BoC records Rs 6.4 b PAT

*Profit before tax crosses Rs 10 b mark

*Sound management of margins

Bank of Ceylon (BOC) has concluded its financial year 2010 reporting excellent results, increasing volume and improved margins in all its business lines achieving significant asset growth.

In transforming the bank to a new era of financial services, BoC launched a three year plan in 2010 with entirely new ambitious objectives, taking a fresh outlook of the prevailing economic optimism.

This entailed a relook of our business model, emphasizing on diversification, skills development, building a best in class ICT culture, in driving our national economic development, press release said.

The first year of the plan concluded with better than expected results.

Profit before tax (PBT) for the year crossed the Rs 10 billion mark, to Rs 10.1 billion - a 138.9 percent growth over the 2009.

This is the highest ever profit on record at BoC in its track record.

Profit after tax (PAT) at Rs 6.4 billion, is an increase of 106.4 percent over last year.

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.

With income of Rs 63.4 billion remaining almost on par with the previous year, the increase in the assets is a testimony to the lower interest rates regime in which BoC led the way.

Non interest income grew by 25.4 percent to Rs 11.1 billion while fee income earnings mainly from international trade activities increased to Rs 3.8 billion, a 99.3 percent 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 1.1 billion or a 58.3 percent 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 percent 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 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 percent thereby being very competitive with that of the market.

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.

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

Total assets increased by Rs 176.7 billion or 32.8 percent to Rs 715 billion. Bank’s loan book expanded by Rs 107 billion or 37.7 percent to Rs 390 billion, growing consistently throughout the year.

Private sector credit growth was Rs.60.7 billion, 33.2 percent increase over the last year to Rs 243.4 billion. Government and semi government loans increased by 50.4 percent to Rs 138.9 billion which includes Rs 2.5 billion in support of the paddy price stabilization 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 and 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.

BoC engaged in deposit mobilization campaigns throughout the country and developed long term deposit mobilizing products via BoC Vishrama, BOC Infinity and Smart Saver.

During the year, customer deposits increased by Rs 119.3 billion or 29.2 percent to Rs 528 billion. The deposit mix comprises demand deposits of 17.7 percent, savings at 36.0 percent and time deposits of 45.7 percent. 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 percent in 2010, Return on Average Equity (RoAE) improved significantly to 23.9 percent from 12.9 percent in 2009. The Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) stood at 28.6 percent.

Our reported Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of 12.7 percent will be further improved with the inclusion of the current year’s retained profit. This will be well above the regulatory minimum.

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 percent over 2009.

In the year 2010, all subsidiaries and associates recorded good performance. BoC Group presently consists of 12 subsidiaries and six 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 percent year on year growth. Total assets increased to Rs 730 billion, up 33.3 percent from 2009 of which the subsidiaries contributed Rs 15 billion. BoC earned Rs 222.7 million in dividends from its subsidiaries and associates.

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

“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 empower and upliftment of our local communities,” BOC General Manager B A C Fernando said.

“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,” Bank of Ceylon Chairman Dr Gamini Wickramasinghe, said.