DBS bags $18b of foreign currency bond deals in '13

THE Singapore-dollar (SGD) debt market may have slowed down this year but DBS Bank has powered ahead with foreign-currency bond deals, raking in over S$18 billion worth of issues.

Bolstered by a strong balance sheet and a track record in structuring deals, DBS has arranged bond deals for clients beyond the region such as Turkey's Mersin.

DBS' S$18 billion worth of foreign-currency bond deals so far this year - made up of US dollar (USD) denominated and yuan bonds - is three times more than its SGD-denominated bond sales of S$6.1 billion.

"Activity in non-SGD has grown, it's more than it has ever been," said Clifford Lee, DBS Bank head of fixed income.

Year to date, in the USD space, DBS handled 24 deals worth US$11.6 billion. Last year it was 16 deals worth US$8.1 billion. Total value from 22 yuan deals for 2013 is CNH18.1 billion. In 2012, it was six issues worth CNH1.4 billi…