BPI raises P15.3B from new bond foray

File photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer

Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has raised P15.3 billion from its first local bond foray for the year, upsizing the issuance by over five times the original offer to take advantage of strong market demand.

The fixed rate bonds carry an interest rate of 4.2423 percent per annum for a tenor of two years. The issuance exceeded BPI’s original target of P3 billion.

“Our bonds offer an attractive return to investors. The funds raised put us in a better position to provide financial services to more clients – individuals, small and medium businesses, and big corporations to fund a housing project, a new car, or their businesses,” BPI Treasurer Dino Gasmen said on Friday.

Gasmen attributed the successful bond offering to the “unwavering trust and support of both retail and institutional investors to BPI.”

The new bonds were listed on the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. (PDEx) on Friday.

BPI Capital Corp. and Standard Chartered Bank, Philippine Branch (SCB), served as the joint lead arrangers of the bonds. BPI Capital was sole selling agent, while SCB was participating selling agent.