FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2024: Apac’s best deals revealed | FinanceAsia

By:
On:
In: Asia, Finance, South-East Asia

Excellence in Asia’s financial markets is recognized annually with our Success Awards. Our Achievement Awards, which span two crucial categories– Package Awards and House Awards– emphasize the achievements of key players in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East who have demonstrated dedication to their industry.

We’re pleased to announce that the judging process for this year’s awards has now come to an end after receiving almost 1, 000 submissions from our Advisory Board of external specialists and the help of our editorial staff.

Please consider below a list of this week’s victors of the&nbsp, Deal Awards- Apac&nbsp, type.

The logic behind success collection will get published in our upcoming&nbsp, FinanceAsia reports. It is not a comprehensive list because we have listed the participants who participated based on research and awards entries. Please call the&nbsp, FinanceAsia group if you have any concerns. &nbsp,

North Asia = Japan, South Korea, Taiwan&nbsp,

South Asia = India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka

Southeast Asia = Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam

 

&gt, BEST BOND DEALS &lt,

AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND

CSL Financial’s$ 1.25 billion dual-tranche 144A/Reg S top giving

Members: Citi, Bank of America, JP Morgan, HSBC

Highly commended: AOFM’s invitational$ 7 billion efficient government bond

Members: &nbsp, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Deutsche Bank, National Australia Bank, UBS, Australia Branch, Westpac Banking Corporation

Chinese- Abroad

3-year, responsible dim-sum bond issued by Jingzhou Municipal Urban Development Holding Group

Members: &nbsp, Bank of China, Caitong International, Industrial Securities, CSC Financial, CITIC Securities, CMB Wing Lung Bank, CMBC Capital, CNCB Investment, Guolian Securities, Guoyuan International, Haitong International, ICBC International, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, Shenwan Hongyuan Securities, SPDB International, TF worldwide, CICC

Chinese- Inland

National Bank of Canada’s Rmb5 billion 2-year tiger relationship release

Members: Standard Chartered, Deutsche Bank, DBS, CITIC Securities, CMB Securities

Highly commended: China Baowu Steel Group’s Rmb10 billion business relationship release

Members: CITIC Securities, Guotai Junan Securities, Shenwan Hongyuan Securities, CICC

&nbsp, HONG KONG Radar / APAC

HKSAR’s USD&amp, EUR&amp, CNH multi-currency natural tie giving

Members: Crédit Agricole, HSBC, Citi, JP Morgan, BNP Paribas, BofA, Morgan Stanley, UBS, Mizuho, Bank of China Hong Kong, ICBC Asia, Bank of Communications, Standard Chartered

Highly commended: ILBS 2 by Bauhinia

Members: Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation, CICC, ING Bank, MUFG, Natixis, Standard Chartered

NORTH ASIA

LG Electronic’s$ 500 million 144A/Reg S 3-year and$ 300 million 5-year two round

Members: BNP Paribas, Citi, HSBC, JP Morgan, Korea Development Bank, Standard Chartered

SINGAPORE

Exams ‘$ 500 million unprotected fixed rate documents due 2029

Members: DBS, BNP Paribas, MUFG, OCBC, HSBC

Highly commended: Yinson Production’s$ 500 million older secured 5-year relationship release

Members: Standard Chartered, Holman Fenwick Willan, Stephenson Harwood, collaboration of 13 loans

SOUTH ASIA

Kashf’s PKR2.5 billion female connection release

Members: Infra Zamin Pakistan, Arif Habib, Pakistan Credit Rating Agency, Vellani &amp, Vellani, Pak Brunei Investment Company, Bank Alfalah, Bank of Pubjab, Standard Chartered Pakistan

SOUTHEAST ASIA

SOUTHEAST ASIA/ PHILIPPINES

Maynilad Water Services PHP15 billion orange ties

Members: BPI Capital, BDO Capital &amp, Investment, First Metro Investment, East West Banking

&nbsp, MALAYSIA / HIGHLY COMMENDED ( SOUTHEAST ASIA)

Asean Green moderate term papers under RM500 million Exio Logistics clean centers

Members: Hong Leong Investment Bank

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ( SOUTHEAST ASIA) THAILAND

Minor International’s THB billion securities via private location

Members: Standard Chartered, Bangkok Bank, Bank of Ayudhya Public Company, Kasikornbank, Krungthai Bank, Kiatnakin Phatra Securities, The Siam Commercial Bank

INDONESIA

Republic of Indonesia$ 2.05 billion international bond giving

Participants: ANZ, BofA Securities, Deutsche Bank ( Singapore ), Morgan Stanley, UBS ( Singapore ), BRI Danereksa Sekuritas, Trimegah Sekuritas Indonesia, Mayer Brown

VIETNAM

Hai An Transport and Stevedoring JSC’s VND500 billion foldable relationship

Members: SSI Securities

 

&gt, BEST EQUITY DEALS &lt,

AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND

A$ 1.435 billion block trade in Worley

Members: Citi, Goldman Sachs, Allens

Highly commended: Treasury Wine Estate’s A$ 825 million Paitreo to support get DAOU Vineyards

Members: UBS, Macquarie Capital

Chinese- Abroad / APAC

Alibaba’s$ 5 billion convertible bond &nbsp,$ 1.2 billion parallel stock purchase

Members: Citi, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Barclays, HSBC

Highly commended: &nbsp, Lotus Tech’s company mixture with L Catterton, people listing in the US through a De-SPAC design, approximately$ 880 million of personal investment in public equity funding and convertible information

Members: Han Kun Law, Skadden, Kirkland &amp, Ellis, Fangda Partners&nbsp,

Chinese- Inland 

Sinopec’s A-share personal position

Members: CICC, Guangfa Securities, CITIC Securities

HONG KONG Radar

Zhejiang Expressway’s HK$ 6.7 billion &nbsp, right issue

Members: BNP Paribas, DBS, CLSA, CICC, Zheshang International

Alibaba’s$ 5 billion convertible bond $ 1.2 billion parallel share buyback

 

Members: Citi, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Barclays, HSBC

SINGAPORE

Personal position and preferred giving for CapitaLand Integrated Commercial REIT for S$ 1.1 billion

Members: United Overseas Bank, JP Morgan, Venture Law, Allen &amp, Gledhill

Highly commended: Reverse&nbsp, takover of 3Cnergy by DTP Inter Holdings Corporation for a consideration of approximately S$ 443.8 million &nbsp,

Members: PrimePartners Corporation Finance, Allen &amp, Gledhill LLP

SOUTH ASIA

JSW Energy’s$ 600 million qualified administrative position

Members: Jefferies India, Khaitan &amp, Co, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas &amp, Co

Highly commended: &nbsp, Vodafone Idea’s$ 2.15 billion follow-on open offering of capital stock

Members: Axis Capital, Jefferies, SBI Capital, Sidley Austin, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas &amp, Co, AZB &amp, Lovers

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Bursa Malaysia Offering for Johor Plantations Group

Members: RHB Investment Bank, AmInvestment Bank, CIMB Investment Bank, CLSA Singapore, CLSA Securities Malaysia, Affin Hwang Investment Bank

Highly commended: &nbsp, San Miguel Corporation’s PHP34 billion preferred shares&nbsp,

Members: &nbsp, SB Capital, Bank of Commerce, BDO Capital &amp, Investment, China Bank Capital, Asia United Bank, Bank of Commerce, BPI Capital, Land Bank of the Philippines, PNB Capital and Investment, RCBC Capital, Union Bank of the Philippines

 

&gt, BEST INFRASTRUCTURE DEALS &lt,

AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND

Blackstone’s merger of Airtrunk

Members: Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, RCBC Capital Markets, Macquarie Capital, Goldman Sachs

Highly commended: Contact Energy’s suggested merger of Manawa Energy

Members: UBS New Zealand, Cameron Partners/Rothschild &amp, Co, Lazard Australia, Bell Gully, Harmos Horton Lusk

Chinese- Inland

CAMC-China Resources TBEA Renewable Energy’s Closed-end Infrastructure Securities Investment Fund

Members: CITIC Securities, China Asset Management, Agricultural Bank of China, Zhong Lun Law Firm

HONG KONG Radar

ILBS 2 by Bauhinia

Members: CICC, ING Bank, MUFG, Natixis, Standard Chartered

SINGAPORE / APAC

Yinson Boronia Movie’s annual project relationship with a$ 1.035 billion Top Secured Notes expected 2042

Members: Santander, Citi, Norton Rose Fulrbright, Cescon Barrieu

Highly commended: Stonepeak’s very structured preferred corporate investment into AGP Sustainable Real Assets

Members: Sidley Austin, Clifford Chance, King &amp, Wood Mallesons, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas &amp, Co, NautaDutilh, Burness Paull, WongPartnership, Setterwalls Advokatbyra&nbsp,

SOUTH ASIA

AdaniConneX’s$ 1.44 billion Sustainability-Linked Project Finance for an under-construction information centre investment in India

Members: ING Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, KfW IPEX, MUFG, Natixis, Standard Chartered, Societe Generale, SMBC

SOUTHEAST ASIA

SOUTHEAST ASIA/ INDONESIA

ADIA and APG’s acquisition of a 53.5 % stake in Rafflesia Investasi&nbsp,

Members: Rothschild &amp, Co

&nbsp, PHILIPPINES / HIGHLY COMMENDED ( SOUTHEAST ASIA)

New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation’s PHP80 billion syndicated name loan service

Participants: Bank of Commerce, BDO Capital &amp, Investment, Asia United Bank, China Bank Capital, SB Capital Investment, BDO Unibank, China Banking, Development Bank of the Philippines, Security Bank

MALAYSIA

Worldwide Holdings ‘ RM999 million syndicated clean leasing facility

Members: Maybank Investment Bank

VIETNAM

Petrovietnam Power’s XNhon Trach 3&amp, 4 Energy Flower

Members: Citi, ING

 

&gt, BEST Offering &lt,

Chinese- Abroad

J&amp, T Express ‘$ 500 million identifying on HKEX

Participants: CICC, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America Securities, UBS AG ( HK), CCB International Capital, CMB International Capital, Huatai Financial, BOCI Asia, ABCI Capital

Chinese- Inland 

Grandtop Yongxing’s Rmb2.43 billion Offering

Members: CITIC Securities, Guotai Junan Securities

HONG KONG Radar /APAC

Super Hi’s double list on Nasdaq

Members: Kirkland &amp, Ellis, Skadden, Arendt, Loyens, Freshfields, Linklaters and Fried Frank, White &amp, Event

Highly commended: &nbsp, QuantumPharm’s identifying on HKEX

Members: CLSA, CITIC Securities, CICC, Jefferies, Deutsche Bank, CMB International, Sidley Austin, Fangda Partners, Herbert Smith Freehills, JunHe, PwC

NORTH ASIA

Kokusai Electric ‘s&nbsp, ¥124.5 billion ($ 831.7 million ) &nbsp, listing on Tokyo Stock Exchange

Participants: KKR ( GP), Mitsubishi UFJ Securities

SOUTH ASIA

NRB Bank’s BDT1 billion naming in Bangladesh

Members: UCB Investment, Shahjalal Equity Management

Highly commended: OLA Electronic’s list in India

Members: Kotak Mahindra Capital, Citi, BofA Securities, Goldman Sachs, Axis Capital, ICICI Securities, SBI Capital Markets, BOB Capital Markets

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Speed Mart Retail Holdings RM13.9 billion Investor on Bursa Malaysia

Members: CIMB, Affin Hwang Investment Bank, RHB Investment Bank, Lee Choon Wan &amp, Co

Highlgy commended: Johor Plantations Group’s RM735 million Offering on Bursa Malaysia

Members: RHB Investment Bank, Latham &amp, Watkins, AmInvestment Bank, CIMBC Investment Bank, CLSA Singapore, CLSA Securities Malaysia, Affin Hwang Investment Bank

 

&gt, BEST ISLAMIC FINANCE DEALS &lt,

SINGAPORE

Wealthy Pink’s S$ 2.7 billion normal expression product and Muslim Murabahah features

Members: DBS Bank, Malayan Banking Singapore branch, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Singapore branch, United Overseas Bank ( UOB), Allen &amp, Gledhill

SOUTH ASIA

Islamic Bank Bangladesh ‘s&nbsp, BDT8 billion Mudaraba convertible, non-convertible, unsecured subordinated bond

Members: UCB Investment

SOUTHEAST ASIA

SOUTHEAST ASIA/ APAC / INDONESIA

Republic of Indonesia’s$ 2.35 billion 144A sukuk offering

Members: MUFG, Citi, Dubai Islamic Bank, HSBC, Mandiri Securities, BRI Danareksa Sekurta, PR Trimegah Sekuritas Indonesia

Extremely RECOMMENDED ( SOUTHEAST ASIA)/ MALAYSIA

Gold Formula ABS’s sukuk, up to RM94.81 million in differenent tranches

Members: New Paradigm Securities, Silver Formula Capital, Public Investment Bank, Adnan Sundra &amp, Low

PHILIPPINES

Republic of Philippines ‘ Sukuk Trust’s$ 1 billion issuing

Members: Citi, Deutsche Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, HSBC, MUFG, Standard Chartered

 

&gt, BEST M&amp, A DEALS &lt,

AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND / APAC

Obayashi Corporation acquires 50 % of Eastland Generation for a$ 503 million implied business benefit.

Members: Forsyth Barr, Chapman Tripp

Highly commended: PSP Consortium’s A$ 2.5 billion merger of Costa Group

Members: Citi, JP Morgan, Allen &amp, Gledhill, Kirkland &amp, Ellis

Chinese- Abroad

Grifols ‘ Sale of 20 % stake in Shanghai RAAS to Haier for$ 1.8 billion

Members: Nomura Securties, CICC, Osborne Clarke, JunHe, Clifford Chance, King &amp, Wood Mallesons

Highly commended: &nbsp, Royal Golden Eagle’s CNH15 billion syndicated payment for the acquisition of Vinda International Holdings

Participants: Bank of China Macau, BNP Paribas, CICC, Linklaters

Chinese- Inland 

$ 8.3 billion sale of 60 % stake in Zhuhai Wanda to PAG-led consortium

Members: Deutsche Bank

Highly commended: &nbsp, NISCO merger by CITIC Pacific&nbsp,

Members: CITIC Securities

HONG KONG Radar

Asia Pacific Resources International’s HK$ 21.6 billion volunteer public present for Vinda International Holdings

Members: HSBC, Norton Rose Fulbright, Bank of America, BNP Paribas, CICC

Highly commended: &nbsp, HKT price of 40 % stake in its silent community resources to China Merchants Capital

Members: Deutsche Bank, Clifford Chance

NORTH ASIA

Renesas Electronics ‘ 100 % merger of Altium

Members: &nbsp, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan, King &amp, Wood Mallesons, Reed Smith, DLA Piper, Covington &amp, Burling, Nagashima Ohno &amp, Tsunematsu&nbsp,

Highly commended: &nbsp, WT Microelectronics ‘$ 3.8 billion merger of Future Electronics&nbsp,

Members: &nbsp, Citi, Canaccord Genuity Corp., Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &amp, Flom, Osler, Hoskin &amp, Harcourt, Tsar &amp, Tsai Law Firm, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glocsky and Popeo, P. C.

SINGAPORE

Purchase of Eu Yan Sang to a consortium led by Mitsui & Co. and Rohto Pharmaceutical

Members: Deutsche Bank, UBS, Wong Partnership

SOUTH ASIA

MHIL’s consolidation of Sahara Hospital

Members: Standard Chartered

Highly commended: &nbsp, Acquisition by Saudi Aramco Oil Company of a 40 % stake in Gas and Oil Pakistan&nbsp,

Members: Standard Chartered

SOUTHEAST ASIA

SOUTHEAST ASIA/ THAILAND

Acquisition of 65.99 % shares in Esso ( Thailand ) Public Company by Bangchak Corporation Public Company

Members: Kiatnakin Phatra Securities, JP Morgan, DLA Piper

Highly commended: ThaiBev return from home business via promote transfer

Members: DBS, WongPartnership

INDONESIA 

&nbsp, Medco Energi Internasional’s$ 713 million acquisition of a 20 % interest in each of Block 60 and Block 48

Members: Standard Chartered

MALAYSIA 

Purchase of Ramsay Sime Darby Health CA by Columbia Asset Healthcate and Sime Darby Healthcare

Members: Deutsche Bank

PHILIPPINES 

Merger between Robinsons Bank and Bank of the Philippine Islands

Members: BPI Corporation

VIETNAM

Thomson Medical Group’s merger of FV Hospital

Members: Maybank Investment Bank

 

&gt, BEST PRIVATE EQUITY DEALS &lt,

AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND / APAC

Blackstone’s merger of Airtrunk

 Members: Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, RCBC Capital Markets, Macquarie Capital, Goldman Sachs

Chinese- Abroad

Carlyle on sales of curiosity in McDonald’s China to McDonald’s Company

Members: &nbsp, Kirkland &amp, Ellis, JunHe, Jones Day

Highly commended: &nbsp, Advent International’s acquisition of a 29 % interest in Seek Pet Food

Participants: Boyu Capital ( investor )

HONG KONG Radar

PAG’s$ 8.3 billion Joint Investment in Newland Commercial Management

Members: Simpson Thacher &amp, Bartlett, A&amp, O Shearman

NORTH ASIA

Carlyle Group’s merger of KFC Holdings Japan

Members: Kirkland &amp, Ellis, Nishimura &amp, Asahi, Linklaters, Mori Hamada &amp, Matsumoto, Nagashima Ohno &amp, Tsunematsu&nbsp,

Highly commended: &nbsp, Blackstone’s sales of Geo-Young to MBK lovers

Members: &nbsp, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Samsung Securities, K&amp, C Cleary Gottlieb, Steen &amp, Hamilton LLP, Ropes &amp, Gray

SOUTH ASIA

ani’s Ispahani’s acquisition of a small interest in Tampaco Sheets

Members: UCB Investment, Farooq & Associates

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Asia Pacific Education Holdings ‘ sale of the APIIT Education Group to TPG’s The Rise Funds ( stake sold by KV Asia Capital )

Members: Rahmat Lim &amp, Partners, &nbsp,

Highly commended: BlackRock’s Climate Finance Partnership’s funding in Ditrolic Energy

Members: Clifford Chance

 

&gt, BEST PROJECT FINANCE DEALS &lt,

AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND

MREH’s A$ 400 million debt funding

Members: &nbsp, Société Générale, Westpac, Standard Chartered, Export Development Canada, White &amp, Case, Ashurst

Chinese- Inland 

CSPC’s$ 5.5 billion term loan and a$ 450 million working capital facility

Members: CNOOC Finance Corporation, Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Bank of Communications, Zhong Lun Law Company

NORTH ASIA

&nbsp, ARE’s 20-year c. TWD8.25 billion job financing

Members: CTBC Bank, MUFG, E. SUN Bank, SMBC, Standard Chartered, KGI

SINGAPORE / APAC

BIC V investment size of approximately$ 508.3 million

Members: Citi, Standard Chartered, MUFG, Natixis, Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation, &nbsp, Société Générale

SOUTH ASIA

Serentica’s venture funding of 200 MW RTC

Members: Société Générale, Cooperative Rabobank U. A., Export-Import Bank of India, India Infrastructure Finance Company, MUFG, YES Bank, KKR, Twinstar Overseas, Dentons, Luthra &amp, Luthra, Norton Rose Fulbright

SOUTHEAST ASIA

SOUTHEAST ASIA/ INDONESIA

Climmangis Citibung Tollways CDS hospital

Members: Indonesia Infrastructure Fund, BNI, &nbsp, Siahaan Indarmis, Andarumi &amp, Partners

Extremely RECOMMENDED ( SOUTHEAST ASIA)/ MALAYSIA

World Holdings ‘ spare to power project

Participants: Bank

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ( SOUTHEAST ASIA ) PHILIPPINES

AltEnergy’s PHP8 billion top safe word product

Members: BPI Capital, Security Bank

VIETNAM 

Petrovietnam Power Company’s Nohn Trach 3&amp, 4 Energy Flower

Members: Citi, ING

 

&gt, BEST PROPERTY DEALS &lt,

AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND

Blackstone’s merger of Airtrunk

Members: Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, RCBC Capital Markets, Macquarie Capital, Goldman Sachs

Chinese- Abroad

Bain Capital’s$ 250 million cooperative venture with DNE for China New Economy Network

Participants ( legal advisors ): Kirkland &amp, Ellis, King &amp, Wood Mallesons&nbsp,

Chinese- Inland

Link REIT’s acquisition of China Vanke’s 50 % stake in Link Plaza Qibao

Participants ( legal advisors ): Zhong Lun Law Firm, Cushman &amp, Wakefield

HONG KONG Radar

HK$ 14.438 billion sustainability-linked syndicated term and revolving loan facilities for 16 borrowers, sponsored by Gateway Real Estate Fund V L. P., Gateway V Co-Investment ( Doris ), L. P. (” Gaw” ), Great Wall Pan Asia Holdings Limited (” Great Wall” ) and GLQ Broad Street Holdings Ltd

Members: ANZ, Standard Chartered, UOB

SINGAPORE

Supreme JV Holding Pte Ltd | Lendlease &amp, Warburg Pincus ‘ S$ 1.065 billion top secured term loan and lender ensure features

Members: DBS, HSBC, UOB

Highly commended: &nbsp, Digital Core REIT’s$ 120 million personal location

Members: DBS, Citi, Bank of America, BNP Paribas, OCBC, UOB

SOUTHEAST ASIA

 SOUTHEAST ASIA/ APAC / THAILAND

 ThaiBev’s exit from the property business via a share swap with its parent for majority ownership in F&N

Members: DBS

&nbsp, INDONESIA / HIGHLY COMMENDED ( SOUTHEAST ASIA )

PT Putragaya Wahana has a top secured alternative payment service worth IDR 3.7 trillion and a term loan facility.

Participants: UOB

MALAYSIA

ESIM Capital’s green SRI sukuk

Participants: New Paradigm, UOB ( Malaysia )

PHILIPPINES

Vista Land’s$ 300million 9.375 % senior unsecured fixed rate notes due 2029

Members: DBS, HSBC, Union Bank of the Philippines

 

&gt, BEST STRUCTURED FINANCE DEAL &lt,

Chinese- Abroad

The acquisition of Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd. by Ascendent Capital Partners&nbsp,

Participants: Industrial Bank HK

Chinese- Inland 

CMB Financial Leasing Co., Ltd’s ( CMBFL ) Rmb1.6 billion Sustainable Development Loan&nbsp,

Participants: MUFG, SMBC, Fubon, Bank of China, Bank of Shanghai

Highly commended: &nbsp, Xinyue’s Rmb600 million Micro Business Loan ABN from Qifu Technology,

Participants: HSBC

HONG KONG Radar / APAC

ILBS 2 by Bauhinia

Members: CICC, ING Bank, MUFG, Natixis, Standard Chartered

Highly commended: The acquisition of Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd. by Ascendent Capital Partners&nbsp,

Participants: Industrial Bank HK

NORTH ASIA

WT Microelectronics and Morrihan International Corp’s$ 3.8 billion Bridge Facility

Participants: Citi

Highly commended: &nbsp, Korean Airline’s$ 208 million-equivalent Samurai Sustainability-Linked Loan

Participants: MUFG, SMBC

SINGAPORE

CIS ‘ Senior Secured S$ 300 million Bridge S$ 280 million Take Out Term Loan Facility

Members: DBS, Deutsche Bank, UOB KayHian

Highly commended: &nbsp, The government of Singapore’s S$ 2.5 billion green bonds

Members: DBS, Deutsche Bank, UOB KayHian

SOUTH ASIA

Fund raise of Rs4.65 billion ($ 56 million ) for Aliens Developers Private Ltd&nbsp,

Participants: Azalea Capital Partners

SOUTHEAST ASIA&nbsp,

Ayala Land’s PHP6 billion Asean sustainability linked bond

Participants: BDO Capital, BPI Capital, China Bank Capital, Land Bank of the Phiippines, SB Capital, RCBC Capital )

Highly commended: &nbsp, Exsim Capital Resources ‘ tranche 5 Asean green SRI sukuk

Participants: New Paradigm

 

&gt, BEST SUSTAINABLE FINANCE DEALS &lt,

AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND

Cromwell Property Group’s A$ 1.2 billion Green and Sustainability-Linked Loan&nbsp,

Participants: ANZ, Bank of China Sydney, Clean Energy Finance Corporation, CBA, Credit Agricole, ING Bank, NAB, Societe Generale

Highly commended: &nbsp, MCP Wholesale Investment Trust’s A$ 500 million Sustainability-Linked Revolving Credit Facility

Members: Standard Chartered

Chinese- Abroad

Bank of China’s CNH and USD multi-tranche BRI-partner sustainability notes

Participants: HSBC

Highly commended: &nbsp, China Construction Bank Financial Leasing’s$ 150 million Long Term Transition Shipping Finance

Members: Standard Chartered

HONG KONG Radar

West Kowloon Cultural District Authority’s HK$ 5 billion sustainability-linked term and revolving facilities

Members: Standard Chartered

NORTH ASIA

Posco’s$ 500 million 3-year Green 144A/Reg S senior unsecured bond

Participants: HSBC

Highly commended: Far Eastern New Century’s NTD2.5 billion Corporate Sustainable Exchangeable Bond

Participants: KGI Securities, SinoPac Bank, Oriental Securities

SINGAPORE

Impact Investment Exchange’s$ 88 million 4-year Women’s Livelihood Bond

Participants: ANZ, Standard Chartered

Highly commended: EJA’s$ 500 million Revolving Credit Facility

Members: Standard Chartered

SOUTH ASIA

AdaniConneX’s$ 875 million syndicated sustainability-linked loan

Members: ING Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, KfW IPEX, MUFG, Natixis, Standard Chartered, Societe Generale, SMBC

Highly commended: Kashf’s PKR2.5 billion female connection release

Participants: &nbsp, Infra Zamin Pakistan, Arif Habib, Pakistan Credit Rating Agency, Vellani &amp, Vellani, Pak Brunei Investment Company, Bank Alfalah, Bank of Pubjab, Standard Chartered Pakistan

 SOUTHEAST ASIA/ APAC / MALAYSIA

Exism Capital Resources ‘ special purpose funding vehicle ( RM3 billion )

Participants: NewParadigm Securities, United Overseas Bank ( UOB ) Malaysia, Adnan Sundra &amp, Lo

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ( SOUTHEAST ASIA ) PHILIPPINES

partnership between Rizal Commercial Banking and Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation ( CREC )

Participants: Rizal Commercial Banking

INDONESIA 

Republic of Indonesia$ 2 billion dual-tranche trust certificates

Participants: CIMB, Citigroup Global Markets, Dubai Islamic Bank, Mandiri Securities, Standard Chartered, White &amp, Case, Trimegah Sekuritas, BRI Danareksa Sekuritas, Thamrin &amp, Rekan

THAILAND 

Thai Union Group’s Thb11.5 billion sustainability-linked loan

Participants: MUFG

 

&gt, BEST SYNDICATED LOAN DEALS &lt,

AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND

Orora’s acquisition of Saverglass SAS

Participants: AFRY Capital, Citi, Macquarie Capital

Highly commended: &nbsp, Viva Energy A$ 1 billion Term Loan Facilities

Members: DBS, ANZ, Mizuho, MUFG, NAB, UOB, WBC, plus consortium of 22 lenders

Chinese- Abroad

Royal Golden Eagle’s CNH15 billion syndicated loan for the acquisition of Vinda International Holdings

Participants: Bank of China Macau Branch, BNP Paribas, CICC, Linklaters

Highly commended: Kuaishou’s 3-year CNH9 billion syndicated term loan facility

Participants: China Merchants Bank, Pudong Development Bank, CITIC Bank, Industrial Bank, Ping An Bank, HSBC China, Minsheng Bank, Bank of Beijing, Hang Seng Bank, Bank of Faba-Pakistan China, Standard Chartered China, Jiangsu Bank

HONG KONG Radar

United Asia Finance’s HK$ 3.9 million syndicated term loan and revolving credit facility

Members: Standard Chartered, China Zheshang Bank, KGI Bank, Bank Singpac, Nanyang Commercial Bank

Highly commended: &nbsp, ICBCIL Finance Company Limited’s$ 1 billion term loan facility

Participants: Industrial and Commercial Bank of China ( Asia ), Agricultural Bank of China Hong Kong, OCBC, Ping An Bank, Nanyang Commercial Bank, China Guangfa Bank, Bank of Communications, China CITIC Bank, Dah Sing Bank, DBS Bank, The Norinchukin Bank, The Korea Development Bank, Bank of China Frankfurt Branch, Chiyu Banking Corporation, Tai Fung Bank, Bank of China Rotterdam Branch, Banque Internationale a Luxembourg

SINGAPORE

Seatrium’s S$ 1.1 billion committed syndicated bank guarantee facility

Participants: Simmons &amp, Simmons, Standard Chartered, &nbsp, DBS Bank, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, Mizuho Bank, Emirates NBD Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Malayan Banking Berhad, Clifford Capital

Highly commended: &nbsp, Aircastle’s$ 600 million syndicated revolving credit facility

Participants: Bank of China, Caixa, CBA, SMTB, CUB, Taishin, plus lending consortium of 15 banks

SOUTH ASIA

JSW Steel Limited’s$ 900 million syndicated term loan facility

Members: DBS, BNP Paribas, CTBC, FAB, HSBC, Mashreq, Standard Chartered, SMBC, Intesa Sanpaolo, APICORP, CBD, DZ, BOT, CHCB, TIB, TBB, FCB, SBI Shinsei, BOK, LBT, TW Shin Kong, Taichung Commercial, TCB, San-in-Good, Hyakugo Bank

Highly commended: &nbsp, Beacon Pharmaceutical’s BDT3.768.8 billion syndicated term loan facility

Members: UCB Investment, Eastern Bank, Janata Bank, United Commercial Bank, Bank Asia, Jamuna Bank, ONE Bank, Rupali Bank

SOUTHEAST ASIA

SOUTHEAST ASIA/ APAC / INDONESIA 

PT Mineral Industri Indonesia ( Persero )$ 1.5 billion senior unsecured term loan and revolving credit facilities

Members: DBS, Bank of China (Hong Kong), BNP Paribas, BNI, Citi, Maybank, Mizuho, MUFG, OCBC, SCB, SMBC, UOB

 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ( SOUTHEAST ASIA) THAILAND

Syndicated financing of Thb7.6 billion for Italian-Thai Development Public Company

Participants: Weerawong C&P, Bangkok Bank, Kasikornbank, Siam Commercial Bank, Krung Thai Bank

 MALAYSIA 

LQ Retail and LQ Hotel have secured green term loans worth MR2 billion.

Participants: UOB&nbsp,

PHILIPPINES

San Miguel Corporation’s$ 2 billion five-year syndicated term loan facility

Participants ( according to sources cited by Bloomberg ): Standard Chartered, ANZ, Bank of China ( Hong Kong ), CTBC Bank, ING, Maybank Kim Eng Securities, Mitisubishi Financial Group, Mizuho Bank, Rabobank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking&nbsp,

VIETNAM 

Techcom Securities ‘$ 175 million syndicated loan facility

Members: Standard Chartered, CTCB Bank, Taipei Fubon Commercial Bank, Taishin International Bank, KGI Bank

 

&gt, BEST VENTURE CAPITAL DEALS &lt,

SINGAPORE

YouTrip’s$ 50 million Series B fundraising

Participants: Lightspeed Ventures ( lead investor ), Allen &amp, Gledhill

SOUTHEAST ASIA/ APAC 

Fano Labs investment by Openspace Ventures

Participants: Openspace Ventures ( lead investor )

 

&gt, MOST INNOVATIVE DEALS &lt,

AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND

&nbsp, Alcoa’s$ 3 billion acquisition of Alumina

Participants: BofA Securities, Flagstaff Partners, JP Morgan, UBS

Highly commended: &nbsp, CRH’s A$ 2.9 billion acquisition of Adbr

Participants: UBS, Macquarie, Barrenjoey, Morgan Stanley, Gilbert &amp, Tobin, HSF

Chinese- Abroad

The acquisition of Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd. by Ascendent Capital Partners&nbsp,

Participant ( s ): Industrial Bank Hong Kong

Highly commended: Alibaba’s$ 5 billion convertible bond &nbsp,$ 1.2 billion parallel stock purchase

Members: Citi, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Barclays, HSBC

Chinese- Inland

Nanjing Iron and Steel Group’s acquisition by CITIC Pacific&nbsp,

Members: CITIC Securities

Highly commended: State Grid Overseas Investment’s Rmb1 billion panda bond issuance

Members: CITIC Securities, ICBC, Bank of China

HONG KONG Radar / APAC

Privatisation of L’Occitane

Participants ( legal advisors ): Kirkland &amp, Ellis, Skadden, Arendt, Loyens, Freshfields, Linklaters and Fried Frank, White &amp, Case&nbsp,

Highly commended: Super Hi’s double list on Nasdaq

Participants ( legal advisors ): Kirkland &amp, Ellis, Skadden, Arendt, Loyens, Freshfields, Linklaters and Fried Frank, White &amp, Case

Highly commended: HKSAR Government’s$ 750 million equivalent digital green bonds

Participants: Bank of China Hong Kong, Credit Agricole CIB, Goldman Sachs, ICBC Asia, UBS, HSBC

NORTH ASIA

SK Bioscience’s acquisition of 60 % stake in IDT group

Participants: Deutshce Bank, Commerzbank, Norddeutsche Landesbank, Sullivan &amp, Cromwell&nbsp,

SINGAPORE

STT GDC’s issuance of S$ 450 million 5.70 % sustainability-linked perpetual securities

Members: Standard Chartered

SOUTH ASIA

Refinancing for East India’s LNG Regasification Terminal Project in Dhamra, Odisha

Members: Standard Chartered

Highly commended: Kashf’s PKR2.5 billion female connection release

Members: Infra Zamin Pakistan, Arif Habib, Pakistan Credit Rating Agency, Vellani &amp, Vellani, Pak Brunei Investment Company, Bank Alfalah, Bank of Pubjab, Standard Chartered Pakistan

SOUTHEAST ASIA

SOUTHEAST ASIA/ THAILAND

ThaiBev’s property exit and share swap

Members: DBS, WongPartnership

Highly recommended: the Filipino Aquino International Airport’s rehabilitation project, which offers PHP 80 billion syndicated term loans.

Participants: BDO Capital

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ( SOUTHEAST ASIA ) PHILIPPINES

Ayala Land’s PHP6 billion sustainability-linked bonds

Participants: BDO Capital, BPI Capital, China Bank Capital, Land Bank of the Philippines, RCBC Capital, SB Capital Investment

INDONESIA

PT Charoen’s$ 200 million and IDR7.5 trillion senior revolving credit facilities&nbsp,

Participants: Citi, DBS, plus consortium of other banks

MALAYSIA

Bursa Malaysia Offering for Johor Plantations Group

Participants: CIMB, AM Investment Bank, Affin Hwang Investment Bank, CLSA Singapore, CLSA Securities Malaysia

 

¬ Haymarket Media Limited. All rights reserved.

Continue Reading

Abida Sultaan: India’s ‘rebel’ Muslim princess who shot tigers and drove a Rolls-Royce

By:
On:
In: Asia
Shams Ur Rehman Alavi A photo of princess Abida SultaanShams Ur Rehman Alavi

Abida Sultaan was n’t your typical princess, either.

She wore her hair short, shot lions and was an ace shirt person. From the age of nine, she drove herself around in a Rolls-Royce and flew helicopters.

Abida continued their tradition of defying preconceptions regarding women in general and Arab women in particular by being born in a community of valiant “begums” ( a Muslim woman of high ranking ) who ruled the northern noble state of Bhopal in British India for more than a century.

She resisted being in caste, a custom practiced by Muslim women and some Hindu people, and became the heir to the throne at the age of 15.

Abida served in her father’s cabinet for more than ten years, forged friendships with important freedom fighters, and eventually gained an understanding of the nation’s division and divisions following its partition in 1947 to form Pakistan.

Under the direction of her aunt, Sultan Jehan, a rigid disciplinarian who was Bhopal’s king, she was taught to take on the role of ruler from a young age.

In her 2004 book, Memoirs of a Rebel Lady, Abida writes about how she had to light up at four in the morning to read the Quran- the spiritual text of Islam- and therefore continue with a day filled with activities, which included learning sports, music and horse riding, but also included chores like sweeping the floor and cleaning bathrooms.

” Our intercourse prevented us girls from feeling any inferior.” Everything was similar. We had all the flexibility that a child had, we had drive, climb trees, play any activity we chose to. There were no limits”, she said in an exam about her youth.

Abida rebelled against her grandmother when she was forced to go to caste at the age of 13 despite having an obstinate, harsh, independent streak as a child. She escaped the exercise for the rest of her life because of her courage and father’s broad-mindedness.

Abida, who was already heir to the throne of Bhopal, had the opportunity to join the royal household of Kurwai, which was also where she was married off to Sarwar Ali Khan, her childhood friend and sovereign Kurwai. She described her nikah ( wedding ), about which she was clueless, in hilarious detail in her memoir.

Her aunt asked her to dress up for a wedding when she was pillow-fighting with her relatives. Simply, no one told her that she was the bride.

” No-one had prepared or instructed me on how to do myself, with the effect that I walked into the nikah room, pushing the gathered people out of my way, my face uncovered, sulking as usual for being chosen once for some new test”, she writes.

The marriage was short like Abida’s relationship, which lasted for less than a century.

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi A photo of princess Abida SultaanShams Ur Rehman Alavi

Married life was tough for Abida, not just because of her younger time but also because of her tight, pious upbringing. She openly describes how her marriage suffered as a result of her lack of knowledge and distress with sex.

” Soon after my marriage, I entered the world of conjugal pain. She writes and adds that she could never bring herself to “accept conjugal relations between husband and wife” because she was unaware that the conclusion would have left her thus horrified, numbed, and feeling unclean. This led to the collapse of her wedding.

In her paper on intimacy and sexuality in the autobiographical writings of Muslim women in South Asia, historian Siobhan Lambert-Hurley underscores how Abida’s honest reflections on sexual intimacy with her husband tear apart the stereotype that Muslim women do not write about sex, by presenting an unabashed voice on the topic.

Abida moved up to Bhopal after her marriage broke down. She left her Kurwai conjugal home. But the woman’s only child, Shahryar Mohammad Khan, became the subject of an unpleasant custody dispute. Abida made a bold move to get her husband’s side after the drawn-out argument and forbidding to leave her child.

On a hot day in March 1935, Abida drove for three days straight to approach her father’s house in Kurwai. She entered his room, pulled out a pistol, threw it in her father’s chest and said:” Take me or I may take you”.

This incident, coupled with a real confrontation between the pair in which Abida emerged victorious, put an end to the prison dispute. She continued to work as an heir to the throne while raising her brother as a second mother. She ran her country’s government from 1935 till 1949, when Bhopal was merged with the American state of Madhya Pradesh.

Abida even attended the round-table discussions, which were organized by the American government to decide the country’s coming, where she met well-known figures like Jawaharlal Nehru, Motilal Nehru, and his brother Jawaharlal Nehru, who would become India’s first prime minister.

She also had first-hand knowledge of the deteriorating Hindu-Muslim community and the crime that broke out following India’s partition in 1947.

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi A photo of Abida SutaanShams Ur Rehman Alavi

In her memoir Abida describes the discrimination she began facing in Bhopal; how her family, who had lived there peacefully for generations, began to be treated as “outsiders”. In one of her interviews, she spoke about a particularly disturbing memory she had of the violence that broke out between Hindus and Muslims.

She arrived at the railroad station to oversee the arrival a day after the American government informed her that a coach carrying Muslim refugees would be arriving in Bhopal.

She continued,” When the divisions were opened, they were all dead,” adding that she was influenced by the murder and hostility that led her to immigrate to Pakistan in 1950.

Abida left slowly, with just her brother and hopes for a brighter future. In Pakistan, she championed politics and women’s freedom through her political career. In Karachi, Abida passed away in 2002.

The American government had granted her girl an heir to the throne after she left for Pakistan. However, Abida is still well-known in Bhopal, where she is sometimes referred to as “bia huzoor.”

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi, a journalist who has been researching Bhopal’s female rulers, says that “religious politics have eroded her legacy and she is n’t talked about as much anymore.”

” But her name is n’t likely to be forgotten anytime soon”.

Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

Continue Reading

Banking on connectivity: How Equinix is revolutionizing BFSI infrastructure

By:
On:
In: Technology
    developing a sustainable economic system on a global scale

  • Revolutionizing finance through global digital communication

Banking on connectivity: How Equinix is revolutionizing BFSI infrastructure

In today’s banks, financial services, and coverage ( BFSI) business, interlinking is not just a buzzword—it’s the lifeblood of online transformation, driving a tectonic shift in how financial organizations operate and develop. At the heart of this revolutionary stands Equinix, a digital infrastructure business that’s weaving a global cloth of communication, redefining how economic companies operate, develop, and secure their digital assets. &nbsp,

Equinix’s position in the BFSI market is little short of revolutionary. Equinix has created a strong, global habitat that’s driving creativity and collaboration. The amazing breadth and breadth of the Equinix economic services ecosystem reflect this wide range. Using Equinix’s connectivity options, BFSI habitat participants continue to build and expand their services in the modern economy. &nbsp,

Beyond traditional financial institutions, this habitat also includes all major public cloud service providers, many financial organizations, data analytics companies, LLM and AI providers, and technology providers. A detailed network like this promotes innovation and new business models by facilitating smooth cooperation and data exchange.

enhancing the digital equipment needed for contemporary bank

At the core of this habitat is Platform Equinix®, which is at the frontline of enabling cutting-edge online banking services. By providing low-latency connections to a multitude of partners, including sky providers, system operators, surveillance and fintech companies, Equinix allows banks to produce future-ready platforms that can leverage various technologies through API calls.

This infrastructure flexibility is crucial in today’s multi-cloud environment. For instance, a bank can now run its front-end applications on AWS, use Google BigQuery for analytics, and tap into AI services from Microsoft or OpenAI, all while maintaining its core banking systems and customer data within Equinix’s secure data centers. &nbsp,

Equinix Fabric® facilitates this hybrid multi-cloud approach, enabling banks to provide their customers with the quickest and most innovative services without sacrificing security or performance. &nbsp,

Tariq Shallwani, head of Segment Strategy South Asia, Equinix, shared,” Over 85 % of enterprises are already using multiple clouds to gain agility. BFSIs have a transformative opportunity to leverage innovation from the cloud while avoiding vendor lock-in as new public cloud availability zones are launching in Malaysia.

Banking on connectivity: How Equinix is revolutionizing BFSI infrastructure

In a connected world, strengthening cybersecurity

As financial services become increasingly digital and interconnected, cybersecurity has become a paramount concern. Equinix addresses this issue head-on by providing safe, private options for connecting to the public internet, significantly reducing the threat of cybercrimes.

Central to this security strategy is Equinix Fabric, which allows financial institutions to create private, software-defined connections to their partners and service providers. By reducing latency, this increases both performance and security. &nbsp,

Building on this foundation, Equinix’s Network Edge service offers software-defined edge security solutions, including SD-WAN, firewalls, and routers as a service, extending the coverage to new markets and edge metros.

Navigating compliance in a global landscape

While enhancing security, financial institutions must also navigate a complex web of regulatory requirements. Global financial institutions face a significant challenge in ensuring compliance with data sovereignty and financial regulations. Equinix’s global presence, with data centers in key financial hubs worldwide, allows banks to maintain data residency while still accessing global markets.

Banks expanding their reach benefit most from this global-local approach. For instance, a bank in Malaysia can use Equinix’s facilities in Singapore or Hong Kong to access the region’s robust financial ecosystem while adhering to local data laws. Banks can expand their services internationally while maintaining the necessary regulatory compliance in each country.

Enabling real-time financial services

The future of banking is not just global and secure—it’s also real-time. Equinix’s low-latency connections and location of data centers close to major financial hubs help to realize this. This infrastructure enables banks to process transactions and analyze data in near real-time, a capability that is crucial for services like high-frequency trading, real-time fraud detection, and instantaneous cross-border payments.

Additionally, Equinix’s edge computing capabilities enable the financial sector to integrate IoT and AI technologies. For instance, insurance companies can now process data from IoT devices in real-time, enabling more accurate risk assessments and faster claims processing. This convergence of advanced technologies and real-time capabilities opens up new horizons for financial services.

Together with Equinix and Orange Business, the two companies have established a strong partnership to provide BFSI clients with appropriate solutions that are customized to their requirements. Disaster recovery is one of these options, from new, innovative service offerings to the re-architecture of the IT infrastructure in data centers and the cloud. &nbsp,

Christophe Ozer– head of Evolution Platform Orange Business APAC – Cloud, Connectivity, Cybersecurity, shared,” Through our partnership, Orange Business and Equinix are enabling financial institutions to unlock new levels of agility and security, ensuring they remain at the forefront of innovation while meeting the demands of a rapidly changing financial landscape”.

Sustainability in finance

Now, as the financial sector evolves technologically, it’s also grappling with its environmental impact. Here too, Equinix is leading the charge towards sustainable digital infrastructure. Despite growing its global data center footprint and vowing to reach 100 % clean and renewable energy coverage across its global portfolio of data centers by 2030, Equinix reduced its operational scope 1 & 2 emissions by 24 % from a 2019 baseline in 2023. &nbsp,

This initiative extends to all facilities, whether newly constructed or recently incorporated into the company’s portfolio. In Malaysia, Equinix’s data centers are 100 % renewable, and in 2023, Equinix’s global operations had a total renewable energy coverage of 96 %, surpassing 90 % for the sixth consecutive year…

Financial institutions can use cutting-edge digital infrastructure to achieve their own environmental goals while achieving these goals. It’s a win-win scenario where technological advancement aligns with environmental responsibility.

Future-proofing finance

The impact of interconnected ecosystems in finance will only increase as the years go on. Equinix is at the forefront of this trend, expanding its global reach and improving its services indefinitely. The company’s recent expansion into Southeast Asian markets like Malaysia demonstrates its commitment to supporting the sustainable expansion of emerging markets ‘ digital financial services.

For banks and financial institutions, partnering with Equinix offers a clear path to digital transformation. It provides access to a global ecosystem of partners, secure, sustainable and high-performance infrastructure, and the flexibility to innovate and scale rapidly. Equinix’s interconnected ecosystems will undoubtedly have a significant impact on shaping the future of finance as the landscape of the financial services industry continues to evolve.

Ultimately, in this increasingly digital and interconnected world, Equinix is not just providing sustainable infrastructure – it’s powering the future of finance. By enabling secure, compliant, and innovative financial services, Equinix is helping to create a more connected and efficient global financial system, benefiting institutions and consumers alike. &nbsp,

As technology develops, the interaction between financial services and digital infrastructure will continue to spur innovation, creating a more diverse and dynamic financial ecosystem.

Continue Reading

India blasts into the hypersonic missile club – Asia Times

By:
On:
In: Asia

India’s ground-breaking hypersonic missile test places it among the elite group of nations with the ability to master the next-generation of weapons, a revolutionary strike capability that will transform South Asia’s geopolitical environment.

The first long-range hypersonic missile, the country’s first, was successfully tested on the ground by India’s Defense Research and Development Organization ( DRDO ), according to Naval News this month.

The Indian Armed Forces ( IAF ) has three branches using the missile, which reportedly performed successful terminal maneuvers and had a high-speed impact.

The Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile ( LRLACM)’s maiden flight test from a mobile articulated launcher this month follows this one.

The Indian Navy’s ( IN ) currently has the most powerful missile, the supersonic BrahMos missile, along with the subsonic LRLACM, according to a report from the Naval News.

As for the hypersonic missile’s specifications, the report states it likely features a delta-winged hypersonic glide vehicle ( HGV ), offering enhanced maneuverability compared to traditional ballistic trajectories.

The LRLACM, which was developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment of the DRDO and is capable of being launched from both ground and maritime platforms, is anticipated to have a collection of more than 1, 000 kilometers.

It notes these innovations mark important advancements in India’s weapon capabilities, providing long-range regular hit options for the American government.

A K Sachdev mentions the rationale behind India’s fast weapons program in an article from the Indian Defense Review in July 2023 that HGVs and HCMs are praised for their extreme maneuverability, low radar visibility, and ability to evade contemporary air defenses.

Sachdev says these arms, flying at lower altitudes than nuclear missiles, reduce monitoring windows, with HCMs skimming only 200 feet above the ground, making intrusion by ground-based systems nearly impossible.

He notes their capability to deliver precision strikes against strategic targets —such as command centers, fortified bunkers, or moving naval assets —at continental ranges amplifies their utility.

He adds that fast weapons can perform both, carrying either regular or nuclear warheads, giving them more flexibility in conflict escalation scenarios and enhancing their proper appeal.

This unquestionable ability to reach defenses makes for reputable retaliation, which could deter adversaries and stop a nuclear escalation.

In a June 2022 Center for Land Warfare Studies ( CLAWS ) issue brief, Rajesh Gupta mentions that India’s main objectives are to improve security and deterrence in a nuclearized neighborhood.

Gupta highlights that these weapons, with their great speed, flexibility, and accuracy, can work as important tools in India’s broader plan of “dissuasive deterrent” against China and “punitive deterrence” against Pakistan.

He claims that India hopes to prevent future dangers from adversaries ‘ growing fast army and reduce its ability to incur significant costs in the event of an uprising.

Dissuasive punishment, also known as “deterrence by denial,” involves dissuasive punishment by demonstrating a strong desire to stop an attack from achieving desired benefits.

Punishing punishment, or “deterrence by punishment”, &nbsp, involves threatening severe punishments, like nuclear increase, to increase the cost of an attack. Instead of just providing strong defense, it emphasizes more severe penalties.

Gupta claims that HCMs and HGVs are crucial for enhancing regular and nuclear weapons and preventing high-value assets from being stolen from the enemy. He makes the case that having these weapons is necessary to safeguard strategic interests and mitigate vulnerabilities posed by sophisticated army systems.

He points out that India’s investment in fast defense systems and defense mechanisms is in line with its desire to become one of the few nations with hypersonic weapons, which would allow it to establish proper parity and effectively hinder adversaries.

Granath Vanaik mentions in a 2021 Air Power blog article how China’s development of hypersonic weapons poses a major challenge to India’s strategy of deterrence and its newly developed fast weapons development efforts.

Vanaik mentions that China’s use of the DF-ZF hypersonic glide aircraft and DF-17 medium-range ballistic missile highlights its focus on avoiding innovative missile defense systems, which has repercussions for local rivals like India.

He claims that these developments shorten India’s response times, putting up a threat to its nuclear command and control systems, and raising the risk of an escalation due to ambiguities regarding the types of warheads and the intended targets. He points out that China’s advancements could cause India to lower its nuclear arsenal or adopt more aggressive strategies, increasing the risk of an unintended escalation.

Vanaik mentions that India’s limited advancements in hypersonic technology and its incomplete nuclear triad, which could lead to a costly regional arms race, are compounded by the two countries ‘ asymmetric capabilities.

In a 2021 article in the Islamabad Policy Research Institute journal, Adil Sultan and Ifta Khursheed mention that Pakistan faces significant strategic challenges as a result of India’s advancements in hypersonic weapons.

Sultan and Khursheed say that hypersonic systems, characterized by their speed, maneuverability, and ability to evade missile defenses, could enhance India’s capacity for preemptive counterforce strikes. They point out these capabilities align with India’s Cold Start Doctrine, potentially targeting Pakistan’s tactical nuclear weapons and strategic missile systems.

Such developments, they say, might compel Pakistan to adapt its Full Spectrum Deterrence posture, possibly through heightened missile alert statuses, an expansion of mobile launch platforms, or the initiation of its hypersonic program.

As Vanaik, Sultan, and Khursheed caution, these responses risk exacerbating an arms race in South Asia, undermining crisis stability, and increasing the likelihood of miscalculation.

Sultan mentions that India’s purchase of hypersonic weapons is anticipated to worsen regional unrest in a National Security Journal article from December 2021. These weapons are particularly effective against mobile ground-based missile systems, such as Pakistan’s short-range ballistic missiles ( SRBMs), which are seen as critical to deterring India’s limited warfighting strategy of proactive operations.

Sultan claims that India might want to use hypersonic weapons to launch a preemptive strike on Pakistan’s SRBMs, potentially putting pressure on Pakistan’s ability to use nuclear weapons because it is likely to carry conventional warheads. He claims that this scenario could give India a chance to start a limited conventional military conflict.

Sultan states Pakistan might feel compelled to raise the level of its SRBMs’ security, increase their numbers, and increase their mobility in order to counteract the threat of a preemptive strike. According to Sultan, these actions, alongside other countermeasures, could further destabilize the strategic balance in the region.

Continue Reading

Thailand detains 70 illegal migrants believed to be Rohingya from Myanmar

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

Newcomers who claim to be from Myanmar and moving to Indonesia or Malaysia claim to be Muslims.

Described: 16 Nov 2024 at 11: 48

Plywood with the words "We are Myanmar Rohingya" is seen in an abandoned boat which carried Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants from Thailand, found off the coast near the city of Kuta Binje, Indonesia. (File photo: Reuters)
An abandoned ship carrying Rohingya and Bangladeshi refugees from Thailand, discovered off the coast of Kuta Binje, Indonesia, has wood with the words” We are Myanmar Rohingya.” ( File photo: Reuters )

Thailand arrested 70 illegal immigrants, including 30 kids, suspected to be Rohingya from Myanmar on an area in the government’s south, Thai official said on Saturday, in the latest wave of immigrants to Southeast Asia.

The Rohingya Muslim are viewed as North Asian foreigners who face misuse in Myanmar.

” From original questioning them, they said they are Muslims from Myanmar heading to Malaysia or Indonesia”, Somkane Phothisri, chief of Phang Nga officers, told Reuters.

Some Rohingya have traveled to neighboring states like Thailand and Bangladesh in rickety wooden boats, as well as Malaysia and Indonesia, which have a Muslim majority, especially in October and April when the seas are calmer.

Supoj Rodrung na Nongkhai, the governor of Phang Nga, told the news company,” We are also investigating whether they are Rohingya or Myanmar who have illegally entered the country.”

Last month, ships carrying thousands of Rohingya landed in Indonesia. &nbsp,

According to witness and legal files cited by Fortify Rights, a human rights organization urged Thai authorities to look into the “horrific” rape and beating of a 37-year-old Myanmar immigrant who died after being assaulted with a bamboo rod in an abandoned military basement for wearing a village defense team coat featuring the Thai symbol.

Continue Reading

Global diabetes cases far higher than estimates

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

More than 800 million people affected and some treated, research suggests

PUBLISHED: 14 Nov 2024 at 18: 42

A person receives a free blood sugar test during a campaign to mark World Diabetes Day in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Nov 14. (Photo: Reuters)
A person is given a complimentary blood glucose test as part of a Nov. 14 plan to commemorate World Diabetes Day in Dhaka, Bangladesh. ( Photo: Reuters )

A new research found that more than 800 million people worldwide have diabetes, which is nearly twice as many as previous estimations had predicted, and that more than half of those over the age of 30 are not receiving treatment.

The authors of the study, which was published in The Lancet, suggest that the rise in diabetes cases has been largely attributable to rising cases in low- and middle-income nations. The global prevalence has increased from around 7 % to 14 % since 1990.

The authors claimed that while there are much more cases, the number of cases treated in those areas has hardly increased while some higher-income nations ‘ conditions have improved, opening the treatment gap.

In 2022, there were around 828 million people aged 18 years and older with type 1 and type 2 diabetes international, the investigation found. Among people aged 30 years and older, 445 million, or 59 % of them, were not receiving cure, the authors said.

The World Health Organization has recently estimated that about 422 million people have diabetes, a chronic physiological disorder involving blood sugar levels, which can damage the heart, blood vessels, emotions and other tissues if neglected.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, said in a statement that the surge documented in the investigation was disturbing.

” To take the world diabetes epidemic under control, states must immediately get motion”, he said, including with guidelines supporting healthier diets and physical activity, as well as health systems that can prevent, detect and treat the condition.

In parts of sub-Saharan Africa, just 5-10 % of those estimated to have diabetes were getting care, said Jean Claude Mbanya, professor at the University of Yaounde I in Cameroon. Treating insulin, either with insulin or pharmaceuticals, can be costly.

” A huge number (are ) at risk of serious health complications”, he said.

The creators claim that the study, which was conducted by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration and the WHO, is the first worldwide analysis to contain costs and care projections for all nations. It is based on more than 1, 000 experiments involving more than 140 million people.

High fasting blood glucose levels and higher glycated hemoglobin, both of which are common diagnostic tests for the problem, were included in the definition of diabetes, as well as taking diabetes medication.

The authors claimed that both tests were used to reduce prices in some places around the world, especially South Asia, where fasting plasma glucose only caused cases to decline.

Although the investigation was unable to distinguish between type 1 and type 2 circumstances, the writers claimed that obesity and poor diet have contributed to the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in people. &nbsp,

Continue Reading

The Indo-Pacific is too vast to be termed, meaningfully, a region – Asia Times

By:
On:
In: Asia

The notion of a significant political space called the” Indo-Pacific” has evolved over the past ten years as a key component of the royal strategizing of nations both within and outside this vast geographic area.

The word is not new, yet. In the 1970s, Australia, one of the few genuinely Indo-Pacific nations, drew inspiration from it to ink a hopeful picture of a future where it was economically and socially linked to its neighbors in the Indian and Pacific oceans.

But, since Japan ( under the command of Shinzo Abe ) first used the word in 2007 as a way of conceptualizing relations with India in the environment of” a broader Asia”, Indo-Pacific has evolved considerably.

And now it’s common to refer to the Indo-Pacific as either a place or a super-region with the onset of the AUKUS security agreement in 2021. But this oversimplifies what is, in fact, a far more sophisticated political reality.

What is a area?

The best way to describe a region as a geographically isolated difficult is. Social scientist David Lake believes that actions taken by one representative and considerable security-related developments within one member have a significant impact on others because they are” so interconnected in terms of their security.”

The Indo-Pacific, at its broadest concept, extends from the east coast of Africa to the west coast of South America, making up more than half the Earth’s surface.

Simply put, the Indo-Pacific is very large to effectively fathom of as a place or even a super-region.

Furthermore, although many a state has adopted an Indo-Pacific outlook in its strategizing, typically states ( save for greater powers ) still think of their national security in a strict regional sense.

Thus, the Indo-Pacific as a political place looks considerably different in Washington DC than it does in Jakarta, Wellington, Tokyo or Manila ( to decide but a dozen ).

This is not to suggest the Indo-Pacific strategy may be ignored. It represents a significant advancement in global security. It is true that it has experienced the most significant political change in the last ten years, and this trend is likely to continue.

The China issue

If not a place or super-region, therefore, what is the Indo-Pacific?

It might be better understood in terms of what “macrosecuritization” is defined as by foreign relations experts Barry Buzan and Old Waever as a “existential threat” to something that is deemed valuable and worthwhile and necessitates an instant and, if necessary, amazing social response to protect it.

The United States, which is still by far the most effective global actor, publicly placed the Indo-Pacific idea at the center of its strategic thinking in 2017, gave this a significant boost.

In the process, it identified China as a distinct corporate rival. This choice had urgent real-world implications.

Firstly, it helped resuscitate, after nearly a decade of impasse, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue ( Quad ) involving the US, Australia, India and Japan.

Second, it resulted in the establishment of AUKUS in 2021 and the release of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity in 2022. Joe Biden ran for president on an” America must direct once” system.

Geopolitical difficulty

Interestingly, not only the US is involved in this macrosecuritization. Australia, India, Japan and, more recently, the United Kingdom and European Union ( and particular member states, such as France ) are all involved.

Together, they are pushing for the creation of an Indo-Pacific strategy based on the recognition that China’s increase and perceived assertiveness pose a threat to the rules-based global order.

The frame of China as a” risk” rather than an “opportunity”– which dominated the previous” Asia-Pacific” construct – indicates a radically different view in the countries adopting Indo-Pacific perspectives.

This obviously matters greatly to provincial politics. But it still does not mean the Indo-Pacific has to be seen as a location or super-region.

Instead, the idea is distorting the politics of different locations – particularly East Asia, South-east Asia, South Asia and the South Pacific.

These areas have their own distinct surveillance dynamics, but they still exist. However, they are being encased in the Indo-Pacific concept, which causes the dynamics to shift more negative and anxious.

A’ New Cold War ‘

Instead of being a cluster of distinct regions, the Indo-Pacific is currently a worrying habit of being treated as a cohesive unitary geopolitical space.

This gives cred to the overarching comparison of a” New Cold War” starting in the Indo-Pacific. And it disregards the viewpoints of the smaller nations who are being drawn into this growing conflict.

It is crucial to develop more cohesive and subtle policies that adequately reflect the political complexity of the Indo-Pacific constellation by seeing it for what it really is, not as a normal geographical phenomenon but as a construct.

However, this goes against the current macrosecuritization approach.

There are many reasons why the Indo-Pacific’s recent state is unlike the Cold War’s. But the borrowing procedure is simplifying the politics, at least in belief, into something suggestive of it. The consequences may be devastating.

Nicholas Ross Smith is a senior research fellow at the National Center for Research on Europe, University of Canterbury, and Paul M. Bacon is a doctor at the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University.

The Conversation has republished this essay under a Creative Commons license. Read the original post.

Continue Reading

Pakistan limits outdoor activities, market hours to curb air pollution-related illness

By:
On:
In: Asia

While backyard activities including outdoor sporting activities, exhibitions and festivals, and outdoor eating at restaurants have been prohibited, “unavoidable spiritual rites” are excluded from this course, the purchase said. Some stores like pharmacies, fuel depots, cheese shops, and fruit and vegetable shops have also been exempted from the directions toContinue Reading

MAS network to bolster ‘global south’ as fintech hub | FinanceAsia

By:
On:
In: Asia, Finance, South-East Asia

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced the establishment of the Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN) on October 30, an ambitious initiative designed to reinforce Singapore’s standing as a global fintech leader and boost the tech potential of the ‘global south’.

Headed by Ravi Menon, former managing director of MAS from 2011-2023, the GFTN aims to “enhance global connectivity for impactful innovation in financial services”.

Menon old a media briefing that networks such as the GFTN aimed to tap the potential of the “global south”.

Beyond Silicon Valley

He said it was important to broaden fintech innovations beyond traditional centres like Silicon Valley and London to emerging cities such as Nairobi, Jakarta, and São Paulo.

He said that by 2030, the Asia-Pacific region is predicted to become the world’s largest fintech market, with Africa and Latin America projected to grow by 30 per cent annually. Yet regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East still faced substantial funding gaps, noted.

Through GFTN, Singapore would aim to address these inequalities by providing resources, infrastructure, and collaborative frameworks to foster sustainable growth, especially in underserved regions.

“Through our networks and partnerships, GFTN will aim to unlock sustainable and inclusive pathways that serve communities facing critical gaps,” Menon said.

He added that the world is “entering an era of growing digital connectivity across borders” starting with electronic payments and progressing toward universal trusted credentials and data exchanges.

Getting cross-border digital infrastructure right, he added, would be critical.

After years of experimentation, Menon stated, “the tokenisation of financial assets has reached a tipping point” with billions of dollars of financial assets now on-chain.

However, he noted that “the promise of a tokenised financial system has not materialised,” indicating it was still a work in progress.

Quantum leap

He observed that artificial intelligence is beginning to make significant inroads into financial services, bringing both AI-powered innovations and potential risks.

Menon pointed out that if quantum technologies develop, the coupling of AI and quantum technologies would “unlock new opportunities as well as unprecedented security challenges”.

Addressing climate change had also become a growing focus for the financial sector,  he said, with increased interest in climate tech solutions for both carbon mitigation and climate resilience.

All these advancements, according to Menon, would demand “closer and more meaningful engagements between countries (and) between the public and private sectors” couple with coherent policies and regulations to “harness the benefits of these technologies while mitigating their downsides”.

GFTN initiatives

The GFTN will be launching four key initiatives as a part of its scope:

GFTN Forums will expand Elevandi’s five flagship events, including the Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF), to foster cross-border collaboration with experts worldwide. Elevandi – to be replaced by GFTN -is a not-for-profit entity set up by MAS to connect people and businesses, ideas and insights in the fintech sector in Singapore and globally. 

GFTN Advisory will offer practitioner-led consultancy to help developing economies build digital infrastructure, form innovation-friendly policies, and support social-impact-driven private entities with market insights.

GFTN Platforms which will empower small enterprises and startups through digital services, improving market access, analytics, and sustainability reporting.

And lastly, GFTN Capital that will target early- and growth-stage startups in fintech and climate tech, providing patient capital and global partnerships to promote financial inclusion and environmental sustainability.

 

 


¬ Haymarket Media Limited. All rights reserved.

Continue Reading