(Created date: 10-Oct-2011)

Embraced by the parental strength of the Bank of Ceylon, MBSL Bank as an incumbent player has projected immense comfort cum stability to its clientele, while blending with better industry practices.

Focusing on uplifting the business environment of the country, with strengthened internal systems and procedures,the bank is ready to take advantage of the improved economic climate and provides a wide array of corporate finance activities such as,

Project Financing, for startup companies, for business expansions and for business acquisitions catering to all sectors in the economy,Restructuring of companies where as a key corporate finance activity , the bank has been involved in many restructuring assignments arising from companies with high borrowings/financial crisis (debt restructuring),corporate restructuring, privatization and mergers/acquisition.

Seasoned with a long navigation of industry practice, another area of expertise of the bank is their corporate advisory services that stands out today with an unparallel record of credentials of trust and integrity. With a strong composite of specialists with experience in an array of industry and technical dynamics , the bank offers services in buy and sell financial activities during all phrases of a business transaction such as pre deal evaluations, that involves bidding strategies, transaction structures, valuation and negotiation processes, financial due diligence that include assessing key issues facing the business, primary assumptions of the deal drivers and value creation of the acquisition and sell side assistance, that provides thorough planning and preparation from initiation through post closing.

The Trade Finance Unit of the Bank is focused to assist in services such as Letters of Credit for import requirements of capital equipment, plant and machinery and raw materials and is structured to suit individual business needs that will finance both short and long term loans as well as bill and cheque discounting services.

MBSL Bank has also been involved in Capital Market activities since inception and offers a range of services such as: Listing / Initial Public Offering (IPO) of equity and debt, private placements, margin trading and portfolio management. MBSL Bank has acted as Managers to the Issue for several IPOs successfully and is a registered sponsor with the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and sponsors its client’s applications to the CSE.

The success story of the Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka Plc begins with its birth in 1980 as a Management Consultancy Division of the Bank of Ceylon. Two years later in 1982 it was incorporated as a public limited liability company. 1989 to 1992 were eventful years for MBSL as Lanka Securities (Private) Limited (LSL) was incorporated as an associate company of MBSL. It also acquired 80% of LMG Forex Limited to form M.B. Financial Services Ltd, and introduced a commercial paper for the first time in Sri Lanka. The following year MBSL obtained listing at the Colombo Stock Exchange and acquired joint ownership (with BOC) of the Colombo Credit Limited (CCL) to service the secondary financial market, catered to by finance companies.