Project Finance Copying and distributing are prohibited without permission of the publisher

Down cycle means recycle

19 November 2008

The motivation for project banks to increase liquidity and release regulatory capital has never been more intense, but for maximum efficiency banks need to look for new investors and at new structures. Paul Smith reports.

Read more: [securitization] [project finance]

Despite the closure of the capital markets and the demise of some of the traditional homes for project debt risk – monolines and hedge funds – 2008 has proved to be the busiest year yet for project debt securitizations. Five of a total of 14 project debt securitizations ever, closed this year. Santander, IKB and SMBC are among those currently working on deals. Other large project finance lenders with $1 billion-plus loan books, such as RBS, HSBC and Calyon, are thought to be considering securitizations.

The deals stretch back to a static cash CLO of CSFB's loan book in March 1998 (see box). The reason for this increase in activity is the contraction in banks' balance sheets and their inability to recycle capital in syndication and through non-distressed secondary sales.

Project debt securitization roll call *NIBC benefited from a fully funded transaction, selling 41.5% of the initial portfolio to SMBC. Source: Project Finance Magazine...


Upcoming Events

Change font size: Switch to default font size Switch to medium font size Switch to large font size