: An industry-leading trustee can find efficiencies and offer enhanced services on both new deals and those that have been established and closed for years. It’s not uncommon for an issuer to bring in a successor trustee on existing  deals for one or more reasons, ranging from cost savings to service quality.

 

Myth: Most leading trustees can easily provide customized solutions.

Reality: As a baseline, any trustee should be able to successfully manage key func­tions in-house such as: accepting and calculating payments; distributing funds via wire transfer; and safeguarding electronic or paper documents. However, providing a full range of services does not equate with providing full service. Many trustees are restricted by their business model to offering only industry-standard services. The best trustees have the experience and agility to provide bespoke solutions and white-glove service above the standard. This can include a dedicated relationship manager who knows you and your business and can quickly connect with your senior leaders as needed, as well as any specialized professionals to help meet a client’s unique requirements.

 
Myth: Transitioning a trustee relationship requires months to process.

Reality: An experienced trustee can transition a relatively straightforward deal or set of deals (e.g., one asset class) in as little as 60 days. The successor trustee will work closely with all deal parties, including the outgoing trustee, to confirm that all terms are met and a transition is smooth and timely. In many cases, transactions do not need to be restated or amended. The successor trustee will transition all deals from the outgoing trustee by executing templated appointment and assignment agreements. This streamlines the process and makes the move nearly seamless for the issuer and its counter­parties.

 

Myth: All trustees are depository institutions.

Reality: Not all trustees are part of a bank that manages deposits. However, a trustee that is part of a depository institution offers several key benefits to clients. One is that this structure reduces the number of counterparties within a transaction. Another is that a depository institution can better document control over cash flows within a transaction.

 

Myth: Trustees that are part of a legacy bank require lengthy and expensive approvals before taking on a new issuer.

Reality: Yes, very large institutions can slow the transition process with multiple layers of bureaucracy. But a more agile trustee can make this activity more efficient with fewer steps involved. Moreover, an agile trustee provides an issuer with more direct access to its senior leaders who can expedite the work involved in the approvals process.

At Wilmington Trust, we have been working with issures for decades. Your capital markets transaction deserves the attention of a team that has deep experience as a full-service trustee across all asset classes. As a depository institution, we provide clients across the US and the world with agile trustee and administrative services, with a focus on designing tailored solutions to meet each client's unique needs.

Not all services are available through every domestic and international affiliate or in all jurisdictions.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the sale of any financial product or service or as a determination that any investment strategy is suitable for a specific investor. Investors should seek financial advice regarding the suitability of any investment strategy based on their objectives, financial situations, and particular needs. This article is not designed or intended to provide financial, tax, legal, accounting, or other professional advice since such advice always requires consideration of individual circumstances. If professional advice is needed, the services of a professional advisor should be sought.

Stay Informed

Subscribe

Sign up here to receive insights designed to help you succeed.

Sign Up Now

WTU Newsletter Card
WTU Newsletter Handler