Germany

France received its biggest ever order book as it came to the market for a 20 year syndication on Tuesday. SSA bankers say that investors are looking for duration after previously sticking to defensive maturities as the Covid-19 crisis eases.

Infineon, the German manufacturer of semiconductors, has completed a €1bn capital raise to partially refinance its acquisition of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. The deal demonstrated investor willingness to put capital to work in strategic equity raises that look beyond funding needs of the coronavirus crisis.

Deutsche Bank has become the latest big bank to announce a new sustainable finance target, with an eye-catching commitment to €200bn of financing between now and 2025 — but its policy highlights the difficulty for investors of comparing banks and deciding which are greener.

Dollars was the favoured currency for public sector borrowers for the second week running this week, giving attractive funding conditions for euro borrowers amid strong investor demand, particularly in the 10 year part of the curve.

Huhtamäki, the Finnish veteran of the Schuldschein market, is looking for a five year deal. Several bankers have said many other international issuers are coming as the market emerges from the first phase of the coronavirus pandemic, but they will find market norms have changed.

Unlike many banks, NordLB had been actively reducing its balance sheet well before the coronavirus crisis hit, so its need for funding is more modest than most. Though it seems likely Pfandbrief issuance will eventually return, German borrowers are hesitant to come to market, especially when there is cheap, plentiful central bank funding available. And, while Pfandbrief investors are well protected, it seems likely that a slow recovery in the commercial real estate market and a more questionable outlook for SME lending, will take its toll on lenders’ business models.

Exasol, the German database analytics firm, priced its IPO on the Frankfurt stock exchange on Tuesday, attracting vast levels of demand from investors, despite books only being open for two and a half days.

Belgium took advantage of more attractive funding conditions in dollars versus euros and strong demand at the 10 year point of the curve to sell its first dollar bond since 2017 on Tuesday. SSA supply in dollars will continue on Wednesday with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Nederlandse Waterschapsbank bringing socially responsible deals.

Loans bankers are puzzled by a probe by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority into whether banks attached improper conditions to loans to companies during the coronavirus crisis. They are concerned the FCA could edge into criticism of the system of bank-client relationships that underpin modern corporate finance, and some believe this is already having an influence on how companies think about mandates.

Trading levels given are bid-side spreads versus mid-swaps and/or an underlying benchmark and bid-yields from the close of business on Monday, May 18. The source for secondary trading levels is ICE Data Services.

The Treasury announced on Tuesday an extension to the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS). From May 26 certain businesses can apply for loans up to £200m under CLBILS but there are restrictions on dividend payouts and management pay rises.

Belgium is set to issue its first dollar bond since 2017 as euro funders continue to take advantage of the attractive funding conditions in the currency, with three other public sector borrowers also in the market for dollars.