Search results for

SG HAS REPRICED the Ffr3bn acquisition facility for Beaufour-Ipsen, just days before the co-arrangers' commitment deadline. According to the arranger, the decision to increase the margin was because the borrower wanted to ensure that the quality of banks in its syndicate was high. Beaufour-Ipsen is a first time borrower and wanted to begin developing relationships with lenders and so wanted to start off on the right foot, according to SG.

Singapore has recently stepped up a gear in its drive to become Asia's premier international financial centre -- unveiling a raft of initiatives to stimulate the domestic capital markets, encourage greater participation from international borrowers and investors and establish the island state as the leading regional hub for fund management and investment banking. Some say the renewed drive has been sparked by the Asian crisis, which has drawn attention to Singapore's relative strength and stability and left many Asian economies with vast financing needs. Others say it is because the Singapore government misjudged the likely effect of Hong Kong's handover to China, and is having to battle harder than ever to compete with its long-standing rival to the north. Whatever the motive, there is no doubting the extent of Singapore's ambitions, the progress that has already been made and the speed with which the government is prepared to act to facilitate its aims. But what is less clear is whether a city famed for its authoritarian attitudes can ever develop the laisser-faire culture necessary for international capital markets to thrive -- or whether there is enough business available to justify international financial institutions stepping up their presence. Jackie Horne reports.

* Deutsche Bank -- DB Ireland plc Guarantor: Deutsche Bank AG (London)

* Bayerische Landesbank Rating: Aaa/AAA

6267

* Alliance & Leicester Group Treasury plc Guarantor: Alliance & Leicester

* Abbey National Treasury Services plc Guarantor: Abbey National plc

THAILAND will make its long awaited return to the international bond markets in January next year, with a ¥70bn ($500m) bond guaranteed by Japan's Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI).

THAILAND will make its long awaited return to the international bond markets in January next year, with a ¥70bn ($500m) bond guaranteed by Japan's Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI).

POLISH telco Telekommunikacja Polska Spolka Akcyna (TPSA) this week completed the European leg of the roadshows for its maiden international bond issue. Following visits to Milan, London and Frankfurt, the investor presentations for the Euro/144A transaction will move on to the US next week with launch scheduled for the end of the week, market conditions permitting.

The co-underwriting phase of the BT Alex Brown led £352m LBO of Tussaud's, the entertainment group that is being sold by Pearson, has been completed. Nine banks were invited -- WestLB, CIC, Bank of New York, JP Morgan, BHF, Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of Scotland, Lloyds and Greenwich NatWest -- and all joined.

Arrangers Barclays Capital and Chase launched the refinancing of the Iridium LLC global satellite telecoms project on Monday with a bankers meeting in New York. The refinancing involves a $650m senior secured limited recourse facility and a $750m Motorola guaranteed facility.