Check out what BNP Paribas' Sameer Sopori will do differently in high yield capital markets

As the bank's new head of high yield capital markets, Sopori aims to reallocate resources to deliver flawless service.

Sopori is based in Singapore and reports directly to Frank Kwong, head of syndicate Asia and Chanant Charnchainarong, head of fixed income Southeast Asia.

ABF: What makes you excited about your new position?
High Yield capital markets is an area of growth for the bank's corporate strategy of Originate to Distribute and the bank is, and has made, considerable investments around the world in the US, Europe and in Asia. Asian corporates are poised to take debt financing as an important source of financing and are embracing this product. So both the chance to be part of this ambitious strategy and market opportunity is very significant and very exciting.

ABF: What three goals are you focused on?
- To ensure BNP Paribas clients get the best advice. Our business model is driven by deep relationships and our corporate motto of “the bank for a changing world” clearly communicates that.

- To build a business and add to the existing infrastructure across the full value chain from origination to distribution

- Institutionalise the product internally

ABF: What will you do differently in this position?
Every organisation has a different culture. BNP Paribas is a top 10 globally ranked fixed income house. It has ambitious plans for the APAC region and I am delighted to be part of this initiative. One needs to be adaptive to the organisation culture and work with the various stakeholders to execute corporate strategy.

ABF: What changes are you planning for?
High Yield financing is a complex product and requires multiple skills. There is a need to have the right team and management support. We will be reallocating resources to bring the required skill set to deliver flawless execution and advice to our clients.

ABF: What are your key business philosophies?
Client focus, prioritisation and effective communication with all stakeholders, both internal and external. At the end of the day, the client comes first and as a debt financing advisor you must ensure that you control the process and deliver the service you as an institution have been hired for. 

ABF: What previous positions prepared you for this one and how?
I was a founding member of Standard Chartered Bank’s High Yield team and built the business from a greenfield set up. Under my leadership we achieved No. 3 ranking* (*Bloomberg)

In addition, I worked in Corporate Finance and Leveraged Finance in London and Hong Kong, all those experiences were very helpful

ABF: Anything else you'd like to add?
Basel 3 regulations are changing how the lending business will become more capital markets driven, rather than take and hold due to stringent rules. Given the low interest rate environment, low base and investor appetite for Asian credit, these are exciting times.