Asia Pacific

ONE Championship, the pan-Asia mixed martial arts promoter and media company co-founded by a former hedge fund manager, is in early discussions with banks about a planned global listing in the US.

Halcyon Agri Corporation raised $150m on Wednesday from its maiden international bond. The deal was launched in a softer market amid increased volatility sparked by geopolitical events, but the issuer benefitted from its relationship with China’s state-owned Sinochem Group.

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has approved a second batch of 11 firms as part of a pilot programme which allows them to choose a funding window in the international debt market without needing the regulator’s blessing.

China’s Times Property Holdings sealed a quick $225m deal on Wednesday to reach the upper limit on its offshore issuance cap for the year.

I can’t deny that investment banking is a young man’s game. The long hours, late nights and hard partying will knock out anyone not in the prime of their lives. But even the young bucks can struggle when tackling some banking challenges.

Two Malaysian lenders, CIMB and AmBank, have hit the loan market in quick succession, seeking a total of $700m between them.

China Huarong International Holdings began marketing a four tranche dollar deal on Thursday morning, including two floating rate notes.

Chinese corporate names Want Want China Finance and China SCE Property were out in the market on Thursday morning.

Andy Jones, vice-chairman of Barclays and former chief executive of its Asia-Pacific business, is to retire from the firm after almost 20 years, according to an internal memo seen by GlobalCapital.

Chinese school operator Bright Scholar Education Holdings is set to start investor education for its US IPO, which is expected to raise $200m, according to a source close to the deal.

Gunvor Singapore is set to make a comeback for its annual refinancing, this time sounding out its relationship banks for a $800m transaction.

Daimler’s subsidiary Mercedes-Benz Auto Finance priced its first transaction under the Silver Arrow China series in 2017, while Ford Automotive Finance (China) also wrapped up its auto loan ABS, Fuyuan 2017-1.