UOB clinches accolades at Asian Banking & Finance Corporate & Investment Banking Awards 2025

The bank bagged titles across seven categories of the prestigious awards programme.

UOB was recognised at the Asian Banking & Finance Corporate & Investment Banking Awards 2025 for its role in several significant transactions across the ASEAN region. The Asian Banking & Finance Corporate & Investment Banking Awards acknowledges banks and financial institutions in Asia that exemplify outstanding performance, innovation, and excellence in the corporate and investment banking industry.

Delivering best-in-class financing and advisory across ASEAN

UOB was named Corporate & Investment Bank of the Year - Singapore for the second consecutive year, underscoring its continued leadership in the market.

UOB delivers tailored financing and advisory solutions for its diverse group of clients across various sectors and markets. With a team of seasoned bankers and a strong track record of execution excellence, the bank adopts a multi-product approach to customise bespoke solutions for its clients, including debt and equity capital markets, corporate finance and advisory, infrastructure and project finance, and syndicated financing.

As the One Bank for ASEAN, UOB offers clients access to a full suite of financing and capital-raising solutions, supported by deep local insights and strong regional connectivity and presence.

In 2024, UOB clinched the highest number of sole loan mandates and Mandated Lead Arranger and Bookrunner (MLAB) deals in Singapore. Even in loan deals involving multiple MLABs, UOB has consistently been selected as the coordinator. It has also executed the widest range of financing transactions in the Singapore market, from development loans to acquisition and event-driven financing as well as project financing.

In the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and corporate finance space, UOB announced close to a dozen public transactions – many of which the bank also provided financing support – in Singapore over the course of 2023 - 2024, more than any of its peers. With a proven track record in handling complex cross-border transactions, UOB advised both local and international clients on takeovers and privatisations of Singapore-listed targets.

UOB was the top SGD bond bookrunner (excluding self-led deals) in 2024 and the top SGD bond bookrunner for Singapore borrowers, having led 10 of the 14 largest transactions last year. UOB continues to support the growth of the SGD bond market, demonstrated by the broad geographic spread of its issuer base. 

In the midst of a challenging equities market environment, UOB stood out from its peers as the top ranked institution in the Singapore Equity & Rights Offering League Table. The bank acted in a lead role in five public markets transactions in Singapore in 2024.

Syndicated Loan of the Year – Thailand

US$4,200m 1-Year syndicated term loan facility for Gulf Energy Development PCL & Intouch Holdings PCL

Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited (“GULF”) and Intouch Holdings Public Company Limited (“INTUCH”) secured a US$4,200m syndicated term loan facility to support their landmark merger exercise and subsequent tender offers, with UOB acting as mandated lead arranger, underwriter, and bookrunner. This transaction won UOB the Syndicated Loan of the Year – Thailand accolade in the Asian Banking & Finance Corporate & Investment Banking Awards.

In 2024, GULF and INTUCH announced their merger to form a new entity (NewCo) to streamline ownership structures and improve operational efficiency. Through a series of share swap mechanisms, NewCo will hold a direct stake in Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited (ADVANC) with Singapore Telecommunications (“Singtel”) acquiring a stake in NewCo.

The merger consequently triggered a Voluntary Tender Offer (VTO) for publicly held shares in ADVANC and Thaicom Public Company Limited (THCOM) structured in phases, with sponsor participation aligned to demand, ensuring a balanced approach to ownership and governance.

The transaction is one of Thailand’s largest event-driven offshore loan, which is anchored by UOB’s significant commitment amid stiff competition with the group’s relationship banks. Securing the mandate for this transaction highlights UOB's strong expertise in structuring event-driven/acquisition financing transactions involving multiple banks and reinforces UOB’s market reputation to execute complex transactions involving the merger and integration of different entities, including within the context of local regulations.

Debt Deal of the Year – Vietnam

US$400m syndicated secured term loan facilities for BW Industrial Development Joint Stock Company

UOB is honoured to have been awarded the Debt Deal of the Year - Vietnam for its role as sole coordinator and mandated lead arranger and bookrunner in Vietnam’s first syndicated Holdco financing in 2024.

BW Industrial Development Joint Stock Company (BWID), Vietnam’s largest industrial real estate platform, successfully secured US$368m in syndicated secured term loan facilities in 2024, and in 2025 had its accordion option exercised to close at US$400m. Proceeds from the financing will be used to support BWID’s ongoing investment and development projects, refinance existing debt, associated fees and expenses, and for general corporate purposes.

This landmark deal was distinguished by its complexity and innovative structure, executed amidst global market volatility and Vietnam’s economic recovery. UOB’s strategic leadership, combined with a meticulously executed syndication strategy and strong collaboration with the sponsors, enabled the transaction to attract commitments from more than 10 lenders across Europe, Malaysia, Taiwan, and other regions. UOB successfully converted existing lenders into facilities with larger commitment amounts and onboarded nine new lenders to BWID.

This recognition highlights UOB’s strong commitment to delivering innovative financing solutions and supporting the growth ambitions of its clients across the region.

Mergers and Acquisitions Deal of the Year – Singapore

SG$905m Voluntary General Offer for Silverlake Axis Ltd

UOB acted as the sole financial adviser and sole acquisition finance provider to E2I Ltd. (E2I) in its successful voluntary general offer for Silverlake Axis Ltd. (Silverlake).

The offer, which closed in November 2024, valued Silverlake at approximately SG$905m and marked the largest take-private transaction by market capitalisation for a Singapore Exchange (SGX)-listed company in 2024. Silverlake was subsequently delisted and privatised.

In addition to acting as sole financial adviser, UOB provided the acquisition financing to E2I.
The transaction further highlights UOB’s leadership in high-profile take-private transactions in the region.

This transaction won the Mergers and Acquisitions Deal of the Year – Singapore category.

Sustainability-linked Bond of the Year – Singapore

SG$500m 5.700% subordinated sustainability-linked perpetual NC6 securities

ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) priced a landmark SG$500m 5.700% subordinated sustainability-linked perpetual NC6 securities, with UOB acting as joint global coordinator, joint lead manager, and bookrunner.

STT GDC initially launched a SG$450m offering in January 2024 with an initial price guidance (IPG) at 6.000% area. The deal attracted strong investor interest, with the orderbook surpassing SG$1,200m at its peak and closing above SG$1,000m across 70 high quality accounts. This allowed STT GDC to eventually price the deal at 5.700%, representing a 30 basis points tightening from IPG.

STT GDC then tapped an additional SG$50m, bringing the total issuance to SG$500m, consolidated with the original issue into a single series.

This transaction, which won the Sustainability-linked Bond of the Year - Singapore award, represents STT GDC’s debut perpetual securities offering. This transaction also marks several firsts in the industry – the first Singapore dollar denominated Sustainability-Linked Perpetual (SLP), the first public benchmark SLP in Asia, as well as the first public perpetual by a pure play data centre globally. The SLP is also aligned to STT GDC’s sustainability strategy, reflecting its commitment to achieving growth while advancing its ESG goals.

Social Bond of the Year – Hong Kong

HK$7,000m 2-Year, HK$8,000m 5-Year, CNH2,000m 7-Year and US$850m 3-Year senior unsecured social notes issued by the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited

The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC) successfully issued a total of HK$23,800m equivalent in multi-currency senior unsecured social notes. This marked the largest social notes issuance in Asia Pacific to date.

In this transaction, UOB served as the joint lead manager and bookrunner for the HK$7,000m 2-year and HK$8,000m 5-year tranches, as well as the joint lead manager for the CNH2,000m 7-year and US$850m 3-year tranches.

This was HKMC’s third social notes offering under its Social, Green, and Sustainability Financing Framework. Proceeds from the issuance will be used to finance and refinance SME loans under the 100% Loan Guarantee Scheme — a measure that has supported more than 40,000 small- and medium-sized enterprises and 400,000 employees across Hong Kong.

This landmark deal secured the Social Bond of the Year - Hong Kong honour for UOB.

Debt Deal of the Year – China

US$345m syndicated loan for Bank of Communications Financial Leasing Co., Ltd

Bank of Communications Financial Leasing Co., Ltd (“BOCOM Leasing”) has successfully signed a US$345m syndicated loan facility to support its general working capital needs, with UOB serving as one of the mandated lead arrangers, bookrunners, as well as the facility agent. This earned UOB the Debt Deal of the Year - China award.

The facility was met with strong demand from the banking market, with total initial commitments reaching US$507m — more than 2.6 times the original launch size of US$140m. The loan was syndicated in two stages, with participation from 10 banks including several new banking relationships for BOCOM Leasing.

These wins at the Asian Banking & Finance Corporate & Investment Banking Awards 2025 reflect UOB’s strong capabilities and commitment to delivering impactful financial solutions for our clients across the region. 

The ABF Corporate and Investment Banking Awards is presented by Asian Banking & Finance Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's unique and successful initiatives and deals that have made significant contributions to the industry, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez-Difuntorum at [email protected].