By Alexandra Alper
ACAPULCO, April 26 (Reuters) - The head of Grupo FinancieroBanorte, Mexico's largest domestically owned bank, on Fridaypushed back against speculation of a capital raise, but left thedoor open to possible future pension fund acquisitions.
"There is no certainty of anything right now," AlejandroValenzuela, chief executive of Banorte, told Reuters, when askedwhether the company was planning a $2 billion public offering.
A media report earlier this month had said Banorte was planning a $2 billion offering, while localpress reports had discussed the possibility of an acquisition ofHSBC's Mexican subsidiary.
"We have been studying different avenues to strengthen thecapacity to grow," Valenzuela said, speaking on the sidelines ofa banking convention in Acapulco.
Banorte, Mexico's fourth-largest bank by assets, announced a27 percent increase in first-quarter profit earlier this week.
The bank late last year bought a local pension fund owned bySpain's Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. in a deal valued at$1.6 billion.
Valenzuela on Friday left the door open for further pensionfund acquisitions.
"If an opportunity presents itself and we have the capacityto manage it, why not," he said, while adding, "Right now Idon't see anything on the horizon."