MAYBANK Philippines, Inc. said it is unfazed by the possible entry of rival CIMB Group Holdings Bhd into the Philippines, flagging that the country’s biggest lenders -- and not CIMB -- are its toughest competitors in the local market.
“When they come in, it’s not like they’re going to be a threat to us,” Maybank Philippines President and CEO Herminio M. Famatigan, Jr. said in an interview Friday, referring to CIMB. “The market is so big. In fact, the threat will still come from the top, big [domestic] banks.”
CIMB, Malaysia’s second-largest bank, has been more acquisitive than its bigger rival Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank), with buyout plans extending beyond its Malaysian turf to include targets in the Philippines.
A newspaper report last week said that talks on CIMB’s possible acquisition of state-controlled Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines have become “more serious” -- possibly serving as CIMB’s entry point here.
Maybank Philippines is the local unit of Maybank, the biggest Malaysian bank in terms of assets. The group’s total assets stood at RM 578 billion, or approximately P7.887 trillion, as of end-March, according to data from its web site.
CIMB follows Maybank in size, with RM 380 billion in assets, or around P5.186 trillion, in the same period.
Mr. Famatigan doubts the rivalry between Malaysia’s two biggest lenders would extend to the Philippines.
“I assure you, I don’t think we look at [ourselves] as a threat to [CIMB],” Mr. Famatigan said. “Because again, on any given day, you’re looking at a P1.6-trillion bank, BDO; a P1.4-trillion bank, Metro; a P1.2-trillion bank, BPI.”
Mr. Famatigan was referring to the Philippines’ three largest banks in asset terms: BDO Unibank, Inc., the Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., and the Bank of the Philippine Islands.
“Us worrying about CIMB or any other Malaysian bank will only be to the extent that we worry about the rest of the competitors. It should not be a special [case],” he said.
WIDER BATTLEFIELD
The industry-leading positions of Maybank and CIMB in their home market have led analysts prognosticating whether the two players would slug it out in a larger regional arena.
Recent news on a possible mega merger between CIMB and two smaller Malaysian banks have put Maybank’s position on top in doubt.
CIMB is negotiating a deal to acquire RHB Capital Bhd and Malaysia Building Society Bhd - another signal of the acquisitive stance CIMB has taken on as its CEO Nazir Razak, the Malaysian prime minister’s brother, prepares to leave the bank in September, after 15 years in the job.
Red flags have since been raised on this possible move that would see CIMB overtaking Maybank in size, with Fitch Ratings saying it is fraught with risk.
Lexter L. Azurin, research head at Unicapital Securities, Inc., said that it is “possible” Maybank Philippines would also move forward with acquisitions in response to a CIMB takeover of Al-Amanah.
“But several factors have to be considered, especially the valuation of the bank. That’s really important,” Mr. Azurin said. “It has to be seen whether it would be beneficial to both parties with regards to the size.”
Maybank’s acquisition targets would “probably be small to mid-sized banks,” he said.
Mr. Azurin said that, in any case, the developments “should be beneficial for the industry, as further consolidation would lead to efficiency.”
But Mr. Famatigan ruled out a radical change in the bank’s growth strategy. He said that even if CIMB successfully gets Al-Amanah, Maybank would not speed up acquisitions.
“We are growing organically, the best way we know how, and we’ve been doing great in that regard. At the same time, we have our eyes wide open, and we’re quite sensitive in looking around for opportunities,” he explained. “An acquisition is part of the plan anytime it makes sense to us.”
He would not comment on possible acquisition targets, although he ruled out joining the bidding for state-controlled United Coconut Planters Bank, which the government is putting up for sale.
An acquisition by Maybank of a listed lender is of interest as it could be a way for the bank to comply with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) requirement for all foreign banks to go public.
Mr. Famatigan had said in February that the bank is “keeping all [its] options open,” including buying a listed bank, to comply with this requirement.
source: Businessworld
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