The Toronto-Dominion Bank expects to further enhance its capital position by issuing common equity, the bank announced Monday. TD has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by TD Securities Inc. for an issue of 30.4 million common shares, at a price of $39.50 per common share, to raise gross proceeds of $1.2 billion.

The issue will qualify as Tier 1 capital for TDand the expected closing date is Dec. 5.

As announced last week, TD’s Tier 1 capital ratio was 8.3% as of Nov. 1. On a pro forma basis, adjusting for this $1.2 billion of common equity and the $220 million of Series AC preferred shares issued on November 5, 2008, TD’s Nov. 1 Tier 1 capital ratio would be approximately 9%.

“With over 90% of our earnings coming from high-quality retail operations, we’ve been very comfortable with the stability and safety of our strong capital base,” said Ed Clark, President and CEO of TD Bank Financial Group, in a release. “On the other hand, we recognize investor concern about the capital positions of financial institutions given today’s uncertain markets. We have therefore decided to build another layer of assurance. The extra common equity plus our significant preferred share issuing capacity and the other capital measures available to us puts TD in an exceptionally strong capital position.”

TD has also granted the underwriters an over-allotment option to purchase, on the same terms, up to an additional 4.56 million common shares. This option is exercisable, in whole or in part, by the underwriters at any time up to 30 days after closing. The maximum gross proceeds raised under the offering will be $1.38 billion should this option be exercised in full.

IE