BDO Unibank Inc. announced it was recently named as the best local bank during “The Asset Triple A Country Awards 2020” for the 8th consecutive year.
The awarding ceremony recognized Asian issuers and global institutional investors for excellence in banking, finance, treasury and capital markets by Hong Kong-based publisher Asset Publishing & Research Ltd.
Shares in BDO fell by 2.75 percent, or P3, to close at P105.90 each amid the 0.61-percent rise for the benchmark index last Wednesday.
The Sy-led bank said its subsidiary BDO Capital & Investment Corp. was awarded as the “Best Corporate and Institutional Advisor-Domestic,” “Best Equity Advisor” and “Best Loan Adviser.”
BDO and BDO Capital were recognized for their roles as sole lender and lead arranger and bookrunner in the KKR-led consortium’s $1.3-billion stake acquisition in Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings Inc. It was considered the largest merger and acquisition in the healthcare sector in the country.
The bank said it was recognized for having the “Best Retail Bond” as well for its P36-billion fixed-rate bond issuance. This was seven times more than the original size of P5 billion, which BDO attributed to robust demand from individual and institutional investors.
Meanwhile, BDO Capital was also awarded the Best Local Currency Green Bond recognition. It was a joint lead underwriter and joint bookrunner for the P3-billion fixed-rate Asean green bonds of Arthaland Corp.
“In line with the bank’s sustainability mission, the green bonds adhere to the Asean Green Bonds Standards, which require proceeds to be used exclusively for environment-friendly projects,” BDO said.
BDO saw its net income fall by 36 percent to P28.2 billion last year from P44.2 billion in 2019 as loan loss buffers surged to P30.2 billion. As of end-December 2020, capitalization was at P393 billion, with capital adequacy ratio at 14.4 percent and common equity tier 1 ratio at 13.2 percent.
The listed bank earlier said it was eyeing to install more upgraded automated teller machine (ATM) terminals this year to allow cardless, QR (quick response) code-based withdrawals. There are over 100 QR-enabled ATMs in Makati currently.
Image credits: Photo courtesy of BDO Unibank Inc.