Commerzbank

Covered bond supply is likely to recover over the next week or two, particularly in core Europe where spreads to Bunds have become more attractive, which bodes well for DH Hyp’s forthcoming Pfandbrief. But for non-eurozone issuers, senior funding is likely to prove more attractive.

Since the global crisis, plenty has been written about banks paring back their lending activities and more stringent capital adequacy rules limiting funding opportunities, particularly for higher-risk borrowers such as smaller companies.

Kion Group, the German forklift manufacturer, has finished a Schuldschein deal that raised almost €1bn, in one of eight Schuldschein trades that were launched or priced this week from a wide range of sectors and regions.

Landesbank Baden-Württemberg and WL Bank successively priced the tightest covered bonds of the year this week and both were able to tighten pricing to a greater extent than any previous German issuer.

Neopost, the French postal equipment maker, has returned to the Schuldschein for funding diversification purposes.

The Singapore dollar bank capital market welcomed Commerzbank’s inaugural Basel III tier two bond this week, allowing it to price through fair value.

Commerzbank has chosen a new head of its UK corporate banking operation and a new head of international loan origination as part of a reshuffle of senior bankers.

Korea Development Bank (KDB) has become the latest name from South Korea to join the debt issuance party, sealing a triple tranche offering with two floating rate tranches, and finding $4bn of demand for its deal.

The Singapore dollar bank capital market is set for a busy week with Commerzbank announcing a Basel III tier two bond on Wednesday morning. Its offering closely follows UOB’s successful tier two outing on Monday.

Kion Group, the German forklift manufacturer, has finished a Schuldschein deal raising almost €1bn in the process. There was particular focus on Asian investors, despite Kion not offering a dollar tranche.

Asia DCM has seen a steady supply of South Korean issuers so far in 2017, with Korea Development Bank becoming the latest to venture out with dollar-denominated bonds.

Landesbank Baden-Württemberg has priced the tightest covered bond of the year and was able to tighten pricing to a greater extent than any other German issuer this year.