MANAMA: Bahrain-based a conventional wholesale bank, Securities & Investment Company (SICO), reported a net profit f BD2.6 million in the Q1 of 2014.
The SCIO in a press statement termed it a good start of the year being net profit up 157% compared with BD1 million for the corresponding period in 2013. Earnings per share were up 156% to Bahraini fils 6.01 (Q1 2013: 2.35 fils).
Operating income grew by 89% to BD 4.23million (Q1 2013: BD 2.24mn), while total expenses for the quarter increased to BD 1.49 million (Q1 2013: BD 1.16m).
Brokerage and other income for the period increased by 223% to BD 742 thousand from BD 230 thousand, reflecting the continued buoyant performance of regional equity and fixed income markets during the first quarter of the year. Net investment income reached BD 2.45million (Q1 2013: BD 1.13mn), which translates into an increase of 117%; while fee and commission income and net interest income also grew to BD 721 thousand (Q1 2013: BD 564 thousand) and BD 319 thousand (Q1 2013: BD 315 thousand) respectively.
As at 31 March 2014 assets under management reached BD330.58 million from BD316.91 million at the end of December 2013, underlining the continued strong performance by SICO’s asset management business. Assets under custody by the Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, SICO Funds Services Company (SFS), increased to BD1.31 billion compared with BD 1.26 billion at the end of 2013.
Total balance sheet footings at the end of March 2014 stood at BD 93.48 million (end-2013: BD 94.19 million). The Bank continued to maintain a strong capital base, ending the first quarter with BD 60.99 million in shareholders’ equity after adjusting for the year 2013 dividends (end-2013: BD 61.86 million). The balance sheet remains highly liquid, with a very high consolidated capital adequacy ratio of 63.34%. Available-for-sale investments at the quarter-end were BD 29.29million (end-2013: BD 32.74 million), while investments at fair value through profit or loss were BD 18.62 million (end-2013: BD 19.81million). A significant amount of SICO’s market risk exposure continues to be in short duration investment-rated and GCC Government fixed income instruments.
“This quarter we generated higher year-on-year revenues in all of our business lines, demonstrating the strong collective effort across the Group. Following our successful performance in 2013, this illustrates that we are bearing the fruits of all our hard work during the market downturn, where we have remained focused on strengthening our infrastructure and improving our services, while maintaining our resilient performance track record,” the Chief Executive Officer, Najla M. Al Shirawi, said.
“Based on this strong start, and with a highly professional and determined management team in place, we are well positioned to take advantage of favourable regional capital market conditions and an improving global economic environment. Given that the current positive and robust market momentum continues without any cyclical downturn due to valuations being stretched in regional or international markets, we remain confidently optimistic about the short- and medium-term outlook for SICO,” Al Shirawi, said.