Asia Pacific

Laurus Labs, the Indian pharmaceutical firm, is on track to raise Rp13.3bn ($197.0m) after it wrapped up bookbuilding on Thursday and was more than 4x covered.

Changde Urban Construction and Investment Group Co priced its inaugural international bond on Thursday, getting its deal done before the New Year. The local government financing vehicle (LGFV) snapped up $250m from the three year notes.

Hebei Yichen Industrial Group Corp opened books on a HK$839.6m ($108.3m) IPO in Hong Kong on Thursday, signing up three cornerstone investors.

Standard Chartered has hired industry veteran Roberto Hoornweg as global head, financial markets, set to start in the New Year.

In this round-up, China saw another sizeable drop to its foreign exchange reserves in November, the Shenzhen Connect saw subdued trading activity in its first four days, and Egypt signed its first currency swap line with China. Plus, a recap of our coverage this week.

Debut issuer Fujian Zhanglong Group Co started taking bids for a three year bond, following a roadshow in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

A HK$4.851bn ($625m) leveraged buyout financing to back the acquisition of Wharf T&T by MBK Partners and TPG Capital has closed in syndication, with 13 banks joining the leads.

More than half of a global group of 276 investors surveyed by HSBC have a strategy for reducing the environmental impact of their activities — but 74% of them encounter barriers to increasing their low carbon financing, mainly a lack of credible investment opportunities.

Lloyds has become the third UK bank to soak up strong demand for holding company level senior debt in the Samurai market this year, though the lack of clarity around risk-weightings continues to limit bank treasury involvement.

Indonesia’s move to pre-fund its 2017 financing requirements with a bond last week surprised the market. Views are mixed on whether it made the right decision but DCM bankers in the region hope other sovereigns will also look to make an early start on funding plans.

China Railway Construction Corp (CRCC) has sold its second convertible bond of 2016, this time a renminbi-denominated, dollar-settled trade linked to the offshore RMB spot price. Chinese issuers are warming to the structure amid concerns about RMB depreciation, as investors bear the currency risks. John Loh reports.

Bank Negara Indonesia is wrapping up a $750m borrowing with nine mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners, returning to the loan market after a two year break. As liquidity is still abundant, the borrower is raising its biggest syndicated deal, with bankers saying that government backed names from the country will remain popular. Shruti Chaturvedi reports.