Ayala Group Treasury Council at 5

The Ayala Group Treasury Council with Ayala President and CEO Bong Consing and CFO Albert de Larrazabal

The council’s exchange of best practices and experiences continue to support the efforts of the Ayala Group and help professional growth in the areas of finance and treasury.

LITO BIACORA
AC Treasurer

The Ayala Group Treasury Council, comprising finance and treasury executives, celebrated its 5th founding anniversary on December 7. The council looked back on its accomplishments over the years and discussed updates on the Ayala Group’s sustainable finance initiatives as well as upcoming activities in 2024.

In his opening remarks, Ayala Chief HR Officer Paco Romero Milán said: “Our lifeblood has always been our people. Yes, numbers are important, but we never forget that the numbers are only abstract representations of what truly matters to us: our people.”

Ayala President and CEO Bong Consing likewise noted: “One of the Ayala Group’s competitive advantages is the exemplary quality of its finance and treasury professionals. It is reflected in the group’s balance sheet, treasury operations, and treasury processes, ability to access credit, and in the overall liquidity and solvency of the companies within the group.”

The council conducts regular economic and financial markets briefings and Ayala business units provide finance and treasury updates during the Ayala Group CFO and treasurers’ meetings.

Ayala CFO Albert de Larrazabal acknowledged that the treasury and finance teams across the business units “provided a core resource that made a positive contribution to the Ayala Group’s 2023 financial performance” and “we should celebrate the role that you have played in enabling that outcome.”

At present, the conglomerate has a total of P250.3 billion in outstanding bonds, which represents18.9 percent of the total outstanding bonds listed in the Philippine Dealing and Exchange (PDEx). It also has a total of P117.8 billion outstanding ESG-labeled bonds to date.

In line with Ayala’s net zero commitment, the council conducted the first Ayala Group Sustainable Finance Workshop in August, facilitated by the World Bank - International Finance Corporation (IFC) and UBS. BPI President and CEO TG Limcaoco provided leadership insights during the event, which was attended by more than 80 representatives from Ayala, ACEN, ALI, BPI, Globe, AC Health, AC Logistics, AC Infrastructure, AC Industrials, and Ayala Foundation.