Europe

Swedish issuer Kommuninvest is preparing to launch its first deal of 2020 — a five year Swedish krona note.

Vivo Energy, the pan-African fuel distributor, has added Numis Securities to its corporate broking roster.

Ukraine printed its €1.25bn 10 year bond on Wednesday so far inside its own curve that its outstanding euro bonds moved 20bp tighter and its dollar bonds 10bp-15bp tighter. The deal drew a €7bn book.

Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel (BFCM) added to the sterling market's fast start to the year on Thursday, launching a new preferred senior bond in the currency and awarding investors with a small new issue premium.

Zero-E the company that holds the wind, solar and thermal assets of Actividades de Construcción y Servicios has found a private buyer for its Spanish renewables assets, making an IPO unlikely.

The European Banking Authority is looking to give banks room to publish their own unchallenged assessments of the risks facing their businesses, as part of a broader overhaul of its stress testing framework.

Credit Bank of Moscow sold its $600m five year bond “flat to the curve” on Wednesday, according to a syndicate official on the deal.

HSBC is looking for a new head of corporate finance coverage to replace Matthew Wallace, who is quitting the firm. Meanwhile, Simon Derrick and Michael Ellam have been handed new jobs as the bank reorganises the way it covers investors and public sector institutions. In Asia Pacific, Rami Hayek is leaving his post.

Several US private placement agents have told GlobalCapital that their market is finally starting to take sustainable financing seriously. But while there is an evident buzz, most feel that anything tangible, such as pricing advantages prompted by dedicated environmental, social and governance-focused funds, is still far off.

UK flooring company Victoria issued a €170m add-on to its €330m of outstanding 5.25% senior secured notes, due in 2024. The royal carpet maker successfully issued its debut bond last summer after failing at the first attempt in 2018 in a horribly timed launch.

Novolipetsk Steel, one of Russia’s largest steel producers, has amended an existing loan to include sustainability-linked pricing. The deal is the latest in a string of green financings in the country.

A trade in Orpéa that mixed an auctioned block trade with a wall-crossing process left equity capital markets players bristling this week. But while some bankers disliked the method of bank selection, others told Sam Kerr and Aidan Gregory that the process worked for the issuer and investors.