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SPECULATION that Pernod Ricard was in discussion with relationship banks over raising a jumbo facility to back a bid for Allied Domecq's branded drinks business was rife this week. The talk was of the French company tapping the Euroloan market for between Ffr40bn and Ffr50bn through as many as four banks - possibly Banque Nationale de Paris, SG, Chase Manhattan and JP Morgan.

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GLOBAL co-ordinator Credit Suisse First Boston has released an indicated price range of between Sfr300 and Sfr360 at which investors can buy shares in the Swiss bathroom and sanitary group, Geberit. This implies a market capitalisation of around Sfr1.5bn ($976m) - at the conservative end of analysts' forecasts. The UK private equity firm, Doughty Hanson, will sell 2.47m shares or 60% of the group's enlarged equity capital and is erring on the side of caution in its pricing expectations.

SENTIMENT towards Germany's Neuer Markt deteriorated further this week with deals continuing to underperform in the after1market and demand for primary offerings evaporating. Although the correction is regarded as long overdue, bankers are concerned that even large, liquid offerings from hi-tech groups are failing to attract sufficient interest. This week Goldman Sachs pulled its proposed flotation of Elmos, a manufacturer of semi-conductor parts for the auto industry. This was due to be one of the largest Neuer Markt deals ever and should have raised around $400m. Despite the liquidity, there was not enough interest among potential investors.

Czech Republic * City of Prague

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FORD MOTOR Credit took the concept of benchmark corporate bond issuance to a new level this week when it announced a US agency style programme through which it will raise up to $10bn in 1999. Until now just Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have issued benchmark globals - both triple-A rated borrowers with large, and potentially liquid borrowing programmes.

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THE 33 banks that have committed to the $9bn loan for Spanish oil and gas company Repsol are awaiting confirmation of their final allocations from arrangers Citibank, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Warburg Dillon Read, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya and La Caixa. With a total of 39 banks in the deal, those banks joining at the arranging level are having their commitments slashed to between $220m and $230m.

China Chase Manhattan Asia has launched the $250m, five year fundraising for Kodak China Co, guaranteed by parent company Eastman Kodak Co of the US.