Merck’s acquisition of fellow pharmaceuticals group Sigma-Aldrich required a great deal of forward planning and the nerve to be the first transaction after the summer break without a roadshow.

German bank KfW's transparency and impact-measurement programme when it comes to green bonds have set it apart in the euro, US dollar and Australian dollar markets. Given this success, it extended its remit to the quieter sterling market in July, with impressive results.

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena found itself in a tight spot when forced to issue extra capital after poor stress test results, but a strenuous roadshow and a heavy discount for existing shareholders saw the lender's hard work pay off.

University College, one of oldest colleges at Oxford University, has taken advantage of the near-zero rate environment to issue the lowest-yielding university bond ever recorded.

A loyal investor base welcomed the long-dated bond with three equal maturities that helped smooth the Côte d’Ivoire sovereign's refinancing profile.

With an improved credit rating and strong demand for high-yield bonds, the time was right for Anglo-Indian car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover to drive through a tender offer to replace expensive debt.

An innovative four-tranche bond for Norway's oil company Statoil set the standard for size and pricing thanks to supportive monetary policy conditions, even with lower oil prices.

Launching the first eurozone sovereign benchmark bond of 2015 with a record low yield confirmed that Belgium has overcome the anxious investor perceptions at the height of the 2011 crisis.

With credit ratings on negative outlook, Swedish car manufacturer Volvo chose a hybrid issue to smooth the road ahead.