Best bank - HSBC
Best debt house - HSBC
Best M&A house - Rothschild
Best at risk management and treasury - Citigroup
Best at cash management - Standard Chartered
Most improved bank in the region - National Commercial Bank
HSBC has arguably the most extensive regional presence in the Middle East in terms of both the number of countries in which it operates and the breadth of products that it offers. As well as being the winner of this year's best debt house in the Middle East award, HSBC is also a strong contender for the risk management and treasury and cash management awards.
This year no awards have been given for best equity house or best at custody in the region as low volume of deals and the low turnover of most of the region's markets mean awards for these categories would not be very meaningful. But even in these areas HSBC is one of the strongest players. It has a brokerage business in most markets and its affiliate, Saudi British Bank, was co-bookrunner on the only initial public offering in the region this year outside Israel.
Though not the number one arranger of loans in the region nor the top bookrunner for bonds, HSBC is one of the top arrangers of loans and project finance.