HSBC

Bayer and Monsanto have moved a step closer to agreeing a multi-billion dollar merger as Bayer confirmed that the two are in advanced discussions. A takeover would include the largest loan of the year of about $65bn.

Glencore, the Anglo-Swiss commodity trading and mining company, returned to the euro corporate bond market on Tuesday for its first issue since its secondary spreads widened dramatically almost a year ago.

Korea Development Bank was courting investors on Tuesday for its fixed rate dual tranche dollar offering, replicating the SEC-registered format used for its January outing.

GF Securities has finally settled on raising HK$8bn ($1bn) from its latest syndicated loan, doubling the size of the fundraising due to robust demand.

A dire year for hybrid issuance received some cheer on Monday as German utilities company ENBW mandated three banks for a transaction in the asset class, the European market’s third such deal this year.

The European Financial Stability Facility is planning to wrap up its third quarter funding needs via a single visit to the market with a deal that will pour some liquidity into the long end of its outstanding bonds.

China Huarong Asset Management is preparing to return to the debt market, mandating firms for a perpetual Reg S offering.

FTSE 250 bus and rail company Go-Ahead has signed a £200m bridge loan to insure against execution risk when it comes to refinance a sterling bond. A number of investment grade companies have been exercising precautionary liquidity management of late, said one banker in London.

Housing Development Finance Corp, which became the first Masala bond issuer from India in July, has made a comeback to the market with a tap of its existing note.

China's GF Securities is planning to increase the size of its syndicated loan to between HK$8bn ($1bn) and HK$12bn from the HK$4bn it had originally sought.

Dollar investors are getting the chance to assess two first-time issuers, with Emperor International Holdings and Union Life Insurance hitting the road.

After another week of a super solid dollar market, public sector bankers are starting to refer to the currency as “darling” — and all the signs suggest that the relationship is set for an extended honeymoon.