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The article reports on the decision of the British cable company Virgin Media to reopen the European high-yield corporate bond market on May 29, 2009 as it issues $650 million of seven year debt. The yield guidance for the dual tranche deal is expected to be set at 10.5% for both the euro and dollar portions. The euro deal is being led by Deutsche Bank, while the dollar tranche is led by JPMorgan. Particular focus is given on the opinions of several bankers on the high yield market.

The article reports on the bonds issued by housing associations Grand Union Housing Group and Great Places Housing in November 2013. Grand Union issued its 150 million British pound deal of which 35 million British pounds were retained for sale later. Great Places Housing launched its 38 million British pound deal arranged by the lead managers as an auction. The road show announced by housing association Peabody Trust, which begins on December 2, 2013, is also mentioned.

The article reports that the British water company Severn Trent has re-entered the bond market in 2013. Analysts claim that the only potential hindrance to Severn's issue is the news that the British government is planning to change the retail price index (RPI) to save money on inflation-linked payments. Severn's benchmark January 2026 bond was launched at 155bp-160bp over the five percent March 2025 Gilt. Succeeding announcements that the RPI will remain unchanged reportedly helped the issue.

The article reports on corporate bonds launched by the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and unrated property company St. Modwen Properties in October 2012. It mentions how the deals reinvigorated Great Britain's retail corporate bond market and the belief by some bankers that the market has great potential. Institutionally targeted bonds previously issued by the LSE are mentioned. The role of retail bonds as an alternative to the U.S. private placement market for unrated issuers is cited.

The article reports on the sale of a bond by Longhurst Group in Great Britain in July 2012. The transaction seeks to take advantage of the bullish market conditions for corporate bonds. The bond received an enthusiastic reception from investors. The pricing of the bond by the issuer is also discussed.

This section offers news briefs on the covered bond market. The British covered bond market could be reopened by Barclays Bank with a debut public issue. The last benchmark British covered bond was issued for Bank of Scotland in October 2007. A covered bond program aimed at launching a 2-billion-euro issue in October 2009 is being finalized by Fortis Bank Nederland.

The author reflects on the status of the sterling corporate bond market in Great Britain. It notes the progress of the market but cited illiquidity as an emerging concern. It mentions the move of the International Management Association as it launched a broadside at dealers in the market. It reveals complaints from leading borrowers at the Association of Corporate Treasurers' conference arguing the insufficient move among banks in creating secondary market for newly issued paper.

This article reports that sales of commercial paper to the Bank of England's Asset Purchase facility declined in the week ended March 27, 2009, with only one new issuer seemed to use the fund. Schlumberger sold a £15 million three month clip, which meets the bank's criteria by being sterling denominated and a three month maturity. Other issuers that have issued eligible paper in previous weeks include 3i Group, Prudential and Paccar. Up to and including March 19 the facility had bought a total of £1.891 billion in its first five weeks.

This article states that the Bank of England has started buying corporate bonds under its Asset Purchase Scheme in the week ended March 27, 2009, but its purchases of only £128 million of paper since March 25, well below its self-imposed limit of £252 million, have left market participants puzzled and unimpressed. In its first corporate bond operation £85.525 million of paper was bought. The facility has also been buying bonds that are already in good demand and therefore has had little effect on the market.

The article focuses on the £500 million bond issuance of Véolia Environnement SA launched on October 16, 2007. The company aims to use the deal in order to refinance the acquisition of CleanAway. According bookrunners Barclays Capital, HSBC and Royal Bank of Scotland, the debut transaction reopened the sterling market. Most of the 60 investors involved in the bond issue were from Great Britain.

The article focuses on the issuance of a second hybrid deal and a subordinated note in sterling by Linde, the German industrial gases and forklift truck group. The transaction aims help finance the company's £8.2 billion buy-out of British gases company BOC. Linde group treasurer Erhard Wehlen cites the decision to postpone the launch of the deal due to volatility that affects the outstanding hybrid deals. Wehlen adds that the company's evaluation showed that hybrid bond is applicable for an optimal financing strategy in an acquisition scenario.