Goldman Sachs

The GlobalCapital editorial team has picked what it believes to be the standout bond issues of 2015 across the corporate, public sector, financial institution and emerging market bond markets. Below are the Corporate Deals of the Year 2015. We selected the trades that we think will be remembered for their success in challenging conditions, for making the best use of the demand available to them, or for having made a longer lasting impact, such as the re-opening of a market. The winners are presented here.

The GlobalCapital editorial team has picked what it believes to be the standout bond issues of 2015 across the corporate, high yield, public sector, financial institution and emerging market bond markets. Below are the High Yield Deals of the Year 2015.

After an eventful year for European corporate bonds, HSBC has ousted BNP Paribas as top bookrunner for European issuers, though BNPP stays top for all corporate issues in euros.

Extraordinarily low volumes of new bonds this year meant that 2015 rivalled the financial crisis of 2008-2009 for the pace of high profile CEEMEA staffing changes on syndicate and DCM. Where are they all now?

Finnish pulp and paper maker Stora Enso has tightened margins again on its €700m revolving credit facility, this time by 20bp, after having already reduced margins on the deal by 35bp two years ago.

The last time a newly rated Italian issuer tried to issue a corporate high yield bond was in May — but take a step back and the wider picture points at a resilient, vibrant market with an investor base up for the challenge. Victor Jimenez reports.

Italian banks have come through a challenging year as pressures — from regulators, markets and the economy — waxed and waned. Issuers and investors have had to navigate the looming introduction of the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive, Total Loss Absorbing Capacity and Minimum Requirement for own funds and Eligible Liabilities, which have changed the dynamics between senior unsecured paper, covered bonds and capital issuance. The Italian market also felt one of the strongest impacts in the eurozone from the European Central Bank’s quantitative easing programme, which provided cheap liquidity and tightened issuance spreads, but in some cases appeared to drive investors away and into higher-yielding asset classes. Meanwhile, an economy clawing its way back to health continued to impose a heavy burden of non-performing loans, and legislative reforms left smaller players in the sector looking for merger partners. In this roundtable, held in early December, leading funding officials and bankers gathered to discuss these issues and more.

In the last RMB round-up of 2015, HSBC became the first foreign bank to issue RMB-denominated CDs to corporates in China, Hungary plans RMB bonds in 2016 and Russian bank VTB saw a big boost to its RMB business in 2015. Plus, a recap of GlobalRMB’s top stories this week.

Bank of Zhengzhou has raised HK$5.08bn ($656m) via its Hong Kong IPO after pricing at the floor of its range on Wednesday.

The deadline for replies on NGA Human Resources’ £320m seven years term loan ‘B’ passed on Thursday, in a deal that will help the company fully pay down existing debt.

Italian oil drilling company Saipem has revealed its bank group following the company's debut loan syndication.

David Lloyd Leisure, the UK gym and spa firm, has final replies due at close of business on Monday for its £380m loan recapitalisation.