Scotiabank strengthens its balance sheet

Article Excerpt

BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA $52 (Toronto symbol BNS; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 1.1 billion; Market cap: $57.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.1; Dividend yield: 4.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.scotiabank.com) is raising $1.7 billion by selling up to 33 million common shares for $50.25 each. The bank is also thinking about selling Scotia Plaza, its 68-storey office tower in downtown Toronto. Bank of Nova Scotia could get up to $1 billion for this building. The cash from these sales will help Bank of Nova Scotia comply with new international regulations that require banks to maintain more capital to cover potential loan losses. A stronger balance sheet will also help the bank pursue more acquisitions, particularly in fast-growing markets in Asia and Latin America. Bank of Nova Scotia is a buy. buy…