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THE People's Republic of China has appointed Merrill Lynch and Nomura Securities to act as joint lead managers for its first Samurai bond issue in five years. According to a source close to the deal, China is expected to raise ¥30bn-¥50bn through a five year Samurai bond issue, with the ministry of finance likely to approve the filing for the bond issue by early next week.

Australia The New South Wales Treasury Corp has launched a ¥10bn, yen dollar dual currency bond issue. Daiwa SB Capital Markets Singapore is sole lead manager for the three year bonds, which are guaranteed by The Crown in Right of New South Wales.

THE REPUBLIC of Croatia launched its second Samurai bond issue this week. The republic placed ¥40bn of seven year bonds, increasing the size of the issue from ¥30bn. Bankers were divided on the success of the bond issue, which was lead managed by Daiwa Securities SB Capital Markets. The bond was issued at par, and carries a coupon of 3%.

Deutsche Telekom's plan to issue at least $8bn of bonds sparked widening in credit and swaps spreads this week when wider than expected price talk emerged, and as bankers speculated that the deal could be increased - possibly making it the largest ever. Mid-week, generous price talk prompted widening of corporate bonds in dollars, euros and sterling - along with yen, the currencies that will be tapped by DT.

Australia Merrill Lynch and UBS Warburg yesterday evening (Thursday) completed the accelerated bookbuild sale of 59.5m new stapled securities to raise A$200m for Mirvac Group.

THE Nasdaq IPO for ASAT Holdings, a leading semiconductor assembly and testing services provider, is back on track. Bankers in Hong Kong suggest that the postponement several weeks ago might have been too hasty, as Chartered Semiconductor's recent $1bn placement and the more than $1.1bn Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing issue have both performed well in recent weeks.

KOREA Exchange Bank (KEB) is finally proceeding with an upper tier 2 subordinated debt issue, following a delay due to poor market conditions in the sub debt market. The Ba2/B+ rated bank mandated Credit Suisse First Boston to lead manage the $200m, 10 year, non-call five issue in April, but the deal was subsequently delayed as international market conditions decayed. As Euroweek was going to press, sources familiar with the transaction said that it should be priced in New York by late this week or early next week. "The improved market situation and tightening Korean sub debt spreads has meant that the deal could be brought to market," said one banker. "Spreads in Korean upper tier 2 debt improved at the end of May and early June and in this week, after blowing out in May."

* The Eu81m IPO of media company IN-Motion, led by Gontard & Metallbank, was 2.5 times oversubscribed this week. The issue was priced at Eu26 from a range of Eu24-Eu27. Although the shares opened on Tuesday at Eu23.5 and fell to Eu21.5, they recovered to close at Eu24. The offer consisted of 3.1m shares, all primary apart from 270,000 existing shares. There is no greenshoe, and the freefloat of the company now represents 29% of its share capital. Of the total allocation, 40% went to retail, 40% went to German institutions and 20% went to institutions abroad. ConSors was a particularly important source of orders of over 1,000 shares.

France SG completed its seventh OCEANE bond issue of the year with a Eu49m 5.3 year deal for Nouveau Marché listed Medical. The deal, twice covered, was launched and completed on Tuesday and came at the top of the yield-to-maturity range of 5.75%-6.25%. The conversion premium was at the bottom of the 17%-21% range.

* DaimlerChrysler Australia Pacific Pty Ltd Guarantor: DaimlerChrysler AG

* National Australia Bank Rating: Aa3/AA/AA

DEUTSCHE Bank and Schroder Salomon Smith Barney priced Dutch health food giant Numico's concurrent Eu1.14bn equity and equity linked fundraisings on Tuesday, with both deals closing around seven times covered and trading up during the week. Bankers described both issues as blow-outs, with investors enthusiastic about the company's future plans. The deals will part fund the $1.8bn acquisition of vitamin and over-the-counter drug manufacturer Rexall Sundown in the US.