Morgan Stanley Asia has won several of the top Asia Pacific awards announced by leading financial publications for the year 2000. Morgan Stanley was named IFR Asia's Bank of the Year, Equity House of the Year and International Bond House of the Year. Morgan Stanley was also named IFR Asia's China Equity House. In the article accompanying the Bank of the Year Award, IFR Asia said, "The best bond bank and the best equity bank of 2000 was also the only house that did not hiccup in a year when so many did. For breezing past waiting debris and trail-blazing a path wherever else it went, Morgan Stanley is IFR Asia's Bank of the Year."

Other significant House Awards won by Morgan Stanley Asia include Finance Asia's Best Equity House, The Asset's Asia's Best Investment Bank Award and the Best M&A House Award, Euromoney's Best M&A Firm in Asia and Financial Intelligence Asia (FIA) Distinction Awards — Bank of the Year, Equity House of the Year and Debt House of the Year.

Over the course of 2000, Morgan Stanley Asia raised about US$11.7 billion for 12 issuers in seven countries. Many of these deals have been recognized as landmark deals in the annual Deal Awards. IFR Asia's Equity Issue of the Year was the US$5.65 billion privatization of China Unicom, for which Morgan Stanley and CICC were Joint Global Coordinators. Finance Asia went a step further and picked China Unicom as its Best Overall Equity Deal, Best Privatization and Best IPO, noting that "the deal stands clear because of the flawless execution." China Unicom was The Asset's Best Equity Issue and Best IPO and was also one of CFO Asia's Deals of the Year.

Significantly, four of the 10 deals that CFO Asia selected as Deals of the Year were Morgan Stanley-led/advised. Besides China Unicom, other recognized deals were United Microelectronics Corporation's US$1.3 billion primary ADS offering (also Asiamoney's Technology-related Equity Issue of the Year) and two M&A deals, Singapore Power International's US$1.3 billion acquisition of GPU PowerNet and Hansol M.com's US$2.6 billion sale to Korea Telecom. Moreover, Pacific Century CyberWorks' (PCCW) US$28.5 billion acquisition of Cable & Wireless HKT, for which the Firm was one of the advisors, was named M&A Deal of the Year by Asiamoney, Finance Asia, The Asset and the FIA.

In the Asia Pacific international debt market, Morgan Stanley raised US$1.9 billion from six issues and was IFR Asia's International Bond House of the Year "for the overall breadth and quality of deals." IFR Asia noted in particular the US$500 million bond issue for PSA Corporation, which was also Asiamoney's Corporate Bond of the Year (including quasi-sovereigns).

Describing it as "sureness of touch," IFR Asia said, "despite difficult conditions, 2000 saw record issuance in Asia and Morgan Stanley stood out among its peers. It brought deals — both big and small — to difficult markets with smooth execution. It was also the only major international investment bank without a single equity deal downsized, postponed or withdrawn."

To see the full list of awards, please click here.