DNB Bank

DNB Boligkreditt on Thursday issued its first euro covered bond since January 2019 in large size, pricing inside its own curve — once again underscoring the strong technical backdrop to the market.

Nordic Semiconductor, the Norwegian maker of semiconductors, has completed an Nkr1.1bn ($125m) growth capital raising to fund M&A opportunities and an acceleration of its growth strategy.

DNB Boligkreditt did not waste any time waiting to tap its covered bond first issued last week, raising a further Skr500m on Thursday in order to capitalise on the attractiveness of the Swedish krona compared with other currencies.

DNB issued a Swedish krona covered bond on Thursday in a size large enough to qualify for the best treatment under the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) and at a more competitive funding level than was available elsewhere. The deal was issued amid renewed hope that Nordic issuers will stay active in euro covered bonds this year.

DNB successfully issued a Swedish krona covered bond on Thursday in a size large enough to qualify for the best treatment under the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) and at a more competitive funding level than was available elsewhere. The deal emerges in the wake of a report from Moody’s which highlighted the strength of the Swedish covered bond market.

Scope for Nordic covered bond issuance in euros is moderately positive, even in Sweden where some issuers could yet make a strategic return to euros despite the higher cost. Danes and Norwegians may also make an appearance in euros, but Finnish supply hopes are considered more limited.

One of the more unusual green bonds of 2019, the $125m high yield issue for Teekay Shuttle Tankers, which operates ships serving the offshore oil industry, was tapped on Friday for $75m under the company's new name of Altera Shuttle Tankers.

Borregaard, the Norwegian paper and chemicals company, has signed sustainability-linked credit facilities totalling Nkr1.5bn (€140m), days after Klaveness brought the loan structure to Norway’s shipping industry.

DNB entered 2020 better capitalised than ever, and having taken the opportunity to get ahead with its regulatory funding at the end of last year, it was also better financed than ever. Even so, following the regulator's decision to delay implementation of MREL target by one year, DNB could return to the covered bond market in the latter half of 2020.

Sweden’s Volvo Car, a car maker, has become the latest company under pressure from the coronavirus pandemic to sign a state-guaranteed loan, as bankers say that state support is essential to secure commercial bank loans for the worst affected sectors.

Norway’s debut syndicated tap went off with a bang on Tuesday, attracting a bumper Nkr37bn ($3.7bn) order book. The deal’s success was driven in part by increased demand from foreign investors for Norwegian govvies.

High grade corporates poured into the primary market on Monday, with sentiment noticeably higher as the first trial for a Covid-19 vaccine in the US and easing of lockdown restrictions in Europe cheered markets.