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Consumer finance company Aiful is braving the miserable Tokyo stock market conditions and proceeding with efforts to sell 7.5m shares, as well as a possible 1m share greenshoe. The deal will comprise a domestic issue of 3.5m shares handled by Nomura Securities and an international offer of 4m shares arranged by Morgan Stanley and Nomura.

Australian packaging company Amcor is planning to do the first rated capital markets transaction in Australia to combine credit lease-backed and commercial mortgage-backed securities from the same issuer. Arranged by UBS Warburg, Amcor will sell 17 of its industrial properties throughout Australia to a special purpose vehicle, which will fund the purchase through a CMBS issue and two separate issues of notes to a commercial bank.

When Australian Magnesium Corp (AMC) announces the result of its A$680m new share offering today (Friday), the company's stakeholders could well be disappointed. Bankers in Australia yesterday (Thursday) told EuroWeek that by midday on the last day of the bookbuild, the book was barely half covered. Although there appear to be at least six big orders from Australian institutions that have been strong supporters of AMC's new magnesium project, foreign fund managers were apparently reluctant to support an issue that might not have sufficient institutional and retail demand at home.

* ANZ Banking Group Ltd Rating: Aa3/AA-/AA-

The international bond markets remained quiet as nervousness over a possible Argentinian default carried over into this week. The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged yesterday (Thursday), much in line with market expectations

France Mandated arrangers BNP Paribas, Mediobanca and SG (sole bookrunner) are closing senior syndication of the Eu2.8bn loan facility to support the demerger of agro-industrial company Eridania Béghin-Say.

So who harpooned Allen "Weetabix" Wheat, the chairman and chief executive of CSFB? According to an inconsolable passing Japanese tourist Wheaty was speared with a three-pronged trident fork, brushed lightly with New Zealand butter and turned into toast in front of a blazing fire. No wonder that the tabloid press is bidding furiously for the tourist's film (which is probably on its way back home to Yokohama). Last week we said in these columns that Weetabix, who is actually funnier than he pretends to be, never heard the shot which blew him away. He had lived through so many crises that he must have thought he was a cat with 90 lives. "When it came to extricating himself from seemingly impossible positions, Allen could have taught Houdini a few tricks," said a former CSFB managing director.

Argentina Bankers say that the $220m four year FRN for Perez Companc, arranged by Deutsche Bank, has been signed, with an 11 strong syndicate. Funding is due to take place today (Friday).

BSCH (facility agent), Barclays Capital (joint bookrunner), Deutsche Bank (joint bookrunner), IntesaBci and SG are set to close senior syndication on the Eu2.39bn term loan for Amena. The loan is Eu1bn oversubscribed. This oversubscription is seen as a vote of approval for both the company's sponsors and the structure of the deal, which is the first of the four 3G rollout facilities in the market to close. Banks are also considering a Eu5.5bn facility for Wind, a Eu1.2bn facility for Swedish telco Tele2 and a Eu1bn facility for Connect Austria/One.

Barclays Capital has named Guido Pescione as head of investment baking for Italy. He reports to Cyrus Ardalan, a vice chairman of Barclays Capital.

HSBC has lost four Asian equity salespeople to Nomura International in London.

Egypt Apicorp is arranging a $105m loan facility for Egyptian Natural Gas Company to support the construction of a natural gas to liquids project at Port Said. The project is being developed by Egyptian Natural Gas Company, Agip and BP. More details are expected soon.