Banks

Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten scored a 10 year dollar benchmark bond on Wednesday — its first at the tenor for four years. A fellow European issuer hit the short end of the dollar curve.

Siemens, the German machinery maker, found plenty of demand for a multi-tranche bond issue on Wednesday, though the inclusion of a two year fixed portion strongly suggests that floating rate notes have become unpopular among corporate issuers.

France received its biggest ever order book as it came to the market for a 20 year syndication on Tuesday. SSA bankers say that investors are looking for duration after previously sticking to defensive maturities as the Covid-19 crisis eases.

Citi was the sole bookrunner and underwriter on a Sfr2.55bn block trade in Sika, the Swiss chemicals company, sold by Saint-Gobain on Tuesday night — but the deal was not covered.

The European Central Bank said this week that Covid-19 could hamper some banks from meeting their targets for the minimum requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL), given the likelihood of credit rating downgrades and dislocation in the funding markets.

Tendam, a fashion retailer, is the latest Spanish company to get syndicated loan backing from the state owned Instituto de Credito Oficial (ICO), as sectors hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic lean on state support.

Aviva was set to raise £500m of tier two capital on Wednesday, fuelling speculation that the UK insurer would be looking to call one of its outstanding perpetual bonds.

European emerging market names have bulked up deal flow during the Covid-19 crisis and The Republic of North Macedonia continued that trend on Wednesday with a six year euro benchmark deal.

BBVA on Wednesday became the first European financial institution to launch a bond in the euro market to tackle Covid-19, unravelling the appetite for these type of bonds while undergoing a refinancing exercise.

Firmenich, the Swiss fragrances company, reopened Europe’s corporate hybrid market on Wednesday, as similar deals lined up from companies including Dutch utility Tennet.

RAG Stiftung has sold half of its stake in Stadler Rail, the train manufacturing company that floated on the SIX Swiss Exchange last year.

Taiwan’s Chailease International Finance Corp is returning to the loan market through its Singapore entity for a $100m deal.