Goldman Sachs' €1.2bn unsecured high-yield issue for Dutch cable company Ziggo was remarkable for a number of reasons, not least its timing; the day it was priced was the day that Greece was downgraded to junk status. Writer Edward Russell-Walling
HSBC's sukuk solution
July 6, 2010With its seven-year maturity making it the longest for any sukuk drawn up by a Saudi corporate, the $1.9bn capital raising put together for the Saudi Electric Company marks a huge achievement for the HSBC Saudi Arabia team that assembled it. Writer Edward Russell-Walling
Clear for take-off
May 28, 2010With a hugely turbulent economic backdrop threatening to throw the airline booking operator Amadeus's IPO off course, its Morgan Stanley team had their work cut out to launch the first such European venture since 2008 to be in excess of €1bn. Writer Edward Russell-Walling
Deals show there's life in the UK M&A market
May 5, 2010Nomura's retail investment banking team - effectively acquired from Lehman Brothers in 2008 - is taking advantage of a recovery in the UK's retail industry. Writer Edward Russell-Walling
Rusal IPO shows nerves of steel
March 31, 2010Aluminium giant Rusal's IPO listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange - a first for a Russian company - left the Credit Suisse team managing the deal biting their nails right up until the start of trading. Writer Edward Russell-Walling
Right places, Right time
March 3, 2010When it decided to sell a slice of copper miner KGHM, Poland's government turned to Deutsche Bank, hoping that it would give the deal a more international approach as well as getting the timing of a potentially delicate deal just right. Writer Edward Russell-Walling
Tullow takes the fast route to Africa
March 3, 2010Active in 23 countries, the UK’s Tullow Oil is now targeting the African market, a policy which took a huge leap forward in January with its $1.5bn purchase of Heritage Oil’s Ugandan assets, the funds for which were raised by an accelerated bookbuild that was completed in just over a week.
Rights issues: Over the crest of the wave
February 1, 2010The frenetic activity in equity capital markets last year, which included some huge rights issues, is gradually slowing, although recapitalisations in other struggling sectors such as real estate and automotives are expected to keep the momentum going, if at a more relaxed pace. Writer Edward Russell-Walling
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Lloyds recapitalisation was both trailblazing and rehabilitating
February 1, 2010The £22.5bn recapitalisation of Lloyds Banking Group last November not only kept the institution free from outright government control, but helped to rehabilitate the financial markets. Writer Edward Russell-Walling
Issuer strategy: Gazprom ignites demand
October 28, 2009In demand: Gazprom's headquarters in Moscow
Gazprom, one of the world's largest energy companies, has responded to its downgraded ratings with an ambitious issue of commercial paper in western Europe. The surprising outcome may have implications for years to come. Writer Edward Russell-Walling