Europe

The US private placement market is welcoming more utility issuers, according to participants, after changes to the minimum eligibility threshold of the Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Index.

Assystem Technologies, a French engineering specialist owned by Ardian, is launching an add-on to its term loans to fund its purchase of German peer SQS Software Quality Systems, as merger and acquisition deals gain share in the leveraged loan market.

Macquarie Group was offering investors a seven year non-call six senior bond on Monday, in the financial services firm's first euro deal in three years.

Russia’s return to investment grade status could unlock $2bn-$3bn of passive inflows, according to analysis by Goldman Sachs — though this is expected to result in a gradual grind, rather than a sudden snap tighter in spreads. Bankers said that credit committees may also consider lending to Russia again.

Investors did not require Crédit Agricole to pay any new issue premium for a €1.25bn offering of floating rate notes on Monday.

An exit from NIBC, the Dutch bank, may finally be in sight for JC Flowers after the bank filed an intention to float document on Monday.

The Single Resolution Board has decided that Latvia’s ABLV Bank should be wound up under national insolvency proceedings, suggesting that small and medium sized banks remain outside the scope of resolution action.

Germany's RMB hub has seen slow action since its establishment in 2014, but a Bond Connect service established by Clearstream and the upcoming offering of D-shares on the China Europe International Exchange (Ceinex) could turn things around.

The Kingdom of Belgium’s first green bond will be launched next week following a two week roadshow.

Swedish agricultural co-operative Lantmännen launched a €100m dual currency Schuldschein last Friday, as the Schuldschein product makes ground in the Nordic region.

The outlook for Canadian covered bond supply in euros is not as grim as it seems, despite the fact that the nation’s lenders have already issued three quarters of what they supplied in euros In 2017, the cross currency basis swap is not particularly compelling and senior unsecured funding is cheap in dollars.

Outstanding bonds issued by Vivat NV, the Dutch insurance group, suffered on Friday morning after its parent company Anbang Insurance Group was seized by Chinese authorities — but a sale to a European firm could provide an upside for bondholders.