Greater China

Dali Foods Group Co is expected to open books in the week of November 2 for its $1.5bn IPO in Hong Kong, after investors gave the thumbs up to the Chinese snack food maker during pre-marketing.

In this round-up, Macau’s RMB deposits, SDR review decision drawing close, BRICS NDB and AIIB ready operations, BoC reports on RMB business in first three quarters, and CFETS plans a joint venture with Deutsche Boerse.

China’s newly launched Cross-border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) is fundamental to the internationalisation of the renminbi as it centralises liquidity and will save costs, says Marcus Sehr, global head of institutional cash, global transaction banking at Deutsche Bank.

Singapore-based agricultural products supplier Olam International has raised a $1bn loan from a group of 19 lenders.

Beijing-based boutique investment bank, China Renaissance, has launched a new division to advise companies looking to raise funds in China’s onshore capital markets, expanding the firm’s services to include both its home and overseas markets.

In a rare move, China International Capital Corp (CICC) has named all 11 banks working on its HK$6.29bn ($811.61m) high-profile Hong Kong IPO as joint global co-ordinators. But instead of sparking a turf war among its syndicate, the move has won praise from bankers on the trade. John Loh reports.

Standard Chartered is to close its equity derivatives and convertible bonds businesses in yet another move to bolster its performance by withdrawing from non-core operations. But its timing has surprised some market watchers, who expect a turnaround in equity-linked activity. John Loh reports.

Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC) has priced the second euro-denominated bond by a Chinese auto company, following a recent issue from one of its peers. Seven firms in total were hired as joint global co-ordinators for the €500m ($552m) deal after the issuer added five more banks to the syndicate to reward them for placing anchor orders.

China Huarong Asset Management pulled off a HK$17.83bn ($2.30bn) IPO on October 22, pricing one of Hong Kong’s largest listings this year just a few cents off the bottom of the initial range. But the price tag ignited debate about whether the issuer was pushing its luck.

Xinyi Solar raised a smaller-than-expected HK$543.5m ($70.1m) from a top-up placement on October 26, shrinking the deal by about 45%. Despite the transaction being slashed, sources were adamant the company found a good window to raise equity.

You would have thought that a managing partner who oversees capital markets for one of the world's top law firms would be able to hold his nerve in most situations. But a friend of mine has been forced to accept that there are some things he’s simply not cut out for.

China’s growing securitization market is set for another boost with Bank of Communications (BoCom) poised to become the country’s second issuer of credit card ABS.