Belgian Sovereign

Austria and Belgium could bring syndicated transactions as early as next week, according to SSA bankers, after both sovereigns recently announced bigger funding programmes in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Belgian debt agency has made an upward revision to its funding programme for the year after a re-examination of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. But the sovereign is closely watching the progress of the European Commission’s Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) fund, which would result in lower borrowing from the market.

The Flemish Community has mandated banks to arrange the sale of new seven and 30 year bonds as the Belgian sub-sovereign looks to pump in cash to finance a budget deficit which has arisen from the coronavirus pandemic.

France impressed as it received a record €51bn order book and paid a small new issue premium with its first syndication since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The sovereign was joined in the long end of the curve this week by two sub-sovereign borrowers as investor appetite for duration grows, with more supply expected to follow.

The Belgian region of Wallonne took advantage of the growing demand in the long end of the curve to sell its first social bond on Thursday, although it had to pay a chunky new issue premium to do so. Elsewhere, Bpifrance received plenty of demand to print €1.25bn with a 10 year trade.

France received its biggest ever order book as it came to the market for a 20 year syndication on Tuesday. SSA bankers say that investors are looking for duration after previously sticking to defensive maturities as the Covid-19 crisis eases.

Dollars was the favoured currency for public sector borrowers for the second week running this week, giving attractive funding conditions for euro borrowers amid strong investor demand, particularly in the 10 year part of the curve.

Rating: Aa3/AA/AA-

Belgium took advantage of more attractive funding conditions in dollars versus euros and strong demand at the 10 year point of the curve to sell its first dollar bond since 2017 on Tuesday. SSA supply in dollars will continue on Wednesday with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Nederlandse Waterschapsbank bringing socially responsible deals.

Belgium is set to issue its first dollar bond since 2017 as euro funders continue to take advantage of the attractive funding conditions in the currency, with three other public sector borrowers also in the market for dollars.

Belgium and Ireland announced increases to their 2020 funding requirements this week, as they look to counter the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Belgian Debt Agency has announced an increase to its financing requirements for 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which will see it borrow an extra €20.41bn.