Search results for

Regulations are getting more onerous, but companies that provide transparency in their operations gain a better image and cheaper funding. Asiamoney's returning Corporate Governance Poll shows which firms are Asia's most visible.

Lui Chee-woo is one of Hong Kong's most established property and construction tycoons and his K Wah Group is heavily investing in the world of gaming with its casino operations in Macau. Lui talks to ASIAMONEY about building out his business and keeping his grandchildren in check.

Landmark transactions break ground, add value to a corporation, country or stock exchange and demonstrate inspiration on behalf of the issuer and their financial advisers. Asiamoney presents the region's best deals from the past 12 months.

Visitors to this south-east Asian nation will be struck by its vivid contrasts, from splendid beaches and mountain retreats to the perilous pursuit of crossing inner-city roads jammed with traffic. Vietnam is truly an intoxicating tonic of East and West that is not to be missed.

James Packer is successfully reshaping his late father's media empire with a little help from his friends. His joint venture with CVC Asia Pacific will enable him to pursue further media acquisitions while allowing for higher growth opportunities in casinos and gaming abroad. Australia's richest man may have been dealt a good hand, but he is playing his cards very nicely, writes Giles Parkinson.

Think of Bangladesh and images of poverty, famine and flooding spring to mind. The country ranked 177th in the world in terms of gross domestic product per capita for 2005, according to the Central Intelligence Agency in the United States. Its population of about 150 million live huddled around the enormous delta created by the river Ganges and hundreds of other rivers flowing into the Bay of Bengal; almost half of these people live on less than one US dollar a day. The rivers regularly flood and typhoons scour the country.

Asia's heady gaming boom has got investors eager to punt. Equity and debt investors are pumping cash into new casinos in Macau and Singapore, while other markets like Japan are looking to liberalize gambling. But can the expectation meet the enormous hype? Elliot Wilson asks if investors have been deceived by a sector where prospects may not be quite as glitzy as they appear.

Thailand's military-sponsored government has declined to legalize onshore gaming, despite the potential tax, licensing and tourist revenues on offer. While there is no shortage of illegal dens for Thais to indulge their addictions, just as appealing is the crumbling Cambodian border town of Poipet, which has become a mecca for Thais eager to try their luck. Anne Hyland reports.

Morgan Stanley finished 2005 on a roll, completing a genuine landmark IPO – China Construction Bank's US$9.2 billion Hong Kong offering – in October of that year. But its books have been devoid of the blockbuster equity trades in 2006 – just when Asia has had a very good year.

Indonesia is eager to capitalize on its rich biodiversity to produce renewable, crop-based biofuels on a commercial scale, but it lacks the capital and expertise to develop the sector. The government has made encouraging declarations of intent, although wary investors seek action rather than words. Ian Gill reports.

Bank Mandiri's gross non-performing loan ratio shot up to a shocking 26% at the end of 2005, which it blames on revised regulations, rising interest rates and declining purchasing power. But Indonesia's biggest bank believes it can clean up its balance sheet and look forward with confidence. Ian Gill thumbs through Mandiri's money matters.

Publicly-listed PT Berlian Laju Tanker, a leading Indonesian shipper of liquid cargo, has rapidly expanded its fleet and its markets in the past nine years. After plotting new courses to north Asia, India and the Middle East, it is now setting its compass towards Europe. Ian Gill reports.