The Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is extending for the third time Export and Industry Bank’s (Exportbank) authority to raise P3.3 billion in fresh capital.

BSP documents show that Exportbank has until October 30 to issue the tier1 notes. The last authority expired on September 30, which was an extension of the previous deadline of July 31.

Exportbank and its capital infusion would ideally be timed with any buy-out plans, according to banking sources.

The same sources said two of three interested buyers “the Yuchengcos Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. and Security Bank Corp. have backed out leaving only Banco de Oro Unibank of the SM Group as prospective buyer.

Exportbank, which acquired Urban Bank in 2001, is owned by Hong Kong-based Lippo Group through Lippo China Resources Ltd., Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich AG (RZB Group), American Orient Capital Partners and local firm Yao Group of Ambassador Alfredo Macam Yao.

The Lippo Group owns 37 percent of the bank. San Miguel Corp.’s Bank of Commerce has a small block of six percent.

BDO, the country’s biggest with consolidated resources of P793.47 billion has been acquiring banks since the early 2000.