Belgium

Another IPO fell by the wayside on Monday when Electricité de France and other shareholders decided not to proceed with floating EDF Luminus, which claims to be “the number one challenger in the Belgian energy market”.

Belgian insurance company Ethias managed to price a €150m tap of its 5% January 2026 tier two notes on Wednesday as it looked to improve upon its weak solvency position.

The National Bank of Belgium has announced that it will be introducing additional capital requirements for its systemically important banks.

ING Belgium and Bawag received good receptions for their covered bonds issued this week, in contrast to less spectacular outcomes for deals from Westpac New Zealand and UniCredit.

Proximus, the new name for Belgian telecoms company Belgacom, issued a €500m no-grow bond on Monday, achieving a high oversubscription for the deal.

Proximus, the new name for Belgian telecoms company Belgacom, issued a €500m no-grow bond on Monday and won high oversubscription.

The stop-start progress of global mergers and acquisitions this year kangarooed forward yesterday, as news broke of AB InBev's interest in SABMiller. Details remain hidden, but hints as to the financing emerged from the rating agencies' reactions.

The stop-start progress of global mergers and acquisitions this year kangarooed forward yesterday, as news broke of AB InBev's interest in SABMiller. Details remain hidden, but hints as to the financing emerged from the rating agencies' reactions.

Rating: Aa3/AA/AA

A pair of oversubscribed deals at the long end of the curve in euros this week has reopened a market that has been moribund for much of the year, as investors come to terms with low yields, writes Tessa Wilkie.

Belgium on Wednesday printed the largest euro benchmark of 20 years or longer since the European Central Bank began a programme of public sector bond buying earlier this year.

The Euromoney Smaller European Companies Index Series currently comprises 1350 companies across 16 European countries.