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Transition amid volatility
Citigroup strengthened its position in 2023, defying macroeconomic headwinds and an anti-ESG backlash in the US. For its role in introducing sustainability deals to new geographies and hard-to-abate sectors, Citigroup is IFR’s Americas ESG Financing House of the Year.
Across the spectrum
For its raft of landmark bond, loan and convertible ESG deals, as well as a host of ESG framework updates, particularly alignments with the demanding EU Taxonomy for sustainable activities, Credit Agricole CIB is IFR’s EMEA ESG Financing House of the Year.
Colour coordinated
ANZ broadened the spectrum of green, sustainable and social capital markets deals in Asia, and was at the forefront of a surge in issuance in Australasia, making it IFR's Asia-Pacific ESG House of the Year.
Scaling conservation
A US$656m conservation-linked bond for Ecuador arranged by Credit Suisse anchored a landmark US$1.6bn debt exchange that carried the so-called debt-for-nature market to unprecedented volume and reinforced its ability to connect emerging markets issuers with an investment-grade investor base normally closed to them.
Energy blueprint
Renewable power developer Invenergy’s sale of US$580m of tax credits to Bank of America allowed the firm to raise an additional US$1.05bn of senior secured green loans by borrowing against the future payment stream in a groundbreaking acquisition deal.
Clean energy, new market
There had long been a debate over whether Romanian power producer Hidroelectrica should list in London or domestically. It opted for the latter, with the risk that might lose some investor attention in the IPO, and yet the L9.33bn (US$2.1bn) float was Europe's largest of the year, shares traded up and – particularly of note in 2023 – were still up at year-end.
Premium content
Expertise and innovation are ESG buzzwords that are often overused, but for a long track record of consistently producing high-quality work and clever ideas that are helping to advance sustainable finance, Natixis is the winner of IFR’s ESG Insight Award.
Former ECM banker and self-described origination junkie Craig Coben looks back on the good times, bemoans the present and manages – just about – to be hopeful about the future.
After nearly 40 years in DCM, Chris Tuffey recalls the highs and lows and examines how things have changed. The thrill of the deal is still there, but perhaps not quite what it was.
Rupak Ghose looks back on a banking career in which it felt like everything changed, but some things remained the same.
PR veteran (and former IFR man) Jezz Farr explains what the awards process looks like for the unfortunate souls trying to line up all the egomaniacs involved (and that’s not just the bankers).
PRC institutions take lion's share of Asian investment banking fees, and are steadily expanding into overseas markets.
