PSE wants to attract Japanese fund managers

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) is looking to attract Japanese fund managers to invest in the local equities market.

In partnership with the brokerage firm DBP-Daiwa Capital Markets Philippines Inc., the PSE is returning to Japan for the Philippine Corporate Day in Tokyo on Feb. 13 and 14.

“The event aims to showcase the prospects of the Philippine stock market and to share the growth story of select listed firms,” PSE said.

“We’ve seen more interest from Japanese funds to include Philippine companies in their equity portfolio after the country was given investment grade status,” said PSE president and CEO Hans B. Sicat.

In May, Tokyo-based Japan Credit Rating Agency Ltd. revised its credit rating for the Philippines to BBB- from BB+, up one notch to an investment grade score.

Major debt watchers Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investor Service also gave the Philippines an investment grade rating last year given the country’s high gross international reserves, stable political environment and robust economic growth.

“This roadshow in Tokyo will give (Japanese funds) a preview of what the Philippine stock market has to offer and it will give them a sense of how committed we are to the developing of our capital markets,” Sicat said.

Listed companies that will participate in the roadshow are Ayala Land Inc., BDO Unibank Inc., ICTSI, JG Summit Holdings Inc., Metro Pacific Investments Corp., PSE, Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc., Security Bank Corp., San Miguel Corp. and SM Prime Holdings Inc.

Representatives from the listed firms will meet with around 20 of the top asset management companies and their respective senior fund managers in Japan., PSE said.

It is already the second year that the PSE and DBP Daiwa are partnering to host a roadshow in the world’s third largest economy. Last year, 11 large capitalization companies in the PSE joined the roadshow.