North America

Scotiabank has hired a new head of syndication in New York, GlobalCapital understands.

The Covid-19 pandemic caused severe disruption to financial markets in 2020-2021. During this difficult time, the Bank of Canada and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions took a number of actions to build resilience and improve the stability of the Canadian financial system. Federally regulated financial institutions were, among other things, permitted the privilege to pledge covered bonds with the central bank, which provided access to long-term repos and benefited from preferential regulatory treatment of loans subject to payment deferrals.

Public Storage wrapped up a quickfire acquisition financing in the US bond market this week, after supply slowed to a trickle as huge swathes of corporate America entered earnings blackouts.

US investment banks have set a high bar for their European rivals by posting record revenues powered by a boom in capital markets underwriting.

The relentless flow of special purpose acquisition companies coming to the market is causing unease among investors about market saturation, with $140bn raised so far this year. Only the highest quality sponsors are likely to succeed in bringing new Spacs to IPO from now on, writes Aidan Gregory.

Southeast Asian tech company Grab, which offers everything from ride hailing and food delivery services to digital wallet payments, is planning to go public on the Nasdaq by merging with Altimeter Group Corp, a special purpose acquisition company (Spac).

CMI Energía (CMI), the renewable energy subsidiary of Central American conglomerate Corporación Multi Inversiones, is looking to debut in international bond markets with a senior secured green deal two and a half years after pulling its first attempt.

Semrush, the Boston-headquartered marketing software company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange last month during a tricky time for the IPO market. CFO Evgeny Fetisov talks to GlobalCapital about the IPO and the challenges in taking the firm public.

SSA borrowers are out in force in the dollar market, hitting screens with mandates alongside a pair of US Treasury auctions. Uncertain dynamics in the Treasury market will mean these auctions are well-watched for any repeat of the disappointing February seven year and the volatility it sparked.

Alibaba Group Holding’s shares in Hong Kong closed 6.51% higher on Monday, despite news over the weekend that the technology giant will be hit with a record fine of Rmb18.22bn ($2.8bn) by China’s regulators.

Mexico cleaned up a chunk of short-term debt maturities on Tuesday with a $3.26bn 2041 bond. The country’s deputy finance minister told GlobalCapital that the sovereign had decided to act fast to issue amid expectations that US Treasury yields will widen further.

Marvell Technology, the Bermuda-registered US chipmaker, jumped into the dollar bond market this week with a $2bn trade linked to a $10bn acquisition, after clinching the deal more quickly than expected.