Australia

Australian utility firm AusNet Services diversified its funding options this week with its first outing in Singapore dollars, printing a S$200m ($142m) hybrid.

Maile Carnegie has been appointed to the role of group executive digital banking at Australia and New Zealand Bank, according to a press release.

Australian energy firm AusNet Services started attracting bids for a 60 non-call 5.5 year subordinated offering on Monday. The hybrid issuance is denominated in Singapore dollars and marks the company’s first outing in the currency.

It was a challenging year for Australian capital markets in 2015 as the fall in commodity prices and volatile conditions made executing deals that much tougher. So it is testament to the depth and breadth of banks in Australia that so many were able to produce standout performances. Our thanks to all those firms that took the time to pitch. Full write-ups of each award will be published in the next Asiamoney supplement in late March.

National Australia Bank found itself taking on the might of London mayor Boris Johnson alone on Monday morning, launching a short sterling senior deal as other borrowers shied away from a nervous FIG market.

Svenska Handelsbanken has chosen three banks to work on its first Kangaroo bond since 2014.

Macquarie issued its inaugural covered bond on Thursday, meeting a strong reception with the five year €500m paper twice subscribed by investors. Westpac has also opened books on a $1.35bn deal, as Fitch said it expects Australian covered bond issuance to rise this year.

Credit Suisse announced its full year results for 2015 this week with the Swiss lender reporting pre-tax losses of Sfr2.42bn ($2.39bn). However its Asia Pacific business was one of the standout performers posting a pre-tax gain.

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group took advantage of improved market conditions on Thursday to launch a new three year £500m floating rate covered bond. The funding was more competitive than what it could have achieved in the euro market.

The Australian subsidiary of US asset manager Vanguard received an additional Rmb20bn ($3.03bn) quota from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (Safe) on January 27, making the firm the second largest RMB qualified foreign institutional investor (RQFII) globally.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) funded itself more cheaply with a 15 year covered bond than it did with a five year this week. It followed Swedish Covered Bond Corporation (SCBC) which issued at the same spread as earlier deals despite a market widening.

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) issued a five year Aussie dollar floater on Wednesday, attracting strong demand from Australian and Asian investors.