Société Générale

Guarantor: Federal Republic of Germany

With the return of stability to the euro public sector market, a new wave of borrowing hit this week. Four core European names brought syndications, some of which were able to access unusual or difficult tenors because of the higher rates on offer.

Italy could retrieve half of the basis points it has lost to Spain in the run-up its general election next weekend — if the vote returns the most market-friendly result, according to a portfolio manager at a leading investment house. Spain, meanwhile, printed a 30 year benchmark with the second largest book ever for a euro sovereign deal in the tenor — another sign that the country is marching towards or already at semi-core status, said bankers.

French property companies were in vogue this week as Icade sold its fourth corporate bond in two years, further extending its redemption profile, while Mercialys, the firm spun off from supermarkets group Casino, saw its sub-benchmark deal 2.5 times oversubscribed.

French car leasing company ALD printed its largest ever bond deal when it issued an €800m three year floating rate note this week, just three months after it had printed a similar but smaller deal. Chief financial officer Gilles Momper said the success of the deal was helped by the company’s IPO in 2017.

The public sector bond market in euros is in rude health thanks to the return of stability at higher yields. Two borrowers took advantage of the conditions to pull off smooth executions with skinny new issue premiums on Thursday.

Trans-Oil, a Moldovan agro-industrial firm, failed to generate enough interest in its debut bond offering on Wednesday, becoming the second CEEMEA issuer in as many weeks to fall foul of tougher market conditions.

Borrowers have broken the 10 day spell without a deal in the European high yield market, and are coming back with refinancing deals. Faurecia, the French car parts manufacturer, opened the new batch with a refinancing deal on Thursday.

The euro SSA market is returning to a more aggressive pace of issuance after a slackening in tempo last week. Two borrowers raised a combined €3bn on Wednesday and another pair are set to print on Thursday.

FIG syndicate bankers are advising issuers to get on with their capital and funding plans as quickly as possible in 2018.

Moldova’s Trans-Oil opened books on the first ever Eurobond from the country on Wednesday, but the small size is likely to mean it flies under the radar of most investors.

Spain’s first trip to the long end of the curve in almost two years met with an overwhelming response, as the sovereign received one of the largest books ever for a 30 year bond.