ABN Amro

An Austrian firm has become the first European Union-domiciled bank to join Eurex’s ISA Direct offering as a basic clearing member.

The Netherlands’ Tennet Holding has increased the size of its bank revolving credit facility to €3bn and linked the margin to sustainability goals, in a deal the electricity transmission system operator says is the largest sustainability-linked revolver in the Benelux region.

Issuers in the financial institutions bond market do not want to see the chance for cheap funding slip, so more are lining up deals. On Monday, Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen (Helaba) mandated leads for a preferred senior bond in euros, and UK insurer Utmost International said it was aiming for an senior unsecured bond in sterling.

Royal Bank of Scotland launched its debut social bond on Friday, attracting over €2bn of orders for its €750m offering. The trade benefited from a favourable backdrop in the primary market and an increased appetite for UK credit caused by a scarcity of issuance from the country this year.

The Netherlands’ Stedin Holding, a holding company for electricity and gas grids, issued its debut green bond on Thursday, pricing it through its curve.

Royal Bank of Scotland is preparing to sell its first social senior bond from its holding company, giving investors a rare chance to add exposure to a UK issuer in the format.

Fitch is forecasting a negative outlook for the issuer ratings of some of the largest lenders in the Netherlands, warning that the early introduction of a risk-weight floor for mortgage assets could weigh on the country’s banking sector through additional capital demands.

Agriculture company Olam International has closed its $1.525bn club deal with 19 lenders.

Argenta Spaarbank’s trade this week was a warning to smaller banks about the importance of good pricing and roadshows in selling bonds. But even for those issuers willing to heed those lessons, it may already be too late to issue debt, writes David Freitas.

The postponement of Argenta Spaarbank’s non-preferred senior bond on Tuesday was a reminder that investors are not taking a shine to everything sent their way in the market. The large volume of trades this year has prompted investors to become “selective” about what they buy, analysts at Rabobank said.

Argenta Spaarbank and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group were both marketing senior bonds on Tuesday, making use of the favourable backdrop in the primary market. While Sumitomo was quick to build demand for its bond, Argenta struggled to gather enough demand volume to move the spread from price thoughts.

UBI Banca launched a €500m non-preferred senior bond this week, supported by orders of €1.4bn at peak, but it had to pay a new issue premium, according to a FIG banker.