Italy

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena is getting ready to sell a new seven year covered bond in euros, in what will be its fifth deal in the currency so far this year.

Banco BPM and Abanca made use of favourable issuance conditions this week to beef up their capital buffers. The Italian lender priced the 10 year non-call five deal at a 4.25% coupon and the Spanish issuer priced its 10.5 year non-call 5.5 year bond at 4.625%.

Generali was the talk of the FIG bond market this week as it became the first west European financial institution to issue a tier two capital note in green bond format. The insurer’s pioneering spirit reaped rewards, with the green element variously estimated to have shorn 5bp-10bp from its cost of funding. That could tempt other firms to issue subordinated green debt. David Freitas reports.

Banco BPM spied a chance on Tuesday to issue a tier two bond to beef up its capital buffers. The Italian lender launched a 10 year non-call five deal at a 4.25% coupon — 37.5bp tighter than the initial price thoughts.

Assicurazioni Generali has become the first European financial institution to launch a green tier two bond. The Italian insurer attracted €3.25bn of orders, helping it to price its €750m deal about 10bp inside fair value, according to a syndicate banker.

Italian banks from across the spectrum of credit quality have accessed debt capital markets this week, as they enjoy funding costs that might not have seemed possible in the middle of the term of the country’s previous government.

Ferretti, the Italian manufacturer of luxury yachts, launched its long awaited IPO on Monday. Investors are being sold a story of glamour and luxury, but there are some concerns after the losses many suffered during the IPO of Aston Martin, last year’s prominent luxury listing.

Italian banks are taking advantage of excellent new issuance conditions, as investors re-establish their confidence in the country's new government. On Tuesday it was Banca Monte dei Paschi’s turn to do so with a euro-denominated preferred senior bond, one day after UniCredit and Intesa Sanpaolo.

RCF, the Italian manufacturer of high performance audio equipment, is likely to launch an IPO imminently, potentially as early as next week, adding to what is expected to be a strong finish to 2019 for Italian equity capital markets.

Italian luxury yacht maker Ferretti has announced its intention to float on the Milan Stock Exchange, over a decade after it was taken private by private equity funds.

UniCredit has become the first Italian bank to launch a new deal since a new government took office in the country. The €1.25bn tier two attracted €3bn of orders and was tightened more than expected, according to one of the leads.

Evidence is mounting that Enel’s $1.5bn sustainability-linked bond, issued last Thursday, introduced not just a new product, but a new market. In recent days the deal has generated intense interest, and Enel has committed to using the product extensively in future, writes Jon Hay.