Australia

The World Bank is planning to add fully digital cash settlement, multiple currencies and more nodes to its ‘bond–i’ platform, according to a banker involved in developing the blockchain system. Earlier this month, the supranational added tap functionality, as it raised A$50m ($33.7m) of capital.

A pair of European agencies placed taps at the long end of the Kangaroo curve this week, printing at the nine and 12 year points. Yields on these notes have fallen compared to previous taps, as the Kangaroo market feels the effects of a global bond rally.

A trio of European agencies and a supranational all priced taps at the long end of the Kangaroo curve last week, with tenures ranging from nine to 12 years. Yields on these notes have fallen compared to previous taps, as the Kangaroo market feels the effects of the global bond rally.

Market participants expect more banks will now want to print Kangaroos after investors on a search for yield poured into UBS's additional tier one (AT1) deal on Tuesday. The syndication, which surprised those involved after it managed to shave 75bp off its initial pricing guidance and attract A$4bn ($2.71bn) of orders, suggested a market ripe for a deal spree.

Korea Development Bank moved to place the largest Korean Kangaroo earlier this week, a note that was also priced more tightly than any other Korean-issued Aussie dollar deal.

UBS sold an Australian dollar additional tier one capital note on Tuesday, surprising those involved after it managed to shave 75bp off of its initial pricing guidance on the back of a A$4bn ($2.7bn) orderbook. Market participants expect more banks will now want to look at the Kangaroo market for capital issuance, with BNP Paribas having also launched an AT1 in the currency last month.

ANZ has expanded its sustainable finance team in Sydney.

The Asian Development Bank returned to the Kiwi dollar market to print its largest Kauri deal since January 2018 this week. With the Inter-American Development Bank and International Finance Corporation set to follow with a pair of taps in the coming days, bankers are expecting a busy few weeks in the market as investors react to the recent surprise interest rate cut from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

Australian potash company Danakali will raise a $200m credit facility from lenders in Africa. The syndicated facility will go towards funding the planned Colluli potash project in Eritrea.

The World Bank is preparing to reopen its 'blockchain offered new debt instrument', or bond-i for short, as it looks to market the Australian dollar deal to a more international audience.

Lloyds Banking Group has returned to the Aussie dollar market for the first time since May 2018, offering investors the chance to invest in two tranches of senior debt at the operating company level. The issuer follows a wave of European and UK financial institutions making their way down under.

London-listed Resolute Mining has agreed to buy Senegal’s Toro Gold for $274m, with the acquisitive company planning to turn to its syndicated lenders to refinance the bridge debt linked to the purchase.