Asia Pacific

The International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) is planning to set up an office in Malaysia, marking the first time the body will have a presence outside of its headquarters in Spain.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan has named several new members to the board of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) in a bid to burnish the newly-created bourse’s credentials as a frontline regulator.

Food-to-finance conglomerate TCC Group is understood to have sent out term sheets for a $3.5bn loan to back its acquisition of a stake in retailer Big C Supercenter.

Export-Import Bank of Korea (Kexim) has hired banks to run investor meetings in Europe for a potential euro bond, which would be its first syndication in the currency since 2013.

Far East Consortium International has sealed a HK$1.35bn ($174m) three year loan, with the proceeds to go towards redeeming an outstanding renminbi bond and for general working capital.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group is on its way to sell Asia’s first bond that meets total loss-absorbing capacity (TLAC) requirements. Launched on Tuesday, there is plenty of guesswork among market participants about fair pricing.

India’s National Thermal Power Corp (NTPC) ended an absence of more than a year from the international bond market this week with a tightly priced transaction that left little money on the table for investors.

India’s Cochin Shipyard is set to hear pitches from nine local banks for its more than Rp10bn ($147m) IPO on Thursday, from which the state-owned firm will pick up to three lead managers.

For years market participants have been talking about India’s potential in the international bond market but volumes have always disappointed. While this week’s return of National Thermal Power Corp (NTPC) to dollars have got enthusiasts talking once again, their excitement is likely to be short lived.

Chinese logistics firm ZTO Express has sent out a request for proposals for an IPO that could raise as much as $1bn, according to sources.

South Korea's Netmarble has shortlisted a trio of international banks and five local houses to lead its IPO, which could raise as much as W2tr ($1.6bn).

Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings (CKI) made a strong comeback to the dollar hybrid bond market on Monday with a perpetual non-call five. Despite the tight pricing and a structure that some considered weak, investors were keen to participate thanks to the borrower’s credentials and a lack of supply in the primary market.