Latest articles from Western Europe

Saila Miettinen-Lähde, Talvivaara’s chief financial officer

Convertible bond fuels Talvivaara expansion

February 14, 2011

A London-listed, Finland-based mining company, Talvivaara, needed additional funds to expand the size and scope of its operations. After considering all the options, a speedy convertible bond issue was seen as the way to do it. 

Akbank's solid foundations

February 11, 2011

Akbank chairwoman Suzan Sabanci Dinçer discusses Akbank's plans to consolidate a strong position in its home market while exploiting its relationship with Citi to push forward overseas expansion

Brendan McDonagh teaser

Ireland’s Nama makes careful progress

December 23, 2010

Brendan Mcdonagh, who heads the agency set up to help recapitalise Ireland's troubled banks, admits its task is not easy, but says it is making progress.

German banks

German banks feeling the strain

December 23, 2010

Rescue packages and a rebounding economy have stabilised the German banking system. But it remains vulnerable to weak profitability, low-quality capital and exposure to cyclical industries abroad. Moreover, some believe that even the crisis has failed to force structural change. Writer Geraldine Lambe

George Osborne teaser

George Osborne looks for global answer to global imbalances

December 23, 2010

George Osborne, the UK's chancellor of the exchequer, urges all countries to play their part in redressing the global imbalances that allowed the credit crisis to happen. Interview by Courtney Fingar.

Ferit Sahenk

Acquisition drives regional ambition

December 23, 2010

BBVA's acquisition of almost 25% of Garanti Bankasi will give the Turkish bank a huge boost in its efforts to become a major player in eastern Europe, the Middle East and north Africa, according to Garanti's chairman. Writer Metin Demirsar

Deriner Dam was built to reduce Turkey's energy dependency, but was criticised because its impact on key historical sites

Turkey grapples with project finance demands

December 23, 2010

Turkey is facing the task of doubling its installed power-generating capacity in the next decade, while also speeding up reforms in the energy sector to ensure planned projects can gain access to finance. Writer David O'Byrne

Federico Ghizzoni, UniCredit's newly appointed CEO

UniCredit's new leader still has some old problems

December 23, 2010

Federico Ghizzoni, UniCredit's new CEO, appears to strike the right personal balance between the group's Italian origins and its pan-European reach. But some of the dilemmas that dragged down his predecessor, Alessandro Profumo, need resolving. Writer Philip Alexander

José María Roldán, chairman of the Standards Implementation Group (SIG) at the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision

José María Roldán says don't forget Basel II

December 8, 2010

The leading member of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision explains some of the key concepts of Basel III, and how it relates to Basel I and II. Writer Michael Imeson

Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, president of Iceland

Iceland's President says the country's new banks performing well

December 8, 2010

Iceland has come through a disastrous banking crisis and its president maintains that the country's new institutions are serving the economy well, despite the ban on them making overseas investments. Writer Spencer Anderson

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