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Launching its fourth subordinated debt transaction in less than two years to an upbeat market reception, the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) proved that it continues to retain strong international investor confidence in its expansionist corporate strategy. The Aa3/A- rated bank launched its $850m non-call 10 year upper tier two sub debt issue yesterday (Thursday) to a strong market reception, demonstrating the continuing confidence in the institution, following its takeover of Hong Kong-based Dao Heng Bank. Total orders had amounted to over $1.3bn before the transaction was priced.

Helix Capital (Netherlands) has signed a $5 billion asset-backed MTN programme. Bank of America Securities acts as the sole arranger and dealer. Fitch has assigned a rating of BBB to the floating-rate notes off the programme, which mature in 2006.

Satyam Computer Services, India's fourth biggest software exporter, will today (Friday) launch its roughly $130m American depository receipt (ADR) issue through lead manager Merrill Lynch. The company will sell 12.5m ADRs representing 25m ordinary shares and will list on the New York Stock Exchange.

Swiss Re Capital Markets this week closed a $120m catastrophe bond that transfers the risk of windstorms in France and a hurricane in Florida or Puerto Rico into the capital markets. The deal is the first to securitise hurricane risk in Puerto Rico and it is also the first to provide using a catastrophe bond - what is known in the insurance world as a reinstatement.

The Taiwanese government plans to issue up to 10% of the shares it holds in state owned Chunghwa Telecom next month through a domestic offering to institutions that officials hope will revitalise efforts to privatise the company. However, it seems that the government still wants to move too fast in the state sell down.

Asian countries must continue to stress the development and transparency of their capital and regulatory markets to increase foreign direct investment and capital market activity. This was the conclusion of a panel of speakers at an institutional investor roundtable meeting at the Asian Development Bank conference in Honolulu this week. Speakers were cautiously optimistic that there has been financial progress since the Asian financial crisis in 1997. Advances included most countries' floating exchange rates and rapidly reducing overall public debt, which makes another economic crisis of that severity less likely.

The Asian domestic bond markets need the continued development of government bond benchmarks, transparency and political will to encourage corporate bond markets, according to a conference panel at the Asian Development Bank conference. The panelists agreed that the corporate markets play an important role in future credit diversification to help prevent the over-exposure to bank loans and maturity mismatches that led to the Asian financial crisis of 1997. However, many of the domestic markets have so far seen limited liquidity and intermediary participation.

ANZ Banking Group will soon become the last of Australia's four largest banks to use the global MBS market. The group is expected to launch a $1bn plus issue within days, through lead manager Salomon Smith Barney. The market is waiting to see if ANZ will opt for the single jumbo amortising senior tranche structure favoured by Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) and National Australia Bank, or choose the multi-tranche option that St George Bank and more recently Interstar favoured, possibly incorporating soft bullet notes.

China SG Securities on Wednesday completed its first deal of note since Patrick Crammond joined several months ago to head the equity capital market team.

With the new government of the Philippines celebrating 100 days in power, representatives of the executive laid out their plans for improved financial development to the Asian Development Bank this week. Included in these proposals was a potential return to the international debt capital markets this year, said Alberto Romulo, secretary of finance. "Our main objectives are to... look to the omnibus energy reform bills and the banking reform programme," said Romulo. "But after this we are looking at international market conditions, and are planning to initiate an investor roadshow in either July or August," he said.

Deutsche Bank is on the verge of launching the first convertible bond issue for Powerchip Semiconductor. The $200m plus deal will take place as an accelerated global bookbuild and will probably have a five year maturity with rolling puts beginning at the end of year one. The issue will be launched in Hong Kong today (Friday), and will be roadshowed in the US on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and then in London on Thursday for pricing at the end of next week. Indicated pricing will be released early today.

Dollar denominated agency paper was showing a strong bid against Treasuries this morning (Tuesday).