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The $450m five year facility for the State of Qatar has been well received by the market and the close of syndication has been extended for a week. Five or six other banks are understood to be joining the deal and an oversubscription is expected.

The first round of elections has produced a surprise result in Hungary, with the Socialist party (MSzP) coming out on top, ahead of the governing centre-right Fidesz/ MDF party, despite opinion polls predicting a government lead. A second round of elections is due on April 21, at which more than half of the total 386 constituency seats will be subject to a run-off. However, analysts see the chances of Fidesz recovering as slim, as the MSzP will agree an electoral pact with the Free Democrat SzDSz party. The resolution of the election should remove the main hurdle to a number of potential Eurobonds from government related issuers.

Bankers working in the Nordic region are waiting for competition clearance from the Swedish and Finnish governments for the merger between Telia and Sonera before they start pitching for refinancing mandates of the two incumbents' outstanding debt. Telia mandated JP Morgan to arrange a $1bn seven year revolver in 1996. Deutsche arranged a $1bn Euro-MTM programme for Telia in 1997. Citigroup/SSSB was the issuing, paying and sub-paying agent.

Mandated lead arrangers Citigroup/SSSB, CSFB and Barclays have confirmed that the first recommitment for ABB's newly restructured $3bn revolving facility was submitted this week. Credit committees of the re-invited bank syndicate that initially joined the deal in December 2001 are assessing the deal for the recently downgraded company.

The NT$7bn five year term loan for Powerchip Semiconductor Corp has been completed by arrangers International Commercial Bank of China and Chiao Tung Bank. Participants are Farmers Bank of China committing NT$700m, China Development Industrial Bank providing NT$448m, Taiwan Business Bank pledging NT$399m, Hua Nan Commercial Bank, Taichung Commercial Bank, Shin Kong Life Insurance, Land Bank of Taiwan, Taipei Bank, Taiwan Cooperative Bank, Hsinchu International Bank, Chinfon Commercial Bank, Bank of Overseas Chinese, Chang Hwa Commercial Bank and Asia Pacific Bank taking NT$315m apiece, Jih Sun International Bank absorbing NT$224m, Central Trust of China committing NT$175m, Taitung Business Bank lending NT$98m, and United Credit Commercial Bank providing NT$91m. Proceeds are for working capital.

Rating: A2/A- Amount: Eu750m

TDC, formerly known as TeleDanmark, this week became the first of a series of telcos to tap the euro market, launching a Eu750m 2012 transaction that was priced 109bp over mid-swaps. Unfortunately for the Danish telco, it was issued just as volatility, caused by weakening stock markets and heavy selling in European mobile phone operators, gripped the market. Lead managers Citigroup/SSSB, Goldman Sachs and UBS Warburg managed to price within guidance, but the bonds widened on the break, and were trading at 134bp-135bp over Bunds at yesterday's close (Thursday). Olivetti has been even unluckier with the timing of its issue due today (Friday). The leads confirmed price guidance had already been increased by 25bp for each tranche. (See separate story on page 3.)

A dismal showing by AT&T, which had to widen price talk by 25bp-30bp to execute a $3bn three tranche issue, sent spreads on telecoms issues some 15bp wider, making life difficult for Olivetti, which is expected to launch a Eu2bn issue today (Friday) via Barclays, Citigroup/SSSB, Lehman and UBM. The two tranche Olivetti deal has had to be repriced, with the five year portion upped from mid-swaps plus 135bp to 160bp and the 10 year element from plus 165bp to 190bp.

Rating: Aaa/AAA/AAA Amount: $1bn (fungible with the $1bn issue launched 11/03/02)

Rating: Aa1/AAA/AAA Amount: Eu1bn (fungible with Eu1bn issue launched 04/12/01) Öffentlicher Pfandbrief series 587

Rating: Aa1/AA-/AA Amount: $500m subordinated debt (fungible with $350m issue launched 11/03/02)

Amount: Eu250m (fungible with five issues totalling Eu500m first launched 22/03/01) Maturity: April 11, 2021