About

International finance lawyer Eugene Phua assumed his current position in 2015 and has primary responsibility for BNP Paribas’s active loan capital markets, real estate and supply chain finance groups in Southeast Asia. This role has proven to be a diverse portfolio within the bank serving the most significant clients in the region. Within BNP Paribas, Phua routinely advises senior bankers and management on complex and time-sensitive transactions in Southeast Asia. Recent headline transactions valued around the US$1bn mark include the November 2018 acquisition financing facility for Semen Indonesia and its wholly-owned subsidiary for the acquisition of 80% Holcim Indonesia (the third-largest cement company in Indonesia) shares, the establishment of a multi-tranche structured limited-recourse facility for an Australian state-owned corporation for the sale and purchase of bullion-related receivables, and the simultaneous one-shot refinancing of OUE Hospitality REIT’s pre-existing facilities provided by three distinct bank syndicates. To meet the demands of increased global banking regulation, Phua now dedicates significant resources coordinating and managing regional and bank-wide initiatives aimed at achieving continued compliance with the EU Capital Requirements Regulations and improving data capture accuracy. In his current position, Phua overhauled the supply chain financing documentation platform and successfully achieved zero-dollar expenditure for external legal advice on Singapore-law matters in 2017, and, in 2018, led an Asia Pacific-wide initiative to create the first-ever regional facility structure for BNP Paribas where customers can reallocate borrowing limits across jurisdictions at will. ‘I believe in setting high standards for delivery, as excellence breeds excellence’, Phua says. ‘Today, we are blessed to receive job applications from some of the most talented lawyers in the region’ he says – a clear testament to the reputation of the legal team for quality work and fostering talent. Prior to his in-house career, Phua’s private practice experience included leading and executing complex financing deals across the region – including Japan – during the course of four years with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in Tokyo and a lengthy position with Clifford Chance in Singapore.