Credit Suisse's Madrid-based FIG team's input into Bank Zachodni's all-share merger with KBC's Kredyt Bank has allowed Santander to build the market presence it wanted in Poland without putting the squeeze on its capital ratio.
Central & eastern Europe
Latest articles from Central & eastern Europe
Many arms pushing Russia's entrepreneurs
June 1, 2012The Russian government is pushing hard for more financing to find its way to the small and medium-sized enterprise sector, but opaque accounts and a shortage of management skills are deterring banks and private equity funds alike.
Georgia's local regulation in a global economy
May 28, 2012The governor of the National Bank of Georgia has to tailor his maintenance of local financial stability to a banking sector with high levels of foreign ownership and aspirations to expand across the Caucasus region and beyond.
Will listings of state-owned shares energise Bucharest market?
May 1, 2012An ambitious privatisation programme could revitalise the Bucharest Stock Exchange, but there are still many hurdles in place preventing a boost in activity.
Recovery eludes Romania’s banks
May 1, 2012With private sector credit growth negligible and non-performing loans still high, foreign-owned banks may need to rethink their strategies in Romania.
Issuers on the fringes of Europe's crisis
May 1, 2012Although not directly affected by the squeeze facing eurozone peripheral sovereigns and banks, central and eastern Europe is affected by its economic ties with the EU and the prevalence of western European banks in its markets. Philip Alexander hears from a range of European issuers outside the eurozone, including sovereigns, agencies, banks and corporates, on how the crisis has affected them.
Mixed blessings of foreign ownership for Black Sea banks
May 1, 2012Levels of foreign ownership vary widely among the banks of the eastern Black Sea countries. While foreign-owned banks went too far, too fast before the crisis, they may be more resilient than locally owned players in a downturn.
Deals of the year 2012
April 27, 2012The Banker’s Deals of the Year for 2012 celebrate the most impressive transactions in FIG capital raising, M&A, corporate and SSA bonds, infrastructure and project finance, loans, structured finance, equities, restructuring, Islamic finance, and this year a newly added trade finance category. Many deals were undertaken in very difficult market conditions, while banks from emerging markets are noticeably playing a larger role in the top transactions in their countries.
Czech sovereign deal shows appetite for peripheral Europe
April 2, 2012The Czech Republic has proved that the Euromarket is not exclusive to core eurozone sovereigns by pricing the tightest deal in central and eastern Europe in February 2012.
Emerging markets face currency conundrum
April 2, 2012A combination of policy intervention in emerging markets and high residual risks in developed markets means volatility in emerging market currencies looks set to continue.