Asean

Malaysia’s CIMB has named Kong Sooi Lin the CEO of its investment bank, a role she had filled in the interim after the bank’s group chief executive left the position.

Fixed income specialist SC Lowy and UOB Asset Management are set to launch a $400m CLO that will consist predominantly of bank loans from Asia Pacific issuers.

Australian utility firm AusNet Services diversified its funding options this week with its first outing in Singapore dollars, printing a S$200m ($142m) hybrid.

A $300m three year loan for Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has received commitments from 15 lenders.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has backed the issuance of the first climate bond in the Philippines, providing a partial guarantee to AboitizPower Corp’s notes.

The renminbi held a steady second place as the currency of choice for payments between Malaysia and China and Hong Kong, as the usage of dollar continued to dominate, according to the latest RMB Tracker from Swift.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) published a paper on banks’ underwriting and corporate lending businesses on Monday. While the central bank did not observe a deterioration in underwriting standards, it cautioned the country's lenders about the increasing use of working capital and bullet loans.

The financial services arm of US automaker Ford has picked two banks to arrange a potential bond denominated in Singapore dollars.

Australian energy firm AusNet Services started attracting bids for a 60 non-call 5.5 year subordinated offering on Monday. The hybrid issuance is denominated in Singapore dollars and marks the company’s first outing in the currency.

Ranhill Holdings launched its MR760m ($181m) IPO on Monday morning, with the Malaysian utility firm finally deciding to go ahead with a one-day bookbuild for the float.

Eco World International, which dropped plans for a special purpose acquisition company IPO in 2015, is seeking to raise $500m with a listing by the middle of this year, said sources.

In an unusual move, Malaysia’s Ranhill Holdings may shorten bookbuilding for its MR807.5m ($190.96mm) IPO to just one day, as volatile market conditions have made it impossible to find the right window.