Erste Group Bank

Bank lenders are hopeful that volumes across the typically active central and eastern Europe region will pick up, after what has been a disappointing year. This week Romanian meat processing company Carmistin Group raised a syndicated loan from a range of regional lenders, which is one of only five deals signed in the country this year.

Erste Group Bank launched its second additional tier one (AT1) of the year on Monday, taking advantage of a surge in risk appetite in the run up to the Christmas break.

A trio of rare issuers found a window for issuance in the FIG bond market on Thursday, with Nykredit and Hamburg Commercial Bank accessing a tightening senior non-preferred market, while Íslandsbanki launched Iceland's first ever sustainable bond

The Russian Federation and the Republic of Hungary brought euro-denominated trades on Thursday, taking the opportunity to get funding done during good conditions in the run-up to the US Thanksgiving holiday, after which liquidity is expected to dry up.

Leonine, the German film and television production company, has signed loans totalling €189m, as some lenders say the market is likely to wind down early this year after the feast of bridge financings in the second and third quarters.

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.

Europe’s investment grade corporate bond market saw trades from the Covid-19 rocked real estate sector on Thursday, with Immofinanz and Heimstaden Bostad attracting less demand than recent similarly rated trades.

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.

Europe’s investment grade corporate bond market is lining up more mandates, with German companies making up the bulk of new deals announced on Tuesday.

Hungarian oil and gas company Mol on Thursday raised a seven year bond in euros.

Rating: A2/A/A

Senior deals from BPCE and Erste Group Bank this week benefitted from enthusiastic investor support amid a shortage of supply in the asset class.