BDO aims for 20% loan growth

MANILA, Philippines—Banco de Oro Unibank aims to sustain a 20-percent expansion in its loan book each year for the next three to five years, backed by a recent $1-billion core or tier 1 capital infusion from a landmark stock rights offering.

In a press briefing on Wednesday during the listing of new shares issued by BDO—which also the bank’s 10th anniversary as a publicly listed company—bank president Nestor Tan said with the company’s fresh capital build-up, it would have room to expand risk assets in the following years.

After expanding the bank’s lending book by 24 percent last year and sustaining a 23 percent year-on-year growth in the first quarter of this year, Tan said the bank would be able to sustain a growth of 20 percent for the next three to five years. He said this would take into account the expected improvement in the overall economy.

BDO may also be able to continue expanding its local distribution channel by 35 to 50 new local branches each year in the years ahead, Tan said. “We don’t look at target number of branches, but what the market requires.”

Tan said the expansion of branch network was for the purpose of reaching new markets and adding service centers. To date, the banking arm of the country’s wealthiest man, Henry Sy, has one of the largest distribution networks in the country at 770 branch licenses and over 1,645 automated teller machines. It has about five million in retail customer accounts.

During the listing ceremonies, BDO chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson said the funds raised from the recent stock rights offering would prepare BDO “well ahead” of stricter Basel 3 capital requirements and strengthen its tier 1 capital. “In addition, it will put BDO in a better position to support its expansion plans,” she said.

Basel 3 introduces a complex package of reforms designed to improve the ability of banks to absorb losses, extend the coverage of financial risks and have a stronger firewall against periods of stress.

Once the Basel 3 framework takes effect locally starting 2014, Tan said BDO would keep its overall capital adequacy ratio (CAR) at the “mid-teen” level, leaving some buffer over the minimum CAR requirement of 12.5 percent.

Aside from the first objective of raising fresh capital to meet Basel 3 requirements depending on the final guidelines, Tan said a portion of the proceeds would also be used to retire P10 billion in subordinated debt or tier 2 notes maturing this November.

Tan said the recent $1-billion rights offering—the biggest capital-raising in the local stock market so far—has not caused any significant change in the bank’s ownership structure.