With an aim to expand its operations in the U.S. consumer market, Toronto-based The Toronto-Dominion Bank TD announced a deal to acquire a credit card portfolio with $2.2 billion in receivables. The company is buying the U.S. Visa and private label consumer credit card portfolio from Seattle-based major fashion retailer Nordstrom Inc. JWN.
However, the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The agreement, expected to be completed in the second half of 2015, is pending regulatory approvals. TD Bank will be funding the deal from its existing resources.
In addition to the acquisition of credit card portfolio, both companies have entered into a long-term agreement, under which TD Bank will become an exclusive U.S. issuer of Nordstrom-brand Visa and private-label credit cards.
Nonetheless, this agreement will allow the retailer to continue receiving a significant part of revenues from the credit card accounts. Also, Nordstrom will continue to perform account-servicing functions, as well as fund and manage its loyalty program, debit cards and employee accounts.
For Nordstrom, the deal is expected to improve its capital efficiency. At present, the retailer is assessing the plans regarding the usage of sale proceeds. In the latter half of the year, the firm is anticipated to announce a further update on the deal as well as its financial implications. Blake Nordstrom, co-president of Nordstrom, said “…We found TD to be a strong cultural fit, sharing our customer-focused approach and providing capabilities to help us further enhance the customer experience".
Moreover, for TD Bank, this is not the first credit card portfolio acquisition. The company had acquired Target Corp.’s TGT credit card portfolio in 2013. Prior to that, the company had purchased a substantial part of MBNA Canada's credit card portfolio and certain other assets & liabilities from Bank of America Corporation BAC in 2011.
Further, Bharat Masrani, Group President and CEO, TD Bank Group said, "This agreement with Nordstrom, achieved through great partnership and collaboration, continues the success of our growing North American credit card business". Also, as per industry newsletter Nilson Report, since 2011, TD Bank has purchased roughly C$17 billion ($13.7 billion) of card assets in North America.
Currently, TD Bank carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), while Nordstrom holds a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
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