Merrill Lynch's orchestration of the EDF purchase of British Energy was one of the most complex and drawn-out deals of its kind ever undertaken. Writer Edward Russell-Walling
Latest articles from Edward Russell Walling
Energy's renewed vigour
June 4, 2009Banks' frenetic involvement with the clean energy sector in recent years had lost its momentum in the global downturn, yet the potential renewal of the Kyoto Protocol and promise of unprecedented environmental targets in the US are reviving interest.
Food for thought
May 5, 2009When food group Premier was weighed down by debt after adding new brands to its portfolio, Goldman Sachs' last-minute, three-pronged restructuring plan saved the day.
Left to right: Andrew Wilkinson, Dominic Lee and Rob Pulford
Roche's perfect storm
April 7, 2009Drug company Roche made a rare foray into the markets recently, with BNP Paribas being among the bookrunners putting together its record-breaking euro bond deal to finance the purchase of US biotech firm Genentech. Writer Edward Russell-Walling
A long-term win against the odds KfW
April 7, 2009In 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
Dutch bond goes down a storm
March 10, 2009The Dutch State Treasury Agency triumphed when it brought its 10-year bond to market with a coupon of 4%: the book closed within just four hours with most of the allocation going to real money accounts of international investors. Writer Edward Russell-Walling.
HSBC shows local knowhow
March 10, 2009HSBC tapped into its relationships as primary dealer with eurozone countries when it acted in Greece’s recent €5.5bn bond issue. Writer Edward Russell-Walling.
Lovells’ rescue remedy
February 2, 2009Lovells’ restructuring of Cheyne Capital’s $7bn structured investment vehicle set an example for other troubled SIVs. Writer Edward Russell-Walling.
Well prepared for hard times
February 2, 2009BNP Paribas’ €1.5bn, five-year covered bond has given the market a welcome fillip, but was only made possible thanks to the bank’s five-year strategy of diversifying its funding as broadly as possible.
A hare and tortoise story
December 1, 2008When RZB announced its rights issue in October it was not in response to market pressure, but the final step of a three-year programme to build capital in line with the assets and liabilities of the growing bank. Writer Edward Russell-Walling.