Italy’s local appeal

Investment banks are eager to do debt deals involving derivatives with Italian local authorities. Such a high level of competition is good news for the borrowers but they are also facing closer regulation of their use of innovative structures. • Jennifer Morris reports

AT THE END of last year, Lehman Brothers held a client conference on derivatives in Milan. More than half of Italy’s regional authorities sent a senior official to find out more. That’s an impressive turn-out from a group of issuers that are still in the relatively early stages of their relationship with the capital markets, let alone doing anything more sophisticated.

Among those attending was Gianpierro Antonelli, CFO of the region of Umbria, which last year was the largest of the Italian regional issuers.

Access intelligence that drives action

To unlock this research, enter your email to log in or enquire about access