Frank Tsai is a seasoned finance professional with over 25 years of experience in Corporate and Investment Banking, Structured Finance, Project and Leverage Finance, Treasury, and Capital Markets.
Based in Singapore, he currently serves as the Vice President and Senior Customer Finance Advisor at Hitachi Energy, a global leader in power technologies and energy systems, over- seeing the Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand regions. In his role, Frank is responsible for advising, proposing, and facilitating short-term and long-term financing solutions as well as Project and Structured Finance for Hitachi Energy's customers. He collaborates with various financial institutions, including Export Credit Agencies (ECAs), Development Finance Institu- tions (DFIs), Multilateral Financial Institutions like the Asia Development Bank, Private Equity firms, Sustainability Funds, Commercial Banks, and a range of other financial institutions. His primary focus is to support Hitachi Energy's projects by ensuring they have the necessary financial solutions and managing risk mitigation strategies.
Prior to joining Hitachi Energy, Frank has held significant roles at various international financial institutions, including Schroders (Jakarta); Macquarie Bank (Sydney); ING Barings (Hong Kong); MUFG Group (Singapore); Natixis (Singapore); Bank Mandiri (Singapore Branch); and Westpac (Sydney).
Frank's professional journey has taken him across four countries, including Indonesia, HonKong, Singapore, and Australia. He began his career in Treasury, managing Asset and Liability Management (ALM) and Swap books before transitioning into the role of a Bond and Asset Swaps Trader and then Head of Credit & Derivatives Structuring. Over the years, he evolved into a Coverage and Structured Finance Banker.
He has been instrumental in facilitating and structuring numerous M&A and Structured Finance deals, with highlights including:
An approximately US$0.5 billion Acquisition Finance deal for the acquisition of the Martabe
Gold Mine in Indonesia by EMR Capital and Farallon Capital.
A US$80 million portfolio shares-back financing for Saratoga Investama, one of Indonesia's largest investment companies.
The acquisition of a controlling interest in Anaconda Nickel Ltd. (now known as Minara Resources – ASX Code: MRE), a prominent publicly listed Nickel company in Australia, by MatlinPatterson, a leading US-based Vulture fund with over USD 10 billion under management.
A US$125 million Convertible Bond Repackaged Loan structured through a bankruptcy- remote Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) issued by one of the largest real estate companies in Singapore.
In recognition of his expertise, Frank was a registered representative for Macquarie Bank in EMTA (Emerging Markets Traders Association), an acknowledgment of his involvement in distressed debts structuring.
Frank is a frequent speaker at international finance conferences, including, among others: “Group Treasurers Innovation Forum” (by Trueventus) ; TFX Asia ; “14th CFO Innovation Summit Asia” (by Questex Asia) ; World Finance Forums (WFF), CTWeek and “Singapore CFO SUMMIT 2024” (by Biz Integration).
Frank Tsai, an Indonesian-born Australian Citizen and a Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) holder, is a devoted family man, married with one son. In his leisure time, he finds solace in reading philosophical and psychological literature, with Viktor E. Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" among his favorite books. Frank is also an enthusiastic traveler and actively participates in volunteer work.
