BBVA has enjoyed a recent turnaround in fortunes, cutting its bad loans and boosting its capital adequacy ratios. In 2018, as part of a commitment to sustainable issues, the bank launched a $1bn green bond to widespread interest. David Wigan reports.
Latest articles from David Wigan
Geopolitics creates unpredictable headwinds – again
July 2, 2018The global political situation is inherently unstable, which means the global markets can never be entirely predictable. But should investors simply tune out the noise? David Wigan reports.
AfDB casts its net wider after the commodity slump
June 1, 2018African Development Bank is venturing into green bonds and euro issuance as part of its 10-year strategy to boost developing economies and intra-continental trade. David Wigan reports.
Gecina eases debt after Eurosic acquisition
May 1, 2018Real estate company Gecina saw its focus on central Paris pay off in 2017, with buoyant demand driving the acquisition of rival office space owner Eurosic. Since then, Gecina has been busy cutting the cost of its debt as part of a long-term strategy, as David Wigan reports.
Al Rayan unlocks UK sharia-compliant RMBS
April 3, 2018When the UK’s Al Rayan Bank needed funding to sustain expansion, it was bound by sharia rules on interest. Its innovative solution was a residential mortgage-backed securitisation, which successfully attracted a mixture of investors, as David Wigan reports.
Iceland bond issue brings it in from the cold
March 1, 2018As part of its journey back to prosperity after a severe recession, Iceland made a belated return to the international markets with a successful bond issuance. David Wigan reports.
VW Bank extinguishes emissions fallout to make solo return
February 1, 2018After the damaging emissions scandal in 2015, Volkswagen came back fighting in 2017. This led to VW Bank, freshly separated from VW Financial Services, issuing a three-tranche deal that exceeded all expectations. David Wigan reports.
Innogy green bond launch proves a breeze
January 2, 2018Innogy, the youthful business that was spun out of RWE in 2016, found plenty of takers when it decided on a green bond programme to complement its sustainable wind energy credentials. David Wigan reports.
Italy's Snam closes book on busy 2017
December 1, 2017Italian energy company Snam demerged from Italgas in 2016, and since then has pulled off several deals to reduce its debt financing costs, ultimately leading to a rating upgrade. David Wigan reports.
Austria opts for the deal of the century
November 1, 2017The Austrian government’s landmark 100-year bond drew double the usual amount of investors. Markus Stix of the Austrian Treasury described the deal to David Wigan.