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NEW YORK/LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) - A lackluster IPO market is showing signs of life as a flurry of deals in the United States and Europe raise hopes that a recovery may be in sight. With investors now predicting an end to the Federal Reserve's rate hikes later this year, optimism has resumed. This allowed thrift shop chain Savers Value Village (SVV.N) to raise $401 million in its New York IPO this week, more than it originally set out to. Investors continued to snap up its shares, with the stock closing up 27% on its first day of trading. EUROPE IPOS ON THE WAYIn Europe, three IPOs are on track to be completed by early July, but two of them have already had to moderate their valuation expectations.

Persons: Aloke Gupte, Tom Swerling, Paul Abrahimzadeh, Hidroelectrica, Fondul, WE Soda, Ferretti, Coty, Andrew Briscoe, David DiPietro, Rowe Price, Echo Wang, Pablo Mayo, Elisa Martinuzzi, Mark Potter Organizations: Investors, JPMorgan Chase &, CAB, Kodiak Gas Services, Fidelis Insurance Holdings, Barclays, North America, Citigroup, U.S, Heineken, General, GE Healthcare Technologies, Bank of, Pablo Mayo Cerquiero, Thomson Locations: United States, Europe, Ukraine, New York, London, Africa, Asia, Kodiak, Fidelis, Cava, EUROPE, Romanian, Hong Kong, Milan, East

[1/2] A Chinese national flag flutters outside the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) building on the Financial Street in Beijing, China July 9, 2021. China's long-awaited rules for offshore stock exchange listings form part of a regulatory tightening on cross-border listings after years of a laissez-faire approach. REGULATORY 'BLACKBOX'The new listing regime requires CSRC to respond within 20 working days upon accepting an issuer's listing filing. Submitting additional materials can be time-consuming and thus delay the listing process, said bankers and lawyers. Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Kane Wu in Hong Kong; Additional reporting by Selena Li in Hong Kong; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, JD.com, Scott Murdoch, Kane Wu, Selena Li, Sumeet Chatterjee, Muralikumar Organizations: China Securities Regulatory Commission, REUTERS, China, U.S, iMotion Automotive Technology, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, Beijing, Hong Kong, SYDNEY, HONG KONG, Suzhou, Sydney

The hectic pace of activity comes after private credit funds targeting Asia jumped 76% last year to a record $11.2 billion, driven by both regional and India-dedicated strategies, according to Global Private Capital Association. As large global sponsors continue to invest into multi-billion dollar Asia-focused credit funds such as Apollo, Blackstone and KKR, the Asian private credit industry is set for further boom, Robert Wright, partner in law firm Baker McKenzie, said. The string of new private credit funds come against the backdrop of startups facing the threat of having down rounds. Nevertheless, alternative financing such as private credit does not come cheap, industry experts warned. Private credit firms usually arrange loans, with assets secured, on a floating rate basis.

Persons: GPCA, Singapore's SeaTown, Europe's 21yield, Nicholas Mairone, Robert Wright, Baker McKenzie, SeaTown, Rakshat Kapoor, Camille Krejci, Parthiv Rishi, Sidley Austin, Siew Kam Boon, Yantoultra Ngui, Sumeet Chatterjee Organizations: Asia, SINGAPORE, Global Private Capital Association . Industry, Silicon Valley Bank, Blackstone, KKR, Reuters Graphics, Bain Capital, India's, Mahindra Bank, Hong Kong's ADM, SoftBank Investment Advisers, Reuters, Prosus NV, Thomson Locations: Asia, India, Singapore, United States, North America, Silicon, Pacific, Japan, Hong Kong

☆ Ukraine Recovery Conferece: War-torn economy needs private investors to rebuild
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine faces an enormous fundraising challenge, and it’s one that governments and development finance institutions won’t be able to meet without help from private investors. The Ukraine Development Fund is still in the planning stages and is not expected to launch until the conflict ends. But it faces a crucial test Wednesday, when it will canvas support from governments and investors attending the London conference. Attracting private investmentThe Ukraine Development Fund aims to raise so-called concessionary capital from governments and development finance institutions, and then use that to attract private investment. Sunak also unveiled a “war-risk insurance” framework Wednesday, backed by Group of Seven countries, which will help limit potential losses faced by private investors in Ukraine.

Persons: London CNN —, Rishi Sunak’s, Antony Blinken, Sergei Chuzavkov, Volodymyr Zelensky, Stefan Weiler, JPMorgan’s, Weiler, It’s, ”, Brandon Hall, ” Hall, Yan Dobronosov, ” Zelensky, Sunak, ” Sunak, Lenna Koszarny, — Jo Shelley Organizations: London CNN, Conference, Citi, Sanofi, Philips, Bank, World Bank, BlackRock, JPMorgan, Ukraine Development Fund, CNN, Fund, London, BlackRock’s, Group of, Private, Horizon Locations: Russia, Ukraine, London, United States, Russian, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Europe, East, Africa, Kupiansk

SYDNEY/SINGAPORE, June 20 (Reuters) - Asia's dealmakers are counting on a pause in rate hikes globally and an economic rebound in China to rekindle activity in the region's equity capital markets, after volumes in the first half of the year sank to their lowest in four years. First-half Asia Pacific equity capital markets volumes dropped 16% to $117.2 billion from the same period in 2022, including a 34% drop in initial public offerings (IPOs) to $34.3 billion, Refinitiv data showed. "For investor sentiment to return for IPOs we need to see a more stable interest rate environment in the U.S., more economic stimulus from China and an improving geopolitical backdrop," said Cathy Zhang, head of Asia Pacific equity capital markets at Morgan Stanley. "We are hoping to see more IPO activity in the second half and starting to see some green shoots in the U.S. and Europe," said Udhay Furtado, Citigroup's co-head of Asia equity capital markets. As bankers scan their pipeline of IPO candidates for the second half, larger transactions in the region are being favoured to help kick-start activity.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Cathy Zhang, Morgan Stanley, Udhay Furtado, Citigroup's, Sunil Dhupelia, JPMorgan's, China's JD.com, Hulu Energi's, Edmund Leong, Scott Murdoch, Yantoultra, Vineet, Sonali Paul Organizations: Asia, Morgan, IPOs, STAR, Shenzhen's, Reuters, JD Industrial, JD, Alibaba, HK, Bankers, Group Investment Banking, UOB, Thomson Locations: SYDNEY, SINGAPORE, China, Asia Pacific, U.S, York, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Europe, Asia, Japan, IPOS, Southeast Asia, Amman, Sydney, Singapore, Bangalore

June 16 (Reuters) - German bus services firm Flix, owner of the Greyhound brand in North America and FlixBus in Europe, has stepped up preparations for a possible stock-market listing, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Flix has invited investment banks to pitch to manage its share sale in recent weeks, said the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. U.S. corporate finance house Evercore (EVR.N) is advising Flix on the process, the sources said. Flix, set up in 2011 by three entrepreneurs in Munich to try to make bus travel cheap, runs bus and train services across 40 countries. So far this year, only one stock market listing has taken place in Germany, raising $479 million, according to Refinitiv data.

Persons: Flix, Evercore, IONOS, WE, Hidroelectrica, Emma, Victoria Farr, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, John O'Donnell, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Greyhound, Reuters, Atlantic, Thomson Locations: North America, Europe, Germany, Ukraine, Munich, Permira, BlackRock, London

☆ Citi CFO says 1,600 job cuts will boost second-quarter expenses
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Tatiana Bautzer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW YORK, June 14 (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc (C.N) in the second quarter will book severance costs associated with around 1,600 job cuts, Chief Financial Officer Mark Mason said on Wednesday. Since the start of the year, the bank has incurred costs related to a 5,000 headcount reduction taking place across the firm, largely in banking, markets and functions. One person with knowledge of the matter said the job cuts include people that worked in units Citi decided to divest, but did not specify the number. He said markets revenues fell 20% so far this quarter from a year earlier. Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) expects trading revenue may slump 25% this quarter, that bank's president said last week.

Persons: Mark Mason, Mason, Tatiana Bautzer, Cynthia Osterman, David Gregorio Our Organizations: YORK, Citigroup Inc, Citi, Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Thomson Locations: New York

LONDON, June 14 (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) has added three senior dealmakers to its team of bankers advising other financial institutions, such as insurance companies and lenders, according to a memo seen by Reuters on Wednesday and confirmed by a company spokesperson. It has hired Marie-Soazic Geffroy as global co-head of its Financial Institutions Group (FIG) from Perella Weinberg Partners (PWP.O). Based in Paris, she will lead the industry group alongside Jeff Cady, who is set to join the bank in New York from Citigroup (C.N). The bank has also appointed Chris Williams as FIG chairman for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Citigroup's Aaron Saperstein is also set to join Deutsche Bank in New York as head of diversified financials, covering speciality finance companies and financial technology lenders.

Persons: Marie, Soazic, Perella Weinberg, Jeff Cady, Chris Williams, Citigroup's Aaron Saperstein, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Stefania Spezzati, Mark Potter Organizations: Deutsche Bank, Reuters, Group, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche, Thomson Locations: Paris, New York, Europe, East, Africa

George Clinical declined to comment. The private equity firm has entered a deal to buy most of George Clinical, the clinical research organisation said in December, adding the transaction was subject to FIRB approval. George Clinical did not disclose a sale price but said its parent, the George Institute, a medical research group, would retain an undefined stake. The George Clinical deal would involve the holding of healthcare and patient data which is considered sensitive in Australia. Hillhouse has offered to ensure data remains onshore and not be shared overseas, the people said.

Persons: George Clinical, Hillhouse, Zhang Lei, George, George Clinical's, Scott Murdoch, Kane Wu, Sumeet Chatterjee, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Hillhouse Capital, Foreign Investment, Board, of, Treasury, George Institute, Yale University, Tencent Holdings, HK, JD.com Inc, Baidu Inc, Koninklijke Philips NV, Thomson, & $ Locations: HONG KONG, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, London, United States, Australia, China, Refinitiv, Netherlands, Asia, Pacific, Sydney

LONDON, June 7 (Reuters) - Barclays (BARC.L) is studying options for its global payments activities as a part of broader review into how it allocates resources, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Barclays has already engaged at least one major consultancy firm and may hire others to split assignments, this person said. "Our three businesses continue to perform well and our business mix is robust - growing our global payments business is a priority for us," a Barclays spokesperson said. The payments study comes as Barclays had also drafted Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to conduct a strategy review of the entire banking group, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters. How the bank should allocate resources between more predictable retail business and volatile returns from the investment bank has attracted investor scrutiny.

Persons: Amy, Jo Crowley, Pablo Mayo, Stefania Spezzati, Lawrence White, Alexander Smith Organizations: Barclays, Reuters, Britain's, Barclaycard, Boston Consulting, Bloomberg, BNP, HSBC, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Thomson Locations: London

June 5 (Reuters) - UBS Group AG (UBSG.S) is looking to retain more than 100 Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN.S) investment bankers across Asia as part of a plan to shore up talent in markets where its rival has a stronger presence, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said. Bloomberg said that UBS's retention target of more than 100 bankers did not include China. UBS and Credit Suisse declined to comment on the report. Credit Suisse also declined to say how many investment bankers it currently employs in Asia. Reuters last month reported that hundreds of Credit Suisse employees are resigning each week in a sign of the uncertainty gripping the lender while it is being taken over by its larger rival.

Persons: Sergio Ermotti, Yana Gaur, Jamie Freed, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: UBS Group AG, Credit Suisse Group AG, Suisse's, Reuters, Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, UBS, Credit Suisse, Thomson Locations: Asia, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, India, China, Bengaluru

But China, which bristles at visits to Taiwan by foreign government officials, tends to ignore trips by business executives, who usually keep clear of politics. Dimon will meet bank employees and clients in Taiwan on his visit, said the source, who sought anonymity as the plans were not public, while adding that no meetings were planned with Taiwan officials. As part of his Asia tour, Dimon will also visit South Korea after the Taiwan trip, said the source. But there was no plan for President Tsai Ing-wen to meet Dimon, her office said on Friday. Dimon favours East-West "derisking" rather than decoupling, he told the three-day JPMorgan Global China Summit event in the city on Wednesday.

Persons: Jamie Dimon, Andrew Collier, Dimon, Nvidia Corp's, Jensen Huang, Pat Gelsinger, Dimon's, Ma Ying, Tsai Ing, Chen Jining, Selena Li, Kane Wu, Scott Murdoch, Ben Blanchard, Emily Chan, Mrinmay Dey, Sumeet Chatterjee, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: JPMorgan Chase &, JPMorgan, Orient Capital Research, Bloomberg, Wall, U.S, Nvidia, Intel, Financial, Commission, Shanghai's Communist, JPMorgan Global China, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, China, Taipei, Beijing, Hong Kong, Asia, South Korea, East, United States, Sydney, Bengaluru

☆ Analysis: Struggling China local governments find a fundraising loophole, lifeline in "pearl bonds"
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

SHANGHAI/HONG KONG, May 31 (Reuters) - China's cash-strapped local governments have suddenly rushed to an unusual corner of the debt market in Shanghai where ambiguous rules offer ways to skirt restrictions on onshore borrowing. LGFVs accounted for about two-thirds of the issuers and 60% of the debt sold this year nation-wide, according to Reuters' calculations. Among all the newly-issued FTZ bonds this year, 55, or two-thirds of all 82 issuers, were LGFVs, according to Reuters' calculations. The "pearl" or free trade zone (FTZ) bonds have been around since 2016 but are only now becoming popular as tighter central government supervision on LGFV debts starts to bite. AMBIGUOUS POSITIONING"Pearl bonds" differ from other offshore bonds as trades are cleared by the state-owned China Central Depository & Clearing Co, rather than a global clearing house.

Persons: Shi Xiaoshan, Fitch, Royston Quek, Tim Fang, Pearl, Zhang Hong, Georgina Lee, Tom Westbrook, Kim Coghill Organizations: U.S, Haitong International Securities, China Central Depository, Industrial, Group, Credit Agricole CIB, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, Bank of Communications, Pudong New, Financial, Reform Commission, Reuters, The, Administration of Foreign Exchange, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, HONG KONG, Shanghai, Beijing, U.S . Federal, Hong Kong, China, Zhejiang, Pudong, SINGAPORE

But the dollar and European stocks slipped, dented by uncertainty about whether Congress will approve the deal after a handful of hard-right Republican lawmakers said on Monday they would oppose the bill, though it is expected to pass. The pan European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) fell 0.2% after recording on Friday its biggest weekly decline in two months. U.S. 10-year bond yields dropped 9.7 basis points to 3.72%, while 30-year yields fell 8 bps to 3.89%. The dollar index , which measures the greenback against six peers, fell 0.26% at 104.03 after rising to a two-month high in earlier trading. Elsewhere, euro zone bond yields fell after Spanish inflation data came in lower than expected, raising hopes that the European Central Bank may raise interest rates less than previously feared.

☆ Asian stocks dip as investors question consequences of US debt deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Scott Murdoch | Thomson Reuters | Scott Murdoch Has Been A Journalist For More Than Two Decades Working For Thomson Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The package still has to be approved by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and Democratic-controlled Senate before the debt limit is reached, likely by next Monday. The bond market is implying there is an extreme 70% probability on a U.S. recession in the next year. Australian shares (.AXJO) were down 0.11% while the Nikkei stock index (.N225) rose 0.36%, after the Japanese benchmark hit a 33-year high on optimism over the U.S debt deal and a weaker yen, which helps the country's exporters. Benchmark 10-year yields dropped 6 basis points during Asian trade to 3.7616% while thirty-year yields fell 6.3 bps to 3.9134%. With the debt deal heading to Congress for approval, JB Were analysts said there could be up to $600 billion worth of bill issuance in the next six to eight weeks.

In Asian trade, longer-dated U.S. Treasuries rallied on Tuesday as bond traders welcomed the deal to suspend Washington's borrowing limit. "There's still a huge disconnect between bond markets and equities. The deal suspends the debt ceiling until January 2025 in exchange for caps on spending and cuts in government programmes. While U.S cash markets were closed on Monday, S&P 500 e-minis were up 0.32%, reflecting the positive reaction to the debt deal. With the debt deal heading to Congress for approval, JB Were analysts said there could be up to $600 billion worth of bill issuance in the next six to eight weeks.

May 28 (Reuters) - Good news of a tentative deal for the U.S. debt ceiling impasse may quickly turn out to be bad news for financial markets. "That's where the debt ceiling matters." In that case, "the impact on broader financial markets would likely be relatively muted," Daniel Krieter, director of fixed income strategy, BMO Capital Markets, said in a report. Some bankers said they fear financial markets may not have accounted for the risk of a liquidity drain from banks' reserves. Bankers put it to hope that the debt ceiling impasse would be resolved without significant dislocation to markets, but warn that's a risky strategy.

LONDON/LISBON, May 19 (Reuters) - Portuguese insurer Fidelidade is exploring a potential stock market listing of its private healthcare subsidiary Luz Saude, six people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Luz Saude reported operating income of 599 million euros in 2022, a 10.6% jump from the year before, driven by growth in private healthcare services. They come after Fidelidade acquired the remaining 49% of Luz Saude it did not already own from parent Fosun in September. An IPO would mark a return of Luz Saude to the stock market after the healthcare group stopped trading on Euronext Lisbon in 2018. It could also awaken Europe's IPO market, after activity levels plunged last year on the back of soaring interest rates and economic uncertainty.

LONDON, May 17 (Reuters) - Planisware is working with investment bankers on strategic options, including a stock market listing of the French software group, four people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Rothschild (ROTH.PA) is acting as financial adviser to Planisware, two of the people, who declined to be named, said. BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA) and Citigroup (C.N) have been lined up to arrange a possible initial public offering (IPO), one person added. Private equity group Ardian, which holds an undisclosed stake in Planisware through its growth capital arm, declined to comment. In France, IPO volumes plunged in 2022 to levels similar to the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

[1/2] A small toy figure and imitation gold are seen in front of the Newcrest logo in this illustration taken November 19, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationMay 15 (Reuters) - Australian gold miner Newcrest Mining Ltd said on Monday it would back Newmont Corp's (NEM.N) A$26.2 billion ($17.8 billion) takeover offer in one of the world's largest buyouts so far this year. Newcrest shareholders would receive 0.400 Newmont share for each share held, with an implied value of A$29.27 a share, higher than a previous exchange ratio of 0.380 that Newcrest's board rejected in February. "This transaction will combine two of the world's leading gold producers, bringing forward significant value to Newcrest shareholders through the recognition of our outstanding growth pipeline," said Newcrest Chairman Peter Tomsett. Newcrest shareholders will be able to choose to receive New York Stock Exchange-listed Newmont shares or Australian-listed CHESS Depository Instruments (CDIs) as payment.

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationMay 15 (Reuters) - Australian gold miner Newcrest Mining Ltd said on Monday it would back Newmont Corp's (NEM.N) A$26.2 billion ($17.8 billion) takeover offer in one of the world's largest buyouts so far this year. If the deal gets Newcrest shareholders' approval and other regulatory approvals, it would lift Newmont's gold output to nearly double its nearest rival, Barrick Gold Corp (ABX.TO), further solidifying Newmont's position as the world's biggest gold producer. Newcrest shareholders will be able to choose to receive New York Stock Exchange-listed Newmont shares or Australian listed CHESS Depository Instruments (CDIs) as payment. Newcrest said it recommended its shareholders vote in favour of the deal at a meeting expected to be held in September or October. The deal requires Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) sign off as well as Newcrest and Newmont shareholders to vote in support the transaction among other regulatory approvals.

A Virgin Australia spokesperson confirmed the contents of the internal email. A Bain Capital spokesperson declined to comment. "I can also confirm the IPO planning is well advanced," Cotton said in the email to staff seen by Reuters. Virgin Australia Chief Executive Jayne Hrdlicka said on Monday that she would take several weeks of leave to spend time with family after the death of her husband from cancer. Bain Capital bought Virgin Australia in 2020 after it was placed in voluntary administration, the closest Australian equivalent to Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

REUTERS/Aly Song/File PhotoSYDNEY/HONG KONG, May 8 (Reuters) - Alibaba's (9988.HK) logistics arm aims to raise up to $2 billion via a listing in Hong Kong likely early next year, sources with knowledge of the matter said, bolstering hopes for a capital markets revival in the Asian financial hub. Cainiao, which has started work on the IPO, is looking to raise between $1 billion and $2 billion in Hong Kong, according to three sources. IPO PROSPECTSDealmakers hope that Cainiao's potential IPO, expected to be followed by market debuts from some of the other Alibaba units in the near-term, could help revive sluggish fundraising activities in Hong Kong. About $1.5 billion has been raised from IPOs in Hong Kong so far this year, marginally above the $1.2 billion raised in the same period last year, according to Refinitiv data. ($1 = 6.9149 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Julie Zhu in Hong Kong; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The visit is Dimon's first to mainland China since the pandemic gathered pace in 2020 and closed the world's second-largest economy for almost three years as it enforced some of the world's most stringent restrictions. He will also visit Hong Kong in early June after the Shanghai trip, two of the sources added. Dimon visited the Asian financial hub of Hong Kong to meet the bank's staff and clients in November 2021. A JPMorgan spokesperson in Hong Kong declined to comment on Dimon's visit to mainland China and Hong Kong. Reporting by Julie Zhu in Hong Kong, Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Nupur Anand in New York; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ex-Facebook and DeepMind employees in talks to raise sizable initial funding round to build OpenAI rival
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A French startup that wants to be Europe's answer to OpenAI is in talks to raise an initial funding round. The secretive new project, named Mistral, was founded by two AI research scientists. Mistral, a secretive new startup pitched as Europe's answer to OpenAI, is in discussions to raise a substantive funding round, sources say. London-based generative AI startup Synthesia is in talks to raise a major round while ElevenLabs raised at a $100 million valuation last month. It's also widened the race for AI supremacy with Google launching its own AI assistant, Bard, to compete with OpenAI.

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