SEOUL (April 9): South Korean battery maker Samsung SDI is cutting by 14%, the price of new shares it will sell to raise two trillion won (US$1.4 billion, or RM6.29 billion), as the global markets' selloff triggered by US tariff fears hit corporate deals across Asia.

Samsung SDI indicated on Wednesday that it plans to sell its new shares at 146,200 Korean won (US$98.41) each, down from the 169,200 won announced last month. The final price will be set on May 19.

A growing number of deals are being impacted by the volatility sweeping global markets in the aftermath of US President Donald Trump's tariffs package.

The "reciprocal" tariffs on dozens of countries took effect on Wednesday, including 104% duties on Chinese goods. China said on Tuesday that it would 'fight to the end' against the proposed tariffs.

The tariffs have sparked turmoil in international equities and bond markets, as investors feared a global economic downturn was imminent.

Asian equity markets were down again on Wednesday, with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dropping 2%.

The 10-year US Treasury yield, the globe's benchmark safe-haven anchor, was up 20 basis points and rising in Asia, signifying investors were selling even their safest assets.

The South Korean won tumbled to a more than 16-year low on Wednesday.

Samsung SDI said in March that it would issue 11,821,000 new shares to raise capital to fund a US joint venture with General Motors, and to expand factory capacity in Hungary, among other investments.

It was the latest company in Asia to alter fundraising plans because of the market shakeup.

Three Japanese companies, Suntory Holdings Ltd, Japan's largest beer maker Asahi, and Nissin Foods Holdings Co, Ltd, postponed bond deals this week to raise up to 100 billion yen (US$688.80 million), Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing company spokespeople and a source.

The future of initial public offerings (IPOs) and bond issuances across Asia is being closely watched, as deals collapse, or are shelved around the world.

Even Berkshire Hathaway, which is currently marketing a seven-tranche yen-denominated bond, revised its price guidance about five basis points wider across each of the tranches, according to a term sheet seen by Reuters, reflecting investors wanting better returns to buy into the deal.

Books for the transaction are due to close on Thursday in the Asian time zone. Berkshire Hathaway did not respond to a request for comment sent by Reuters outside normal US business hours.

Indian electric vehicle maker Ather Energy is considering cutting its US$400 million IPO by US$50 million because of uncertain market conditions, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing sources.

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