Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten

This week's funding scorecard looks at the progress of Europe's supranationals and agencies as the year comes to a close. Some of the issuers have also set their funding targets for 2019.

Rating: Aaa/AAA/AA+

Public sector borrowers are gearing themselves for wider spreads and bigger new issue premiums in the euro market in 2019 following the expected end of the European Central Bank’s public sector purchase programme. The bigger and more liquid names will determine the environment for the rest of the market, according to SSA bankers.

Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten failed to reach full subscription for its €750m November 2025 sustainability bond this week, with the issuer attributing the lack of orders to the volatile market conditions.

A pair of socially responsible investment deals from public sector borrowers received mixed views on Monday from on-looking SSA bankers. Instituto de Crédito Oficial was able to tighten its spread by 3bp for its first syndication of 2018, while Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten returned for its second sustainability bond of the year.

Socially responsible investment deals were the focus of attention in the primary SSA market this week, as the World Bank and the Flemish Community of Belgium sold well-received green and sustainability bonds, respectively. Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten and Eurofima have added to the public sector SRI pipeline, which is showing no signs of slowing down as the year end approaches.

The Flemish Community of Belgium was twice covered for its debut sustainability bond on Monday, following the completion of a pan-European roadshow last week. Meanwhile, Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten has added to the SRI pipeline after mandating banks for its second sustainability trade of the year.

Rating: Aaa/AAA/AA+

A quartet of public sector borrowers brought small dollar deals this week that were fine but unspectacular, which SSA bankers said was down to a confluence of factors. There are hopes that with the market likely quiet next week for the US mid-term elections and Federal Open Market Committee meeting, conditions could return to their best for the albeit limited funding windows left in 2018.

The Netherlands plans to join the burgeoning list of sovereign green bond issuers and could become the first triple-A rated country in the group. Whether the bond will be via syndication or the country's preferred auction method has yet to be decided. Meanwhile, two of the country’s public sector SRI borrowers were busy in the format this week.

Österreichische Kontrollbank and Erste Abwicklungsanstalt priced well received dollar deals on Tuesday. The pipeline in the currency is building with Bank Nederlanse Gementeen and Swedish Export Credit Corporation having lined up three year trades.

The hefty chunk of SRI bond supply from the public sector in the second half of the year shows no signs of slowing down, with plenty in the pipeline — including from a debut issuer.