Bahrain-based Arab Banking Corporation (ABC) announced today (April 30) that its consolidated Group net profit for the first quarter (Q1) of 2015 was $52 million, compared to profit of $71 million reported last year.

The quarter witnessed significant currency movements with the US dollar strengthening against domestic currencies of most geographies in which ABC operates, a bank statement said.

In particular, Brazilian Real and Algerian Dinar weakened by over 20 per cent during the quarter compared to the same period in the previous year. These adverse movements were further compounded by exceptionally volatile trading conditions which negatively impacted ABC’s Treasury operations, the statement noted.

More positively, core business volumes continued to grow during the quarter, in spite of challenging market conditions arising from sustained lower oil prices as well as the economic and political climate in a number of key markets, according to the statement.

The overall combination of these factors resulted in total operating income of $168 million compared to $226 million reported in the first quarter of last year. Operating expenses at $104 million were marginally higher ($103 million Q1 2014), with some cost investment on strategic initiatives to support business growth being offset by weaker domestic currencies.

Net impairment provisions of $9 million, were slightly above the previous year’s US$8 million indicating sustained asset quality as well as robust management. Tax for the quarter was a credit of $12 million against a charge of $29 million in 2014, benefiting from the tax treatment of currency movements in subsidiaries.

ABC Group’s total assets stood at $28.6 billion at the end of the first quarter compared to $29.4 billion at 2014 year-end, also affected by translation to the stronger US dollar, although asset volumes grew in domestic currency terms. The ratio of NPLs (non-performing loans) to gross loans at 2.7 per cent remains healthy (2.4 per cent at year-end 2014).

Deposits decreased by $0.7 billion during the quarter to reach $18.9 billion again impacted by currency translation. Liquidity continues to be at comfortable levels with liquid assets to deposits ratio increasing to 70 per cent compared to 65 per cent at year-end 2014.

Shareholders’ equity at March 31 stood at $3,790 million after the distribution of 5 per cent dividend to the shareholders and after foreign exchange movements on investments in subsidiaries.

ABC Group’s consolidated total capital adequacy ratio (CAR) continued to remain strong at 20.9 per cent, comprising predominantly Tier 1 at 17.5 per cent. The total CAR, calculated in accordance with the Central Bank of Bahrain’s newly introduced Basel 3 equivalent rules, was well above the regulatory minimum of 12.5 per cent.

ABC's chairman Saddek ElKaber said: “The challenges posed during the quarter, in particular by the currency markets in some of ABC’s key countries have clearly affected the results. However, I am confident that ABC Group will successfully face such challenges with continued resilience, as has been repeatedly demonstrated in the past.”

ABC is a leading player in the region’s banking industry and provides innovative wholesale financial products and services that include corporate banking, trade finance, project and structured finance, syndications, treasury products and Islamic banking. It also provides retail banking services through its network of retail banks in Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria. – TradeArabia News Service