Bank of Commerce is named one of the Top 5 Corporate Issue Manager/Arranger by PDS Group

San Miguel Corporation (SMC) affiliate, Bank of Commerce (BankCom) was recognized as one of the Top 5 Corporate Issue Manager/Arranger by the Philippine Dealing System Holdings Corp. and Subsidiaries (PDS Group). BankCom was awarded along with other banking institutions that are capital market players during the 20^th PDS Annual Awards Night held at the Makati Diamond Residences last April 4, 2025.  

The annual awards features institutions who have exhibited leadership and excellence, innovation, and contributed greatly to the development of the capital markets.

From left: Concurrent PDS Group and Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) President & CEO Ramon Monzon, BankCom’s Senior Vice President and Head of Investment Banking Group Luis Martin E. Villalon, BankCom President and CEO Michelangelo R. Aguilar, and Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. President & CEO Antonino Nakpil

Established only in March 2022, BankCom’s Investment Banking Group (IBG) made its mark within the first 6 months by selling and underwriting publicly registered securities such as the Php 40 billion corporate bonds issuance of SMC Global Power and San Miguel Corporation’s own corporate bonds issuance worth Php 60 billion, the largest corporate bond issuance in 2022.

In 2023, IBG showed another outstanding performance as the Joint Lead Underwriter and Joint Bookrunner that delivered the largest volume for the Php 14 billion Petron Corporation Preferred Shares Follow-on Offering for Series 4A, 4B and 4C, and as Joint Issue Manager and Joint Lead Underwriter and Joint Bookrunner for the Php 34 billion San Miguel Corporation Preferred Shares Follow-on Offering for Series 2L, 2N and 2O.

Nearly doubling its performance in 2023, IBG increased its number of capital-raising transactions such as the Php 80 billion Syndicated Term Loan Facility of New NAIA Infra Corp. (as Issue Manager, Arranger, and Bookrunner); San Miguel Corporation’s Php 20 billion Fixed-Rate Bonds and SMC Tollways Corporation’s Php 35 billion Fixed-Rate Bonds (as Joint Issue Manager, Joint Lead Underwriter & Bookrunner) as well as Petron Corporation’s Php 16.8 billion Series 4 Preferred Shares (as Joint Lead Underwriter & Bookrunner). IBG was also one of the lead banks to arrange the Php 10 billion and Php 12.5 billion Syndicated Term Loan Facilities for SMC SLEX Holdings Company Inc. and SMC SLEX, Inc. As the sole Mandated Lead Arranger and Bookrunner, IBG supported the successful arrangement of a Project Finance Term Loan Facility for a power generation company located in Bataan.

“We are honored to be named as one of the Top 5 Corporate Issue Manager/Arranger by the PDS Group. Being a new player in the field of Investment Banking, this award recognizes all our hard work, commitment and capabilities in supporting the financial transactions for high-impact projects geared towards advancing development for our country and fellow Filipinos,” said BankCom President and CEO Michelangelo R. Aguilar. He added, “BankCom is grateful for the trust and confidence that the SMC group and other distinguished partner institutions have bestowed on our investment offerings.” 

BankCom continues to play a significant role in the financial transactions for vital infrastructure projects in the country, demonstrating its expertise in spearheading capital raising activities and its unwavering support to nation-building. The Bank was also recognized by other prestigious award-giving bodies – a testament of its strong position in the Philippine investment banking industry.

About Bank of Commerce

An affiliate of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) since 2008, Bank of Commerce is a publicly-listed universal bank focused on helping its clients, communities and conglomerate partners by delivering the best choice of financial services harnessing the strengths of the SMC Group. Bank of Commerce is identified by its logo bearing the SMC symbols of escudo and cloverleaf, and by the trademark license short name “BankCom” granted by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) in 2020. BankCom traces its origins to the Overseas Bank of Manila which opened in Binondo, Manila in 1963.

BankCom posted a net income of Php 3.02 billion as of 31 December 2024, up by 8% from Php 2.8 billion in 2023. This is the highest profit level since becoming an SMC affiliate in 2008. As of March 2025, BankCom maintains a network of 140 branches and 270 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) including Cash Kiosks strategically located nationwide.