Asia Pacific

In Hong Kong, it seems it only takes one septuagenarian ballroom dancer to cause a massive spike in coronavirus cases. But funding officials can be almost as dangerous.

Smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp pocketed $3.96bn this week from a record top-up placement and concurrent convertible bond issue. Investors flocked to the transaction for its rarity value, investment grade rating and the offer of a liquid and volatile stock. Jonathan Breen reports.

Germany’s Volkswagen ended an absence of almost seven years from the offshore renminbi bond market this week, braving a year-end dip in liquidity to seal a Rmb1bn ($153m) deal. It offered yet another diversification opportunity for the carmaker, which is already a well-established name in China’s onshore securitization market. Addison Gong reports.

A possible delay to the final retirement of Libor as the benchmark lending rate on dollar loans is set to offer banks and borrowers a bit more breathing room to make the transition. But in Asia, loan market participants have largely shrugged at news, deciding to press ahead with their plans for a post-Libor world.

The Republic of the Philippines sold its largest international bond in more than a decade this week, raising $2.75bn from a deal that received strong support from investors confident about the country’s control of Covid, and its outlook. It even managed to get away with a record low coupon on one of the tranches.

Thai express delivery company Kerry Express launched its IPO this week, aiming to raise up to Bt8.4bn ($278.2m) in proceeds.

Hong Kong property company New World Development Co used a fixed-for-life perpetual structure to net $700m on Wednesday.

Chinese state-owned electricity company China Huaneng Group Co sold two tranches of perpetual bonds on Wednesday, raising $1bn.

Investors took a long-term view on Hong Kong Airport Authority’s $1.5bn perpetual bond on Tuesday, shrugging off any Covid-19 related travel concerns to place $14.5bn of orders. Morgan Davis reports.

Macquarie achieved a decade low print for a five year Australian dollar floater this week, as the lack of supply from financial issuers in 2020 has sent spreads grinding downwards.

Chinese property developer Longfor Group Holdings tapped equity investors for HK$4.7bn ($606.3m) through a top-up placement on Tuesday.

Hong Kong's Airport Authority proved that Covid-19 related travel worries are of little concern for its dollar bond investors. The issuer attracted a final order book of $14.5bn for its $1.5bn dual-tranche deal on Tuesday.