UBF opens Premier Business Centre in Colombo 04

UB Finance, a leading provider of financial services, is proud to announce the grand opening of its highly anticipated Premier Branch, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to delivering unparalleled service and expertise to its valued clients.

Located in the heart of Colombo 4 on Duplication Road, the Premier Branch exemplifies UB Finance's dedication to excellence, offering a comprehensive suite of financial solutions tailored to meet the diverse needs of individuals, families, and businesses in the region.

"The opening of our Premier Branch underscores our unwavering commitment to providing our clients with exceptional service and access to the highest caliber of financial expertise," said Ransith Karunaratne, Director/Chief Executive Officer of UB Finance PLC. "We are thrilled to introduce this flagship location, where clients can expect personalized attention, innovative solutions, and a seamless banking experience."

At the heart of the Premier Branch is a team of dedicated relationship managers who are committed to building long-lasting partnerships with clients. These seasoned professionals offer personalized financial guidance, tailored solutions, and proactive support to help clients achieve their financial goals.

"We are excited to invite our clients to experience the elevated level of service and expertise available at our Premier Business Centre," said Ms Himali Perera, DGM Credit & Operations. "Our team is committed to delivering exceptional service and building strong relationships with our clients, helping them navigate their financial journey with confidence and peace of mind."

UB Finance invites clients and members of the community to visit the Premier Branch and discover the difference firsthand. 

Appointment of Chairman and Director to UB FINANCE PLC

Following the strategic investment by CG Capital Partners Pte Ltd (CGC) in Union Bank of Colombo PLC (UBC), UB Finance PLC (UBF) a ninety percent owned subsidiary of UBC recently made two key appointments to its Board of Directors, engaging Mr. Malay Mukherjee as the Chairman and Mr. Sanjay Pokhrel as a Non-Independent Director.

CG Capital Partners Pte Ltd is an integral part of CG Corp Global (CG), an established conglomerate since 1935 with its Headquarters in Dubai. CG proudly stands as a leading multinational in Asia, operating across 35 countries, overseeing 160 companies, 123 brands and employing over 15,000 individuals. The Group's diverse portfolio spans various industries, including banking & finance, food & beverage, hospitality, real estate, education, consumer electronics, cement, hydro power, telecommunication and Infrastructure. With a notable presence in the financial services sector, CG is a significant player in Nepal, where Nabil Bank, of which CG is the largest shareholder, is listed as the largest private bank on the Nepalese Stock Exchange.

Mr. Mukherjee brings a distinguished career in banking amassing over 42 years of experience with a focus on Risk, Audit and IT. Holding a Master of Science (MSc) in Physics from Banaras Hindu University India, he has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship in Banking and Finance from the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance India. He currently serves as a Director of Nabil Bank Limited Nepal, an Independent Director for Shivalik Small Finance Bank India and Dilip Buildcon Limited India, Mr. Mukherjee also acts as a Consultant to the Asian Development Bank.

His extensive professional history includes roles such as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of IFCI Limited India, Executive Director of Central Bank of India, and General Manager overseeing the Risk Management and Technology Management Departments at Indian Bank in Chennai India. Mr. Mukherjee has held leadership positions on various boards, including Chairman roles for entities such as Management Development Institute, Institute of Leadership Development, IFCI Factors Limited, IFCI Infrastructure Development Limited, Tourism Finance Corporation of India Limited, IFCI Financial Services Limited, IFCI Venture Capital Funds Limited and Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited.  He was also a member of the Governing Body of Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India.

Mr. Sanjay Pokhrel is a seasoned CFA and Chartered Accountant specializing in Investment Management, Mergers & Acquisitions and Asset Management, he currently serves as the Head of Mergers & Acquisitions at CG in Dubai. In this role he leads investment processes, co-leads fundraising initiatives, oversees asset management functions, directs venture capital investments and monitors the secondary market investment portfolio. His diverse experience extends to leading ventures such as Nepal Social Business, CG Pay, and CG's recently launched FTTX business. Prior to joining CG, Mr. Pokhrel served as an Investment Officer at One to Watch Nepal Pvt. Ltd., an impact investment management company focused on early-stage Nepalese businesses.

UB Finance Company Limited (UBF or Company), a subsidiary of Union Bank of Colombo PLC would be the latest addition to the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) as it plans to carry out an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of 55Mn ordinary voting shares at LKR 1/- per share. The IPO is scheduled to open on 20th July 2023 and is a prime opportunity to invest in a Licensed Finance Company (LFC) backed by a Licensed Commercial Bank.

The Company is set to debut on the Diri Savi Board of the CSE subject to compliance with the CSE Listing rules and will be one of the first IPOs post announcing of the local debt restructuring framework. The issue will be managed by NDB Investment Bank Limited (NDBIB). The Company embarked on the listing process in compliance with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) requirement for all LFCs to be listed on the CSE.

In 2021, UBF successfully raised LKR 1.99Bn via a rights issue to strengthen the Company’s Balance Sheet and meet the revised capital thresholds set out by the CBSL.  The Company has a high capitalisation ratio with an unimpaired core capital of LKR 2.54Bn and a Tier 1 Capital Adequacy Ratio and Total Capital Adequacy Ratio of 31.07% and 31.07% respectively as at 31st March 2023 comfortably exceeding CBSL thresholds.

The Company has established itself as a leading LFC in the financial services space since its acquisition in 2011 by Union Bank of Colombo PLC together with its strategic investment partner ShoreCap II Limited (a US-based social impact fund).

UBF specializes in asset-backed financing for SMEs, successfully catering to its customers’ diverse needs with an extensive range of financial products and services, including fixed deposits, savings, leasing, loans, mortgages, easy drafts, real estate, gold loan solutions etc. The Company’s contribution towards serving the non-banked space of the economy is notably influenced by the social impact mindset of UBF’s second largest shareholder, ShoreCap II Limited.

Fitch Ratings recently assigned UBF a first time National Long-Term Rating of ‘BB (lka)’ (RWN).

Drawing from the corporate governance practices and financial strength of its two major shareholders, the Company operates on the basis of integrity and customer empowerment, creating new opportunities and delivering unique customer experiences through its 17 branches and multiple customer - dealer touch points across the island. In line with the financial and economic restructuring of Sri Lanka, UBF remains committed to its vision of being “A Preferred Financial Services Provider” fostering growth for SMEs and contributing to the economic development of the country. 

UB Finance, a subsidiary of Union Bank of Colombo PLC, has announced the appointment of Mr. Atul Malik as the new Chairman with effect from 03rd June 2021. Mr. Malik succeeds Mr. Alexis Lovell MBE who stepped down from his position as Chairman of UB Finance, having served a term of 9 years. The Company also announced the appointments of Mr. Michael J O'Hanlon and Mr. Moahan Balendra as Non Executive Directors and Mr. Chandrakumar Ramachandra, who has served on the Board for 7 years, as the Senior Director.

The newly appointed Chairman together with the new Members of the Board bring a wealth of experience and background to UB Finance. Their collective expertise will help the Company on its upward trajectory and continue to enhance value for its clients and position the organization for long-term growth and profitability.

Mr. Atul Malik, who currently functions as a Senior Advisor to TPG for their financial services portfolio, is a Senior Financial Services Executive with extensive experience and a successful track record in establishing, expanding and managing scale businesses across Asian developed and emerging markets. Prior to joining TPG in 2017, he served as advisor to General Atlantic, CEO of Maritime Bank Vietnam and a Senior Advisor to Asia Capital & Advisors, a boutique private equity firm. Mr. Malik also serves as the Chairman of Union Bank since October 2017.

Mr. Michael J O'Hanlon is a Senior Advisor to TPG focusing on its financial institution investments. He currently is the Chairman of the Board of Roosevelt Management Company, LLC, an asset manager, and the Chairman of the Board of Rushmore Loan Management Services, LLC, a residential mortgage loan originator and servicer. He has served on the boards of other TPG portfolio companies including Shenzhen Development Bank, Korea First Bank and Bank Thai. Mr. O'Hanlon also serves as a Non Executive Director on the Board of Union Bank.

Mr. Chandrakumar Ramachandra is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL). He has served as a Member of the Boards of Sathosa Retail Ltd., Uni Walker Packaging Ltd and several Capital Reach Group Companies. Mr. Ramachandra was previously the Chairman of Asia Asset Finance PLC and the Competent Authority of Hotel Developers PLC, the owning company of the Colombo Hilton. He is presently the Chairman of N. Vaitilingam & Co. (Pvt.) Ltd.

Mr. Moahan Balendra was appointed as an Alternate Director to Lisa Gayle Thomas in 2018 and will now serve on the Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director. He is an Attorney at Law, Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and a Justice of the Peace. He counts extensive work experience in both Sri Lanka and the UK. He currently heads the law firm Sinnadurai Sundaralingam & Balendra, which was established in the early 1960s. He also serves as a consultant to many multinational companies, indigenous companies and individuals. His area of expertise is Constitutional and other landmark litigation, Commercial and Corporate law and inward investment. He also serves on the Boards of a number of other Companies.

The appointment of the new chairman and the new Directors will complement and further boost the power packed Board, which now consists of Mr. Atul Malik (Chairman), Mr. Chandrakumar Ramachandra (Senior Director), Mr. Michael J O'Hanlon, Mr. Indrajit Wickramasinghe, Ms. Lisa Thomas, Mr. Moahan Balendra and Mr. Ransith Karunaratne (Chief Executive Officer).

Over the past eight years UB Finance has acquired a strong lending and deposit client base and has a reputation for strength and stability within the financial services sector. The Company has also built strong connections with local communities and other stakeholders through a well distributed network across the Country.

As a Union Bank Company, UB Finance leverages on the expertise of Group resources for guidance in business operations, treasury management, risk management and good governance and offers its customers the unique business proposition of “the versatility of a finance company backed by the strength of a Bank”.

UB Finance Co. Ltd. a subsidiary of Union Bank of Colombo PLC successfully concluded a Rights Issue to raise approx. LKR 2 Billion to strengthen the Company’s Balance Sheet and meet the revised capital thresholds set out by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

The Core Capital of the Company is now LKR 2.67 Billion while the Tier 1 Capital Adequacy Ratio and Total Capital Adequacy Ratio is 30.12% and 30.27% respectively making UB Finance one of the highest capitalized Finance Companies in the industry.

The Company has recorded significant progress since its acquisition by Union Bank of Colombo PLC in 2011 and has established itself as a Premier Financial Services Provider in the Island. The Management is optimistic about the future and will utilize the new capital to propel the Company into its next phase of growth.

ICRA Lanka Limited a group company of Moody’s Investment Service reaffirmed the UB Finance Co. Ltd. issuer rating of SL (BB) with a negative outlook. The Company is looking at a significant capital infusion by a multinational investor and is confident in further strengthening its position going forward.

Over the past eight years UB Finance has acquired a strong lending and deposit client base and has a reputation for strength and stability within the financial services sector. The Company has also built strong connections with local communities and other stakeholders through a well distributed network across the Country.

As a Union Bank Company, UB Finance leverages on the expertise of Group resources for guidance in business operations, treasury management, risk management and good governance and offers its customers the unique business proposition of “the versatility of a finance company backed by the strength of a Bank”.

Ransith Karunaratne weighs the pros and cons of the financial services industry Having enjoyed consistent year on year growth for almost a decade, the financial services industry slowed down considerably in 2018 and 2019. And as Ransith Karunaratne states, “there is a direct correlation between the macroeconomy and financial services, and the slowdown in economic activity has adversely impacted the industry.” MORE >>

UB FINANCE Launches Factoring & Working Capital Solutions.

UB Finance Company limited, a subsidiary of Union Bank of Colombo PLC backed by their US based strategic investment partner ShowCap II, has expanded its trade-related portfolio by offering Factoring and Working Capital Solutions to small and medium enterprises. MORE >>

Latest acquisition of Sri Lanka's premier financial institution, Union Bank of Colombo PLC along with its international strategic investment partner Shore Cap II Ltd (USA) formed UB Finance Company Ltd (UBF) in the end of the year 2011.

At UBF we offer our clients with comprehensive financial solutions such as Leasing, Higher Purchase, Loans, Fixed Deposits, Savings, Real Estate and Factoring.  Being registered under the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, UBF is the first finance institute to be backed by a commercial bank in the private sector, thus having the stability of a bank and flexibility of a finance company. MORE >>

UB FINANCE Endeavours to Deliver a Unique Proposition of Economic and Social Value

UB Finance Co, which was formed with the acquisition of The Finance & Guarantee Co Ltd by Sri Lanka’s premier financial institution, Union Bank of Colombo PLC and its international strategic investment partner, ShoreCap II Ltd. has become the latest entrant to the world of finance in Sri Lanka.

This significant move with a capital infusion of Rs 1.1 billion has established UB Finance as the only finance company to be backed by a commercial bank in the private sector in Sri Lanka highlighting a positive outlook for all stakeholders of the company in delivering a sustainable and mutually benefitting partnership. MORE >>