BNS exits two countries

Article Excerpt

BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA $71.16 (Toronto symbol BNS; Shares outstanding: 1.2 billion; Market cap: $85.6 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 4.9%; www.scotiabank.com) has agreed to sell its operations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to OFG Bancorp (New York symbol OFG). Those operations consist of $2.5 billion U.S. in net loans, $3.2 billion U.S. in deposits, 21 branches, 225 ATMs, and 1,000 employees. The bank will record a net loss of $300 million and $360 million (Canadian) on the sale. With the OFG sale, the bank has now substantially completed its plan to exit 19 countries so it can focus on four key Latin American markets—Peru, Chile, Mexico and Colombia. Those four markets have favourable demographics: most of the population is under 30 years old; the middle class is growing; and their economies are expanding. Those factors should spur demand for loans and other banking services. Bank of Nova Scotia is a buy. buy…