Crédit Agricole

The European Investment Bank this week brought its first dollar floating rate note linked to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (Sofr) — the likely replacement for dollar Libor — and set two landmarks for the fledgling benchmark. But one of those, on the coupon calculation, truly sets it apart from the other Sofr FRNs to come so far. As Craig McGlashan reports, it also creates an intriguing market choice as the financial sector prepares for a world without Libor.

Edenred, the French operator of employee benefit schemes, discovered on Thursday that investors still have cash to put to work in the corporate bond market, even though eight deals had been priced in the first three days of the week and the end of the year is in sight.

Hong Kong conglomerate New World Development Co printed its first green bond this week, raising $310m. While its green efforts were lauded, the company’s lack of rating kept many investors at bay.

Crédit Agricole came to what one banker called an "apathetic" market on Wednesday with a senior preferred issue from its new green bond framework, but did not have to offer a large premium to sell €1bn of notes.

The African Development Bank and Nederlandse Waterschapsbank were able to sell a pair of oversubscribed no-grow $500m socially responsible deals on Tuesday, despite tougher market conditions as the end of the year approaches.

The African Development Bank issued the first green bond linked to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (Sofr) on Tuesday. The European Investment Bank will look to extend the Sofr floating rate note curve on Wednesday with an October 2021 issue that will use a different coupon formula to the previous Sofr trades.

Electricité de France has extended and amended its €4bn revolving credit facility to link it to environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, as green-centric loans continue to gain traction among borrowers.

On Monday, Austrian oil and gas company OMV’s first senior corporate bonds of 2018 attracted €3.9bn of total demand for a pair of €500m notes with five year and 10 year tenors. The demand allowed the issuer to tighten the spread by more than 20bp on the longer tranche.

The African Development Bank mandated banks on Monday for the first green bond linked to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, Sofr.

On Monday, French supermarkets group Carrefour made its second visit to the corporate bond market of 2018, once again in the wake of a period of volatility. However, the company’s timing proved to be good as it was able to tighten pricing 15bp from initial price thoughts.

Private school operator Cognita was the first borrower in a week to attempt an issue in the euro high yield market with a sub-benchmark size deal. It sought funding for its acquisition by Jacobs Holding, the Swiss investment and charitable firm, but pulled the bond deal after weak demand.

French postal operator La Poste saved the corporate bond market in Europe from registering a blank week when it sold its first green bond on Friday. Despite the negative sentiment that had pervaded the market throughout the week, the company paid a new issue concession at the lower end of the range paid by deals the previous week.