STANDARD Chartered Bank may seek to raise cash from investors through secondary listings in Hong Kong and Singapore to meet loan growth and subsequent capital demand.
Chief executive Malcolm Williamson said the bank could raise up to an extra five per cent of issued share capital without approaching current shareholders.
This five per cent, at yesterday's noon price in London, amounted to GBP146.68 million (about HK$1.82 billion).
Although the bank's capital ratio stood comfortably at 14.2 per cent, the highest in five years, Mr Williamson projected capital requirement to remain high.
Not only do credit-rating agencies demand higher capital to award better grades to banks, banking regulators will look for more assurance from banks in the wake of the Barings collapse.
Besides, the ongoing readjustment exercise of the bank's loan book by cutting exposure to commercial property and Third World debt is almost over.
