BDO Capital head named Alpha Southeast Asia’s 1st Filipino Achievement Awardee

MANILA, Philippines — Alpha Southeast Asia recently honored Eduardo Francisco, president of BDO Capital & Investment Corp., with the Achievement Award for Contribution to Local Capital Market during its 15th Annual Best Deal & Solution Awards 2021.

Francisco is the first Filipino recipient and only the third awardee in 15 years. He succeeds Dato’ Lee Kok Kwan, former deputy CEO of CIMB Group, and Seohan Soo, former CEO of AmInvestment Bank BHD.

“The awards outcome this year is especially momentous, considering the challenging operating environment for corporate, commercial and investment banks—as well as financial media companies,” said Alpha Southeast Asia.

The Hong Kong-based financial publication cited the investment banker’s noteworthy career that has already spanned for decades. Under Francisco’s leadership, BDO Capital, a wholly owned subsidiary of BDO Unibank, has proven itself an industry trailblazer.

During the 10-year period between the Asian financial crisis in 1998 and the global credit crisis in 2008, BDO Capital helped raised a total of $22 billion in equity offerings and debt issues for both government and private institutions. Later on, BDO Capital helped raised $180 billion for Philippine-based issuers and borrowers.

Alpha Southeast Asia also noted the bank’s excellence in public, private, and sovereign-led deals. BDO Capital has marked key milestones of leading companies including the IPOs of Monde Nissin, SM Investment Corp, Aboitiz Power, Alliance Global, Vista Land, and Synergy Grip & Development, as well as most of the corporate bond offerings of the leading listed companies in the country, and the bond issuance of SMC Global Power, Manila North Tollways and South Luzon Tollways.

Francisco played a pivotal role in introducing the first Retail Treasury bond (RTB) in the Philippines. Today, Filipinos can invest in RTBs for as low as $100 or P5,000. Since the launch of RTBs about 20 years ago, there have been over 23 issuances. RTBs can now also be accessed through an online platform for investors’ convenience.

Francisco also had an active role in establishing REITs in the Philippines against a background of tax and regulatory issues. Today, there are at least five REITs offerings in the country amid the pandemic. He also led the first dollar preferred share listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) for Del Monte and was involved in most of the perpetual preferred offerings in the country.

The BDO leader holds a MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines. Outside of BDO, he helps the PSE, the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP), and the Philippine Dealing & Exchange (PDEX) with their product launches and rule changes from time to time.

Francisco is a recipient of the Financial Management Excellence from the University of the Philippines and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the UP College of Business Administration. He was honored by BizNewsAsia as one of the Nation Builders and was an Asia Leaders Awards’ Mentor of the Year finalist.