Bank of America

China Evergrande Group attempted the largest Asian convertible bond in nearly two decades this week. But after investors baulked, the company pulled off one of the starkest changes of direction to a live deal GlobalCapital Asia has ever seen, relaunching with a new structure, a smaller deal size and a bigger bookrunning group, writes Jonathan Breen.

Qatar National Bank has added to its run of funding with a $1bn two year private placement, according to sources.

Akbank is taking the lead as usual in the spring round of Turkish bank refinancings. It has launched a loan to refinance the $1.2bn loan it took out in March last year. Pricing is set to compress further as lenders remain positive about Turkey, despite its recent invasion of Syria.

US private placement specialists are hoping the market will this year beat 2017’s record of 14 deals larger than $750m. They are playing up the ‘bells and whistles’ of the market – delayed draws, multiple currencies and varied tenors – to entice borrowers away from other funding sources.

China Evergrande Group made its debut in the equity-linked market on Tuesday, raising a hefty HK$18bn ($2.3bn) from a convertible bond — but not before slicing a third off the original deal size and rejigging its structure.

Private equity firm 3i is taking advantage of bullish conditions in the leveraged loan market to launch its fifth dividend recapitalisation of Action, the Dutch non-food discount retailer it bought in 2011.

Property developer China Evergrande Group opened books for a HK$23bn ($2.9bn) perpetual convertible bond on Tuesday evening, a deal that was much sought after by banks.

Future Land Development Holdings and Powerlong Real Estate Holdings sold their respective equity-linked notes with almost similar results on Monday. Both deals were fully increased and priced near the investor-friendly end of terms.

India’s Yes Bank raised $600m in its first offshore bond sale on Monday, as it makes international strides through its new banking unit.

US lottery and gaming group Scientific Games International sold its first euro bonds this week, in a European high yield market that bankers and investors described as ready and steady for opposite reasons.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Municipality Finance announced sterling transactions for Tuesday, making this January a remarkably busy one for the currency.

Qatar National Bank is expected to sign its $3bn loan refinancing in the first week of February, according to a source close to the deal.