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European corporate bond issuers are already preparing to issue their first deals in the post quantitative easing era after December proved a very difficult month for those issuers who were looking to steal a march on the competition. However, conditions for January look only slightly better.

Danish logistics company Maersk opted to please all of its investors who tendered bonds as part of the company’s recent liability management exercise when it announced on Tuesday that it had increased the total amount it would buy back.

Italian energy company Enel failed to notify investors it would call its 6.5% hybrid corporate bonds by the date required, due to a “procedural issue.” The company still intends to offer noteholders the opportunity to redeem the notes at par via a tender offer, but it may find few takers.

Goldman Sachs International conducted business with Lars Windhorst, the colourful German financier, despite warnings from its compliance department that he was a high risk counterparty.

Danish logistics company Maersk gave investors something other than political and economic matters to consider this week when it announced a tender offer for its shortest dated euro bonds on Monday. If the current poor tone in the bond markets continues into 2019, this type of exercise could become more prevalent, writes Nigel Owen.

Corporate bond bankers in the US are predicting a further 10% fall in dollar supply in 2019 as more volatility and an expected fall in US M&A activity hits issuance. The predictions come after supply for December hit its lowest level on record.

BNP Paribas managing director Ravina Advani has been appointed head of energy, natural resources and renewables in the firm's coverage division.

Due to the lack of new issuance for over a week in the European corporate bond markets, the vote of no confidence in UK prime minister Theresa May was the talk of both the buy and sell sides on Wednesday morning. But there has been little effect on the market itself so far where political developments in other European states are more of a concern.

Danish logistics company Maersk gave investors something other than political and economic matter to consider this week when it announced a tender offer for its shortest dated euro bonds on Monday.

It may be the second week of December, when the corporate bond market is typically quiet ahead of the Christmas break, but there is still plenty for participants to ponder, even though the likelihood of new issuance is considered very low.

At least three high-grade borrowers in the US bond market stood down on Thursday as supply windows snapped shut and scotched hopes of a final flurry of supply before year end.

German business software company SAP used its rarity value when it printed a €1.5bn triple tranche deal in March. However, that strategy may no longer be possible, after it sold the largest ever corporate bond priced in December to help fund its recently announced €8bn cash acquisition of experience management software provider Qualtrics.