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Citigroup chairman Sandy Weill launched a scathing attack on an article published in The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, which suggested that Weill could be personally charged with offences relating to conflicts of interest over the bank's research. Weill dismissed the claims as "outrageous speculation and wild inferences". The article in the WSJ was sparked by revelations from the New York state attorney general's office that it would be questioning Weill about Citigroup's research practices. The newspaper said that Weill has retained two lawyers, Lawrence Pedowitz and John Savrese from Watchell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, to represent him in a personal probe.

aDeutsche Bank took advantage of improving equity market sentiment this week to place a 9.3% stake in Deutsche Börse, raising Eu360m. The placement, which was sold by Deutsche Bank as part of its continuing strategy of divesting non-core stakes, consisted of 10.4m shares sold at Eu34.5 apiece. The stake was the last material overhang remaining in the stock. This fact, combined with possibility of Deutsche Börse's inclusion in the Dax when membership of the benchmark German equity index is next reviewed, contributed to the deal's success.

As foretold in EuroWeek 765 Bremer Landesbank has completed the signing of its Eu5bn EuroCP programme. The facility was arranged by Norddeutsche Landesbank, giving the bank its first arrangership this year. The dealer panel consists of Citigroup/SSSB, Credit Suisse First Boston, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, ING Financial Markets and JP Morgan. The borrower is a new name in the EuroCP market and it will be hoping that the new debt shelf will increase its investor coverage. However, Matthias Pusch, deputy head of international finance at Bremer Landesbank, believes that the borrower's MTN experience will help it. He said: "We have been in the EuroMTN market for eight years and have experience of issuing in a variety of currencies. This has given us a good understanding of investors and documentation, which will help us in the EuroCP market. Our strong name will be an advantage as well. Our time in the MTN market has showed us that we are able to attract investor interest outside of Germany."

Mandated arrangers Citigroup/ SSB, JP Morgan, Danske Bank and HSBC have launched the $2bn five year facility for AP Moller Group into syndication. The deal was launched to arrangers for a take of $100m last week. Selected banks have this week been invited to join as co-arrangers for takes of $70m or as lead manager for $40m. Mandated arrangers BNP Paribas, Gjensidige Nor Merchant Bank and ING have signed banks into the Eu400m dual tranche facility for Norske Skogindustrier.

The Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD), the UK export credit agency, is preparing a large synthetic securitisation to transfer some of its most concentrated exposures to the capital markets.

The Eurodollar sector took centre stage this week in the international bond markets as a quartet of triple-A rated issuers took advantage of the sell-off in the US Treasury market and the consequent increase in investor demand for top quality dollar product. And the market expects to see more triple-A candidates in the coming week.

The Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD), the UK export credit agency, is preparing a large synthetic securitisation to transfer some of its most concentrated exposures to the capital markets.

Mandated arrangers Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, KBC, Standard Chartered and WestLB have launched syndication of the $50m 364 day term loan for Africa Export and Import Bank (Afreximbank). Natexis Banques Populaires, RZB and WGZ-Bank joined as arrangers before launch.

Rating: Aaa/AA+/AAA Amount: $750m

Eksportfinans this week capitalised on increased demand for dollar assets generated by the sell-off in the Treasury market, and enjoyed a warm reception for its $750m five year Eurodollar bond, lead managed by Citigroup/SSSB, Nomura and UBS Warburg.

Eksportfinans this week capitalised on increased demand for dollar assets generated by the sell-off in the Treasury market, and enjoyed a warm reception for its $750m five year Eurodollar bond, lead managed by Citigroup/SSSB, Nomura and UBS Warburg.

In a market congested with senior debt and subordinated facilities backing seven jumbo European buy-outs, syndication of the Eu2.222bn debt facilities backing the Wendel Consortium's buy-out of Legrand from French electrical company Schneider, which closed oversubscribed by 30%, was a triumph. However, a ruling this week by the European Union's second highest court that the EU should never have blocked Schneider's Eu5.4bn acquisition of Legrand last year could stop the buy-out and unravel the successfully syndicated debt.