Banks

Investors have embraced the bonds of smaller European financial institutions this year, as they search for higher returns in an environment where interest rates are expected to remain low for a long time.

This month, Jim O’Higgins is to retire after 15 years at ICBC Standard Bank.

Credit Suisse has chosen a banker from Deutsche Bank to co-lead its healthcare team in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Gaëlle Olivier is set to take over as the chief executive officer for Société Générale Asia Pacific in January next year, succeeding Hikaru Ogata who is leaving the bank.

Alibaba Group Holdings got the greenlight from Hong Kong's stock exchange for a listing that could be worth as much as $15bn. The deal looks set to receive strong anchor demand from Chinese investors.

New York Stock Exchange-listed gaming company Sea is bookbuilding for a convertible bond worth at least $1bn.

Beijing Hyundai Auto Finance and SAIC-GMAC Automotive Finance priced their Chinese auto loan ABS transactions on Tuesday.

South Korean heavy industry company Doosan Infracore Co sold a $300m three year bond on Tuesday, helped along by a guarantee from Korea Development Bank.

India’s Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) and French oil and gas company Total are jointly raising a $600m loan for a gas project in the south Asian country. Eight banks have already formed the senior lending group, with the leads now seeking commitments in general.

Xiaofei Guo has joined Natixis to support the bank’s green and sustainable deal origination and solutions sales in Asia Pacific.

Two Indonesian borrowers, Bank Negara Indonesia and CSM Corporatama, have launched their loans into general syndication, according to several bankers.

Czech gaming company Sazka, with lottery operations around Europe, debuted in the euro market on Tuesday with €300m of senior unsecured notes, priced at 4.125%.