Ireland's permanent TSB to raise capital after EU stress-tests

Ireland's permanent TSB Group did not meet pass Sunday's European Central Bank stress-tests, prompting the firm to clarity that most of the capital short-fall has already been largely covered.The ECB's stress tests were based on its assessment of European banks' balance sheets as of 31 December 2013. However, the Irish lender has already provided for over 80% of the estimated €855m short-fall, thanks to "progress made in 2014 and the Group's existing Contingent Convertible notes (CoCos)," management said in a statement.TSB's failure marks a first since the country's property bubble burst in 2008 with disastrous consequences for that nation.In the same statement group chief executive Jeremy Masding added that he "looks forward" to bringing on international investors to raise the amount remaining.Recent reports indicate that the financial institution might be looking not only to raise fresh equity but to also sell a strategic stake to new investors.No impact on the bank's day-to-day operations or customers are expected.Furthermore, "The tests confirm that permanent tsb has more than enough capital to meet what the ECB describes as a baseline scenario," the lender added.The Emerald Isle's other four main banks, Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks, Royal Bank of Scotland Group's Ulster Bank and Bank of America's Merrill Lynch International Bank passed the stress tests without any new capital requirements having being revealed.