German utility E.On will today, (Friday) price its Eu7.5bn euro and sterling bond, bringing to a close a week of further volatility in the credit markets. Although the high grade dollar market recovered its poise, continued turbulence in the euro corporate market forced borrowers to revise their plans. Endesa and Rhodia have both put their new issue plans on ice. Endesa's deal had apparently been to tap the sterling market for £300m-£500m of 10 year funding opportunistically, but the pressure of E.On, and RWE's poor performance since launch, put paid to the utility's plans.
May 17, 2002