Issues

Garlanded banker led FIG origination in EMEA

Iceland is uniquely placed to support the economic development of the Arctic region. But alongside the vast potential around transport, energy, tourism, mining and fishing are key concerns around its fragile ecosystem and geopolitics, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Philip Moore reports

Icelandic banks have become enthusiastic issuers of labelled bonds, sensing that they gain extra interest from investors. The government, however, has delayed joining them, partly because it does not need much funding. Meanwhile, as Philip Moore reports, the banks’ focus has now shifted to accelerating the growth of their green lending, as they try to contribute to Iceland’s ambitious decarbonisation targets

Iceland has bounced back strongly after the pandemic, with tourism leading the way. But there are signs that a more balanced economy is developing. Philip Moore reports

To many Icelanders, the crises engulfing US banks such as SVB, Signature and First Republic, as well as the dramatic takeover of Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse by its domestic rival UBS will have triggered painful memories of their own banking and economic disaster 14 years ago, in December 2008.

Savings banks clobbered by bond losses in 2022 have recovered their appetite for deals

Premiums to rocket but how high? Euro locals leave it to international banks in covered bond market in aftermath of Credit Suisse affair

Loose regulatory status of SLBs has made them a harder sell than simpler green bonds

Second and third movers paid 'next to no premium' at own peril, while bankers praised issuers merely for getting over the line

Nineteen issuers from a range of industry sectors built on the recovery, raising $19bn by Wednesday

Poland prints record deal amid fears that conditions will worsen later in the year

Companies are postponing IPOs after two volatile weeks, unless they must fulfil strategic targets