2nd UPDATE: Deluge Of High-Grade Issues Floods Bond Market

A deluge of new investment-grade bonds flooded the market Tuesday, with Dell Inc. (DELL), Home Depot Inc. (HD) and other top-rated companies issuing more than $10 billion in debt--exceeding the total of $5.35 billion in all of September last year.

Companies were able to take advantage of low interest rates because investors had few savory alternatives: Stock market volatility spiked on renewed concern about the health of Europe's biggest banks and yields on money markets and government debt are plumbing record lows.

"Interest rates are low, we got past the payroll numbers on Friday and everyone is chasing yields," said Patrick Sporl, a senior portfolio manager at American Beacon Advisors in Fort Worth, Texas.

Tuesday was especially busy because this week--the first after the unofficial end of summer--includes two holidays: Labor Day on Monday and Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, starting Wednesday at sundown. "The calendar is such that we have a lot of deals," Sporl said. In a holiday-shortened week, he added, issuers are keen to sell bonds sooner rather than later.

Dell was selling a $1.5 billion deal, as were the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) and the insurer AON Corp. (AON). Home Depot sold $1 billion of debt, its first bond sale since 2006. Medco Health Solutions Inc. (MHS) and International CCE Inc., the soft-drinks bottler were also selling $1 billion each.

Meanwhile, France Telecom's (FTE, FTE.FR) $750 million bond has priced, according to a person familiar with the matter. The bond sold at 82 basis points over Treasurys, to yield 2.238%.

Allergan Inc. (AGN) was in the market with a $650 million 10-year note; Hospira Inc. (HSP) with a $500 million 30-year bond; and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNI), with a $500 million note.

Societe General and Province of Ontario had benchmark notes, Health Care Reit Inc. (HCN) had a $450 million seven-year note and Parker Hannifin (PH) had a $300 million note.

"The end of August tends to be slow, so we get an extra pop at the beginning of September, said Andrew Karp, managing director and head of investment grade debt syndicate, the Americas, at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Along with low interest rates, this has generated "a tidal wave of supply," he added.

"The number of deals we have had is definitely among the busiest we have ever seen," Karp said.

Home Depot's $1 billion bond priced Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the deal. The $500 million 10-year part sold at 135 basis points over Treasurys to yield 2.626% and the $500 million 30-year tranche sold at 175 basis points over Treasurys to yield 3.67%.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC's $750 million two-part bond also priced, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The $250 million 10-year part sold at 100 basis points over Treasurys to yield 3.616% and the $500 million 30-year part sold at 140 basis points over Treasurys to yield 5.074%.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce's three-year note has launched, according to a person familiar with the matter, and is due to price later Tuesday. It is rated Aa2/A+/AA- and launched at 75 basis points over Treasurys. Barclays Capital, Citigroup Inc., J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and CIBC are leading the sale.

Dell's $1.5 billion three-part note has maturities of three, five and 30 years. The $500 million three-year tranche launched at 70 basis points over Treasurys, the $700 million five-year tranche launched at 90 basis points over Treasurys and the $300 million 30-year portion launched at 175 basis points over Treasurys. The bond, joint led by Barclays Capital, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, will price later Tuesday.

International CCE's $1 billion bond has launched, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The 10-year $525 million tranche launched at 100 basis points over Treasurys and the five-year $475 million portion launched at 80 basis points over Treasurys. The bond will price later Tuesday.

-By Anusha Shrivastava, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2227; anusha.shrivastava@dowjones.com

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