UBS cuts four loan bankers in Singapore, Hong Kong as deal flow slows

UBS Group cut four loan syndication bankers in Asia, according to people familiar with the matter, as elevated funding costs cast a pall over the market.

The individuals, who joined as part of the 2023 takeover of Credit Suisse, left on Monday (Nov 25), said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private matters.

The exits include two Singapore-based bankers: Terence Chia, head of loan syndications, and Irene Liao, an executive director on the team, the people said. Two more junior bankers based in Hong Kong also departed the bank.

A spokesperson at UBS and Chia declined to comment. Liao did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Asia’s loan market has been struggling this year amid elevated US dollar rates and as sluggish growth in China has dented demand. That has led to sharp competition among banks to lead deals, causing an overcrowding of loans.

Loan volumes in Asia-Pacific, excluding Japan, slumped 19 per cent to US$456 billion year to date compared with the same period last year, according to Bloomberg-compiled data.

Prior to the merger, Chia was head of Asia-Pacific debt syndicate at Credit Suisse, where he spent over a decade, while Liao was a director at the Swiss bank’s loan syndication and distribution team for more than five years, according to their LinkedIn profiles. REUTERS

Share with us your feedback on BT's products and services