Switzerland

Unrated Swiss private railway operator Rhätische Bahn, owner of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bernina railway, made its second stop in the Swiss franc bond market this week, four years after its debut deal.

CNP Assurances and Helvetia Europe have added to issuance momentum in the insurance sector, giving investors the chance to put money into subordinated capital. The tier two bonds showed that ‘the market is back in shape’, said one deal arranger.

Shares in Meyer Burger Technology, the Swiss developer of solar panel technology, surged by more than 26% on Monday morning after the company unveiled plans for a Sfr165m capital increase to accelerate its plans for an expansion its own cell and module production capacity.

The owners of SoftwareOne, the Swiss software company that went public in October last year, have taken advantage of the rally of the share price in recent weeks to sell Sfr382.5m of stock, via an accelerated bookbuild.

Hyundai pulled into the Swiss franc bond market this week with a three-year green deal that was priced with a substantial new issue premium (NIP). Elsewhere, nuclear energy provider AKEB sold one of the highest yielding bonds of recent weeks.

Helvetia Holding, the Swiss insurance group, has raised Sfr300m from equity investors to fund its acquisition of Spanish insurer Caser, which it announced in January.

Ina Invest Holding, the real estate development unit of Swiss construction and property management company Implenia, has begun trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange following its spinoff from its parent.

A wide gamut of deals across asset classes filtered through the Swiss franc market this week. Gyrations in swaps allowed Crédit Agricole to come flat on euros on Thursday, while also giving investors a great deal on a long end Lausanne trade.

Ina Invest Holding, the real estate development division of Swiss construction company Implenia, has announced a Sfr100m at-market rights offer that will complete the spin-off of the company on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Credit Suisse launched its first sterling bonds of the year on Tuesday, moving to within touching distance of completing its annual issuance plan for its total loss absorbing capacity requirements (TLAC).

European insurance companies were busy raising capital in every major currency this week, as they showed they were not willing to let a strong issuance window pass by them amid Covid-19.

Citi was the sole bookrunner and underwriter on a Sfr2.55bn block trade in Sika, the Swiss chemicals company, sold by Saint-Gobain on Tuesday night — but the deal was not covered.