Northeast Asia

Japanese issuers have just been through one of the most volatile, unpredictable years in decades. Although the impact of Covid-19 on capital markets was not as violent as the aftermath of the global financial crisis, huge questions about economic growth, trade and asset allocation meant it was arguably a more troubling period for issuers and investors alike. GlobalCapital talked to some of the country’s best-regarded issuers about how they navigated the market.

The Japanese bond market had a blow-out year in 2020, despite the ongoing pandemic and related volatility. With 2021 already characterised by eager borrowers and large acquisition financing activity, DCM bankers are preparing for another record setting year. Morgan Davis reports.

In this round-up, the Chinese economy rebounds at a fast pace from a year ago when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, regulators vow to manage hidden debt risks at local governments, and two existing shareholders agree to pump $250m into Luckin Coffee.

The chairman of South Korea’s Kakao Corp has kicked off his official pledge to donate more than half of his wealth to society by raising about W500bn ($448m) from a stake sale in the messaging app on Thursday.

Chinese technology giant Tencent Holdings raised $4.15bn from four tranches of long-dated bonds this week, overcoming weak market sentiment to push ahead with its deal.

China Construction Bank Corp turned to the bond market on Thursday to sell a $2.4bn equivalent multi-currency transaction, with each tranche carrying a socially responsible investment (SRI) label. But recent volatility in the region’s credit market, and the issuer’s own ‘ambiguous’ approach to the trade, posed challenges.

Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Auto Finance Co made its first appearance in China’s auto loan ABS market since 2017 this week, sealing a Rmb2.201bn ($336m) deal amid rising demand for proprietary brand vehicles after a plunge in sales in recent years.

Chinese company Zhaoke Ophthalmology has kicked off a Hong Kong IPO worth up to HK$2.1bn ($270m), becoming the latest biotechnology company to sell shares on the bourse.

Banks are optimistic that sustainability-linked bonds have a bright future as part of their funding toolkits, after Berlin Hyp became the first financial institution to land a deal in the format this week. More trades are already on the way and market participants are stepping up their efforts to break down the remaining barriers for FIG borrowers.

A planned restructuring of China’s Ant Group into a financial holding company has raised questions — and fuelled speculation — about when the firm is able to revive its derailed IPO and how it will be valued. Addison Gong reports.

Fears around the health of China Huarong Asset Management Co rattled investors this week and took a toll on Asia’s bond market. The bad debt manager’s dollar bonds have tumbled, bringing new issuance from China to a near halt and putting pressure on other state-linked credits in the secondary market. Morgan Davis reports.

Imagine trying to explain stock markets to an alien or an intelligent caveman, someone who has grown up in a world without the flicker of red and green numbers, the theatre of shareholder meetings, the strange spectacle of Jim Cramer’s pre-scheduled rage.