South Asia

Everything fell into place for the Sri Lankan government’s return to the debt market on Monday when it sealed $1.5bn from a dual-trancher, shrugging off concerns about its fiscal problems and recent rating downgrade.

India’s L&T Infotech has kicked off bookbuilding for its up to Rp12.4bn ($184.9m) IPO after placing a third of the offering with anchor investors.

India’s government has kicked off a plan to offload its minority stakes in 51 listed and unlisted companies, issuing a request for proposals to select three banks that will lead the share sales.

The Sri Lankan government is making a comeback to the bond market, launching a dual-tranche dollar transaction on Monday morning.

India’s HT Global IT Solutions Holdings took a two-pronged approach to pricing its $300m high yield bond on Thursday as finding the best comparables posed a challenge.

Yes Bank, India’s fifth largest private sector bank, has found good demand for its $1bn equity capital raising on a round of investor pre-marketing meetings.

Stuart Tait has been named HSBC’s new regional head of commercial banking, Asia Pacific, replacing Paul Skelton who has decided to leave the firm to pursue other opportunities.

Three Indian state-owned oil companies have hit the loan market for fresh money to support their joint acquisition of oil fields in Russia. Several banks are keen to submit bids but the adverse impact from US sanctions on Russia could pose a challenge, writes Shruti Chaturvedi.

Pakistan’s equity capital markets are on the verge of a well needed boost, after the country’s financial regulator set out plans to develop and grow them over the next two years.

Asia’s equity capital markets had a ghastly first quarter before making a slow turnaround, but market watchers are calling for more from the second half of the year. Safe bets such as real estate investment trusts are expected to be hot, while insulated regions such as south and southeast Asia are likely to be a growing source of business. Jonathan Breen reports.

The Asian debt market has followed up strongly on Bank of China’s successful $3bn green bond, with five deals launched on Thursday and more expected.

India’s HT Global IT Solutions Holdings is set to give a lift to the Asian high yield market, launching a $300m deal on Thursday with price guidance set at a hefty 7.625% area.