Singapore

Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust (Reit) is looking to raise capital for a planned acquisition in Australia, wooing investors in the Singapore dollar hybrid market.

Singapore Exchange (SGX) has created a new index targeting Asian issuers and investors, as it seeks to fulfil the increasing demand for index-linked investment opportunities in the region.

Thai petrochemical producer Indorama Ventures has made its debut in the Singapore dollar bond market, raising S$195m ($137m) from 10 year notes backed by the Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility (CGIF).

JP Morgan has made two senior hires to its China investment banking business, this time poaching from Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Rothschild as it continues to build its franchise in the country.

Commerzbank has lost a senior member of its Asia DCM syndicate team, according to a source close to the move.

Commodities trader Trafigura has seen big success with its syndicated loan, bumping up its fundraising to $2.2bn from the launch size of $1.6bn.

Korean banks have pulled back from the Samurai market, as funding costs have moved against them, but some other names have stepped into the breach. Australian banks are a key fixture in the Samurai markets, while the arrival of Maybank this year gives a pointer to future issuance. Asia Pacific financial institutions issuers are also proving instrumental in the steady development of the Pro-Bond market. Volatility in China, however, is not helping anybody. In September, some of Asia Pacific’s leadering FIG borrowers spoke to GlobalCapital about prospects in the Japanese capital markets.

Asiamoney is pleased to present its choices for Asia’s Best Managed Companies 2015. The winners were the firms that impressed us the most through a combination of factors including innovation, financial performance and strategic execution, and after also surveying the views of regional analysts and investors. Our congratulations to all those chosen.

Commodities trader Mercuria is back in the market for its annual refinancing, launching a $900m triple tranche revolver into general syndication late last week.

HSBC has promoted Sean Henderson to the role of deputy head of debt capital markets for Asia Pacific, as well as head of capital financing for Singapore, according to an internal memo seen by GlobalCapital Asia.

A $125m loan for Bharat PetroResources International (BPRL), a subsidiary of Bharat Petroleum Corp (BPCL), has launched into targeted syndication.

The Singapore Exchange (SGX) has set up three independent committees to strengthen the policymaking process for listings.