CIMB wins Most Innovative Investment Bank in Asia Pacific 2016 award

CIMB Group has won the award for Most Innovative Investment Bank in Asia-Pacific conferred by the prestigious UK-based The Banker's Investment Banking Awards 2016 for the second time.

The first time the banking group won the award was in 2012.

"We are honoured to receive the award for Most Innovative Investment Bank in Asia Pacific from The Banker," its group chief executive, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz, said today.

The recognition was also a testament to the clients' continued confidence in CIMB's ability to deliver and execute the best investment banking solutions for their needs, he said in a press release.

The Banker, part of the Financial Times Group, provides economic and financial intelligence for the world's financial sector.

According to the statement, CIMB Group's chairman, Datuk Seri Nazir Razak, was on hand to receive the accolade at the award presentation ceremony in London recently.

Among the notable deals for CIMB in the Asia Pacific region included Axiata Group Bhd's acquisition of an 80 percent equity interest in Nepal's leading mobile operator, Ncell Pte Ltd, worth RM5.9 billion, for which CIMB was the principal adviser.

CIMB also led Khazanah Nasional Bhd's RM829 million IHH Healthcare Bhd block trade which was the largest in Malaysia as of May 2016.

In the equity capital markets, a highlight deal was Red Star Macalline Group's US$931 million initial public offering on the Main Board of the Hong Kong stock exchange, for which CIMB Investment Bank was the only Southeast Asian bookrunner, executing together with CIMB Securities as joint bookrunner and joint lead manager.

Other notable deals for CIMB during the year included the US$1.0 billion Trust Certificates under the Shariah principle of Wakala by the Hong Kong Government (Lead Manager, Bookrunner and Shariah Adviser), RM1.0 billion sukuk programme established under the Sustainable and Responsible Investment Sukuk framework, as well as, the first Credit Guaranteed and Investment Facility (CGIF)-guaranteed bond issued by a Thai Corporate (IVL Singapore Pte. Ltd's first offshore bonds issued outside Thailand for SG$195 million). -- Bernama