TMT issues light up convertible bond market

Two convertible bonds totalling $1bn issued have broken the summer lull and are expected to re-open the market for issuers from the region.

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, a Taiwan-based company with a focus on semiconductor assembly and test services, raised $400 million on Thursday. This follows Qihoo 360 Technology, a Chinese internet service company, which raised $600 million the day before, the largest ever issued by a US-listed mainland company and the largest dollar convertible bond in Asia since 2011.

There has been little CB issuance in Asia ex-Japan in recent months, so both Qihoo and ASE notes were welcomed by investors. Only one issuer - Epistar...