The Scandinavian capital where he is based has been beset by unpleasant conditions of late.
“Don’t come here,” he warned. “It’s horizontal rain.”
But it’s not just the weather that has been unpleasant. The markets have added to the autumnal Nordic despair.
Until recently, bankers in Scandinavia having been expecting potential IPOs to bring in investment grade loans business. But a week of turbulent equity markets has prompted a rethink.
A few imminent refinancings will keep them busy for now, but most of this will be done by December. This prompted another banker, based in Stockholm, to worry: “I don’t know what the hell we’re going to do in the new year.”
With the rain buffeting his windows, the first banker steered the conversation around to travel plans. Loan Ranger still has a few days annual leave to take before the end of the year, but doesn’t know what to do with them.
“Travel to Goa and smoke hash?” the banker helpfully suggested.
Not that he’d be doing that, he quickly added.
“I’m a family man now, so no. I’m going skiing in Switzerland, and eating lots of cheese.”
He’d better not eat too much though, Loan Ranger mused. Another fan of Swiss dairy products, Kim Jong-Un, recently reappeared after a Emmental-driven health scare.
Maybe the banker is hoping the prospect of Nordic IPOs will follow the North Korean supreme leader’s example, and reappear soon.
