Asia Pacific

Lao Viet Joint Venture Bank is seeking its first international loan of up to $100m through sole mandated lead arranger and bookrunner Cathay United Bank.

Clawback columnist Philippe Espinasse says the latest proposals by Hong Kong’s Law Society could spell bad news for international securities lawyers in the city.

Recent developments may help push the risk of cyber attacks onto the capital markets through catastrophe bonds and other insurance-linked securities (ILS). But investors are likely to be wary about taking on too much exposure.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation has set a strong precedent for Japan’s nascent covered bond market by attracting a comfortably oversubscribed, diverse, high quality order book for its first deal, the first from Japan.

India’s securities regulator has reworked the much-maligned Institutional Trading Platform (ITP), giving it a new name and more flexible rules in the hopes of attracting technology start-ups. But like its last iteration, the reformed listings platform is probably doomed to fail.

China's Guodong Network Communications is seeking a debut loan of up to €150m ($170m) in syndication.

Hong Kong equity investors may feel they need a break after a year of underperforming IPOs, sharp declines in valuations and protracted volatility. But don’t call time on the market just yet.

Oceanwide Holdings Co, a Chinese conglomerate but primarily a homebuilder, bagged a $215m bond on Monday, but not all the firms on the original syndicate team remained on the deal in the end.

Shinhan Bank used its position as the first dollar borrower in the market on Monday to lock up $500m, paying just a low single-digit new issue premium despite global volatility.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) plans to tweak its platform for start-up listings after an industry group recommended changes to revitalise the long-stalled scheme.

The Seychelles has issued its long-expected ‘blue bond’, to finance improvements in the sustainability of its fishing and marine tourism industries. The $15m deal is at the challenging end of the green bond market, since Seychelles is a risky credit that defaulted in 2008 and is highly exposed to climate change. It could tempt other sovereigns to follow.

Covered bonds have drifted wider over the last few weeks, reflecting heavier than expected supply and diminished market maker interest. Even so, the primary market is functioning healthily, boding well for prospective debut deals from Münchener Hypothekenbank and SMBC, deals that could surface as early as Tuesday.