Europe

A leading covered bond investor has reacted positively to a series of measures announced by Canada’s Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions’ (OSFI) which have effectively provided stable access to emergency funding, including a temporary increase in the amount of covered bonds the country's banks can issue. The move comes after a heavy spell of supply that had sparked concerns that Canadian banks were struggling for cash.

Public bond investors in Europe received on Monday their first new issue from the car industry since the coronavirus crisis went global. The paper was not from an industrial company but Volkswagen Financial Services, its leasing division, which does not rely on VW producing new cars to repay its debt, but rather on customers who are legally obliged to keep paying their leases. The price was wide, but VWFS showed it had market access.

The dollar bond market is gradually opening up, with two high quality public sector borrowers hitting screens on Monday for short dated deals. But with volatility still gripping the cross-currency basis swap market, European borrowers are still sticking to their home currency.

Belgium has picked banks for a seven year benchmark, publishing the mandate just after joining the throng of sovereigns upping their funding requirements. Norway has also raised the size of its borrowing programme.

The Norwegian government’s support package for large companies goes beyond that announced in other jurisdictions, in actively buying bonds from companies deep in sub-investment grade territory, helping the country's vital oil exploration, shipping and oil services firms to access financing.

Hipgnosis Songs Fund, the London-listed investment fund focused on song royalties, has acquired the music catalogue of Richie Sambora, the lead guitarist of Bon Jovi and co-writer of the US band’s hits, for an undisclosed price. It is an example of the acquisitions the fund continues to make as it mulls a fresh equity capital raise.

The economic shock of the coronavirus outbreak is not likely to cause a downgrade to Italy’s credit rating, according to S&P in spite of the fact that its debt to GDP ratio could climb steeply in order to fund its response.

BMW has raised €200m from a single investor in the Schuldschein market, according to several market sources. Arrangers are talking with Schuldschein investors to gauge appetite for German auto manufacturers as the Covid-19 pandemic wreaks havoc on corporate earnings.

Goldman Sachs has hired a senior banker from Morgan Stanley to be its new head of equity syndicate, GlobalCapital understands.

The covered bond market’s reputation for a being a close knit community has served it well during this difficult period with members staying in close virtual contact as they self-isolate at home. On the whole, the experience has proved positive, though it’s clear that some have found it difficult to separate work from play.

More companies will raise equity capital without first offering existing shareholders pre-emption rights, given the "unprecedented" economic damage being caused by the spread of Covid-19.

Market participants are debating whether the risks to additional tier one coupons have risen or fallen after the European Central Bank urged banks not to pay equity dividends for at least six months.