UK

Baltics Classified Group, the online classified advertising company focused on the Baltic region, has opened the books on its £238m IPO on the London Stock Exchange.

Speaking at a keynote interview on Tuesday at the Global Borrowers and Bond Investors Forum 2021, Sir Robert Stheeman, chief executive of the UK Debt Management Office, said that the strong and sustainable demand in the green bond market has given him confidence as the UK prepares to build out a green Gilt curve.

UK speciality fibres and plastics maker Essentra has launched a private placement in what is the second deal from a listed UK corporate to hit the market in a matter of weeks. Market sources say more corporates, including some utilities, are set to return to the instrument after a dry spell since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Barclays has appointed Anita Tanna as managing director and head of EMEA generalist and specialist cash sales in London, having hired her from Citi.

HSBC Asset Management has hired an emerging markets debt portfolio manager from APG Asset Management.

Anglian Water has announced its intention to issue a fresh private placement under a new financing structure. Utilities, once stalwarts of the market, have been few and far between in the last 18 months as PPs have struggled to compete with public bonds on price.

HSBC is installing a pair of senior bankers to oversee its recently created capital financing and investment banking coverage (CFIBC) unit — Adam Bagshaw, who was hired from Deutsche Bank last year, and Matthew Ginsburg, who joins from Fitch Ratings.

Auction Tech Group (ATG), the UK-listed owner of auction websites, has completed a £244m equity raise to part-fund the acquisition of US firm Live Auctioneers.

The sterling covered bond market exploded into life this week as three transactions worth more than £3bn priced in three days, increasing this year’s issuance by 150%, and boosting hopes that more deals will follow.

Wise, the UK financial technology company, is looking to make stock market history by becoming the first such firm to list on the London Stock Exchange through a direct listing. If the deal is a success, it will show other issuers a way to go public that avoids having to build an order book for an IPO in a difficult market.

Austrian packaging firm Constantia Flexibles has launched a €150m ESG-linked Schuldschein.

Credit Suisse’s investment bankers are looking to its top ranks for an injection of belief in the future of the business, following cuts to the bonus pool and defections from those with less patience, writes David Rothnie.