Ahli United Bank B.S.C. Annual Financial Report (2819P)

TIDM16PU

RNS Number : 2819P

Ahli United Bank B.S.C.

08 February 2023

Press Release

AHLI UNITED BANK B.S.C. REPORTS AN INCREASE IN NET PROFIT TO

US$ 203.9 MILLION ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE BANK FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

Release Date : 2 February 2023

Ahli United Bank B.S.C. (AUB) reported a record net profit attributable to its equity shareholders of US$ 203.9 million for Q4/2022, which represents a 30.2% increase over the Q4/2021 reported net profit of US$ 156.6 million. The Q4/2022 net profit is the highest quarterly profit achieved by the bank since its establishment in 2000. It was primarily driven by higher operating income and lower provision charges given AUB's conservative forward looking provisioning measures undertaken in the preceding quarter.

The Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share increased to US 1.6 cents in Q4/2022 versus US 1.2 cents in Q4/2021. Comprehensive income attributable to the owners of the bank for Q4/2022 was at US$ 113.5 million (Q4/2021: US$ 147.5 million, -23.0%). The core operating performance during the quarter was strong with net interest income increasing to US$ 242.5 million in Q4/2022 (Q4/2021: US$ 227.6 million, +6.6%) and total operating income surging to US$ 341.4 million in Q4/2022 (Q4/2021: US$ 282.7 million, +20.7%).

It should be noted that AUB's financial results from Q4/2022 are consolidated into Kuwait Finance House K.S.C.P (KFH) as per the applicable international financial reporting standards, as the Effective Date for acquisition was 2 October 2022.

AUB reported a net profit attributable to its equity shareholders of US$ 546.1 million for the full year 2022 which represents a 10.1% decrease over the 2021 reported profit of US$ 607.2 million. This is entirely attributable to the higher exceptional precautionary non-recurring provision charge of US$160.2 million incurred during Q3/2022. Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share in 2022 is US 4.5 cents, as compared to US 5.1 cents in 2021. Total comprehensive income attributable to the owners of the bank for 2022 was US$ 261.2 million (2021: US$ 641.3 million, -59.3%). Net interest income for 2022 was US$ 909.1 million (2021: US$ 871.8 million, +4.3%) primarily achieved through an increase in interest earning assets. Total operating income for the 2022 was US$ 1,236.9 million (2021: US$ 1,108.9 million, +11.5%).

The Group's equity attributable to owners as at 31 December 2022 marginally decreased by 2.1% on a comparative basis to US$ 4.4 billion due to dividend distribution and forex revaluation changes (31 December 2021: US$ 4.5 billion). The AUB Group's total assets as at 31 December 2022 were US$ 41.6 billion (31 December 2021: US$ 41.9 billion, -0.8%). Return on Average Equity for 2022 was 12.3% (2021:14.7%) and Return on Average Assets stood at 1.4% for 2022 (2021: 1.6%).

It should be noted that without the precautionary non-recurring ECL 1 & 2 provision charge of US$ 160.2 million recorded in Q3/2022, Return on Average Equity adjusts to 15.4% and Return on Average Assets to 1.7%, above the comparative period in 2021, in line with AUB normal historic operating levels.

The Group improved its already solid asset quality in 2022 with a gross non- performing loan (Stage 3) ratio of 1.9% (31 December 2021: 2.4%), which represents one of the lowest NPL ratio ever achieved by AUB. The provision coverage ratio for Stage 3 loans was extremely conservative at 84.5% (31 December 2021: 83.1%) and is calculated on a cash provision basis excluding the value of the substantial additional non-cash (real estate and securities) legally assigned collaterals available against non-performing loans of US$ 491.2 million in value (31 December 2021: US$ 364.5 million in value). Stage 1 and Stage 2 ECL provisions for the non-impaired loans surged to 1.0% and 13.5% at 31 December 2022 as compared to 0.9% and 11.4% at 31 December 2021, which stand well above the regional banking sector averages, funded by the precautionary provisions recorded by the bank in Q3/2022.

The cost to income ratio for 2022 was at 29.7% (2021: 29.5%) reflecting AUB's continuing structured efforts to enhance operational efficiencies through the progressive roll-out of automation and digitization initiatives as part of the AUB Group's transformation plan and the gradual harvesting of its data initiatives.

The Board of Directors has recommended a distribution comprising of a cash dividend of US cents 2.5 per share, subject to AUB Annual General Assembly approval.

The AUB Deputy Chairman, Mohammad Fouad Al-Ghanim commented "Despite a challenging background of the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict, increasing inflationary pressures, slowdown in the global economy and overall market volatility, AUB achieved strong results in 2022 with its total operating income increasing by 11.5% proving once again the solidity and resilience of its multimarket business model as well as its prudent risk management approach. Excluding the non recurring additional precautionary provision charge of US$ 160.2 million taken in Q3/2022 from non-distributable pre-acquisition profits for KFH shareholders, the AUB Group achieved record financial results in 2022 with consolidated NPAT reaching to US$ 706.3 million, a 16.3% increase over the previous year NPAT and the second highest NPAT achieved in its history".

Mr. Al-Ghanim added: "During 2022, AUB successfully acquired Citibank's Consumer Banking business in Bahrain. The acquisition which included the retail banking, credit card, and unsecured lending businesses of Citibank Bahrain has provided critical mass to AUB in highly profitable retail and premium segments and has enabled AUB to significantly enhance its market share in the Bahrain credit card business. During the year, AUB has also successfully concluded a landmark US$ 1.1 billion Sustainable Murabaha Financing Facility, making it the first ever issuance of its type raised by a financial institution worldwide. The Sustainable Murabaha Financing Facility attracted very high demand from regional and international banking investors demonstrating and reinforcing AUB's credentials as a leading and innovative market player."

He concluded by stating that: "The KFH acquisition which was concluded in November 2022 is a key milestone in AUB's corporate evolution and a strong testament to AUB's excellent financial performance over the past 23 years and of the stellar value accretion achieved for its shareholders. The transaction valued AUB at US$ 10.7 billion which translated to an IRR of c.17.0% p.a. for AUB shareholders over the 23 year period since the bank's establishment. It also represents attractive exit P/E and P/BV multiples of 16.6x and 2.5x respectively. This transaction has laid the foundation for the creation of a leading Shari'a compliant bank in the regional and global banking space and should provide a very solid platform for achieving the aspirations of its combined shareholders."

About Ahli United Bank (AUB)

Ahli United Bank B.S.C (AUB) is a leading pan-regional financial services provider, incorporated in Bahrain in May 2000. It offers a full range of retail, commercial and private banking & wealth management services across the MENA region and the UK. AUB operates through its Bahrain Head Office and its subsidiaries in Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, and the UK as well as its associates in Oman and Libya; and a branch in the UAE (DIFC).

AUB has become a subsidiary of Kuwait Finance House K.S.C.P. since 2 October 2022.

AUB's excellent track record over the past 23 years has earned it a string of prestigious local and regional accolades over the years, including the "Best Bank in Middle East" award 8 times by the leading international publications such as The Banker, Euromoney and Global Finance.

Ends

The press release and full set of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022 are available on the Bahrain Bourse, Boursa Kuwait

and AUB websites.

www.ahliunited.com

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/2819P_1-2023-2-8.pdf

Trading Code Bahrain Bourse and Kuwait Boursa: AUB

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February 08, 2023 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)