Société Générale

France’s SNCF has signed a €3.5bn sustainability-linked loan, with the state-owned railway company only able to use the facility from the start of next year after the country’s reform bill is enacted.

CNP Assurances won healthy demand for a green tier two capital bond issue this week, as insurance companies begin to embrace the idea of printing capital instruments as socially responsible investments.

Caixa Geral de Depósitos was seven times subscribed for its debut non-preferred senior bond this week, when it become the first Portuguese bank to launch a deal in the format.

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) launched a new sustainable tier two on Friday. Looking to broaden its investor universe in the euro market and enlarge its tier two buffer after changes in Australian regulation, ANZ’s deal attracted orders of 2.5 times its €1bn size.

Xavier Niel, the founder and controlling shareholder of Iliad, the French telecoms company, is using an innovative technique to enlarge his stake, while avoiding the usual requirement to make a public offer to buy the whole company. Some bankers think it could be a clever new option for company owners — others doubt it can be used widely. Sam Kerr and Jon Hay report.

The positive market backdrop has driven smaller and less well-known bank issuers to come forward with rare new bond issues. But they are showing up just as investors pack up for the year, meaning they must work hard to lure enough demand, writes David Freitas.

Student Hotel finds bed for sustainable loan — Italo mainlines green loans — Green bond stalwart Tennet signs — Scottish Mortgage returns to US PP — CVC-owned April preps rapid refi

A trio of triple-B rated companies brought bond sales totalling €2.75bn on Thursday, as a primary market abuzz with official stimulus roared towards the year's close.

French car parts maker Faurecia has gone against the headwinds buffeting the industry, cutting financing costs with its latest refinancing round. A number of other well known high yield borrowers are also rushing into the market before Christmas to switch their higher coupon paper into cheaper alternatives.

Gaëlle Olivier is set to take over as the chief executive officer for Société Générale Asia Pacific in January next year, succeeding Hikaru Ogata who is leaving the bank.

South Korean heavy industry company Doosan Infracore Co sold a $300m three year bond on Tuesday, helped along by a guarantee from Korea Development Bank.

Oil major BP and motorbike maker Harley-Davidson both hit the euro bond market on Tuesday, in the wake of the European Central Bank’s far bigger than expected first week of corporate bond purchases.