UK

The failure by Metro Bank, the UK challenger bank, to issue a £250m senior non-preferred bond this week throws the spotlight on the Bank of England, which could soon have to decide how to deal with Metro if it fails to meet a year-end deadline for raising bail-inable debt. Tyler Davies reports.

Loan heads see green light flash across a torpid picture - Porterbrook launches US PPs under sustainability framework - Bunzl turns bank debt sustainable - ICBC London claims first in EMEA bank green loans

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (London) has closed its first green loan, a $370m dual currency facility, a year after issuing its debut green bond.

Adani Transmission, the Indian power grid company, is marketing a debut US private placement, according to several market participants, who are watching the potential deal closely to see if it could spark a return for Indian names in the sector — a decade after it was burnt by a deal gone awry.

The struggling carmaker issued $150m of senior secured notes in a private placement priced at steep 12%, hiking up its leverage ratio. S&P showed no mercy and instantly cut Aston Martin’s credit rating to CCC+ from B-, leaving the firm on outlook negative. The company is betting its future on the risky launch of a family-friendly luxury SUV.

UK train leasing firm Porterbrook has entered the US private placement market, according to several market participants, seeking to raise debt under its sustainability programme.

Woodford Investment Management, the asset manager run by Neil Woodford, has sold the last of its stake in IP Group, the investment company focused on the commercialisation of university-developed intellectual property.

Just Group is set to become the third insurance company in a week to buy back some of its subordinated bonds with a view to replacing them with new securities in the market. But CreditSights have cautioned against taking a 'speculative' position in the company's new bonds, which arrived with price thoughts above 8% on Thursday.

Shanghai-based China Pacific Insurance Co (CPIC) has received the green light from its board to list in the UK using the London-Shanghai Stock Connect, becoming only the second Mainland company to do so.

UK tour operator Thomas Cook’s default could come close to annihilating the bondholders’ positions, leaving them only with a few cents on the euro, the liquidation analysis shows. The 178-year-old company tried feverishly to secure a £1.1bn rescue package over the weekend but collapsed on Monday.

Kaspi.kz, the largest payments company in Kazakhstan, announced on Monday that it would proceed with an IPO on the London stock exchange after filing a registration document last week.

Metro Bank had to cancel its plans to sell its debut non-preferred senior bond on Monday as investors focused on the risks overhanging its business. The UK challenger bank's inability to access the market, despite offering a 7.5% coupon, raises important questions ahead of a looming deadline for it to meet the minimum requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL).