KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 7): Despite tougher market conditions faced by the Malaysian capital markets in 2014, CIMB Group had ended the year first in Bloomberg’s Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and Debt Capital Market (DCM), as well as first in Dealogic’s Equity Capital Market (ECM) league tables.

In a statement today, CIMB Group said it had been involved in a number of notable deals in 2014.

These include M&A deals such as SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd's US$898 million acquisition of Newfields Malaysia Holding Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd acquisition of equity stakes in two Turkish airports (40% stake in Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen and 40% stake in LGM Havalimani), and Goldis Bhd’s RM2.6 billion acquisition of equity interest in IGB Corp Bhd.

In the ECM space, the notable deals that CIMB Group had participated in, include the award-winning UMW Oil and Gas Corporation Bhd's RM2.7 billion initial public offering (IPO), as well as 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Bhd’s RM834 million IPO.

CIMB Group also pointed out that its DCM’s activities include multiple sovereign deals and award-winning deals, such as Khazanah Nasional Bhd's US$500 million Exchangeable Sukuk and KLCC Real Estate Investment Trust RM3 billion Sukuk Murabahah Programme.

CIMB Group acting chief executive officer Tengku Datuk Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said these league table positions represent the group’s strengths and abilities, despite the weaker capital market environments.

"We have positioned ourselves well, and our deep relationships with our clients have ensured [that] we continued to lead in the space,” he added.

CIMB Group is the country's second largest financial services provider and one of ASEAN’s leading universal banking groups.