Banco de Oro wishes to announce that it has been in receipt today of an official notice of  approval  from the Securities and Exchange Commission of the merger of Banco de Oro Universal  Bank  and  Equitable  PCI  Bank  with  BDO as the surviving entity. Likewise approved  were  the change in name to Banco de Oro-EPCI, Inc. as well as an increase in the  authorized  capital  stock of BDO to P65 billion, divided into P5.5 billion common shares  and  P1  billion  preferred  shares,  all  with  a  par value of P10 per share. According  to  the  official  SEC notice, all foregoing approvals are to take effect on Thursday, May 31.

BDO's annual stockholders meeting, scheduled on July 27, and record date, set for June 15, will now become the annual stockholders meeting and record dateof the merged institution.