Recent Insights

Aviation
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Coronavirus keeps aviation industry grounded
Few sectors have felt the impact of COVID-19 as deeply as aviation, and airlines are exploring all lines of finance to bolster balance sheets.
Aviation
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Aviation M&A braces for impact
COVID-19 travel restrictions have put the aviation industry on the backfoot. M&A will not be an immediate priority, but consolidation and distressed deals will come in time
tables outside a restaurant
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Relaxation not an option for leisure and hospitality sectors
The COVID-19 lockdown forced restaurants, hotels, gyms, theaters and casinos to shut their doors and put balance sheets under extreme strain, but some have tapped debt markets to see them through
escalator image
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Cracks show in retail as debt burden begins to bite
Retailers faced a difficult financing market before COVID-19 appeared, but lockdowns have made the situation even tougher
Financial Institutions M&A: Sector trends - June 2019
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Global retail M&A volume drops to lowest total since 2009
COVID-19 has put dealmaking in the already disrupted retail industry under further strain. Some retailers, however, have proven resilient and those that survive will see opportunity to vertically integrate supply chains and invest in technology capabilities
city at night
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Accelerating change: From smart city to smart society
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed some of the shortcomings of major cities in times of crisis. As the world searches for ways to make urban areas more resilient, smart city initiatives offer some of the answers.
refinery image
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Oil & gas M&A stumbles in the face of COVID-19 crisis
Oil & gas dealmaking has plummeted following a period of prolonged low oil prices and a steep fall in demand due to COVID-19. However, large players with strong balance sheets could still see opportunities to invest
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COVID-19 and your deal: Considerations for underwriters
Underwriters are grappling with the need to support clients that are accessing funding, while maintaining disclosure standards and managing their risk when the tools they’ve typically used may be unavailable
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High yield bond issuances rebound during coronavirus lockdown
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic saw high yield bond issuances grind to a halt at the end of Q1, but markets started to revive in Q2
Digital infographic
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Loan issuance seizes up as coronavirus fallout hits
Despite a promising beginning to the year, US and European leveraged loan markets felt the full economic impact of the pandemic
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Most pending US M&A deals are proceeding as agreed, despite COVID-19
We highlight the responses companies are taking in light of the current environment and the arguments some buyers are making to terminate transactions
Rugby
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Dealmakers plan to lean into a downturn
Half of the executives in our survey expect to do more deals if there's a downturn in 2020 than if there isn't
Iceburg
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Shareholder activism changes everything
Activism affects virtually everyone now—even those who may never have to deal with an activist
Cargo ship
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Trade and national security policies create pent-up demand for cross-border deals
Cross-border M&A remains a high priority—though trade wars and national security rules change the game for some
Columns
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The digital revolution could fuel “shadow protectionism”
Digital drives deals in every sector, ensuring tech is a primary focus of M&A across the board—even as data challenges multiply
Telescope
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M&A is top of mind: Will dealmakers actually double down in a downturn?
In a world roiled by activism, geopolitical uncertainty and data risk, dealmakers are eager to lean in, according to our survey
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Coronavirus: The impact on leveraged finance
As the effects of coronavirus on the primary and secondary debt markets continue, there will be ongoing implications for leveraged finance transactions
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LIBOR discontinuation: What does the future hold?
LIBOR, one of the most significant global benchmarks for calculating interest, is to be phased out by 2021 and replaced by alternative benchmarks in the form of risk-free rates.
bank vault door
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Re-shaping for the new decade
Financial institutions M&A sector trends: banks — H2 2019 and outlook for 2020
circuit board
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Unicorns trail-blaze the London financial services landscape
Financial institutions M&A sector trends: fintech — H2 2019 and outlook for 2020
credit cards
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Asset/Wealth Management
Financial institutions M&A sector trends: asset/wealth management — H2 2019 and outlook for 2020
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Payments
Financial institutions M&A sector trends: payments — H2 2019 and outlook for 2020
safety deposit boxes
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Stock Exchanges/Clearing Houses/ Trading Venues
Financial institutions M&A sector trends: stock exchanges/clearing houses/trading venues — H2 2019 and outlook for 2020
circuit board
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Brokers/Corporate Finance
Financial institutions M&A sector trends: brokers/corporate finance — H2 2019 and outlook for 2020
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Consumer Finance
Financial institutions M&A sector trends: consumer finance — H2 2019 and outlook for 2020
Financial Institutions M&A: Sector trends - June 2019
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Specialty Finance/Marketplace Lending
Financial institutions M&A sector trends: specialty finance/marketplace lending — H2 2019 and outlook for 2020
money
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European leveraged finance: A bifurcated balancing act
Growth in the European leveraged finance market remained steady in 2019, with 2020 set to continue at pace, with enhanced focus on the trade-off of protection from risk versus a higher yield.
coins
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Leveraged loan issuance: Lenders look beyond buyouts
Euro currency
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Financial institutions M&A: Sector trends - February 2020
We highlight the key European M&A trends in the second half of 2019, and provide our insights into the outlook for M&A moving forward
telecommunications tower image
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Renewables sector drives M&A in energy industry
Last year saw a slew of notable transactions in the sector despite reduced appetite overall for energy industry M&A
New York City Empire State Building
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Ahead of the pack: US M&A 2019
While global M&A fell in 2019, the US forged ahead, maintaining its year-on-year value and taking a greater share of the global deal market.
airplane engine
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Overall investment outlook for global aviation finance
Our exclusive survey of senior executives who have financed the aviation industry in the past three years reveals that the overall investment outlook for the sector is bright, with one region in particular set for larger growth than its global equivalents
airport runway
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Funding sources
The multiplicity of financing sources such as asset-backed security, insurance and leasing companies has been crucial for the sector. In this section, we reveal the origins and sources of expected funding in 2020
airplane windows
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Liquidity and refinancing
Despite the sector's current strong performance, many survey respondents believe the industry needs even more capital and liquidity. In addition, most expect restructurings and insolvencies to increase in 2020
airplane landing
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Winds of change
Economic volatility, political unrest and fierce competition are all seen as major challenges to the sector in the coming 12 to 18 months. Meanwhile, respondents are preparing for rising oil prices and growing industry consolidation
flying airplane
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Key takeaways from our exclusive survey
We explore key takeaways from our exclusive survey and what they could mean for the aviation industry and aviation finance
airplane take-off
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Navigating turbulence
Aviation finance is proving its resilience amid a cooling global economy. Our survey finds that senior executives in the sector are optimistic that global levels of aircraft financing will increase in 2020.
Mining & Metals 2020: ESG front and center as trade tensions linger
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Mining & Metals 2020: ESG front and center
The global mining & metals sector is facing one of its most challenging transitions yet, as the industry is considering how it can best position itself to regain and maintain stakeholder confidence on ESG matters
measuring cups
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Human rights benchmarks: Corporate performance rankings on the rise
What businesses need to know for a strategic approach
Green patterns
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The business case for understanding human rights and ESG benchmarks
The strategic value of paying attention to areas that benchmarks assess