Japan

Charles Pitts-Tucker has been promoted to international head of investment banking at Nomura, alongside a string of other moves at the Japanese bank.

Crédit Agricole put out price thoughts for a non-preferred senior bond in the Euroyen market on Wednesday, getting the ball rolling on its third public debt offering in the space of a week.

The anchoring of European CLOs by Japanese investors, one of which has been claiming the senior notes on most euro CLOs issued in 2019, is likely to continue until at least mid-April, despite the year end for Japanese banks at the end of March, which often slows the market. ICG is the latest manager to launch an issue, with Goldman leading the deal.

Société Générale is enjoying a record year in the Japanese debt markets, after selling its debut deal in Euroyen format late on Friday. The transaction received strong demand from investors, even though it was marketed at the same time as another total loss-absorbing (TLAC) eligible transaction from ING Groep.

UBS is re-balancing its corporate finance business to end its reliance on its Financial Institutions Group with impressive results, writes David Rothnie.

Representatives from the Loan Syndication and Trading Association (LSTA) and the CLO manager community returned from Japan this week following meetings with the Japanese Financial Services Agency, where they made a case for exempting broadly syndicated loan (BSL) CLOs from proposed risk retention rules.

Japanese anchor investor Norinchukin is directing issuers to print new issue euro CLOs within a week, according to market sources, leading to pressure on syndicate desks to place the mezzanine, weaker spreads — and tougher times for equity investors.

Japanese banks are unlikely to enjoy any let-up from razor-thin net interest margins in 2019. This is worrying for their long-term sustainability, but it’s potentially a bonanza for DCM specialists in Europe and the US.

Japanese regulators will implement risk retention rules for securitization at the end of March. The Financial Services Agency is leaning towards the 'eligible vertical interest' model as a solution to allow investors to access both European and US markets.

Korea National Oil Corp’s debut in the Japanese yen market on Wednesday was one to remember. The deal was the largest single-tranche Samurai bond on record in Asia, despite a rise in tensions between the two countries.

Japanese regulators are looking to implement risk retention requirements for investors that closely mirror European-style regulation, bringing them more in line with Europe but potentially distancing Japanese investors from US ABS markets.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group has appointed Jason Mann as European head of financial institutions DCM, a role which will be based in a branch of the bank’s new subsidiary, established to prepare for Brexit.