Asiamoney magazine, a leading Asia finance magazine and part of the Euromoney group, named Morgan Stanley the Best Investment Bank in Asia for 2008. Announcing its awards - which cover the Asia region, excluding Japan, Australia and New Zealand - the magazine also named Morgan Stanley as the Best M&A Arranger.

In its write-up, Asiamoney acknowledged Morgan Stanley for the depth and breadth across products and for "the combination of its sheer productivity in M&A, a decent debt presence, and its grit in the equity markets. It looks well set for 2009."

The magazine was also impressed by the Firm's M&A advisory practice across the region. It highlighted stand-out transactions including: Temasek's three power plant disposals in Singapore; Ford Motor's sale of Jaguar and Land Rover to India's Tata Motors and KKR's acquisition of Unisteel in Singapore along with a US$280mn senior financing.

Asiamoney also awarded the Hong Kong & China Gas US$1bn bond transaction as 2008's Best Investment Grade Bond. This transaction was underwritten by the Firm and HSBC.