DFCC posts Group PAT of LKR 3.2 bn. Assets increase by 17%.
June 9, 2014
CEO – Mr Arjun Fernando
Chairman – Mr Royle Jansz
The DFCC Bank announced a profit after tax of LKR 3.2 billion for the group for the year ended 31 March 2014 in its Annual Report which was released this week. Disregarding a one-off tax refund of LKR 184 million included in the prior year profit after tax at the Bank and Group levels, the Group posted a commendable PAT of LKR 3,250 million under tough market conditions, marginally lower by 4% compared with LKR 3,390 million reported in the previous year. However total Group assets grew by 17% to LKR 177,333 million.
DFCC Bank, the premier development bank of the country, which approaches its sixtieth year, has over the years posted a consistent record of success by judiciously managing its business and expanding through a series of strategic acquisitions, alliances and partnerships. DFCC is one of the largest capitalised companies in the Colombo Stock Exchange valued at LKR 38,148 million. Its shares are widely sought and actively traded.
Total income comprising of interest income and other income from the DFCC Banking Business (DBB) which includes DFCC Bank and its almost wholly owned subsidiary, by far the largest contributor to profits and asset growth of the Group, was LKR 20,214 million, an increase of 13.3% over LKR 17,837 million of the previous financial year. Interest income of DBB was up by 14.8% to LKR 18,467 million.
Mr Royle Jansz, DFCC’s new Chairman notes in his message “DFCC’s governing mandate has always been to provide long term financing to customers, which was unavailable to them elsewhere, to grow their business, not thinking solely about profitability, but of the benefit such businesses would bring to the economy of the country as a whole. This strategy involved more risk than would normally be acceptable to commercial banks in the past, and has sometimes seen us burning our fingers, but has, in the vast majority, provided DFCC with many satisfied and lifelong customers.”
Total approvals of project financing facilities comprising term loans, finance leases, investment securities and guarantees grew substantially to LKR 34,692 million from 23,490 million in the previous year. Of this, total project loan approvals amounted to LKR 30,107 million compared to LKR 16,778 million in the previous year. Due to the lag effect typically in project financing, the total project financing portfolio grew to LKR 67,814 million from LKR 64,801 million in the previous year.
In readiness to reap full benefits of the anticipated credit growth, especially in long term financing, DFCC raised low cost funds from a mix of multilateral and bilateral agencies, international and domestic markets and debentures. In addition to raising funds from the capital market, DFCC can also if needed unlock and deploy the substantial value of its equity portfolio which includes significant holdings in strong listed financial institutions.
The raising of the US$ 100 million five-year funds from the landmark international debt issue based on the strength of the Bank’s own balance sheet was a noteworthy achievement. It was the first private bank in the country to do so and is considered a significant feat given the volatility in the debt markets that prevailed at the time. ‘It is a strong testament to the international investor confidence in the Bank and the country alike’ notes the Chairman.
Early 2014 DFCC also secured a line of credit for EUR 90 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB). These concessionary funds are being deployed in medium to large scale enterprises especially in the provinces and energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Based on DFCC’s unparalleled track record of managing multilateral credit lines, the Bank was also EIB’s clear choice to be the manager/administrator for the programme.
The main thrust of DFCC’s medium term strategic plan is to capitalise on financing the direct and spin off business opportunities arising from the Government’s Five+1 Hub strategy. DFCC’s leadership in key sectors such as Green energy and Tourism will underpin its capabilities in this respect. ‘Skills and resources that have been honed over nearly 60 years of project financing will continue to hold us in good stead in our drive to play a great innings.’ says Chief Executive Arjun Fernando.
