UniCredit

FIG borrowers may be well funded, but rates are low and market conditions are good enough to support opportunistic issuance — as was shown this week by a slate of deals across the capital structure. Given a volatile end to 2020 is likely, issuers will need to stay alert and take advantage of funding windows as they arise, write Frank Jackman and Bill Thornhill.

High grade corporate bond investors had their pick of crossover deals this week, with Inwit, Veolia and Cellnex offering trades on the periphery of junk ratings, with demand solid as risk appetite remains strong.

Austria built a large order book as it came to the market for its final syndication of the year on Thursday, ahead of the expected arrival of the European Union as a mega borrower next week.

Veolia, the French water and waste company, and Spanish telecoms infrastructure firm Cellnex were out with crossover rated debt on Wednesday, giving investment grade corporate investors a double chance to pick up spreads at the higher end of their remit.

The Republic of Austria picked banks to lead a new 20 year euro benchmark on Wednesday, while the European Stability Mechanism surprised some market participants by sounding out banks for a deal next week, which could clash with the EU’s grand arrival as a supersized issuer.

UniCredit has picked Pier Carlo Padoan as chairman designate.

Crossover credit Inwit showed that the return of risk demand is still going strong this week, with the Italian wireless infrastructure company drumming up €3.7bn of demand for its trade.

A pair of European banks approached the euro senior market in different ways on Tuesday: Iccrea targeted a smaller pool of investors with its delayed callable debut, while BFCM went big with a blowout long 10 year.

Rating: Aa1/AA/AAA

Argenta Spaarbank, Belfius Bank and Jyske Bank took differing approaches to sell €500m no-grow senior bonds this week — Argenta offered a substantial new issue premium, while the latter pair pushed their pricing close to fair value.

KfW could be set to hit screens with a euro benchmark next week in what may be its final public deal in the currency this year, according to bankers. The bond is likely to come with a seven year maturity, a tenor that the Free State of Saxony struggled with on Thursday, finishing with the book only around half covered.

A pair of infrequent issuers, Belfius Bank and Jyske Bank, tapped a strong market on Thursday with a pair of senior deals. The conducive environment is expected to wane as banks enter blackout periods, and prospective deals will have to vie with volatility around the US presidential election.