Executive choices
This month’s cover story is about a boutique banker in Thailand. On some levels, we’re continuing on with last month’s theme of What is success? We hear rumblings about banks quietly downsizing, bonuses not what they once were, and perks — such as housing allowances and school fees halved or taken away completely. We realise this makes some think twice about their career choices. But at the same time, there are a host of deals to be done in Asia. And some deal makers are going their own way to finance Asia. We highlight Robert Mullis’s work in Thailand — where putting together a few hundred million dollar deal can be transformational for an industry.
This month’s cover story is about a boutique banker in Thailand. On some levels, we’re continuing on with last month’s theme of What is success? We hear rumblings about banks quietly downsizing, bonuses not what they once were, and perks — such as housing allowances and school fees halved or taken away completely. We realise this makes some think twice about their career choices. But at the same time, there are a host of deals to be done in Asia. And some deal makers are going their own way to finance Asia. We highlight Robert Mullis’s work in Thailand — where putting together a few hundred million dollar deal can be transformational for an industry.
For a lighter touch, we also have included our Business Travel Poll — you gave us your feedback on what hotels are hot, and what airlines are not. In this issue, we share the results.
Lara Wozniak, Editor
REGULARS
4
Deal of the Month
$1.9 billion exit by Citi from the Housing Development Finance Corp
6
Primary Markets
A summary of key equity and debt deals
14
Bought and Sold
M&A transactions that stood out
18
Asia in Numbers
Offbeat numbers from the region
20
Month in Asia
Political and economic news brief
22
Investor Dialogue
Wilfred Sit, Barings’ chief investment officer
24
People on the Move
News of the latest hires and moves
72
Reel Lessons
The Ides of March
NEWS
26
Regulator urges China to simplify listing approvals
China’s securities regulator should step back from its role as gatekeeper of new share listings
COVER STORY
28
Making a difference Mullis Partners may not be on your radar, but it should be
INDONESIA REPORT
34
Indosat monetises assets in tower deal Indonesian telecoms need to focus on value-added services and define clear strategies
40
Indonesia suffers as trends reverse The country’s equities market lags the region but government selldowns are expected to resume
VIETNAM REPORT
46
Sunny days
Foreign direct investment is on the rise in Vietnam
48
Delivering integrated service
Professional services advisers discuss how to deliver greater value at the Baker & McKenzie Asia- Pacific meeting in Ho Chi Minh City
52
Hang tight
Vietnam’s stockmarket resembles a rollercoaster at a fair, but some say it’s worth the ride
FEATURES
44
Women in the boardroom: Why Asia could be different
Celebrating International Women’s Day
54
Rare earth’s big deal
Malaysia’s efforts to become more industrialised could be costly
56
Uranium in disarray A near-term bull run in uranium is a welcome prediction to an industry battered by bad news
58
Poverty reduction guides the ADB’s direction
A look at the bank’s objectives and limitations
60
Travel guide
Who to fly with and where to stay
66
Back to the future
Why Future Capital is thriving
68
Australia and New Zealand Achievement Awards
Photos from the evening
70
Awards of Achievement
Photos from the Hong Kong event
About FinanceAsia Magazine
Established in 1996, FinanceAsia is the leading publisher of financial news in the Asia-Pacific region. Our combination of print and online products provide the latest news, analysis and insight into Asia’s financial markets.
Published monthly from our office in Hong Kong, FinanceAsia magazine provides our readers with the latest financial trends, interviews, features and investigative reports. The publication has a readership of key decision-makers at corporations, governments, investment and commercial banks, institutional investors, asset managers, brokers, traders and financial intermediaries.
Our regular sections include:
Data Story
We look at the key data behind a topical theme in Asian finance, showcased with an array of graphs and tables.
Greenshoe
A monthly opinion column from the FinanceAsia editorial team. We provide our thoughts on a topic making the headlines.
Deal of the Month
Our regular two-page spread with its signature artwork and in-depth analysis examines the equity, debt or M&A deal that we feel has had the biggest impact on the Asian capital markets that month.
Investor Dialogue
For company CEOs and CFOs, what investors think is a critical concern, and in this column we help them understand just this. Each month we speak to a Chief Investment Officer of a top fund and outline their views on corporate governance, what stocks they like and where they expect to generate the best returns.
Soapbox
A monthly opinion piece from a respected author or commentator on Asian business, finance or economics.
People on the Move
Here we summarise the key hires, fires and moves at the region’s banks, highlighting at least one major move each month.
Deal Tracker
We examine the major primary markets deals of the month and comment on the quality of the debt or equity transaction and the secondary market performance.
The Arts of Finance
A light-hearted look at investment opportunities surrounding the arts business in Asia.