Europe

Ireland has extended its curve out to 2119 by placing its second century bond, three years after it sold its first in the tenor. Century and ultra-long dated bonds have seen a resurgence of interest this year as issuers look to lock in low interest rates at long dated maturities.

In this round-up, China’s industrial profit growth further declined, Chinese state media has hinted at more peacemaking gestures to the US and the London Stock Exchange (LSE) rejected the Hong Kong bourse’s acquisition offer in a strongly worded letter.

The Kerry Group, the Irish Baa2/BBB+ rated food and beverage company, became the first European investment grade company to issue bonds after the European Central Bank meeting on Thursday.

Lecta has announced that its bondholders are being represented by investment bank Houlihan Lokey and law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher, as the Spanish paper company struggles to keep up with bond payments. Last month, the troubled company said it had hired Evercore and Rothschild to advice on “strategic alternatives”, including possibly restructuring the firm.

London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) has emphatically rejected the unsolicited £32bn takeover bid by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEG), with LSEG's board suggesting that the deal has profound flaws.

Congratulations to the winners of GlobalCapital's Covered Bond Awards 2019.

The €1.2bn IPO of Swedish private equity group EQT was covered throughout its price range, less than two hours into the bookbuilding process on Friday, according to market sources.

Rating: Aa2/AA/AA

It's not clear how long the ECB’s new asset purchase programme will last, or what the new tiered deposit system will look like. However, what certainly is clear, is Mario Draghi’s legacy.

Evidence is mounting that Enel’s $1.5bn sustainability-linked bond, issued last Thursday, introduced not just a new product, but a new market. In recent days the deal has generated intense interest, and Enel has committed to using the product extensively in future, writes Jon Hay.

After several years of rumours and speculation, Russia’s long nurtured plans to issue renminbi government bonds will come to fruition in this year or in early 2020. The country will not borrow in dollars, but may borrow in euros and yuan, writes Lewis McLellan.

Two UK airports set to sell US private placements - Market first as Northern Irish housing association seeks US PPs - Kernel set to secure yet another facility, as EBRD continues Ukrainian push - RMB Mauritius secures loan, months after dollar debt transfer