Unicapital eyes bigger capital market role, wants more firms to take IPO route

The Unicapital Group, a financial services provider that offers investment banking and stock brokerage services, wants to help more firms raise funds through the capital markets while improving stakeholder education in investing, its management said.

In a statement, Unicapital pointed to its track record of underwriting public offerings, even at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In particular, the the firm highlighted initial public offerings (IPOs) such as that of Citicore Energy’s real estate investment trust (REIT) in 2022 — the largest renewable energy REIT IPO in the Philippines — as proof of the firm’s expertise in equity capital raising.

“We take pride in the ability of our core team to provide timely and tailor-fit recommendations,” Unicapital president and CEO Jaime Martirez said. 

“Beyond just numbers and figures, the members of the Unicapital Group’s team of experts and advisors are very much equipped with a strategic mindset and years of experience allowing us to craft and deliver innovative and effective solutions for our clients.”

Jaime Martirez

The Unicapital Group chief says the financial services firm is punching above its weight in the local capital markets.

Unicapital also served as co-underwriter of Alternergy’s P1.6-billion public offering last year. The firm also helped bring to market P3.7 billion in Eastwest Bank bonds (2020); PH Resorts Group’s P750-million follow-on offer (2020) and P600-million top-up placement (2021); the P12-billion Unionbank of the Philippines stock rights offering (2023); a P1.6-billion Philippine Business Bank placement and stock rights offering (2023); the P1.6-billion Alternergy Holdings Inc. IPO (2023); and support for the P1.6-billion Merrymart IPO (2020), and P14.7-billion DDMP REIT IPO (2021).

The company also participated in the P10-billion Unionbank of the Philippines stock rights offering and the P6-billion DoubleDragon Corp. bond issue earlier this year.

Martirez cited the firm’s “agile and innovative approach” as an independent entity in a sector largely dominated by foreign and bank-affiliated investment firms.

He said Unicapital also supports stakeholder education on stock investing and capital markets, promoting financial literacy as a means to strengthen the market's foundation.

Unicapital’s achievements have been recognized with awards such as the "Innovative Deal of the Year Philippines" by Asian Banking & Finance and the "Best Independent Financial Services Provider Philippines" by the World Economic Magazine.