Barclays

Synthomer, the Malaysian-backed UK producer of aqueous polymers, has finished its £204m rights issue after the deal won a high take-up among shareholders.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) set a new record on Tuesday by bringing the largest ever socially responsible investment (SRI) bond in sterling by a public sector borrower — comfortably breaking the previous record set only last week by KfW.

Energie Baden-Wuerttemberg hit screens on Monday to sell a pair of green hybrid bonds, returning to the green bond market to follow up on its October 2018 debut.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) appointed banks on Monday to lead a five year sterling Climate Awareness Bond (CAB), in what will be the supranational’s first new socially responsible bond issue in the currency since 2014.

Richard Taylor is stepping down from his role at Barclays, after an eight year stint at its investment bank.

Rating: Aa1/AA-/AAA

The State of North Rhine Westphalia was flooded with demand for its 30 year euro benchmark this week as investors braced themselves for the European Central Bank’s meeting on Thursday, in which it laid down the groundwork for a rate cut in September and additional quantitative easing.

As the market prepares for Libors to end their run as the world’s most prevalent reference rates, there is growing support for the benchmarks to be reprieved.

Drax Group, the UK electricity generator, has sold £375m of US private placement debt, alongside a £125m environmental, social and governance facililty to repay a bridge loan used to fund its acquisition of Scottish Power Generation.

An acquisition of British pub giant Ei Group by its smaller competitor Stonegate is about to trigger a clause that allows Ei Group to redeem £1bn of its senior secured bonds at par. Secured bondholders will likely have to swallow a pint of bitter if the sponsor behind the deal does not budge.

The State of North Rhine Westphalia was flooded with demand for its 30 year euro benchmark on Tuesday as investors braced for the European Central Bank's meeting on Thursday, in which it is expected to lay the groundwork for a rate cut in September.

Forth Ports, the port operator headquartered in Edinburgh, has sold roughly £300m-equivalent of US private placements (PPs).