ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), the largest Shariah-compliant lender in the emirate, beat analysts’ estimates yesterday as it posted a 22.5 percent jump in second-quarter net profit as core business income boosted revenues.
The lender, which in May got regulatory approval to purchase much of Barclays’ retail operations in the United Arab Emirates, made a net profit of Dh454.8m ($123.8m) in the three months to June 30 compared to Dh371.4m in the same period of 2013, a statement said.
Three analysts polled earlier this month forecast an average net profit of Dh406m.
ADIB cited a 13.9 percent increase in net revenue, which climbed to Dh1.08bn, for the increase in profit.
“As was the case in the first quarter of the year, it is noteworthy that the record quarterly performance reflects the sustainable strength of our core banking businesses,” Chief Executive Tirad Al Mahmoud said in the statement, adding it wasn’t just relying on lower provisioning for higher profits.
Improving asset quality has been a key driver of UAE banks’ profit growth in recent quarters as the country recovers from a sovereign-related debt crisis and the bursting of a local real estate at the end of the last decade.
Fellow Abu Dhabi lender Union National Bank posted a 5.6 percent increase in second-quarter net profit earlier on lower impairments.
Mahmoud added legacy issues from the previous crisis were still impacting the UAE banking system, while the impending start-up of the country’s credit bureau — allowing banks for the first time to check a customer’s borrowings from all UAE lenders — would bring ‘welcomed clarity’ to individuals’ risk profiles.
ADIB is one of the banks on the creditor committee for Amlak Finance, which said earlier this month it had made a new offer to strike a deal on debt worth $2.7bn and solve the last major hangover from the property crash.
ADIB booked Dh175.8m of provisions in the second quarter, down 2.2 percent year-on-year.
Loans extended by the bank stood at Dh64.9bn at June 30, up 15.4 percent year-on-year, while deposits grew 18.2 percent over the same timeframe to Dh79bn.
Reuters
