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State Bank of India has picked banks for a fresh $500m fundraising that is expected to launch into syndication in the next couple of weeks.

Cochin Shipyard is going through pitches from nine local banks for an IPO in India that could raise more than Rp10bn ($147m), with the state-owned firm expected to choose up to three lead managers.

Hong Kong Broadband Network is raising a HK$700m ($90m) loan to fund its acquisition of telecoms businesses Concord Ideas and Simple Click Investments.

South Korean computer and mobile game developer Netmarble has shortlisted a trio of international banks and five local firms to lead its IPO, which could raise as much as W2tr ($1.6bn).

The European bank capital market is not expected to build on its trio of 2016 transactions any time soon, as volatility in credit default swaps betrays lingering buyside fears about lenders’ stability.

Asia’s desolate equity capital markets are about to be tested with new listings for the first time since Goodbaby China Holdings pulled a Hong Kong IPO in early February. But with bankers finding it harder than ever to convince investors to buy deals, little can be done in the primary market until some stability returns, write Jonathan Breen and John Loh.

Areva, the nuclear power construction firm 87% owned by the French government, has signed a €1.1bn bridge loan with six banks to “ensure the company’s liquidity for the 2016 fiscal year”.

In an otherwise subdued African loan market, commitments for a $150m deal for Africa Finance Corporation were due on Thursday, according to a banker on the deal.

Samsung SDI is paring its stake in sister firm Samsung C&T via an accelerated bookbuild worth up to W565.34bn ($458.23m), amid regulatory pressure on chaebols to unwind cross shareholdings.

One of Vietnam’s largest property developers Vingroup raised VN$3tr ($135.5m) from a dual-tranche offering on February 18 in what was only the second transaction in the country to be backed by the Credit Guarantee Investment Facility.

Chinese authorities are set to announce a third batch of free trade zones (FTZs) this year with the preference likely falling on Western provinces. Meanwhile, the regulators have laid out more plans for the original pilot in Shanghai, aiming for the city to become the first to test full liberalisation of the capital account.

Pirelli will not refinance its €6.8bn acquisition bridge loan in the bond market as planned. A torpid high yield bond market has spooked the borrower away from capital markets and back to bank loans.