Société Générale

The equity-neutral convertible bond structure that faded from the market in the second half of 2016 made a strong comeback today, when Michelin, the French tyre maker, launched a $500m deal that won eager demand and was priced at the best end of terms for the issuer.

DNB Boligkreditt got the Nordic covered bond market off to a blistering start on Wednesday with a €2bn five year deal that leads were able to tighten by 5bp from initial guidance.

Four covered bonds issuers raised almost €6bn between them at the long end of the curve this week, suggesting borrowers are prioritising tougher, longer duration deals. And while conditions permit some are issuing in the largest size possible.

Despite having bagged some of the biggest returns in the capital markets last year, European high yield fund managers are entering 2017 with unease as they survey central bank activity and potential political mishaps.

Société Générale became the third French bank to dip into dollars for senior non-preferred debt this week, with investors appearing hungry for the new product.

DNB Boligkreditt got the Nordic covered bond market off to a blistering start on Wednesday with a €2bn five year deal that leads were able to tighten by 5bp from initial guidance.

BNP Paribas was marketing senior non-preferred bonds in both euros and dollars on Tuesday, as French banks looked to prioritise issuing the new bonds in early 2017.

Equity investors have something new to believe in: fiscal largesse in the US kickstarting global growth. That’s good news for the many companies and banks with capital to raise in 2017 — the trouble is, markets are likely to be as volatile as Donald Trump’s temper. By Jon Hay, additional reporting by Aidan Gregory

On the surface, equity capital markets are a well-oiled machine, built to run over the rocky ground of unpredictable stockmarkets. Beneath the surface, there is a lot of sweat. Banks are having to staff their teams with less money, but do just as many deals. Investors are under the cosh, too, squeezed by weak performance and the march of passive funds. Jon Hay reports.

The Z5.14bn (€1.16bn) of loans for the leveraged buy-out of Allegro, the Polish online marketplace, have been allocated, with the leads choosing zloty rather than senior or junior euro bonds for the second lien piece.

Elysium Healthcare, the property portfolio being spun out of the Priory Group to BC Partners, has cut its sterling loan offering to £133m after reaching a ground rent agreement mid-transaction.

After a fall in 2016 supply, the allure of euro bonds for US issuers looks to be set on a path of relative decline, as the market loses its technical shine and faces the prospect of cash repatriation for corporate America.