* Bank is undertaking bi-annual base redeterminations
* CEO says cuts "somewhere in ballpark" of 15-20 pct
* CEO says to pursue acquisitions selectively
* Credit lines to oil firms will be tightened - CEO
(Recasts with more CEO comments on oil firms' borrowing lines,
consolidation in oil sector)
By Matt Scuffham
CALGARY, April 12 (Reuters) - Bank of Nova Scotia BNS.TO ,
Canada's third largest bank by market value, said that credit
lines to oil firms will be tightened to reflect lower oil
prices, a move which could make it tougher for some to survive.
Energy companies across Canada and the United States are
meeting with their banks to review existing loans and determine
how much debt they can continue to hold as part of a bi-annual
process.
Scotiabank has the highest exposure to the oil and gas
sector of any major Canadian bank, equivalent to 3.6 percent of
its total loan book, and said in March that it had increased
provisions for bad loans to oil and gas firms.
"There will be a cut in borrowing bases," Chief Executive
Brian Porter told reporters after the bank's annual meeting on
Tuesday.
Rival Royal Bank of Canada RY.TO said last week that it
had so far imposed a 15-20 percent reduction in borrowing bases
having completed redeterminations for about half of its clients'
redeterminations.
Asked by Reuters if Scotiabank's energy clients would face
similar cuts, Porter said: "We're going through that with our
clients now. I don't think there's any surprise to them but the
number you throw out is somewhere in the ballpark we think it
would end up."
Porter said he expects to see more consolidation in the oil
sector. "You will see increased energy M&A and I think you're
going to see increased issuance throughout the sector," he told
reporters, referring to companies looking to raise funds through
issuing equity or debt.
Porter also said that Scotiabank had the financial muscle to
make acquisitions to supplement organic growth if opportunities
arise that fit its strategic objectives.
Scotiabank, which already has the biggest international
footprint among Canada's major banks, has indicated it would
like to expand its presence in Latin America.
"We are in a very good position to grow the bank
organically, and we have the balance sheet strength to
selectively pursue acquisitions that are on strategy and within
our footprint," Porter told the annual meeting.
Scotiabank's international operations contributed a record
C$505 million to net income in the first quarter.
Porter said he expected the bank's international operations
to account for half the bank's net income in time compared with
44 percent at present.
Porter said he expects that less than 10 percent of
financial transactions will occur in its branch network by 2020,
with more than one-half of its products being sold through
digital channels.
(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe, Bernard Orr)