Japan

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp is looking to price a landmark transaction for Japan, opening books for the first US dollar-denominated green bond from the country.

Japanese names have stolen the show this week, with Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking (MUTB) raising $1.25bn from a US-driven bond, to be quickly followed by Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance opening books for its second dollar outing of the year.

Mizuho Financial Group has returned to the dollar bond market with a bank capital trade that priced alongside a triple-tranche senior offering. Despite launching on a day crowded with other transactions, the issuer’s safe haven status allowed it to find success.

Mizuho Financial Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking (MUTB) are out in the dollar bond market, releasing guidance for their respective offerings on Tuesday.

Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance Company is preparing to issue a second dollar bond this year, with investor meetings scheduled for next week.

Goldman Sachs and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank are set to start marketing SumitG, a bond backed by a portfolio of RMBS, but secured by claims against both institutions. Goldman will be hoping to avoid the fate of last year's Figsco issue, a note with a similar structure which never made it to market. Bill Thornhill reports.

Japan Post sets sail with IPOs — Datang Environment files in HK — Banpu Power eyes Thai float — Larsen & Toubro seeks $300m listing

An Asian issuer could be about to make its second visit to the socially responsible bond market, with its green offering appearing to have undergone a slight rebranding exercise.

The Japan Post group has announced price ranges for the long-awaited IPOs of its three units, set to collectively raise ¥1.44tr ($12.03bn) to become the biggest offering this century in the country.

The socially responsible investor base is growing nicely, as is its diversity in terms of geography and types. But growth could be about to hit warp speed as governments and regulators wake up to the sector. Craig McGlashan reports.

The year 2015 has seen important progress in the field of green bond investment in Asia, with the emergence of two big new markets — China and India. For its Tokyo roundtable, GlobalCapital invited a panel of issuers, investors, analysts and bankers to discuss the trends in the sector and the potential for development as new markets open up for the asset class across the region.

Mizuho Bank has raised Bt3bn ($83m) from its debut in the Thai bond market, with the deal also marking the first offering under a new pan-Asian initiative designed to streamline debt issuance. The trade received a robust response from investors, and is expected to pave the way for other similar transactions.