South Asia

Under the aegis of Softbank’s Vision Fund, the Indian budget hotel chain has quickly expanded into China and Europe. But the startup cannot outrun poor business practices that have left customers dissatisfied and investors skittish.

Once considered bull market products, perpetuals are increasingly becoming a more regular component of a borrower’s arsenal. But are bond investors being lulled into a false sense of security about the asset class again?

FinanceAsia's prestigious Country Awards is now open for submissions. With an exciting new list of categories and a fresh submissions criteria, all the information you need to take part is here.

As India’s government is under pressure to shore up its ailing balance sheet, it has identified a handful of state assets to sell. The Life Insurance Corporation of India offers the most lucrative opportunity, but how international investors respond when they look under the hood is key.

The new government wants to get growth back to a level that befits the country’s promise. One key route is a moratorium on loans. The rating agencies loathe the idea, but the country’s leading bankers and economists give a broadly positive assessment.

There are welcome signs the new asset class is finding its feet the region. After South Korea’s pioneering efforts, interest is now picking up in India and accelerating in Japan. However, not everyone is yet fully convinced of its virtues just yet.

The Indian group's recent financing has set the tone for a decade when ESG financing will increasingly take centre stage. Its CEO tells FinanceAsia how it passed muster with investors and what is next for the pioneering credit.

Sitting on a half a trillion dollars of non-performing assets, India’s desire to lift growth should be enough to allow foreign investors to fully tap the country’s distressed debt market. However, there are two major impediments to change.