UK

European banks broke a five year record for funding volumes in the first quarter, despite steering clear of markets for most of March. Their blistering start to the year will help them to sit out a while longer, as they wait for funding costs to settle during the coronavirus pandemic.

Additional tier one investors breathed a sigh of relief after regulators outlawed dividend payments this week. They argued the move made it more likely they would carry on getting the coupons on their instruments.

Mizuho Bank said it had hired former Lloyds banker John Feeney as head of its European corporate finance department, responsible for growing European corporate banking.

Imperial Tobacco signs new RCF, no plans for drawdown — British Airways stretches dollar revolver maturity — Fiat Chrysler bridge loan in place as HY remains shut — Shell builds cash pile again with $12bn revolver

As the coronavirus eats into the global economy, most companies are putting their share buy-back programmes on hold — but there are exceptions. ContourGlobal, which generates power in emerging markets, has launched a new buy-back programme, while Philips is using an unusual derivative technique to adapt its plan to crisis conditions.

Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets spied an opportunity to launch a new senior bond on Thursday, with credit markets performing well despite the tougher backdrop in equities this week.

Dollar high yield buyers showed up in force for the largest priming debt opportunity provided so far by the coronavirus crisis, Carnival Corporation’s $4bn rescue offering, priced alongside a convertible and an equity capital raising on Wednesday. The package provides funds for the stricken cruise operator until November, but even if the company can’t start sailing again this year or next, investors in the new issue are first in line for the firm’s $38bn of assets.

Dyson has become the first UK company to sell private placements in the past month, as the coronavirus complicates primary issuance and the market instead focuses on amendments to existing deals. Sources said the UK manufacturer succeeded because it was realistic over the price it would have to pay.

Hays, the UK recruitment and human resource services company, is in the market with a £200m equity placing to give it enough capital to withstand a halt to much of its business operations because of the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand will prevent its financial institutions from redeeming subordinated bonds during the coronavirus pandemic, putting itself in contrast with other parts of the world, where banks remain free to manage their debt capital as they see fit.

Auto Trader, the UK online vehicle marketplace, has become the latest London-listed corporate to raise equity in response to the challenges of the Covid-19 crisis.

The Pre-Emption Group, an assembly of listed companiesm investors and intermediaries that monitors pre-emption rights in the UK, has changed its guidelines to say that the impacts of the Covid-19 coronavirus means investors should support companies selling new shares worth up to 20% of their market capitalisation without giving existing shareholders first refusal.