Greater China

China may be one of the world’s largest green bond markets, but its issuer base offshore has only seen limited growth. The market regulator may want to pick up cues from the development of its domestic green debt market to boost international issuance.

SAIC-GMAC Automotive Finance has sealed its first asset-backed securities deal this year in the Chinese interbank bond market, raising Rmb3bn ($473.3m) from two floating-rate tranches on Monday.

Chinese online consumer finance provider VCredit Holdings filed a draft IPO prospectus with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Monday. It is expected to float on the bourse as early as April, according to a source close to the deal.

A pair of chunky fundraisings in Asia have been lapped up by banks, as China National Chemical Corp (ChemChina) and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group look to wrap up syndications next week.

In the new Clawback, columnist Philippe Espinasse analyses the impact of Hong Kong’s new rules around cornerstone investors in biotechnology companies.

China Resources Land is lining up the Panda bond market’s first deal after the Chinese New Year holiday. The Rmb6bn ($946.6m) three year bond, the biggest offer in the asset class in six months, may kick start a streak of onshore transactions, said onshore DCM bankers.

The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) updated its regulations on capital bonds last week, encouraging lenders to supplement their capital with new issuance and start getting ready to comply with international standards on meeting total loss absorption capacity (TLAC) requirements. But it also clarified loss absorption terms — a move that may impact offshore additional tier one volumes from the Mainland.

Chinese lawmakers are gathering in Beijing for their annual conference, with premier Li Keqiang already announcing measures to further open up financial markets. China’s parliament is expected to consolidate regulations overseeing foreign investments, and analysts are anticipating announcements on who will take the helm at the People’s Bank of China after Zhou Xiaochuan.

China Xinhua Education Group has kicked off investor education for its Hong Kong IPO, which is expected to raise around $200m, said a source close to the deal.

The Export-Import Bank of Korea raked in a larger than expected Rmb1.5bn ($236.5m) from an offshore renminbi bond on Friday, in a deal buoyed by Taiwanese investors’ appetite for new paper.

China sticks to a 6.5% growth target for 2018, Ministry of Commerce (MofCom) criticises a US proposal to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, and the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges outline rules for Belt and Road bond issuers.

Chinese after-school education provider OneSmart International Education Group has filed an IPO prospectus with the US market regulator for a New York Stock Exchange listing of up to $300m.