BNP Paribas

Elis, the French workwear laundry company owned by Eurazeo, on Wednesday launched its initial public offering in Paris, as it hopes to raise €750m to reduce its debt levels.

European investment grade syndicated lending last year reached its highest volume since 2007, at $716.9bn, according to Dealogic data. More mergers and acquisitions are needed to maintain such high volumes in 2015, bankers agree, and QE could be a driving force for M&A.

Sarens Group, a Belgian heavy lifting specialist, priced its debut bond issue on Tuesday 25bp tighter than guidance, after almost doubling its size.

BNP Paribas has placed several senior syndicate and DCM bankers — all involved in the firm's SSA business — at risk, GlobalCapital understands.

Carrefour, the French supermarket chain, found strong investor demand for a €750m 10.3 year bond on Tuesday, when it became one of the first European companies to issue bonds after anti-austerity party Syriza’s victory in the Greek general election on Sunday.

Caisse d'Amortissement De La Dette Sociale has set guidance and opened books on its debut offshore renminbi deal, which could be priced as early as Wednesday.

Despite a strong backdrop for issuance this week few SSAs are willing to bring benchmark deals in euros, as issuers wait until the full effect of the European Central Bank’s quantitative easing announcement last week plays out. Meanwhile, the next meeting of the US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee and a winter storm approaching New York are limiting dollar issuance windows.

Caisse d'Amortissement de la Dette Sociale is set for a market first this week, after mandating banks on Monday for what will be the first offshore renminbi bond from a French public sector issuer.

Enagás, the Spanish gas grid operator, priced a €600m 10 year bond last Friday. A strong bid for corporate bonds, fuelled by news of the eurozone quantitative easing scheme, helped the issuer to achieve very tight pricing.

Terna, the Italian electricity grid company, sold a €1bn seven year bond last Friday, profiting from strong demand after the announcement of European quantitative easing on Thursday, January 22, to price with a minimal new issue premium.

One of the most anticipated high yield bond issues of the year so far, Altice’s transaction to refinance its buyout of Portugal Telecom, is set to be priced today (Friday), and bankers believe it will confirm the market's vigorous health at the start of 2015.

Taiwanese computer casings maker Casetek’s $300m three year financing has attracted five banks in syndication.