NatWest Markets

Nederlandse Waterschapsbank (NWB) failed to reach full subscription for its 15 year water bond this week, with the lead managers having to step in to help the Dutch agency raise €500m. The issuer attributed the lack of demand to the weak eurozone economic data published during book building.

The corporate bond market took its foot off the gas a little on Thursday, and Dutch gas distribution firm Netherlands Gasunie had the market to itself as it extended its curve by three years.

Nederlandse Gasunie, the Dutch natural gas infrastructure company, is looking to print a fresh 12 year euro benchmark bond as early as Thursday, as it wraps up a tender offer for €1bn of older notes.

UK train leasing firm Porterbrook has entered the US private placement market, according to several market participants, seeking to raise debt under its sustainability programme.

Crédit Agricole and Banque Fédérative du Cedit Mutuel had contrasting responses for preferred senior bonds in the sterling market on Wednesday, with the French banks deciding to hit the market as members of the UK parliament returned to their seats.

Infrequent issuer Henkel made a decent return to the bond market in a dual tranche intraday transaction on Monday, with the chemical and consumer goods company shrugging off concerns about its longer duration tranche to print £750m.

Lead managers had to step in to help Nederlandse Waterschapsbank (NWB) raise €500m with a 15 year water bond on Monday, though a banker on the deal said that there had been strong demand for the transaction from ESG investors.

Germany’s Henkel, a chemical and consumer goods company, launched a dual tranche sterling bond on Monday, as bankers said the busy high grade market was showing signs of saturation.

Nederlandse Waterschapsbank has selected banks for a €500m 15 year no-grow water bond, in what will be its longest ever maturity for a green bond.

The European Investment Bank and Nordic Investment Bank kept the strong momentum going in the SSA euro bond market on Wednesday, capitalising on the European Central Bank’s announcement of fresh stimulus last week and a lack of issuance over the summer. However, Joint Laender's deal was only just oversubscribed, which the leads attributed to investors’ hesitance to buy a negative yielding 10 year bond from a less liquid name.

The investment grade bond market was noticeably cooler on Wednesday morning, compared to the €7.4bn and €5.4bn issued on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. Though calling it quiet would be a disservice, with Wednesday’s issuers looking to borrow €2.5bn. Meanwhile, a bond deal for a fertiliser mine in Yorkshire disappeared down a black hole.

Fresh from the announcement of a new stimulus package by the European Central Bank last week, investors stormed into the euro public sector bond market on Tuesday, led by KfW and Bpifrance. The latter printed €1.25bn, equaling its biggest ever single issue. The strong momentum is set to continue with a string of mandates, including two supranationals for Wednesday.