China Bank Capital maintains top post in debt market deals


China Bank Capital, a unit of China Banking Corporation, reported that it grabbed a 30.5 percent share of the investment banking transactions this year.

In a statement, the firm said it has maintained its position as the number one debt capital markets bookrunner in the Philippines since its inception.  

 For 2020, China Bank Capital has participated in the most number of local currency and US dollar fixed income issuances, again topping the league table for debt capital market deals.

In the last six months, China Bank Capital has solely or jointly arranged nearly P150 billion worth of corporate bonds, notes, and other debt securities.     

“China Bank Capital’s strong performance is motivated by a constant drive to deliver the best results to our clients, and we are pleased to have successfully closed many landmark transactions that helped not just private companies, but also the government and the broader economy,” said China Bank Capital President Ryan Martin L. Tapia.

The firm acted as a joint lead arranger in key transactions by the national government, helping the Bureau of the Treasury with its P310.8 billion Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs) and switch offer, its subsequent P516.3 billion RTBs—the largest RTB issuance by the government, and the recently concluded P6.57 billion Premyo Bonds 2.  

The first corporate issuer to break out during the pandemic was Ayala Land, for whom China Bank Capital has consistently been tapped since 2016, with its P10 billion Fixed Rate Bonds which was launched and issued during the early community quarantine periods.

 Other corporate issuers followed suit, namely Aboitiz Power, Robinsons Land, SM Investment Corp, Ortigas & Co., Del Monte Philippines, Filinvest Land, and San Miguel Corp., and then financial institutions such as Development Bank of the Philippines and China Bank itself.