Northeast Asia

The shock from the stunning slump in China Huarong Asset Management Co's dollar bonds may have eased slightly, following a rally this week after supportive comments from the Chinese government. But the incident should trigger a more critical look at the risks and rewards of buying state-owned international bonds.

Hong Kong-listed ESR Cayman, a logistics real estate company, has raised a $400m dual-tranche borrowing.

Putian State-Owned Assets Investment Co (PTSI) sold its first dollar bond this week, raising $180m.

US-listed Zai Lab and Futu Holdings are tapping the equity market for funds through follow-on offerings, with both the Chinese companies launching their transactions after a rally in their stock price.

China-based Herald International Financial Leasing Co, a unit of BMW Group, has returned to the onshore securitization market. It switched to a straightforward two-tranche structure for the Rmb3bn ($461m) auto lease asset backed notes (ABN), pricing the senior tranche at a competitive spread.

Ping An International Financial Leasing, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China’s Ping An Group, is casting a wide net for its $500m loan comeback, in a bid to diversify its financing sources — and its banking relationships.

The Chinese securities regulator and the Shanghai bourse have boosted requirements on Star market IPO candidates’ technology credentials, banning the listing of financial and investment companies and tightening scrutiny on financial technology firms.

Citi is planning to hire around 2,300 people to support the expansion of its wealth management business in Asia Pacific, as the bank undertakes a restructuring that boosts focus on its four wealth centres.

Trip.com Group's shares rose on its debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Monday, following a popular billion-dollar secondary listing by the Chinese travel company.

In this round-up, Beijing and Washington pledge to fight climate change together, Citi plans to set up onshore securities and futures companies as it ends consumer banking operations in 13 markets including China, and the banking and insurance regulator reassures the market that Huarong Asset Management Co’s operations are stable.

Japanese issuers have embraced green, social and sustainability bonds, offering domestic and international investors a range of deals designed to tackle climate change, gender equality and other problems. But the local investor base is still small — and some issuers have lingering questions about funding costs. GlobalCapital talked to a group of leading market participants about the potential for Japan’s ESG bond market.

Japan’s sustainable bond market, already one of the world’s largest, has grown over the past year — given a boost from social funding needs brought about by Covid-19. Morgan Davis reports.