Deutsche Bank has priced the notes backing PIMCO's unique collateralized loan obligation, the transatlantic Clarenville CDO. The approximately $383 million deal is believed to be the first CDO that purchases assets in three currencies and issues liabilities to match to create a perfect hedge (LMW, 11/10). The triple-A rated E145 million tranche is priced at LIBOR plus 60 basis points. The equivalent $55.5 million U.S. piece also priced at LIBOR plus 60 basis points, which is approximately 10 basis points higher than U.S.-based CLOs that have priced in recent months. The £25 million tranche priced at LIBOR plus 70. Officials within Deutsche Bank's CDO team in London declined comment until the transaction closes and a PIMCO spokesman did not return calls.
The transaction is the first predominantly European CLO to price this year, though the leverage loan CLO pipeline appears healthy. "There are at least ten transactions expected to close in the first half of 2004, with half of these from new managers," said Mike Nicholson, associate director of Standard & Poor's. Some of the new entrants are institutional managers, but banks are likely to make up the others, he said.