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Socar, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic, is in talks with Japanese banks to raise $8bn for an oil and gas project, the firm’s president has told the ANS television station.

Balta Group, a Belgian carpet maker, on Monday announced a €290m secured bond to support its acquisition by private equity firm Lone Star.

Ak Bars Bank has mandated Credit Suisse and UBS to arrange a Eurobond. If the deal goes ahead, it will be the first new issue from Russia this year.

Mizuho has emerged as a frontrunner for National Thermal Power Corp’s $100m loan. The company mandated the Japanese bank for its previous fundraising.

Reforms in China's foreign exchange system and capital account will see the renminbi take on a greater role in the global economy, leading to an "inevitable" inclusion of the currency in the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), HSBC said in a July 20 report.

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar could soon be making waves in the international debt market, having enlisted the help of Citi and Standard Chartered to attain its first credit rating.

Standard Chartered’s restructuring has taken a step forward as group chief executive Bill Winters named the bank’s new management. The team, which includes heads of the regional and client businesses, is due to submit plans for the bank by the end of 2015.

Thai Union Frozen Products Public Company opened books for a Bt12.72bn ($371m) preferential public offering on Monday, July 20, following non-deal roadshows that brought some positive feedback from the investor community.

Three Chinese names are meeting with investors for new bonds. China Oilfield Services (COSL) and HNA Capital have mandated banks for dollar offerings, while Capital Juda has opted for offshore renminbi (CNH) on its first international outing.

Chinese company Minsheng Financial Leasing’s $175m-$200m facility may be increased in size following an oversubscription. The Credit Suisse-led loan is due to wind up sometime this week.

Beijing Infrastructure Investment started receiving bids for a four year euro-denominated bond on July 20, the second time it is tapping the currency this year.

China Railway Signal & Communications Corp (CRSC) started investor education for its $2bn Hong Kong IPO on Monday, July 20, becoming the first issuer brave enough to proceed with its equity-raising plans following the mainland stock market’s dramatic collapse earlier this month.