CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, which posted a record net profit of RM3.29 billion for the first six months ended June 30, 2018 (1H18), expects a record net profit to ensue for the full year on a stronger performance in 2H18 partly driven by improvement in loan growth.
Group CEO Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz said CIMB is on track to meet its loan growth target of 6% for this year, compared with a weaker-than-expected 0.2% last year hit by its Indonesian business.
It saw a loan growth of 3.4% for 1H18, dragged down by the weakening of rupiah in Indonesia. Excluding foreign exchange fluctuations, its 1H18 loan growth would have been 7%.
“We’re still keeping our loan growth target. 1H18 was slower and we’re optimistic that in 2H18 we will catch up,” Zafrul said in a press conference after announcing its 1H18 financial results here.
“For 2H18, we hope to sustain (performance). It’s been a strong two months (July-August), we’ve seen a pickup in capital markets (from slower capital market activities in 1H18), but also in the region in Thailand and Singapore. We’re optimistic. Judging from the pipeline that we have, we should see the same, if not better performance in 2H18,” he added.
Zafrul said CIMB is focused on achieving its T18 targets, subject to recovery of capital markets, and continued improvement in asset quality across Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.
Saying the worst is over for its Indonesian business, he said a rate increase is expected in Indonesia to stabilise the rupiah. On the macro side, it is wary of the currency impact and is also mindful of the election in Indonesia. However he said CIMB Niaga has done well in term of its bottom line, adding that it was the best performing bank in 1H18 in Indonesia.
“If you look at the numbers on Indonesia, the asset quality is better. The problem is the loan growth and this is something that we need to push further and at the same time we’re tracking the industry.”
For the second quarter ended June 30, 2018, CIMB’s net profit jumped 80% to RM1.98 billion from RM1.10 billion a year ago bolstered by a RM928 million gain from the sale of 20% of CIMB-Principal Asset Management and 10% of CIMB-Principal Islamic Asset Management. Revenue rose 12% to RM4.86 billion from RM4.33 billion in the previous corresponding quarter.
CIMB posted a record net profit of RM3.29 billion for the first half of 2018, up 44% from RM2.28 billion a year ago, bolstered by the disposal gain. Excluding the gain, CIMB’s 1H18 earnings was RM2.36 billion, translating to a 3.3% year-on-year growth. Revenue rose 5.5% to RM9.17 billion from RM8.69 billion in the previous year.
Zafrul said CIMB is finalising its next mid-term growth plan post-T18, which will be premised on customers, people and sustainability, among others. He added that any changes to its management are based on performance and will be decided by the board and not one shareholder.