Germany

Rentenbank is moving forward with its plans to issue a debut euro green benchmark bond following a series of investor meetings over the past few weeks.

Several sources have told GlobalCapital that a clutch of new investors have entered the Schuldschein market, tempted by higher spreads brought on by the pandemic.

Munich Re and Unipol Group are lining up new green bond transactions for this week, as they look to replicate the success of similar deals and gain a ‘pricing advantage’ in the market.

Heinz-Hermann Thiele, the German billionaire, has raised €1bn through a share sale in break manufacturer Knorr-Bremse, the second time he has sold shares in the company since it floated in 2018, raising questions about why he would return to sell so soon.

ZF Friedrichshafen, the German car parts maker, is considering moving its focus away from the Schuldshein market, where it is one of the biggest issuers, after finding success selling public bonds this week.

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Two public sector borrowers managed to get euro deals done in the primary market ahead of the European Central Bank’s governing council meeting on Thursday, with World Bank issuing its biggest ever bond in euros longer than 10 years and Hamburg comfortably crossing the line despite an embarrassing start to the execution process.

The City of Hamburg began taking indications of interest with initial price thoughts for a 30 year bond on Wednesday afternoon ahead of schedule after one of the leads accidentally sent out a message announcing the official opening of order books.

The European bond market has lost none of its charm or interest, said one of its most experienced bankers this week, on the verge of his retirement. Hugh Carter, Commerzbank’s head of credit syndicate, is leaving the bank on September 18.

The Schuldschein market, which has spent the last few years growing increasingly international compared to its domestic origins in Germany, has lost its adventurous streak due to the coronavirus pandemic. Forays into unknown territories with borrowers from new industries are being treated with trepidation and lenders are heading back to what they know best.

Commerzbank did not pay a premium to launch its new additional tier one (AT1) this week, as it found strong demand at the long end of the curve. The bank was returning to the market just three months after its last deal in the format.

Hensoldt, the German sensor maker that supplies the defence industry, has joined Europe’s burgeoning IPO pipeline with the announcement of a Frankfurt listing this year. The deal, launched on Tuesday, is already gaining traction among investors, who are seeking to meet the company for what could be the largest German IPO of 2020.