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CIBC World Markets has hired Susannah Gray as a managing director and high-yield analyst focusing primarily on the healthcare sector. Ed Mally, CIBC's former head of high-yield research who was recently released from the firm, had followed healthcare, though it was not his primary coverage responsibility.

Commerzbank Securities hired Stan Liberman as a collateralized debt obligation structurer in its structured credit trading group in New York, according to Ed Mitchell, the firm's spokesman. He reports to George O'Dowd, head of structured credit trading, and will be in charge of structuring CDOs and credit-linked notes. Liberman could not be reached to comment.

A $6-8 million piece of Conseco traded this week at 66, up roughly six points from where the levels had come to rest over the last month. Traders said the name moved up with the likelihood that a reorganization plan would successfully be completed. One trader noted that there is increased interest in the name with more distressed buyers looking to move in on the paper. Repeated calls to Eugene Bullis, cfo, and a company spokesman were not returned by press time.

Credit Suisse First Boston's asset-backed and commercial mortgage-backed securities trading desks raised a total of $210,000 for lymphoma research last Monday night, $120,000 of which was pledged that night. The benefit was held in honor of CMBS syndicate head Barry Polen who has recently been diagnosed with the disease. The traders auctioned off the rights to shave their heads. Thirty-four Street pros were shaved, including several from other firms, including Mark Brown of Nomura Securities International, John Beaman ofLehman Brothers and John Bonfiglio of Fitch Ratings. Ben Aitkenhead, head of securitized product sales, was the night's most generous benefactor, pledging a total of $27,000 (see chart below). Aitkenhead did not respond to a phone call seeking comment by press time last Thursday.

Credit Suisse First Boston and Deutsche Bank are set to lead a credit backing plans by Amy Acquisition Corp., a Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe company, to acquire AmeriPath. The deal will launch early next year. The size, pricing and structure of the debt financing is yet to be determined, said a banker familiar with the deal. The transaction is valued at $839.4 million, including AmeriPath's anticipated year-end debt of $106.9 million and an estimated $65.1 million in assumed contingent obligations. AmeriPath's outstanding common shares will also be converted into the right to receive $21.25 in cash per share. A Deutsche Bank spokesman did not return calls, while a CSFB official declined to comment.

Bank of America, J.P. Morgan, UBS Warburg, BMO Nesbitt Burns and Morgan Stanley have flexed down pricing on Del Monte's "B" piece to LIBOR plus 33/ 4% from LIBOR plus 4%. In addition, the banks have rolled a $300 million floating rate note into the $500 million "B" tranche, according to bankers familiar with the deal. There was word of investor grumbling about the consolidation of the two tranches because they initially liked the diversity offered with the "B" and note combination, said a banker. The note's spread was also a 1/4% higher than the "B" loan. The $1.4 billion debt package launched last month, with the "B" oversubscribing within days of launch. The "B" has since been twice oversubscribed. Bankers on the deal either declined to comment or did not return calls by press time.

Deutsche Bank has hired Haejin Baek, the commercial mortgage-backed securities trading chief at Nomura Securities International. She tendered her resignation at Nomura and is slated to start trading at Deutsche Bank. Baek had left the firm and could not be reached to comment.Ted Meyer, a spokesman for Deutsche Bank, confirmed the move, but declined further comment pending Baek's arrival at the firm. Deutsche Bank CMBS trading head Justin Kennedy declined to comment.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government benefited from its ties to Japan through the World Cup when it launched a ¥48.5bn five tranche Samurai bond issue this week. The Samurai market has been quiet for most of this year, but the launch of a successful ¥155bn issue for Citigroup two weeks ago revealed the depth of Japanese investor appetite for Samurai bonds.

HypoVereinsbank Singapore is arranging an international securitisation of residential property receivables for CRL Realty Pte Ltd. Aragorn Investment will issue two triple-A tranches of $28m and $72m, and two subordinated tranches of S$10m. HVB will subscribe for the $28m tranche, funding the notes in September 2003.

Hana Bank on Tuesday struggled against a slow bond market and confused domestic investor sentiment to launch the world's first non-investment grade perpetual hybrid tier one issue. The $200m Reg S transaction is Korea's first tier one hybrid deal, and has opened the door for similar transactions from other Korean banks.

Korea Western Power (KWP) was poised to make an unconvincing debut in the international bond markets with a $150m five year transaction this week. Secondary market trading volumes have dried up with the approach of Christmas and a recent deluge of Korean bond issuance has meant little investor appetite for new Korean names. This has left joint lead managers ABN Amro and Lehman Brothers struggling to complete the deal.