PNB raises P7B via long-term peso debt note offering

Tycoon Lucio Tan-led Philippine National Bank has raised P7 billion from a public offering of long-term negotiable certificates of time deposits (LTNCDs), gaining leeway to expand asset base in the years ahead.

The milestone was celebrated with a bell ringing ceremony at the fixed income trading platform, Philippine Dealing Exchange (PDEx).

With an oversubscribed booking, the 5.5-year LTNCD offering was priced at 4.125 percent per year.

“This is the first time PNB will list a peso-dominated LTNCD in the Philippine Dealing Exchange and we are looking forward to more issuances by the bank in the financial markets,” said PNB executive vice president and head of treasury Group Horacio E. Cebrero III.

Cebrero said the fundraising activity would also allow the company to support its asset growth and make it more competitive in the banking industry.

“The privilege of having the LTNCDs listed on PDEx will also give the investing public a trading platform that may lead to an increase in the liquidity of the instrument and strengthen transparency in pricing through its price discovery trading process,” he added.

LTNCDs are negotiable certificates of time deposits and are tax exempt for qualified individuals if held for at least five years. These are bank products with long tenors which are offered to investors looking for interest rates higher than those of regular savings accounts or shorter-term deposits.

These instruments are insured by Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. up to a maximum coverage per depositor of P500,000.

Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. Ltd. acted as sole lead arranger and First Metro Investment Corp. and Multinational Investment Bancorporation were the selling agents.

PNB is the country’s fourth largest private commercial bank in terms of assets and deposits. It has 656 domestic branches and the most extensive international footprint among Philippine banks.

PNB has presence across Asia, Europe, Middle East and North America through its 77 overseas branches and offices.