U.S. ABS issuance falls in first half of 2007

(Reuters) - Analysts had predicted at least a 30 percent drop in
subprime loan originations for this year.




Citigroup was the top underwriter of asset-backed
securities in the first half, underwriting $66.1 billion worth
of ABS deals via 109 offerings, Thomson said.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Thomson Learning LBO financing hits turbulence

(Reuters) - The financing package, part of a record debt-raising spree
by takeover firms, was sweetened with stricter terms on both
the loans and bonds after being downsized earlier this week,
market sources said.




Thomson Learning is selling debt to pay for its buyout from
Thomson Corp. by private equity investors Apax
Partners and OMERS Capital Partners.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Junk Debt Investors May Be at `Breaking Point,' Thomson Learning LBO Shows

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. high-yield debt investors, after
snapping up a record $600 billion in new loans and bonds this
year, are starting to push back.

Thomson Learning, the textbook and educational testing unit
of Thomson Corp., this week cut its bond offering to $1.6 billion
from $2.14 billion, removed the riskiest portion of the deal and
agreed to pay more interest on its planned loan, according to KDP
Investment Advisors Inc. US Foodservice, a unit of Dutch
supermarket company Royal Ahold NV, also raised the interest on
its planned loan to attract lenders, Standard & Poor's LCD said.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

UPDATE 1-Citigroup settles retirement savings charges

(Reuters) - The penalty includes a $3 million fine and $12.2 million in
restitution to more than 200 customers. The NASD also suspended
three brokers and two branch managers at a Charlotte, North
Carolina branch office for 45 days to 18 months, and fined them
a total of $295,000. Citigroup did not admit wrongdoing.




"We take this matter very seriously," Citigroup spokeswoman
Susan Thomson said in an e-mail, calling the activities "the
inappropriate actions of a small group of employees in one
office more than five years ago." She said Citigroup is doing
what it can to prevent a recurrence.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

Thomson sees no reason to be bought-report

(Reuters) - Asked to comment on recurrent market speculation that Thomson might be a takeover target, Chief Executive Frank Dangeard told La Tribune: "Thomson has a clear strategy which allows it to be a leader in its sector. There is no reason for us to be consolidated."

Dangeard added that Thomson's plan was to achieve annual sales growth of between 5 to 7 percent from now until 2009 and that Thomson expected a "very strong rise" in its net profit.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News