Natixis

Euros are back on the menu for FIG investors after Swedbank and Rabobank Nederland stormed the senior market on Thursday. Bankers are now looking forward to a string of deals next week.

Michelin, the French tyre maker, issued its first bond since 2012 on Tuesday. While the issuer drew good demand for seven and 12 year euro bonds, a proposed 30 year tranche failed to gain traction with investors.

NordLB reopened a four year public sector backed Pfandbrief on Wednesday in a move which locked in exceptionally cheap funding. But because the deal was largely placed with captive German savings banks, it offered little clue about the state of demand for euro covered bond benchmarks.

Natixis is continuing its push into Asia’s fixed income market with a series of appointments in recent months. And the French lender, which started a concerted push into Asia’s debt market in 2010, is keen to establish a bigger footprint in the region by leveraging on its European expertise.

The European Financial Stability Facility looks set to again walk alone in the euro benchmark market for SSAs, after sending out requests for proposals on Wednesday.

Aviva is considering an extra tranche of subordinated debt even longer than the 30.5 year non-call 10.5 it has already hired banks to sell, while a Norwegian insurer has also mandated in euros.

Gazprom Marketing & Trading, the London-headquartered unit of Russian gas company Gazprom, is in the market for a $350m one year revolving credit facility.

Michelin, the French tyre maker, issued its first bond since 2012 on Tuesday. While the issuer drew good demand for seven and 12 year euro bonds, a proposed 30 year tranche failed to gain traction with investors.

Just one small covered bond emerged from newcomer Natixis Pfandbriefbank this week, while several others mandated for sub-benchmark deals.

Hong Kong listed Fosun International has allocated its latest borrowing among 22 lenders. Banks are eager to establish a relationship with Fosun, which is snapping up assets across continents. Their interest led the Chinese company to increase its loan to $800m from $500m.

Natixis has appointed Jean-Thomas Haller to head its Acquisition & Strategic Finance team in Australia. Haller, who has been with the French lender since 2002, will shift his base to Sydney from Paris for the new role.

French media group Lagardère has refinanced a €1.25bn credit facility and replaced one of its relationship banks.