Asia investment banking overview

Posted By on May 23, 2010

Asia Investment Banking – Activity

In the last decade, Investment Banking activity has grown exponentially in the Asia and Asia Pacific region. This is driven by increased regulation, and thus a safer investing climate for global investors. With this, businesses across industries are able to tap onto advisory and capital raising capabilities of the global investment banks. We even see local banks such as Japan's Nomura taking international limelight as they took over Lehman's investment banking business during the recent economic crisis. Many companies in China are also highly under-leveraged and have had organic growth over decades. They are now gradually tapping onto new capital through debt and equity offerings to fund expansion plans.

Asia Investment Banking – Corporate Finance

Most banks serve their clients by working in Sector Teams, which span across Industries. The more common Sector Teams are Healthcare, Media and Telecommunications, Industrial, Commodities, Real Estate and Financial Institutions. Depending on client needs, the banks offer advisory services, which range from Mergers & Acquisitions to Equity or Debt Financing to share sales. Very often, Investment Bankers get referred to clients through their Wealth Management Division, which handles assets of high net worth individuals, who are also often CEOs and business owners.

Asia Investment Banking – The Players

Bankers raising capital belong to the sell side because they sell securities to raise capital for companies. On the other side of the table we see the buy-side, made up of Private Equity Funds, Hedge Funds, Funds of Funds, Other Institutional Buyers and in the case of the public share offering/ Initial public offering, the buyers can be members of the public as well. In between these two sides we may have brokers who underwrite the public shares to mitigate some risk for the investment banks. Playing an important but secondary role are also the rating agencies such as Moody's and Standard and Poor, whose ratings affect the pricing of the securities sold by the investment banks.

Asia Investment Banking –Career & Outlook

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  • Interesting facts about asia not known before