Asia Pacific

European banks may lose out on the chance to finance one of the largest acquisitions in eastern Europe, after Japanese brewer Asahi won the €7.3bn bid to buy SABMiller’s regional assets. The outcome could mean that only Asahi’s relationship banks get a piece of the action.

Most ECM practitioners in Asia are set to end 2016 not with a bang but a whimper. But even after such a volatile year, they are heading into 2017 with a rosier view of the market. Given the topsy turvy events of this year, the better strategy would be to err on the side of caution.

US based-Novelis, part of Indian company Aditya Birla Group, has lined up a syndicate of 10 lenders to arrange an Asia loan that refinances a $1.8bn US term loan B from last year.

The renminbi qualified foreign institutional investor (RQFII) scheme is set to end 2016 on a disappointing note with the combined value of quotas awarded amounting to roughly half of last year’s total.

The Bank for International Settlements’ triannual survey found that the renminbi has risen above other emerging market currencies in trading patterns across spot and derivatives, BIS said in a detailed report on the state of global foreign exchange (FX) markets.

China First Capital Group is looking to raise up to HK$1bn ($128.9m) from a placement of fresh equity, equal to more than 10% of its outstanding stock.

Bank of China has named Ren Deqi and Gao Yingxin as executive directors after the China Banking Regulatory Commission approved their qualifications.

Shandong Ruyi Technology Group and LR Capital Group are marketing their respective dollar transactions, ahead of a two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting starting Wednesday.

Khazanah Nasional pared some of its stake in Telekom Malaysia via an overnight placement last week, the country’s largest telecommunication deal in four years.

Emmanuel Lefort has been promoted to head of global markets for Asia Pacific at Natixis, replacing Serge Ekué who is relocating to the UK.

A A$484.2m ($361.5m) five year facility to support Philippine company Universal Robina Corp’s acquisition of Snack Brands Australia has been allocated, with 17 new lenders coming in.

Bank of Communications Financial Leasing opened the week with a rare structured finance transaction on Monday, attracting bids for a $300m dual-tranche offering backed by loans that are secured by aircraft assets.