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A HOST of convertible bonds were launched this week, demonstrating the strength of demand from international dedicated CB investors as well as fixed income and equity accounts. One of the first deals to hit the markets was from Great Portland Estates, in the first sterling convertible of the year. Cazenove was bookrunner for the £58m, offering with ING Barings as joint lead manager. Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and SBC Warburg Dillon Read were co-lead managers. The bonds are listed in London and were offered to a wide variety of UK and European investors.

THE REPUBLIC of Ukraine's first Euro-Deutschmark issue proved a blow-out success this week, overcoming widespread doubts over the borrower and the coupon it was forced to pay. Overwhelming demand for high yield Deutschmark product enabled joint lead managers Commerzbank and Merrill Lynch to launch the three year issue for a larger than expected DM750m -- versus an indicative size range of DM300m-DM500m -- and to price the deal at the bottom end of the 16%-18% indicative pricing range.

* Abbey National Treasury Services Guarantor: Abbey National plc

Arranger HSBC with co-arranger Deutsche Morgan Grenfell will hold a bank meeting today (Friday) for the £177.5m facility for Enterprise Inns. There is likely to be a limited syndication to relationship banks. The debt package consists of various tranches. Enterprise Inns will use the loan to finance the acquisition of Gibbs Mew.

* Spintab AB Rating: Aa3

France Arrangers Société Générale and JP Morgan have completed documentation of the $1.3bn credit facility that will finance the merger of Sodexho's food and management services and Marriott's catering division.

WESTFALISCHE Hypothekenbank has signed a Eu10bn Euro-MTN programme in a bid to expand its investor base into the international markets ahead of the arrival of the single currency. Arranged by Deutsche Morgan Grenfell and Merrill Lynch, this is the third international debt issuance facility to be set up by a German mortgage bank and the second to incorporate a Pfandbrief option into its documentation.

* World Bank Rating: Aaa/AAA

OIL concern YPF will become the first blue chip Latin sovereign to tap the Yankee bond market in March, when it launches a $200m five year bond. CSFB has won the highly coveted mandate, with Chase and JP Morgan as co-leads. Roadshows begin on February 23, with pricing the week after.

* Commerzbank AG Rating: Aa2/AA-

PACIFICORP's aggressive $10.7bn bid for the UK's Energy Group (TEG) looks almost certain to triumph after Nomura's decision to drop out of the running. Nomura withdrew from discussions with Energy Group on Tuesday for price reasons after Pacificorp increased its offer for TEG to 765p per share.

NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC and SunTrust Equitable Securities Corp have arranged a $1bn revolver for Shaw Industries Inc. Pricing for the five year deal is based on the company's funded debt to EBIDTA ratio. The Libor margin range is 22bp to 75bp and the facility fee range is 10bp to 25bp.