Asia Pacific

Two supranationals hopped into the Kangaroo market with environmental, social governance (ESG) bond taps this week, in a move that is becoming increasingly popular. With a local holiday this weekend marking the end of antipodean summer, bankers expect Australian dollar issuance to restart in the next few weeks.

HSBC is looking for a new head of corporate finance coverage to replace Matthew Wallace, who is quitting the firm. Meanwhile, Simon Derrick and Michael Ellam have been handed new jobs as the bank reorganises the way it covers investors and public sector institutions. In Asia Pacific, Rami Hayek is leaving his post.

There was a burst of activity from Chinese pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the equity capital markets this week, as the sector took centre stage following the spread of a flu-like virus that has already claimed lives on the mainland. Jonathan Breen reports.

Green bond volumes reached a record level in 2019 and market participants think the sector is poised for another blow-out year. Korea South-East Power Co (Kosep) and ReNew Power Private gave a further boost to Asia’s growing green bond market this week, selling $750m of notes between them. Morgan Davis reports.

Midea removed from MSCI indices — Natixis' asset management arm makes senior China hire — ICBC Asia hires two loans bankers from Hang Seng – Nomura hires Asia M&A joint head

China’s biggest clearing houses have slashed their fees for the registration of new bonds.

Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank) is making its second attempt to raise a syndicated loan, after pulling a deal in 2017. It is one of several Vietnamese borrowers now planning a debut in the international market, reports Pan Yue.

Nomura has hired Pei Shen Chou as joint head of its mergers and acquisition team in Asia, in a move to grow the bank’s M&A business in the region.

Sino Biopharmaceutical issued a zero coupon convertible bond on Wednesday, boosting the size to €750m as demand poured in from across Asia, Europe and the US, according to multiple sources close to the deal.

Hengda Real Estate Group Co, a subsidiary of China Evergrande Group, raised $4bn across two tranches on Tuesday, just days after Evergrande nabbed $2bn from another bond sale.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has asked questions about Founder Securities’ application to sell an onshore bond, but put a pause on approving a planned issuance by Haikou Meilan International Airport Co. Both Founder’s parent company and Meilan have missed bond payments in 2019.

Does complaining about technology make me a curmudgeon? Then so be it.