Commerzbank

Penelope Smith, Director, Head of non-German Schuldschein Origination, DCM Loans at Commerzbank, considered the role of this unique private placement instrument in international investors’ portfolios.

Goshawk, the Irish aircraft lessor, is returning to the Schuldschein market, a year after its $95m debut last October. While borrowers seeking dollar Schuldscheine are few and far between, the product is growing popular among Asian lenders with natural dollar needs — which might spark the interest of a wider range of borrowers.

Deutsche Bahn returned to the market after a two year absence with the longest dated Swiss franc bond from a German corporate. Swap costs have made it tricky for Deutsche Bahn to borrow in the Swiss currency. But the lead managers found a window at 13 years for the issuer to exploit.

UK grocer Tesco and US telecoms company Verizon both announced tender offers for some of their outstanding bonds in euros and sterling. Tesco is offering to buy up to £700m equivalent, while Verizon will confirm the size of its repurchase once it has sold new euro and sterling bonds.

FIG bankers say that Germany’s Commerzbank is unlikely to remain a standalone entity forever. But a tie-up for the bank is firmly in the realm of fantasy M&A for now, writes David Rothnie.

Crane maker Konecranes has launched its inaugural Schuldschein, following in the footsteps of its Finnish compatriot, food packager Huhtamäki.

Befesa, the Spanish metals recycling group, has joined the queue of companies going public in Europe this autumn, having announced its intention to float on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Norsk Hydro completed its buyout of fellow Norwegian aluminium producer Sapa, valued at Nkr27bn ($3.38bn) on Monday, drawing in part on its existing five year revolving credit facility.

On Thursday, Belgian gas transmission system operator, Fluxys, successfully priced both sub-benchmark tranches of its latest corporate bond deal it had set out to sell when it met with investors earlier in the week. The 10 year tenor was the company’s primary aim, but it was also willing to explore reverse enquiry for a 15 year tenor.

On Thursday, Belgian gas transmission system operator, Fluxys, successfully priced both sub-benchmark tranches of its latest corporate bond deal it had set out to sell when it met with investors earlier in the week. The 10 year tenor was the company’s primary aim, but it was also willing to explore reverse enquiry for a 15 year tenor.

KfW has joined the select group of capital markets institutions to have issued a security using blockchain technology. Though only a proof of concept, the transaction highlighted the fact that, without some kind of distributed ledger cash system, blockchain-based issuance has little to offer. If the technology is to realize its promise, central banks must weigh in and provide a solution.

Last week saw the revival of a once glorious tradition; the spurious big bank M&A rumour. The trigger was an article suggesting UniCredit had approached the German government about buying Commerzbank, which was followed, in short order, by a suggestion that BNP Paribas was the preferred suitor.