Scotiabank Adds to its Global Lead

Article Excerpt

BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA $52 (Toronto symbol BNS; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 988.0 million; Market cap: $51.4 billion; SI Rating: Above average) has the biggest international exposure of Canada’s five big banks. It now gets 30% of its profits from operations outside of Canada, primarily in Latin America and Asia. The bank tends to use acquisitions to expand its overseas operations, which is less risky than starting up new businesses from scratch. For example, it has agreed to buy 79% of Banco del Desarrollo, Chile’s seventh-largest bank. It plans to launch a takeover offer for the remaining 21% of the shares, which will bring the total purchase price to about $1.0 billion U.S. That’s roughly equal to the $1.03 billion (Canadian) or $1.02 a share it earned in the three months ended July 31, 2007. Bank of Nova Scotia has operated in Chile since 1990, which helps cut the risk of this purchase. The new assets should add $0.05…