Nomura

Each year we choose the best bank, equity brokerage and debt house in every major Asian country. In Japan Seven Bank's vibrant ATM business stands out, Nomura remains uncontested for equity coverage and Mizuho's debt business stays strong.

China Unicom, which was the first Chinese borrower from the telco sector to access the dim sum market, has returned to the offshore RMB market. The borrower priced a two year offering on July 17.

Mexico issued its first Samurai bond without the assistance of the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) in 14 years on Tuesday, breaking pricing and maturity records.

The levloan market heralded the return of television content producers this week as Endemol set guidance on its €1.35bn refinancing loan and Liberty Global announced its intention to raise loans backing its latest acquisition.

Agencies are firmly in vogue with Japanese investors, with Samurai volume having its best start to a year since 2008 and retail buyers snapping up Uridashi this week.

Dutch television programme producer Endemol has announced guidance on the pricing and currency denomination of tranches in its €1.35bn refinancing loan.

A group of eight banks is expected to lead Shanda Games’ leveraged buyout loan of between $750m and $850m, which will help fund the company's going-private plans.

Petrofac FPSO Holding is in the market for a $225m loan with a six year tenor that has been launched into limited syndication.

Mexico has broken new ground in the Samurai market after it priced a triple-tranche deal on Tuesday which did away with the need for involvement from the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) and included a 20 year slice — a first for a Latin American borrower in yen.

Endemol, the Dutch television programme producer, will hold bank meetings this week to market its €1.35bn cov-lite refinancing loan.

7 Days Group Holdings’ $250m five year loan that comes with a $50m greenshoe is expected closing by as soon as this week. Five banks have already signed up and two more are expected to join soon.

Mexico has added a 20 year and removed a three year tranche to a Japanese yen denominated Samurai deal set to price at market opening in Tokyo on Tuesday.