Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui completes 30% investment in RCBC Leasing
Yuchengco-led Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) said Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co. Ltd. (SMFL) has completed its acquisition of a 30-percent stake in RCBC Leasing and Finance Corp. (RLFC), providing fresh capital to support the financing firm’s nationwide expansion.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Thursday, Aug. 27, RCBC said that since SMFL had already satisfied all requirements, including obtaining approvals and permits from the relevant authorities, RLFC is now an equity method affiliate company of SMFL.
RLFC President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jayson L. Mendoza said the investment supports the company’s expansion plans, foreseeing growth over the next three to five years in priority sectors such as manufacturing, construction, information technology (IT), renewable energy (RE), including electric vehicles (EVs) and solar panels, healthcare, logistics, and auto leasing.
“This investment positions us well for the opportunities ahead and strengthens our capabilities that will drive our business forward,” Mendoza added.
For its part, the investment allows SMFL to expand its business base in the Philippines, where strong economic growth and increasing demand for financial services are expected, by integrating SMFL’s sales and management expertise with RCBC’s strong customer base and RLFC’s team structure.
Japanese financial giant Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC) holds a 24.46-percent stake in RCBC as a partner bank in the Philippines. Through collaboration with SMBC Group and partners, SMFL is committed to further strengthening its business base in global growth markets.
RLFC is using the fresh capital infused by SMFL to fund its nationwide expansion over the next five years. SMFL is one of Japan’s largest leasing and financing businesses, with a strong presence in Asia, Europe, and the United States (US).
RCBC President and CEO Reggie Cariaso said the partnership between RLFC and SMFL is aligned with the bank’s growth roadmap.
“By combining our expertise with SMFL’s global capabilities, we are strengthening RLFC’s foundation for expansion and positioning ourselves to capture new opportunities,” he added. - James A. Loyola