Khaleej Times

FAB records Dh2.6B profit in Q3

- Waheed Abbas

dubai — First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the largest bank in the UAE, on Wednesday said its net profit for the third quarter of 2017 fell 18 per cent to Dh2.6 billion as against Dh3.18 billion for the same period last year due to a decline in operating income.

The bank’s nine-month profit dropped four per cent to Dh8.09 billion as against Dh8.46 billion during the comparativ­e period in 2016.

Its Q3 earnings per share (EPS) fell from Dh1.13 last year to Dh0.92 while nine-month EPS declined from Dh1 to Dh0.95. Net impairment charges in the third quarter fell 21 per cent to Dh562 million.

“As we continue to build strong foundation­s to support the long-term sustainabl­e growth of our franchise, we are on track to meet our targets for the current year and our strong capital buffers provide us with ample

Net impairment charges at First abu Dhabi Bank in the third quarter fell 21 per cent to Dh562 million.

room to deliver top returns for our shareholde­rs,” said Abdulhamid Saeed, Group CEO, FAB.

FAB was created after the merger of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi — File photo and First Gulf Bank. The merger was completed in April this year. The bank is realising the benefits of a merger as operating expenses in the third quarter this year fell nine

Our strong capital buffers provide us with ample room to deliver top returns

Abdulhamid Saeed, Group CEO, FAB

per cent to Dh1.34 billion from Dh1.47 billion in Q3 last year.

The bank’s operating income dropped 16 per cent year on year during the third quarter this year to Dh4.6 billion.

“FAB’s performanc­e in the first nine months of 2017 demonstrat­es the group’s resilience as it continues to achieve integratio­n and deliver solid results against an operating backdrop that is improving, yet remains challengin­g. As we approach the end of 2017, I am very pleased with the excellent progress we have made in our integratio­n journey,” said Saeed.

He pointed out that FAB is dominating the GCC and Mena loan league tables’ year to date with a 14.3 per cent and 12.7 per cent market share, respective­ly. As of the end of September 2017, the group had a loans-to-deposits ratio of 86.6 per cent. Its total assets fell one per cent to Dh644.1 billion at the end of September 30, 2017, as against Dh649.1 billion during the correspond­ing period last year.

Listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, FAB’s stocks were unchanged at Dh10.5 on Wednesday with 2.65 million shares changing hands worth Dh27.79 million.

— waheedabba­s@khaleejtim­es.com

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