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Borrowers in sub-Saharan Africa have suffered more than those in most other regions since the Covid-19 crisis swept the globe and as it subsides, they will need international capital markets more than ever. Standard Chartered, with its strategic commitment to Africa, has been preparing issuers for their return by looking for new ways to de-risk transactions and new pockets of liquidity.

The investment grade bond market has enjoyed a strong run over the last year but it also presented new challenges for corporate treasurers as green and social bond frameworks went mainstream while balance sheets needed strengthening. Rothschild & Co. was there to help clients navigate the challenges.

The Middle Eastern international bond market once again demonstrated its resilience over the past year with a diverse array of issuers pushing volumes well above $100bn. Standard Chartered’s client-centric approach brought success in products ranging from ESG to bank capital, and from debut transactions for corporates to repeat business for the largest sovereigns.

The FIG debt capital markets business is as competitive as they come but TD Securities has established itself over the last few years by building a reputation as a house that will go the extra mile for issuers.

The arrival of the European Union’s €100bn Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) issuance programme in October 2020 catalysed secondary trading activity in the sovereigns, supranationals and agencies market. Tradeweb’s easily customisable platform has been giving both buy- and sell-side participants automated and efficient tools to take advantage of the opportunities SURE has opened up.

We’re delighted to reveal the winners of the GlobalCapital Bond Awards — the best borrowers, investment banks, investors and other participants in the international bond markets.

GlobalCapital is pleased to uncover the winners of this year’s Emerging Market Bond Awards, which celebrate the top issuers, arrangers, investors and service providers in the capital markets.

GlobalCapital is delighted to present the winners for this year's Sovereign, Supranational and Agency bond awards.

Brazilian meatpacker JBS made an apparently impressive entry into the world of ESG debt last week with a well received sustainability-linked bond (SLB). While an SLB is an encouraging first step for a company that has for years been under the scrutiny of environmental campaigners, the KPIs in the deal cover a fraction of the company’s emissions, and the deal shows investors need be tougher on SLB issuers if the format is to have value.

Although some bankers, keen on London life, are scrambling for ways to avoid having to move to the EU, further relocations due to take place this year will help build the critical mass needed for a vibrant pool of talent to emerge in hubs like Paris and Frankfurt.

The EU wheeled out the first syndication for its €800bn Next Gen funding programme on Tuesday. The deal marks the start of a borrowing programme of remarkable size that has taken much planning. But it also marked the start of the EU paying lower underwriting fees than have been standard in the SSA market for a decade. The EU's decision sparked controversy in the market between banks and other borrowers looking to do the same. GlobalCapital takes a look at what is at stake.

The Spac phenomenon in the US appears to be reaching a tipping point, after whetting the appetite of investors over the past year and offering juicy fees to investment banks. As the market in Asia gets ready for take off, firms should be wary of the obstacles they may face.