GFH Financial Group (GFH) has announced a net profit attributable to shareholders of $103.44 million for the first nine months of the year ended September 30, 2018, an 18.6% increase from $87.23 million in the first nine months of 2017. 

 

The increase reflected continued growth and stronger contributions from the GFH’s core investment banking business and other related investment income. 

 

The group reported a consolidated net profit of $104.66 million for the nine-month period, an increase of 15% from $91.04 million for the prior-year period, said a company statement. 

 

For the third quarter of 2018, net profit attributable to shareholders increased 23.3% to $30.94 million from $25.09 million for the comparable period in 2017. Consolidated net profit for the third quarter of 2018 was $31.26 million from $25.52 million in the prior-year period, an increase of 22.5%. 

 

Earnings per share for the first nine months of 2018 was US cents 2.91 compared to US cents 3.55 in the prior-year period. Earnings per share for the third quarter of 2018 was US cents 0.87 compared to US cents 1.04 during the comparable period in 2017.   

 

During the nine months of 2018, the group’s total consolidated revenues grew 13.2% to $184.62 million as compared to $163.16 million in the first nine months of 2017, primarily from revenues generated from its investment banking business. Consolidated revenues for the third quarter of 2018 was $64.42 million compared to $52.18 million in the third quarter of 2017, an increase of 23.5%. 

 

GFH’s profit before impairment allowance increased 23.8% for the first nine months of the year to $110.58 million versus $89.32 million in the prior-year period. GFH profit before impairment allowance for the third quarter of 2018 increased by 26.7% to $33.98 million from $26.81 million in the comparable-year period. 

 

Total operating expenses for the first nine months of 2018 were $74.04 million, an increase of 0.3% from $73.84 million in the prior-year period. Total operating expenses for the third quarter were $30.44 million versus $25.37 million in the third quarter of 2017, an increase of 20%.

 

Equity attributable to shareholders was $1.09 billion for the first nine months of 2018 compared to $1.13 billion for the prior year period, a decrease of 3.5%. The total assets of the group increased 11% to $4.43 billion for the first nine months of 2018 from $3.99 billion for the prior-year period.

 

Jassim Alseddiqi, chairman of GFH Financial Group, said: “We’re pleased with the group’s strong performance and profits for the first nine months of 2018. In line with its strategy, GFH continues to make improvements to the top and bottom line enabling us to deliver strong value and returns for our shareholders and investors quarter after quarter. Significant improvements for the first nine months of the year can be attributed to growing contributions from the Group’s investment banking activities, which forms the core of our business and focus as we go forward. With this sustained momentum and progress, we expect to make even further gains by year-end.”

 

Hisham Alrayes, CEO of GFH, added: “Enhanced results and profitability for the first nine months of the year were once again supported by growth in the group’s investment banking business and income generated from transactions undertaken during the quarter. Principally, this included profits achieved on a $200 million sukuk acquisition relating to Villamar, our iconic Bahrain-based project and other investment income generated during the period. We also remain fully focused on achieving growth across our diversified portfolio of assets, where we are working to add value to existing investments while identifying other opportunities for steady income generation and yields. Having entered the last quarter of the year in a solid position, we look forward to strong year-end results and improved profitability and returns for shareholders.”  - TradeArabia News Service