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Alongside green financing and ESG, a new class of bonds called ‘transition bonds’ has come to prominence. This type of financing funds firms’ transition towards a more sustainable business.

While the appeal of green and sustainable debt is undeniable, the key question for first-time issuers is where to start.

The meteoric rise of Asian issuances linked to sustainability, as the region prioritises meeting climate change targets, has led to a surge in corporate enquiries into ESG-related investment.

Pushing too hard in one area without accompanying reforms elsewhere could backfire for China.

As a result of policy direction in China and its implications on investor sentiment, fintechs may face tougher paths to raise money in the markets where they generate their business.

Beijing is simultaneously curtailing the influence of China’s tech giants alongside ambitions to nurture them as national champions. An uneven rollout risks neutralising the industry’s potential and associated capital market aspirations.

The future of clinical-based pharma is not the only segment to have undergone rapid transformation due to the pandemic.

For issuers looking for fund-raising strategies in healthcare, the opportunities are not difficult to spot.

If the fight against Covid is a war fought in the world’s laboratories and hospitals, then the innovations now emerging in pharma and biotech are also set to fundamentally change the world – including the financial markets, both for issuers and investors.

Key events that shaped the region from 2016 to 2020.