EAST West Banking Corp. on Thursday said it was planning to raise about P9 billion through a stock rights offering to fund loan growth, expand its wealth and priority banking businesses and invest in digital technologies.
The proposed offering, approved by the bank’s board on Aug. 27, will be backed by major shareholders Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC) and FDC Ventures Inc.
EastWest said the proceeds would support strategic growth objectives and future expansion plans.
“This proposed rights offering positions EastWest for its next phase of growth while giving our existing shareholders the opportunity to participate in the bank’s long-term value creation,” EastWest President and CEO Jerry Ngo said.
“The additional capital will support continued expansion across our core businesses and enhance our ability to pursue strategic opportunities in a fast-evolving financial landscape, while strengthening our balance sheet,” he added.
The planned stock rights offering remains subject to regulatory approvals, including from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Philippine Stock Exchange.
EastWest said the final offer size, entitlement ratio, offer price, record date and timetable would be determined and announced after the necessary approvals are secured.
The bank had total assets of P623.9 billion as of June 2026, with a consumer loan portfolio of P337.6 billion.
EastWest is the banking arm of the Filinvest Group and operates as a universal bank in the Philippines.
AB Capital & Investment Corp. was tapped as issue manager and sole underwriter for the proposed offering.
The bank’s shares on Thursday slipped P0.30, or 2.71 percent, to close at P10.78 each amid a 2.16-percent slump for the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index.