Loans and High Yield

Neoen, the French solar and wind energy producer, has issued the first green convertible bond in Europe — and investors’ eager reception of the deal suggests these instruments could be as popular in the equity-linked market as they have become in the straight bond market.

Tendam, a fashion retailer, is the latest Spanish company to get syndicated loan backing from state-owned Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO), as sectors hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic lean on state support.

Cineworld announced on Thursday that it had raised on extra $110m of liquidity by extending its revolve. Its lenders also agreed to waive the covenant test for the end of June. The company also plans to tap government lending schemes in the UK and US.

Bonds issued by Spanish gambling company Cirsa have rallied on expectations of support from owner Blackstone, after it disclosed on its investor call that affiliates of the private equity firm had bought €120m of its PIK notes in the market — even though the purchase does nothing to boost the firm’s liquidity profile.

Swissport, the baggage handling and air cargo group, is asking bondholders to allow it to add €380m of super-senior debt above its existing senior secured bonds and loans, secured by the same collateral but with a priority claim.

Syndication of the £4bn bridge loan backing the merger of UK mobile phone company O2 — owned by Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica — with Liberty Global’s Virgin Media cable business was signed on Thursday.

Nomura is eyeing acquisitions and a change in chief executive promises a reboot of its investment banking ambitions, writes David Rothnie.

Fantasia Holdings Group Co nabbed $300m from a bond sale on Wednesday, making it the latest high yield Chinese property borrower to dip into the offshore market.

Some of the largest investment banks made 12% less revenue from lending in the first quarter, despite balance sheet expansion as they supported companies, according to research from analytics firm CRISIL Coalition.

Technicolor has asked its lenders to waive a default condition so it can appoint a conciliateur and begin a consensual debt restructuring process that includes €400m of new financing and a debt-for-equity swap. This follows the failure of the company’s planned €300m rights issue, announced in mid-February but thrown off course by the coronavirus pandemic.

Tendam, a fashion retailer, is the latest Spanish company to get syndicated loan backing from the state owned Instituto de Credito Oficial (ICO), as sectors hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic lean on state support.

Equities and investment-grade bonds are overpriced in developed markets, according to Tommy Garvey, member of the asset allocation team at GMO. The US-based investment firm has just slashed its exposure to developed equity markets.