ING

Commodity trader Gunvor has launched its $1bn annual loan refinancing, following a deal for its Asian subsidiary that doubled in size after strong demand from lenders.

ING has appointed a new director to its syndicated finance team in Asia Pacific, replacing a banker who has moved to a new department within the firm.

Altice, the fast-growing French cable telecoms investment group, raised €1.61bn of new capital today (Thursday October 1) with an intraday accelerated bookbuild, to finance its acquisition of Cablevision, the US cable company.

Turkcell will add to a busy September of funding by signing up to €1.25bn of loans with the China Development Bank in the next few days.

ING is making a return to the Australian RMBS market with its well-established IDOL series, which is expected to free up A$750m ($526m) for the Dutch lender.

European banks have been the mainstay of the Samurai market over the last 12 months, and the market has repaid them with loyalty. When European markets were shut during the Greek crisis, Japan stayed open for familiar names, rewarding those who have made the effort to build relationships and a track record. Here, eight issuers and two banks describe their experience.

Japan’s Pro-Bond market is at first glance just a more limited version of the Samurai bond market, where foreign issuers turn to the local investor base for funding. But regulators see Pro-Bonds as something bigger: a way to help Tokyo become a global financial hub. Matthew Thomas reports

ING Belgium and Bawag received good receptions for their covered bonds issued this week, in contrast to less spectacular outcomes for deals from Westpac New Zealand and UniCredit.

Proximus, the new name for Belgian telecoms company Belgacom, issued a €500m no-grow bond on Monday, achieving a high oversubscription for the deal.

Philippines’ Rizal Commercial Banking Corp (RCBC) has signed a larger $280m loan with 18 lenders on board.

A $145m loan backing the Blackstone Group’s acquisition of the Indian business process outsourcing (BPO) operations of the Serco Group is likely to launch this week.

Proximus, the new name for Belgian telecoms company Belgacom, issued a €500m no-grow bond on Monday and won high oversubscription.