BOC booms

State owned and industry giant Bank of Ceylon (BOC) yesterday announced its best ever performance in 2010 with assets and profits soaring despite top line remaining unchanged.

Results released also confirm that BOC in 2009 had under estimated its own potential and post-war rebound in the country as its pre-tax profit surpassed the Rs. 10 billion mark, a figure previously forecast to be realised only in 2012.

BOC had also surpassed several other performance targets set to be realised in 2011 or 2012 under its “One 10 Twelve” branded three year corporate plan (as featured in Daily FT in May 2010) announced in the 2009 Annual Report.

BOC’s income in 2010 amounted to Rs. 63.4 billion almost equal to 2009 figure. Profit before tax of Rs. 10.1 billion was higher by 139% over 2009 whilst after-tax profit improved by 106% to Rs. 6.4 billion.

“The main contributors to the profit growth are sound management of margins, volume growth in core banking and diversification of revenue into non-interest income, while offering the lowest interest rates to boost credit growth of the country. This profit was derived after several interest rate reductions to induce credit growth in the country and offering significant assistance in support of various government initiatives,” BOC said in a statement. It noted the increase in the assets (up by Rs. 176.7 b or 33% to Rs. 715 b) was a testimony to the lower interest rates regime in which BOC led the way.  

“We have now laid a platform for transforming the bank to re-shape the financial services industry outlook. I am supremely confident that BOC is well prepared to take the country forward towards its goal of the emerging Wonder of Asia,” BOC Chairman Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe said.

“On this note of excellent all round results, the bank approaches 2011 with greater strength and vitality to fully leverage its distribution reach in engaging all communities in the economic development process.

Key to this will be our focus on sustainable development through financial empowerment and upliftment of our local communities,” BOC General Manager B.A.C. Fernando added.

BOC’s non interest income grew by 25.4% to Rs 11.1 billion while fee income earnings mainly from international trade activities increased to Rs 3.8 billion, a 99.3% increase. The bank continues to remain the market leader in import and export transaction banking. During the year, falling interest rates on fixed rate instruments together with good performance at the Colombo Stock Exchange, contributed to increase the capital gain of the Bank to Rs 3.1 billion, an increase of Rs 1.1billion or a 58.3% growth over last year. BOCs proactive foreign currency management prevented the bank from exchange losses that would otherwise have been incurred in a Rupee appreciating environment. Due to this, the exchange income came under pressure to record lower gains.

BOC could well sustain its current operating expenditure levels and yet increase its business volumes leveraging its economies of scale. Staff costs remained at the same level of 2009. The premises related expenses increased by 12.5% to Rs 2,803 million mainly due to the cost incurred in branch expansion in the north and east.

Notwithstanding the increase in the cost, the Bank said it will further invest in branch expansion to penetrate banking services to the grass roots in GDP creation. Increase in the other operating expenses include marketing spend on  new products and services  and write-offs  amounting to Rs. 134 million in the branches adversely  affected by the last phase of the conflict. This operational write-off was mainly to streamline and re-engage the affected business community, putting them back on their feet. BOC improved its operating efficiency by reducing the cost to income ratio to 53.7 % thereby being very competitive with that of the market.

During the year, customer deposits increased by Rs. 119.3 billion or 29.2% to Rs. 528 billion.  The deposit mix comprises demand deposits of 17.7%, savings at 36.0% and time deposits of 45.7%. The bank also raised USD 306.5 million in the international market and debentures of Rs. 21.7 billion in the domestic market to fund the asset growth.  The bank continuously explores opportunities to diversify the funding base and improve its capital adequacy. Net interest margin of the bank was greatly influenced by the Bank’s ability to source funds at competitive prices.     

Key Indicators such as Return on Average Assets (RoAA) doubled to 1.6 % in 2010, Return on Average Equity (RoAE) improved significantly to 23.9 % from 12.9% in 2009. The Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) stood at 28.6 %.  BOC’s reported Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of 12.7 % will be further improved with the inclusion of the current year’s retained profit. This will be well above the regulatory minimum.  

The Bank has added Rs. 10.6 billion as value to the Government in the form of tax, VAT and dividend. This is an increase of 94.2 % over 2009.

BOC said in transforming the bank to a new era of financial services, it launched a 3 year plan in 2010 with an entirely new ambitious objectives, taking a fresh outlook of the prevailing economic optimism. This entailed a relook of our business model, emphasising on diversification, skills development, building a best in class ICT culture, in driving our national economic development.  The first year of the plan concluded with better than expected results.

“Firmly entrenched as Sri Lanka’s foremost financial organisation through its seven decades of existence, the Bank is fully geared to add its might in developing the country towards another financial hub in Asia,” BOC added.

Group’s financial performance

In the year 2010, all our subsidiaries and associates recorded good performance. BOC Group presently consists of 12 subsidiaries and 6 associate companies.  One subsidiary namely Bank of Ceylon UK Ltd is operating in the United Kingdom under the supervision of UK Financial Services Authority. The main subsidiary, Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka (MBSL) has performed well in growth and profitability.  Ceylease Financial Services Limited (CFSL) which was suffering from credit quality, turned around to be profitable. Accordingly group profit increased to Rs 10.8 billion recording a 135.7% year on year growth. Total assets increased to Rs.730 billion, up 33.3% from 2009 of which the subsidiaries contributed Rs.15 billion. BOC earned Rs. 222.7million in dividends from its subsidiaries and associates.

During the year MBSL initiated a programme to merge with CFSL and Merchant Credit of Sri Lanka Limited (MCSL) and it is in the regulatory approval stage.         

BOC retains the largest asset base in Sri Lanka’s Banking sector. Fitch Ratings Lanka Ltd has revised BoC’s outlook to positive from stable and simultaneously affirmed its National Long Term rating at AA (lka), reflecting the Bank’s strong financial profile supported by sound capital base, profitability and asset quality.

Bank offers a broad range of services that consist of commercial banking, trade finance, development financing, mortgage financing, leasing, investment banking, Islamic banking, corporate financing, dealing in Government securities, pawn broking, credit card, off-shore banking, foreign currency operations and other financial services. BOC operates with 307 domestic branches, 2 overseas branches 218 representative offices and 352 ATMs.  BOC as a group is also into fund management, stock broking, insurance, travel & leisure and property development.

BoC, for the second consecutive year wins the prestigious Trade Finance Award which recognises the bank as the best Sri Lankan Trade Bank for 2010, which was conducted by Trade Finance, the Global Magazine for exports and commodity finance.

 

BOC lending up by Rs. 107 b in 2010

* Credit to private sector up Rs. 60.7 b or 33% to Rs. 243 b

* Government and semi government loans rose by 50.4% to Rs 138.9 b

Bank of Ceylon said its loan book in 2010 expanded by Rs. 107 billion or 37.7% to Rs. 390 billion, growing consistently throughout the year.

Private sector credit growth was Rs.60.7 billion, 33.2% increase over the last year to Rs. 243.4 billion. Government and semi government loans increased by 50.4% to Rs. 138.9 billion which includes Rs. 2 .5 billion in support of the paddy price stabilisation strategy. Of  the private sector credit growth, Rs. 38.8 billion accounts for consumption, Rs. 9.3 billion is attributed to housing and construction, Rs. 3.5 billion in Agriculture & Fisheries, Rs. 3.2 billion in manufacturing, with Import-Export loans taking Rs. 2.7 billion. BOC does not grant credit for speculative share trading purposes.

Non Performing Loans reduced to Rs. 12.6 billion from 15.5 billion a year earlier recording an impressive NPL ratio of 3.3% from 5.6% in 2009. BOC said this achievement must be read in the context of impressive loan growth.                                                    

“Special emphasis on recovery at the beginning of the year, coupled with the transformation of sound risk management practices, substantially improved the assets quality of the Bank,” the statement added.