Asia Pacific

China Merchants Port Holdings is returning to the Panda bond market for a Rmb500m ($76.8m) deal to fund its acquisition of a port in Sri Lanka — a flagship project under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) is going ahead with a pilot programme to fully float Hong Kong-listed shares, although the plan will be limited to three companies in the initial stage.

Chinese regional lender Bank of Gansu Co has covered the books for its Hong Kong IPO, which could raise HK$6.1bn ($783.9m) at the top of guidance, according to a banker on the deal.

A $350m-equivalent yen denominated borrowing for Indian power financier National Thermal Power Corp (NTPC) has entered primary syndication, testing the market’s appetite for a 10 year maturity.

Chinese logistics services provider SF Holding Co and upstream oil and gas firm Geo-Jade Petroleum Corp are planning to sell dollar bonds this year.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) will allow listed companies to sell shares through qualified institutional placements as a way to meet free float requirements.

ANZ has appointed a new head of markets for India, naming Mumbai-based Rohit Bhasin to the position.

South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries is planning to list its refining arm Hyundai Oilbank this year, according to an ECM banker involved in the discussions.

India’s Bandhan Bank is set to start pre-marketing its $700m IPO this month, according to bankers arranging the deal.

Hong Kong’s Swire Properties is gearing up to become one of the first offshore bond issuers of the year, taking feedback from the market for a potential dollar-denominated green deal.

China’s Shandong Chenming Paper Holdings is ready to start the new year with its first dollar bond issuance.

Mizuho Bank is preparing to sell the first ever Panda bond by a Japanese issuer, after picking three local banks to manage the deal.