Germany - The Banker

Under review: there have been calls for Bayern LB (headquarters pictured) to be sold following its recent difficulties

The German Landesbanken were hit hard by the financial crisis, and bailouts at both state and federal level have allowed the national government and the EU to increase the pressure for both restructuring and reform. Writer Michael Marray

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KfW's treasurer, Dr Frank Czichowski

In the face of heightened debt market volatility in Europe and serious concerns over the long-term future of the euro, German development agency KfW found a window of opportunity to raise €5bn in a three-year deal. Writer Charlie Corbett

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Small change: Hypo Group Alpe Adria was nationalised late last year for the sum of €3

The nationalisation of Austria's Hypo Alpe Adria had more to do with regulation and ownership models than exposure to emerging Europe. Writer Philip Alexander

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Deutsche Bank's planned takeover of Sal Oppenheim will leave the German private banking sector dominated by two key players. However, Deutsche and Commerzbank are pursuing very different strategies. Writer Michael Marray

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Global regulators are drawing up tougher capital adequacy standards, but German banks do not like what they are seeing. Writer Michael Imeson

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The fragmentation of Germany's banking sector remains its dominant characteristic: the $10,360bn in assets recorded in this year's Top 1000 for the country are held across 82 separate banks. This is in striking contrast to the UK, where $11,267bn assets are held by 15 banks, or France, with $8745bn among just nine banks.

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In the current financial climate, five-year papers are considered a no-go area for US bond investors. This makes the $4m, five-year issue pulled off by Germany's Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau last month all the more remarkable. Writer Edward Russell-Walling

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Dr Frank Czichowski

The tools appear to be in place for Germany’s real economy to maintain funding sources during the global downturn, but restructuring the country’s hard core of troubled banks remains a more complex problem. Writer Philip Alexander.

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Dr Achim Kassow, Commerzbank

Through purchasing Dresdner Bank, Commerzbank has cemented its status as Germany’s number two retail bank. “Our geographic footprint broadens significantly, especially in important urban centres such as Munich, Berlin and Hamburg,” says Dr Achim Kassow, a member of the Commerzbank board of directors responsible for private, retail and small business banking.

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The Dresdner and Postbank deals look like big news and might increase competitiveness, but what effect will they really have on the German banking landscape? Writer Michael Marray.

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Nick Mabey, E3G, a not-for-profit sustainable development consultancy

Germany’s example shows that renewable energy markets can be created if governments actively invest in infrastructure and provide clear, long-term policies. Writer Geraldine Lambe.

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