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French telecoms equipment maker Alcatel took the bold decision to launch a Eu314.2m accelerated bookbuild in Thales, the French defence electronics manufacturer, as European markets slumped. The issue was launched on Wednesday morning following two consecutive days of falls in the CAC-40. The French index was down 5.2% over Monday and Tuesday.

Guarantor: Alpha Credit Bank AE Rating: Baa1/BBB+

Mandated arranger Standard Chartered will sign a final three banks into the $350m credit for Sociedade National de Combustiveis de Angola (Sonangol) today (Friday). Erste Bank, BMC and RMB will join on what is the second rollover date for this facility.

Private equity sponsors and their supporting banks were disappointed this week when the decision on which bidding consortium was close to winning exclusive rights to negotiate the purchase of Vivendi Universal's (VU) subsidiary Vivendi Universal Publishing (VUP), expected on Wednesday September 25, was delayed. Banks and private equity sponsors that have submitted bids - worth anything between Eu2bn and Eu4bn - recognise the potential for a cheap buy of what is essentially a valuable asset and they are eager for the sale to go through quickly.

The fate of multilateral guaranteed bond structures for Latin American sovereigns could be determined at the IMF meetings this weekend when Argentina is expected to indicate whether it is going to renege on a payment due on a $1.5bn rolling guarantee deal it issued in 1999. Bankers going to Washington for the meetings expect the World Bank to put pressure on Argentina to say whether it will pay a $250m obligation due on October 15, or rely on the World Bank's guarantee.

Rating: Aa3/AA-/AA- Amount: A$270m

The A$300m fundraising for the consortium of Macquarie Bank and British United Provident Association (BUPA) has been launched into syndication by arrangers Barclays Capital and National Australia Bank. Initially, funding takes the form of a LC facility, but after the acquisition details are completed, the A$300m facility converts into a A$250m term loan and a A$50m revolving credit.

Rating: Aa1/A/AA- Amount: Eu3bn cédulas hipotecarias

Amount: Eu1.025bn Legal maturity: November 12, 2038

Rating: Aaa/AAA/AAA Amount: Nkr1bn

Rating: Aaa/AAA/AAA Amount: £100m

Guarantor: Bank of Scotland Rating: Aa2/AA