HSBC

Tractel, the French maker of lifting machines being bought by Cinven, held a bank meeting on Wednesday morning, to present to potential investors the terms of its new €235m all senior loan package.

The Export-Import Bank of China (Chexim) introduced a new structure into Asia’s debt market this week, becoming the first issuer to sell bonds backed by loans. Some investors shied away from the unfamiliar format, but the Chinese policy bank raised $1bn from the dual tranche offering.

Citi has appointed David Ratliff to the newly created position of head of public sector banking for Asia Pacific. The move is part of the bank’s strategy to combine corporate and investment banking alongside markets and securities services coverage of public sector clients in the region.

A pair of supranationals have unveiled plans to bring bonds with an environmental flavour. One issuer may delight European Central Bank officials with a super rare appearance in euros.

Belgium on Wednesday printed the largest euro benchmark of 20 years or longer since the European Central Bank began a programme of public sector bond buying earlier this year.

Belgium is out with the longest dated deal from a sovereign, supranational or agency — outside the emerging markets — since February. And it is drawing a rip-roaring response which could encourage other issuers to look at the long end.

Asian bond issuers have finally decided to venture back into the market with a trio of investment grade names opening books to dollar deals. Export-Import Bank of China (Chexim), Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and Korea Development Bank are vying for attention in the first test of investor demand in three weeks.

British largest off-license chain Conviviality Retail has agreed to buy drinks wholesaler Matthew Clark Holdings with funds from £80m of term loans and a £130m share placing.

Belgium has mandated for the first fixed rate benchmark longer than 20 years in the sovereign, supranational and agency sector in euros since February, while an Austrian agency also found demand at the long end of the euro curve.

The European Stability Mechanism has added another chapter to the euro market’s autumn renaissance with the largest benchmark from a supranational or agency in 18 months.

The Export-Import Bank of China (Chexim) has mandated banks for a US dollar bond, which will be issued under an MTN programme that comes backed by loans.

The Republic of the Philippines has pulled off a mammoth Ps263bn ($5.6bn) transaction, switching investors out of existing domestic bonds into new notes, with bondholders flooding in despite a volatile economic backdrop. The sovereign’s liability management exercise was well worth the effort with savings of about Ps2.4bn expected in the first year.