REG - Standard Bank Group - Standard Bank 9M20 Operational Update

Industrial and Commercial Bank of ChinaAnnouncement

20/10/2020 10:00

RNS Number : 6313C
  
Standard Bank Group Limited
  
20 October 2020
  
 

Standard Bank Group Limited
20 October 2020
 
Financial information provided to the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited ("ICBC") and update on the group's operational performance for the nine months ended 30 September 2020
 
Financial information provided to ICBC
On a quarterly basis the Standard Bank Group discloses to ICBC sufficient information to enable ICBC to equity account the group's results. Accordingly, the following consolidated financial information, prepared on an International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") basis, is being provided to ICBC for the nine months ended 30 September 2020.
Statement of changes in ordinary shareholders' equity for the nine months ended 30 September 2020



 
 


Balance as at 1 January 2020


Earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders


Other movements for the period


Balance as at 30 September 2020




 


Rm


Rm


Rm


Rm




Ordinary share capital


162










162




Ordinary share premium


17 822






31


17 853




Foreign currency translation and hedging reserve


(8 570)






8 813


243




Foreign currency translation reserve (FCTR)


(7 583)






8 9951


1 412




Foreign currency net investment and cash flow hedging reserve


(987)






(182)


(1 169)




Retained earnings


159 063


8 548


(7 803)


159 808




Empowerment reserve and treasury shares


(2 728)






(1 573)


(4 301)




Other


5 480






1 120


6 600




Ordinary shareholders' equity


171 229


8 548


588


180 365



1 The movement in the FCTR was primarily as a result of the depreciation of the Rand against the USD, GBP and certain African currencies.
Update on the group's performance for the nine months ended 30 September 2020 
The group remains committed to supporting our customers, employees and communities during this difficult time. Our three phased approach - respond, recover and re-imagine - remains relevant and underpins our decision making for the "now" and the "next". 
In 3Q20, lockdowns continued to be eased or lifted, and economic activity improved across the countries in which we operate in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite these positive developments, we remain on high alert. Our business continuity management programmes, including safety protocols, remain in place. Over 70% of our employees are still working from home and many will continue to do so for the rest of the year. 
From an economic perspective, we remain of the view that 2Q20 was a low point and expect an improvement in subsequent quarters, particularly in South Africa. We continue to track in line with our previous macro-economic expectations in South Africa, and slightly better in Africa Regions. In South Africa, our growth forecast remains unchanged from those provided at our 2020 Interim results on 20 August 2020; real GDP is expected to contract by 8.5% in 2020 and expand by 4.5% in 2021. Low global inflation (including low oil prices) and subdued local demand will continue to help contain inflation in South Africa (CPI expected to average 3.3% in 2020 and 4.1% in 2021). While real GDP is also expected to contract on average across the countries in which we operate in sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa), the contraction is expected to be much less severe than in South Africa. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are expected to report real GDP growth in 2020. The timing and shape of the recovery remains subject to disruptions caused by new waves of infection, both in Africa and in key trading partners. In addition, country-specific risks in Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe remain elevated.
Against this backdrop, the group continues to provide significant support to our retail, business and commercial, and wholesale clients via a variety of measures. Pleasingly, as economies have opened, our clients have required less support, and many have resumed their payments. All requests for additional relief and/or extensions have been subject to appropriate client-specific risk assessments. 
By 30 September 2020, the Personal & Business Banking South Africa (PBB SA) client relief portfolio had declined from R107 billion as at 30 June 2020 to R61 billion. On the lapsed accounts (i.e. where the payment holiday period granted had expired and the relief had not been extended) the average monthly instalment payment rate was >95% for the secured portfolios (mortgages and VAF), >90% for the unsecured portfolios (card and personal unsecured) and 100% for business lending. Of the extended portfolio (i.e. where the payment holiday period granted had expired and the relief period had been extended), 83% thereof was secured. Provision coverage on the remaining R61 billion client relief portfolio increased relative to 30 June 2020. 
In PBB Africa Regions (PBB AR), the client relief portfolio declined from R11 billion as at 30 June 2020 to R6 billion as at 30 September 2020. Of the balance outstanding c.56% is to business customers, >75% is secured and >75% relates to exposures to clients in Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria and Uganda. The performance of the lapsed book is better than the rest of the portfolio - 99% in stage 1 and 2. Provision coverage on the remaining R6 billion client relief portfolio increased relative to 30 June 2020. 
The table below provides the PBB SA and PBB AR client relief portfolios as at 30 June 2020 and 30 September 2020: 



PBB - client relief loans


South Africa, Rbn


Africa Regions, Rbn




Outstanding as at 30 June 2020


107


11




As a % of total respective portfolios


18%


12%


















Outstanding as at 30 September 2020


61


6




As a % of total respective portfolios


10%


7%



In addition, as at 30 September 2020 the group had approved R10 billion of loans under the South African Covid-19 loan guarantee scheme (up from R8.3 billion as at 30 June 2020). 
Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) client exposures with restructured terms increased to R70 billion (from R48 billion as at 30 June 2020). CIB continues to monitor certain sector- and client-specific risks closely; namely Commercial Real Estate, Hospitality and Oil & Gas.
In 3Q20, PBB disbursements continued to recover from lows in April 2020. In South Africa, attractive house prices and lower interest rates supported sales activity and in turn, mortgage disbursements in the quarter. Period on period, growth in PBB's unsecured portfolios continued to outpace that of the secured portfolios. Growth of the PBB Africa Regions' portfolio continued to outpace PBB South Africa. In CIB in 3Q20, lending to corporates in South Africa slowed relative to 1H20, however lending growth in Africa Regions remained robust. Customer deposit growth period on period remained robust. 
The significant interest rate cuts year to date are an increasing drag on margins and net interest income (NII). In South Africa, we do not expect any further interest rate cuts this year (after cumulative cuts of 300 basis points to the end of July 2020). We expect a 25 basis point increase in 2021. In Africa Regions, inflation is broadly in check and rates are expected to remain at similar levels through to the end of the year. Trading activities slowed in 3Q20 but remained a key driver of non-interest revenue growth year to date. In South Africa, PBB account turnover levels recovered to at or around pre-Covid levels (personal accounts slightly above and business accounts slightly below). Larger businesses recovered faster than smaller businesses. Physical channel activity levels (branch and ATM) improved but remained below pre-Covid levels, negatively impacting fees. In PBB Africa Regions, ongoing customer acquisition supported fees. 
Cost containment remains a focus. IT costs remained elevated as we continued to invest, particularly in digital client capabilities. In light of the NII and activity-related fee pressures, we expect negative jaws for FY20. Pre-provision operating profit growth was marginally negative period on period.
Credit trends to date are in line with our expectations. While initial indications are that collections have improved in 3Q20 relative to 2Q20, retrenchment claims have also increased. The latter, combined with broader customer stress, resulted in an increase in non-performing loans and additional impairment charges as balances transferred from stage 1 or 2 to stage 3. There remains a risk that the environment deteriorates, and the portfolio performance is worse than currently expected; for example, due to new waves of infection, subsequent lockdowns and further job losses.
In 3Q20, Africa Regions' performance continued to support group performance, offsetting ongoing strain in South Africa. The West Region continues to perform particularly well. The scale and diversity of the group's revenue streams across client, product and geography remains a key advantage.
ICBC Standard Bank (ICBCS) continued to report a positive result year to date. Liberty's performance remains sensitive to market and Covid-related developments. 
Group profit attributable to ordinary shareholders for the nine months to 30 September 2020 was 52% lower than the comparative period. Group headline earnings was 39% lower than in the comparative period. There were no additional material headline adjustable items in 3Q20. The group's net asset value has grown 5% year to date.
The group is well capitalised and liquid. In terms of funding, market pricing continued to improve in the quarter and in late September, the group's issue of R1.5 billion of Additional Tier 1 bonds was well supported and priced at attractive levels. Based on current planning, the group expects to continue to have sufficient capital to pay preference share dividends. The South African Reserve Bank's guidance on ordinary dividends remains in place at this stage. 
In line with the group's commitment to improve disclosures on climate-related matters, the group has published its Interim TCFD report; it is available to download on the group's ESG and Investor Relations websites. 
The group's Basel III disclosure as at 30 September 2020 will be released in November 2020. 
Looking forward, the Covid-19 pandemic, together with global economic weakness, elevated uncertainty and depressed sentiment, is expected to negatively impact employment, incomes and equality globally. Emerging Markets, including sub-Saharan Africa, face high external debt and a dependency on sectors most exposed to the pandemic. They risk being disproportionately impacted, particularly in terms of an increase in poverty and inequality. 
While impacted by turmoil in the global financial market, South Africa's ultimate trajectory will be dependent on the execution of the structural reforms required to support higher growth, job creation and government debt stabilisation. Standard Bank, together with many others in the private sector, will continue to work with the government and labour in support of positive, sustainable outcomes. The progress in terms of institutional reform is pleasing.
As a large, purpose-driven African-focused financial institution, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the recovery of the markets in which we operate. In addition, the change in customer expectations, combined with the acceleration of digital adoption, provide an opportunity to expand our offering and our impact.  
Lastly, the group is indebted to our employees who continue to assist and advise our customers and support our communities despite the challenges and threats. We thank our employees for their ongoing commitment and our customers and other stakeholders for their ongoing support. 
The financial information contained in this announcement and that on which the operational performance update is based has not been reviewed and reported on by the group's external auditors.
 
For further information, please contact:
Ann Hunter
Standard Bank Group Limited

9th Floor

5 Simmonds Street, Johannesburg PO Box 2001

South Africa

Telephone number: +27 11 415 4194
 
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