OCBC Remains Singapore's Best-Capitalized Bank; Acquisitions Remain a Priority

Oversea-Chinese Banking is a long-established bank and one of the three largest banks in Singapore. It has expanded in the past two decades through acquisitions and we think it could do further mergers and acquisitions in Asia in coming years in banking, insurance, or wealth management. OCBC’s private-bank division, Bank of Singapore, was established by the acquisition of ING’s private bank when ING exited the Asia region following the global financial crisis. The operation's scale was increased by bolting on Barclays' wealth-management arm in Singapore and Hong Kong and, later, National Australia Bank's wealth-management business. OCBC's bancassurance business was built on the gradual acquisition of Singapore-based insurer Great Eastern. In Indonesia, the bank raised its stake in PT Bank NISP to 85% from 23%, and bought Wing Hang Bank in Hong Kong in 2014 as a platform to expand its presence in Greater China, on top of its 20% stake in affiliate Bank of Ningbo purchased in 2006.