Americas

At least five Argentine provinces are considering tapping international bond markets this year, according to investors, with the Province of Buenos Aires likely to be first after announcing a roadshow on Wednesday.

Georgia Power has become the second investment grade US utility — and the second Southern Company subsidiary — to issue a green bond, as its peers assess the instrument’s potential.

Should Argentina issue its $15bn in one go or not? If president Mauricio Macri’s government — and its debt officials — continue to communicate and then back those words with action, it won’t matter how many deals it takes.

Tradeweb Markets, a fixed income and derivatives marketplace operator, has bought CodeStreet, a firm that specialises in developing data-driven trade identification and workflow management software.

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the exchange, clearing house and data services operator that is circling an approach for the London Stock Exchange, has agreed to buy Standard & Poor’s Securities Evaluations and Credit Market Analysis.

HSBC followed through on its plans to issue loss-absorbing debt from its holding company on Wednesday, putting a big dent in its issuance targets with a $7bn deal.

Brazilian cement company Votorantim Cimentos is looking to buy back up to €350m ($380m) of debt, using the proceeds of a cash injection from its holding company to become the latest issuer to take advantage of the poor performance of Brazilian bonds.

European corporate bond issuance is finally picking up. Since mid-February, weekly issuance has at last got up to, and sustained, the €7bn-€8bn run rate that last year the market managed right from the off in January.

Warburg Pincus is offloading shares in US-listed China Biologics Products via a block that could raise up to $385m.

Solera Holdings, the Texan car and property insurance claims processor, priced its $3.9bn acquisition debt package in line with revised guidance, after reshaping the debt structure in response to weak investor demand.

Fomento Económico Mexicano (Femsa) has mandated three banks for its debut euro denominated bond, which it will roadshow next week around the European Central Bank policy meeting.

Bankers and analysts were confident that Argentina will find the demand it needs for a triumphant return to international capital markets after the mediator in its debt dispute said that the 15 year legal battle between the country and leading holdout creditors is nearing a solution.