UOB Buana plans bond, share offerings to boost capital

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

PT Bank UOB Buana, a subsidiary of United Overseas Bank Ltd. of Singapore, plans to issue subordinated bonds and new shares in order to satisfy the minimum capital requirement to gain "national bank" accreditation, a bank executive says.

Managing director Safrullah Hadi Saleh said Friday that the bank expected to raise up to Rp 2 trillion (around US$213 million) from the sale of the bonds.

In addition to the bond sale, further funds would be raised by the sale of shares, he said, adding the both the bond and share sales would likely take place some time in 2009.

Under Bank Indonesia regulations, a bank is required to have a minimum capitalization of Rp 10 trillion by the end of 2010 if it wants to be designated as a "national bank".

According to its latest financial report, UOB Buana's capital totaled Rp 3.72 trillion as of the end of September, an increase of 8.69 percent from Rp 3.42 trillion as of the same period last year.

President director Armand Bachtiar Arief said that the bank would strengthen its treasury, foreign exchange and cash management services in 2008 in order to increase its non-interest income.

"However, I cannot give the exact figures as the plan is still under discussion," he added.

UOB Buana is currently 61.13 percent owned by United Overseas Bank subsidiary UOB International Investment (UOBII), 26.75 percent by PT Sari Dasa Karsa and 12.12 percent by the public.

The company's total lending as of the end of September had increased by 16.89 percent to Rp 11.97 trillion from Rp 10.24 trillion as of the end of September last year, while its total third-party funds rose 2.91 percent to Rp 12.72 trillion from Rp 12.38 trillion.

The bank's unaudited net profit amounted to Rp 357 billion during the third quarter, an increase of 9.5 percent from Rp 326 billion during the same period last year, while its total assets rose by 8.02 percent to Rp 18.19 trillion from Rp 16.84 trillion last year.(nkn)