UK

Shares in fertilizer miner Sirius Minerals plummeted as much as 60% on Tuesday morning after the company was forced to finally pull a $500m high yield bond offering it had postponed in August.

After a tumultuous year, the UK’s Metro Bank is readying a return to the bond market to raise debt for its minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL) ahead of a 2020 deadline.

Aviva Investors has appointed a head of environmental, social and governance for its real estate business.

The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing’s (HKEX’s) proposition to acquire the London Stock Exchange Group last week was nothing short of bewildering. Instead of showcasing the HKEX’s ambition with such a bid, the move has only served as an embarrassing reminder of the bourse’s shortfalls.

Lloyds Bank attracted a large and diverse order book for its €750m 10 year covered bond on Monday and has provided ‘the last missing piece’ for bankers working on Virgin Money’s debut euro covered bond, which is expected to be announced soon.

UK coach operator National Express has entered the US private placement market, according to market sources, looking for £200m-equivalent, in dollars, euros and sterling.

In this round-up, China’s industrial profit growth further declined, Chinese state media has hinted at more peacemaking gestures to the US and the London Stock Exchange (LSE) rejected the Hong Kong bourse’s acquisition offer in a strongly worded letter.

London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) has emphatically rejected the unsolicited £32bn takeover bid by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEG), with LSEG's board suggesting that the deal has profound flaws.

Rating: Aa2/AA/AA

Two UK airports set to sell US private placements - Market first as Northern Irish housing association seeks US PPs - Kernel set to secure yet another facility, as EBRD continues Ukrainian push - RMB Mauritius secures loan, months after dollar debt transfer

Bank of Montreal and Rothesay Life made use of the quieter political situation in the UK this week to issue in sterling, in the same week issuance paced down in the euro market ahead of the European Central Bank’s meeting.

Pinewood Studios' effort to re-cast itself as a real estate company seemed pure box office to investors, who placed enough orders for a new bond to allow the borrower to up the deal size and still price at the tight end of guidance.