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Tue 4 Mar 2008, 8:30 FSR - FirstRand - Unaudited Interim Results For Th
FSR
 FSR                                                                             
FSR - FirstRand - Unaudited Interim Results For The Six Months Ended            
                        31 December 2007 And Cash Dividend Declaration          
FirstRand Limited                                                               
(Registration No: 1966/010753/06)                                               
JSE code FSR                                                                    
ISIN: ZAE000066304                                                              
Certain companies within the FirstRand Group are Authorised Financial Services  
Providers                                                                       
UNAUDITED INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2007 AND CASH    
DIVIDEND DECLARATION                                                            
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS                                                            
+12 % Pro forma diluted normalised earnings per share                           
+12 % Ordinary dividend per share                                               
+15 % Pro forma total assets under management or administration                 
26% Pro forma normalised return                                                 
Introduction                                                                    
This report covers the unaudited financial results of FirstRand Limited         
("FirstRand" or "the Group") for the six months ended 31 December 2007, and     
deals with the financial and operating performance of its main business units.  
The Group consists of a portfolio of leading financial services franchises;     
these are First National Bank ("FNB"), the retail and commercial bank, Rand     
Merchant Bank ("RMB"), the investment bank, WesBank, the instalment finance     
business, Momentum, the life insurance business and Discovery, the health and   
life business.                                                                  
Actual                                                                          
                            Six months                  Year                    
                            ended                       ended                   
31 December        %        30 June                 
R million                    2007     2006      change   2007                   
Headline earnings            5 702    4 877     17       10 854                 
Normalised earnings          6 138    5 539     11       11 845                 
Diluted headline earnings    107.4    91.4      18       204.2                  
per share (cents)                                                               
Diluted normalised earnings  108.9     98.2     11       210.1                  
per share (cents)                                                               
Ordinary dividend per share  44.25    39.5      12       82.5                   
(cents)                                                                         
Normalised return on equity  26       28                 28                     
(%)                                                                             
Assets under management or   993 178  868 604    14      900 148                
administration                                                                  
In November 2007, FirstRand unbundled its 57% shareholding in Discovery and     
therefore the results to 31 December 2007 outlined in the table above include   
only four months of contribution from Discovery. The pro forma results for the  
Group excluding Discovery are detailed below:                                   
Pro forma                                                                       
                            Six months                  Year                    
ended                       ended                   
                            31 December        %        30 June                 
R million                    2007     2006      Change   2007                   
Headline earnings            5 517    4 647     19       10 298                 
Normalised earnings          5 953    5 319     12       11 309                 
Diluted headline earnings    103.9    87.1      19       193.7                  
per share (cents)                                                               
Diluted normalised earnings  105.6    94.3      12       200.6                  
per share (cents)                                                               
Normalised return on         26       29                 29                     
equity (%)                                                                      
Assets under management or   993 178   861 054  15       891 648                
administration                                                                  
statement of headline earnings and dividends                                    
                           Six months                   Year                    
                           ended                        ended                   
31 December          %       30 June                 
R million                   2007      2006       change  2007                   
Attributable earnings to    6 283     5 381      17      11 511                 
shareholders                                                                    
Adjusted for:               (581)     (504)      15      (657)                  
Profit on disposal of       (96)      (631)              (863)                  
available-for-sale assets                                                       
Profit on sale of shares    (570)     -                  (78)                   
in subsidiary and                                                               
associate                                                                       
Profit/(loss) on disposal   -         1                  (8)                    
of property and equipment                                                       
Impairment of intangible    -         -                  55                     
assets                                                                          
Impairment of goodwill      -         -                  61                     
Total tax effects of        85        101                106                    
adjustments                                                                     
Total minority interest of  -         25                 70                     
adjustments                                                                     
Headline earnings           5 702     4 877      17      10 854                 
Adjusted for:               436       662        (34)    991                    
Discovery BEE transaction   5         11                 19                     
IFRS 2 Share based          189       180                401                    
expenses                                                                        
Treasury shares             242       342                543                    
- adjustment for effective  (17)      (21)               (50)                   
shareholding in Discovery                                                       
- consolidation of share    221       268                372                    
trust                                                                           
- FirstRand shares held by  38        95                 221                    
policyholders                                                                   
Adjustment of listed        -         129                28                     
property associates to net                                                      
asset value                                                                     
Normalised earnings1        6 138     5 539      11      11 845                 
Segmental normalised                                                            
earnings                                                                        
Banking Group2              5 283     4 783      10      10 089                 
Momentum Group2             913       768        19      1 668                  
Discovery Group             185       220        (16)    536                    
FirstRand Limited           (49)      (69)       (29)    (100)                  
(company)                                                                       
Dividend paid to non        (194)     (163)      19      (348)                  
cumulative non redeemable                                                       
preference shareholders                                                         
Normalised earnings1        6 138     5 539      11      11 845                 
Segmental headline                                                              
earnings                                                                        
Banking Group3              5 140     4 629      11      9 752                  
Momentum Group              881       652        35      1 610                  
Discovery Group             185       230        (20)     556                   
FirstRand Limited           (51)      (108)      (53)    (123)                  
(company)                                                                       
Consolidation of share      (221)     (268)      (18)    (372)                  
trusts                                                                          
Dividend paid to non        (194)     (163)      19      (348)                  
cumulative non redeemable                                                       
preference shareholders                                                         
Consolidation of treasury   (38)      (95)       60      (221)                  
shares: policyholders                                                           
Headline earnings           5 702     4 877      17      10 854                 
                                                                                
1. The definition of normalised earnings is provided at the end of this         
announcement.                                                                   
2. Prior year numbers have been restated to reflect the transfer of Ashburton   
("FRIAM") from Momentum Group to Banking Group.                                 
3. Prior year numbers have been restated for Circular 8/2007, "Headline         
Earnings".                                                                      
Group earnings, headline earnings and normalised earnings per share (cents)     
                            Six months                  Year                    
                            ended                       ended                   
                            31 December        %        30 June                 
2007     2006      change   2007                    
Normalised earnings per                                                         
share                                                                           
- Basic                      108.9    98.3      11       210.2                  
- Diluted                    108.9    98.2      11       210.1                  
Pro forma normalised                                                            
earnings per share                                                              
- Basic                      105.6    94.4      12       200.7                  
- Diluted                    105.6    94.3      12       200.6                  
Earnings per share                                                              
- Basic                      121.3    103.8     17       222.9                  
- Diluted                    118.4    100.8     17       216.6                  
Headline earnings per share                                                     
- Basic                      110.1    94.1      17       210.2                  
- Diluted                    107.4    91.4      18       204.2                  
Ordinary dividend per share  44.25    39.5      12       82.5                   
Dividend in specie per       62.6      -        100      -                      
share                                                                           
Operating environment                                                           
Both the international and South African financial services environments were   
particularly challenging during the six months to December 2007.                
Inflation and interest rates continued to rise, which resulted in slower asset  
growth in the retail banking sector. This was compounded by sharp increases in  
bad debts in the retail portfolios due to higher levels of customer             
indebtedness, although retail transaction volumes remained robust.              
Corporate demand for credit continued to show resilience to the rising interest 
rates, although some pressure is being experienced in the small and medium      
enterprise segments. Continued capital expenditure, infrastructure development  
and corporate action resulted in good growth in the corporate and investment    
banking sectors. The insurance operating environment was characterised by a     
recovery in industry new business volumes.                                      
The local equity, currency and interest rate markets were volatile on the back  
of the turmoil experienced in the international capital markets. Whilst this was
positive for local trading activities, severe dislocations in the international 
equity markets negatively impacted trading activities.                          
FirstRand`s diverse portfolio of banking businesses allowed the Group to deliver
growth in earnings, despite the significantly tougher conditions in both the    
retail segments and international markets. The Group`s insurance activities also
showed good earnings growth.                                                    
Financial performance                                                           
For the six months to 31 December 2007 the FirstRand Group grew pro forma       
normalised earnings 12% and achieved                                            
a pro forma normalised return on equity of 26%.                                 
Pro forma headline earnings                                                     
Six months                  Year                    
                            ended                       ended                   
                            31 December        %        30 June                 
R million                    2007     2006      change   2007                   
Headline earnings            5 517    4 647     19       10 298                 
Adjusted for:                436      672       (35)     1 011                  
IFRS 2 Share based expenses  177      180                390                    
Treasury shares              259      363                593                    
- consolidation of share     221      268                372                    
trust                                                                           
- FirstRand shares held by   38       95                 221                    
policyholders                                                                   
Adjustment of listed         -        129                28                     
property associates to net                                                      
asset value                                                                     
Normalised earnings          5 953    5 319     12       11 309                 
FirstRand Banking Group contributed 10% growth in earnings from R4.8 billion to 
R5.3 billion and an ROE of 27% with the Momentum Group increasing earnings 19%  
from R768 million to R913 million and an ROE of 31%.                            
A detailed financial and operating review of the separate business units        
follows.                                                                        
The table below represents the relative contribution to the pro forma normalised
earnings from the banking and insurance groups:                                 
                            Six months         %        Year                    
ended                       ended                   
                            31 December        Contri-  30 June                 
R million                    2007     2006      bution   2007                   
Banking Group                5 283    4 783     89       10 089                 
Momentum                     913      768       15       1 668                  
FirstRand and preference     (243)    (232)     (4)      (448)                  
dividends                                                                       
Total                        5 953    5 319     100      11 309                 
For the first time since its formation the Banking Group`s performance did not  
exceed the Group`s targeted earnings                                            
growth of 10% above inflation, although the ROE at 27% continued to exceed its  
targeted ROE of 10% above the weighted average cost of capital. Momentum        
delivered ahead of both targets.                                                
The performance of the Group`s banking operations was impacted by:              
* increased levels of consumer indebtedness which pushed bad debts to much      
higher levels than previously experienced (particularly in WesBank, HomeLoans   
and Card); and                                                                  
* losses in the investment bank`s Equity Trading Division, as well as the high  
base achieved by RMB in the previous period.                                    
RMB                                                                             
Six months                  Year                    
                            ended                       ended                   
                            31 December        %        30 June                 
R million                    2007     2006      change   2007                   
Normalised earnings          1 927    1 690     14       3 910                  
Total assets                 258 721  194 427   33        198 929               
ROE (%)                      33       38                  43                    
RMB`s normalised earnings growth slowed to 14%. The Private Equity, Investment  
Banking and Fixed Income Currency and Commodity Trading ("FICC") divisions      
showed strong growth for the period. The Equity Trading Division incurred net   
losses of R760 million. The diversified nature of RMB`s portfolio enabled it to 
still give a creditable performance despite the losses.                         
FNB                                                                             
                            Six months                  Year                    
                            ended                       ended                   
                            31 December        %        30 June                 
R million                    2007     2006      change   2007                   
Normalised earnings          2 741    2 187     25       4 140                  
Total assets                 204 734  166 297   23       183 257                
Total liabilities            199 997  162 414   23       176 069                
Bad debt ratio               1.2      0.8                0.91                   
ROE (%)                      34       35                  33                    
Despite difficult market conditions caused by increased interest rates and      
inflation pressures, FNB, the commercial bank, delivered 25% growth in          
normalised earnings, achieved on the back of robust growth in advances (+23%)   
and deposits (+20%). This performance can be attributed to FNB`s strong         
franchise in the corporate and commercial segments, which now comprise          
approximately half of FNB`s earnings. In addition, its diversified portfolio of 
retail segments meant that whilst the consumer segment experienced a slow down, 
the mass and wealth segments continued to show good growth.                     
WesBank                                                                         
                            Six months                  Year                    
ended                       ended                   
                            31 December        %        30 June                 
R million                    2007     2006      change   2007                   
Normalised earnings          462      538       (14)     918                    
Total assets                 109 643  90 399    21       100 479                
Bad debt ratio               1.5      1.0                1.39                   
ROE (%)                      17       21                 18                     
As already mentioned, WesBank`s overall profitability was impacted by           
significant increases in credit defaults in its local lending business. In      
addition, although losses continued to be incurred in the international         
operations these were at lower levels than the prior period. This resulted in   
normalised earnings declining 14% to R462 million which is disappointing.       
Momentum                                                                        
                            Six months                  Year                    
                            ended                       ended                   
                            31 December        %        30 June                 
R million                    2007     2006      change   2007                   
Normalised earnings          913      768       19       1 668                  
Insurance new business       15 459   11 073     40      23 464                 
Return on EV (%)             15       30                 28                     
ROE (%)                      31       24                 25                     
Despite subdued investment markets the Momentum Group delivered 19% growth in   
normalised earnings to R913 million and an excellent return on equity of 31%.   
This performance exceeded all of FirstRand`s targets and can be attributed to   
good new business flows with margins holding up and new initiatives that are    
beginning to contribute to growth; in particular, the collaboration with FNB in 
the mass and middle market segments and the continuing diversification of       
Momentum`s distribution infrastructure.                                         
The relative contribution to the Group`s earnings mix and growth rates from     
types of income (retail, investment and corporate banking and insurance) and    
business unit is shown in the table below:                                      
                  Six months                              Year                  
ended                                   ended                 
                  31 December                             30 June               
                  2007    %       2006 1  %        %      2007 1                
                          contri-         contri-  change                       
bution          bution                                
Retail banking                                                                  
FNB Retail         1 404           1 189                   2 154                
FNB Africa         249             209                     456                  
WesBank            292             400                     641                  
                  1 945   33      1 798   34       8      3 251                 
Corporate banking                                                               
FNB Corporate      251             224                     365                  
FNB Commercial     1 086           774                     1 669                
WesBank            170             138                     277                  
                  1 507   25      1 136   21       33     2 311                 
Investment                                                                      
banking                                                                         
RMB                1 927   32      1 690   32       14     3 910                
Insurance                                                                       
Momentum           913     15      768     14       19     1 668                
Other                                                                           
FirstRand and      (243)           (232)                   (448)                
preference                                                                      
dividends                                                                       
Banking Group      (96)             159                    617                  
Support                                                                         
                  (339)   (5)     (73)    (1)      >100   169                   
Pro forma          5 953    100    5 319   100      12     11 309               
normalised                                                                      
earnings                                                                        
1. Prior year numbers have been restated to reflect the move of Ashburton       
("FRIAM") from Momentum Group to Banking Group.                                 
Strategic issues                                                                
Regulatory changes                                                              
FirstRand Bank received in principle approval from the South African Reserve    
Bank ("SARB") to use the advanced internal ratings based approach for credit    
risk under Basel II. The Bank also received approval to use an internal model   
for market risk. The operational risk application for the advanced measurement  
approach was submitted early in 2008, with targeted implementation during 2009. 
The capital impact of Basel II is expected to be largely neutral with a bias to 
a potential increase due to the changes in the credit cycle. The capital levels 
of the Banking Group are adequate in terms of the regulatory capital            
requirements, as well as the capital requirement determined through the Banking 
Group`s internal capital adequacy assessment process.                           
The Competition Commission Enquiry into Banking is expected to release a        
detailed report shortly containing recommendations for improvements in the      
payments industry. The implementation of any of the Commission`s recommendations
will be over a period of time.                                                  
Funding the growth                                                              
FirstRand adopts a holistic and integrated approach to capital, funding and     
liquidity. This allows it to ensure the protection of the intrinsic value of the
Group, meet prudential regulatory requirements and protect credit ratings while 
continuing to add sustainable shareholder value.                                
Capital management strategy and actions                                         
The Group aims to fulfil the requirements of shareholders and maintain an       
efficient capital structure with limited excesses, while supporting its medium  
term growth requirements. It does not hold surplus capital for acquisitions and 
the need for additional capital is assessed on a transaction by transaction     
basis.                                                                          
The Group`s targeted return on invested shareholders` capital is 10% above the  
weighted average cost of capital. The Group constantly monitors whether this    
target is met by the business units, and if not, businesses are changed or      
terminated.                                                                     
The period under review was characterised by continued balance sheet growth,    
particularly from the Banking Group, which was funded by internal capital       
generation. It is expected that both domestic growth and international expansion
will continue in the next financial year, which will increase the demand for    
capital. The Group is considering a number of capital management actions to     
ensure this growth is funded in the most efficient manner. Given that           
FirstRand`s international growth strategy is incremental in nature, the Group   
does not need to raise core equity to fund that strategy.                       
The turmoil in the international markets led to a decrease in the appetite for  
Asset Backed Securities ("ABS"). It was the Group`s intention to issue R25      
billion ABS and Residential Backed Securities in the international market during
the period under review, but, conditions were not favourable. It is unlikely    
that the markets will improve sufficiently within the next 12 to 18 months to   
issue these instruments.                                                        
In August 2007 FirstRand Bank concluded Fresco II, which was a partially funded 
synthetic securitisation of a portfolio of South African and international      
corporate credit exposures held on the balance sheet. This transaction relieved 
R1.4 billion of current regulatory capital under Basel I and R700 million under 
Basel II. In November 2007 the Bank raised R1 billion of subordinated debt. This
was followed with a further R500 million during December 2007.                  
Basel II, which is applicable from 1 January 2008, will have an immaterial      
impact on the capital requirements of the Banking Group. The new regulations    
will allow for more innovative Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital instruments, which the 
Group is planning to issue to further strengthen the capital base and to fund   
growth.                                                                         
The proposed issue of hybrid instruments will not only improve the Bank`s Total 
and Tier I capital adequacy ratios, but also bolster the Bank`s capital buffers 
against the backdrop of pro-cyclicality introduced by Basel II. This will reduce
the weighted average cost of capital. These instruments are more expensive since
the turmoil in the international markets, and, given their capital nature, cost 
more than subordinated debt.                                                    
Given the increase in interest rates over the past 12 months, the Group expects 
retail lending to slow to more sustainable levels and this will reduce pressure 
on capital requirements. Whilst it is expected that corporate lending will      
increase, the use of the Group`s balance sheet will be limited to those asset   
classes that provide an appropriate return.                                     
One of the benefits of being an integrated group is the flexibility to move     
capital between the businesses. During the period excess capital in Momentum of 
R557 million was used to fund growth in the Bank. Given the changes in the      
equity markets Momentum is not expected to generate further excess capital in   
the immediate future.                                                           
Funding strategy and actions                                                    
The objective of the Group`s funding strategy is to secure funding at an optimal
cost from diversified and sustainable                                           
funding sources.                                                                
The impact of the recent turmoil in international credit markets is likely to   
continue in the medium term. Investors` risk appetite and liquidity has reduced 
significantly which in turn has led to a fundamental repricing across the full  
spectrum of risk. Against this background, the Group continues to monitor demand
and supply of structured credit products in the international markets. This     
change in dynamics means that entry by the Group into certain international     
markets, without a deposit franchise in those markets, will be more difficult as
the resultant increased cost of funding will make the requisite returns more    
difficult to achieve.                                                           
The low savings rate and the ongoing demand for credit in South Africa continues
to force the Group to rely on the professional markets for funding, with the    
resultant impact on liquidity and margin. Diversification of funding sources (by
market, product and currency), provides a well balanced portfolio of            
liabilities, generates a stable flow of financing and provides protection in the
event of market disruptions.                                                    
During the period the Group focused on four strategic funding imperatives:      
* build a credit curve;                                                         
* diversify funding sources;                                                    
* lengthen the duration of the funding book; and                                
* ensure limited impact for the international businesses following turmoil in   
international capital markets.                                                  
Overall the Group approved the following actions to diversify funding sources   
and fund organic growth:                                                        
* bi-lateral funding lines;                                                     
* three corporate conduits (iNdwa, iNkotha, iVuzi) and a warehouse facility;    
* scheduled capital market issuance programme; and                              
* inflation linked bonds.                                                       
Dividend policy                                                                 
As previously stated the Group aligns its dividend policy with sustainable      
normalised earnings. It does not wish to expose its dividend to the volatility  
in earnings from the investment banking businesses which are expected to grow   
over time. At the year end 2007, the dividend growth was lower than the growth  
in normalised earnings and capital was retained, as the Group was cognisant of  
the exceptional performances of certain of its trading businesses. Therefore,in 
line with its policy to maintain the dividend at a consistent level over the    
medium to longer term, the Group has decided to pay a dividend for the six      
months to December 2007, in line with normalised earnings. The Group believes   
earnings growth will remain under pressure going forward.                       
Presentation                                                                    
Basis of presentation                                                           
FirstRand prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with     
International Financial Reporting Standards("IFRS"), including IAS 34: Interim  
Financial Reporting and on a going concern basis using the historical cost      
basis, except for certain financial assets and liabilities where it adopts the  
fair value basis of accounting.                                                 
Normalised earnings                                                             
The Group believes that normalised earnings more accurately reflect actual      
operational performance. Headline earnings are adjusted to take into account non
operational and accounting anomalies. Details of the nature of these adjustments
and reasons therefore can be found at the end of this announcement.             
Prospects                                                                       
The Group anticipates that, given the continuing volatility in global and local 
capital markets, combined with rising inflation and interest rates, the second  
half of the financial year will continue to represent a challenging operating   
environment. Consumer spending and credit extension is expected to slow further,
and bad debts could also continue to increase. The corporate sector is expected 
to remain resilient due to anticipated public sector investment combined with   
private fixed investment, however, trading activities may continue to be        
impacted by market turmoil and uncertainty.                                     
Against this background, the Group remains cautious regarding earnings prospects
for the year to June 2008. The diversity of the Group`s portfolio, the banking  
businesses, particularly RMB and FNB, will benefit from their strong franchises 
within the corporate and commercial segments. Given the current levels of       
consumer indebtedness, the retail segments will face significant headwinds.     
The increased volatility in equity markets together with some economic slowdown 
could impact Momentum in the second half of the financial year. The new business
prospects combined with the new growth initiatives should continue to positively
impact earnings.                                                                
The Group believes that with the pressures facing its businesses in the second  
six months, combined with the significant earnings base created in the year to  
30 June 2007 (32% growth), FirstRand is unlikely to meet its long term targeted 
growth in earnings of 10% above inflation in the current financial year.        
The Group anticipates that, with the quality of its franchises and the          
diversified nature of its portfolio, over the medium term earnings will trend   
back to the stated target.                                                      
Subsequent events                                                               
Since 31 December 2007 WesBank has announced that, following a strategic review 
of its Australian businesses, it is considering exit options for its vehicle    
finance and car care operations. MotorOne Finance, the vehicle finance          
operation, will cease new business origination, and WesBank will explore options
with respect to exiting the portfolio. Offers will be sought for Worldmark, the 
car care business.                                                              
WesBank has evaluated MotorOne Finance and concluded the business model will not
deliver WesBank`s required returns in the medium to long term. As a result of   
the decision to exit the MotorOne Finance business, Worldmark, which was        
complementary to the finance company, becomes a non core operation.             
In total, these transactions are not expected to have a material impact on the  
profitability of WesBank.                                                       
Board changes                                                                   
Ms Sonja Sebotsa resigned from the FirstRand Limited board on 31 December 2007, 
following her resignation as an executive of WDB Investment Holdings. Ms Sebotsa
was appointed to the board in May 2005 as a representative of the WDB Trust. Ms 
Sebotsa has been replaced on the FirstRand board by Ms Tandi Nzimande, a        
chartered accountant and WDB Investment Holdings executive.                     
It is with great sadness that the Group records the death of Mr Yunus Mahomed on
6 January 2008. Mr Mahomed who was appointed to the board in May 2005 was the   
representative of the Kagiso Charitable Trust. During his time with us he made  
an invaluable contribution to our debate. He was a great South African who made 
a huge contribution to our democracy. His wisdom and insight will be sorely     
missed. A replacement for Mr Mahomed will be announced in due course.           
GT Ferreira                       PK Harris                                     
Chairman                          Chief Executive Officer                       
Interim dividend declarations                                                   
Ordinary shares                                                                 
The following ordinary cash dividend was declared in respect of the six months  
ended 31 December 2007:                                                         
                                       Year ended 30 June                       
Cents per share                         2007              2006                  
Interim (declared 3 March 2008)         44.25            39.5                   
* The last day to trade in FirstRand shares on a cum-dividend basis in respect  
of the interim dividend will be Wednesday 19 March 2008 and the first day to    
trade ex-dividend will be Thursday 20 March 2008. The record date will be Friday
28 March 2008 and the payment date Monday 31 March 2008. Please note that no    
FirstRand share certificates may be dematerialised or rematerialised between    
Thursday 20 March 2008 and Friday 28 March 2008, both days inclusive.           
Preference shares                                                               
Dividends on the "B" preference shares are calculated at a rate of 68% of the   
prime lending rate of banks. The following                                      
dividends have been declared for payment:                                       
                                         "B"          "B1"                      
Preference   Preference                
Cents per share                           2007          2007                    
Period 28 August 2007 - 25 February       477.77       477.77                   
2008                                                                            
AH Arnott                                                                       
Company Secretary                                                               
3 March 2008                                                                    
consolidated income statement                                                   
Six months                   Year                    
                           ended                        ended                   
                           31 December          %       30 June                 
R million                   2007      2006 1     change  2007 1                 
Interest and similar         27 677   21 696      28     45 324                 
income                                                                          
Interest expense and        (15 246)  (11 866)   28       (25 821)              
similar charges                                                                 
Net interest income before  12 431     9 830      26     19 503                 
impairment of advances                                                          
Impairment losses on loans  (1 625)   (1 151)    41      (2 857)                
and advances                                                                    
Net interest income after    10 806   8 679       25     16 646                 
impairment of advances                                                          
Non interest income         12 035    25 274     (52)    47 763                 
- fees and commissions      8 098     6 939      17       14 545                
- fair value income         1 364      2 151      (37)   5 987                  
- gains less losses from    1 402     15 375     (91)    25 258                 
investment activities                                                           
- other non interest        1 171      809       45      1 973                  
income                                                                          
Net insurance premium       2 429     2 307       5      5 081                  
income                                                                          
Insurance premium income    2 765     2 413       15     5 570                  
Premium ceded to            (336)      (106)      >100   (489)                  
reinsurers                                                                      
Net claims and benefits      (2 715)  (2 421)    12      (5 590)                
paid                                                                            
Gross claims and benefits   (2 973)    (2 703)   10      (6 125)                
paid on insurance                                                               
contracts                                                                       
Reinsurance recoveries      258       282        (9)      535                   
Increase in value of        (2 942)    (15 124)   (81)    (25 535)              
policyholder liabilities                                                        
Fair value adjustment to     (43)      (7)        >100    (54)                  
financial liabilities                                                           
Income from operations       19 570    18 708    5       38 311                 
Operating expenses          (12 431)  (11 160)   11      (23 288)               
Net income from operations  7 139     7 548      (5)     15 023                 
Share of profit of          964       766         26     2 198                  
associates and joint                                                            
ventures                                                                        
Profit before tax           8 103     8 314      (3)     17 221                 
Tax                         (1 876)   (2 610)    (28)    (5 216)                
Net profit from continuing  6 227     5 704      9       12 005                 
operations                                                                      
Profit after tax from       374       404        (7)     1 073                  
discontinued operation                                                          
Profit after tax on         494       -          100      -                     
disposal/unbundling of                                                          
discontinued operation                                                          
Profit for the period       7 095     6 108      16      13 078                 
Attributable to minorities  618       564        10      1 219                  
Attributable to preference  194       163        19      348                    
shareholders                                                                    
Attributable to ordinary    6 283     5 381      17      11 511                 
shareholders                                                                    
1. These numbers have been restated refer to www.firstrand.co.za                
consolidated balance sheet                                                      
                                At                    At                        
31 December           30 June                   
R million                        2007        2006      2007                     
ASSETS                                                                          
Cash and short term funds        53 567       51 058    46 952                  
Derivative financial             39 592       45 358   33 244                   
instruments                                                                     
Advances                         412 364     340 078   378 945                  
Investment securities and other  236 114     205 150    221 950                 
investments                                                                     
Commodities                      239         873       1 118                    
Accounts receivable              8 795        7 821    9 257                    
Reinsurance assets               570          532       595                     
Property and equipment           6 761       4 948     6 411                    
Investment properties            3 155        2 458     2 356                   
Policy loans on insurance        188          139       166                     
contracts                                                                       
Assets arising from insurance    -           2 812     3 114                    
contracts                                                                       
Investments in associates and    13 829      9 936      11 809                  
joint ventures                                                                  
Intangible assets and deferred   4 409       4 261      4 302                   
acquisition costs                                                               
Tax asset                        21           24       34                       
Deferred tax asset               1 632       1 059     1 306                    
Total assets                     781 236      676 507   721 559                 
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES                                                          
Liabilities                                                                     
Deposits                         478 854     369 857   416 507                  
Short trading positions          34 194      37 716     36 870                  
Derivative financial             31 146      34 574    24 505                   
instruments                                                                     
Creditors and accruals           11 779      19 340     13 887                  
Provisions                       2 285       2 634     3 598                    
Tax liability                    853         910       1 368                    
Post retirement benefit fund     1 946       1 986     1 882                    
liability                                                                       
Deferred revenue liability       265         398       387                      
Deferred tax liability           5 814       5 540     6 279                    
Long term liabilities            11 249      10 290     9 250                   
Reinsurance liabilities          -           22         20                      
Policyholder liabilities under   46 175      45 337    46 979                   
insurance contracts                                                             
Policyholder liabilities under   109 240     105 605   111 239                  
investment contracts                                                            
Liabilities arising to third     1 374       563       1 568                    
parties                                                                         
Total liabilities                735 174     634 772   674 339                  
Equity                                                                          
Capital and reserves                                                            
attributable to equity holders                                                  
Ordinary share capital and       1 094       2 239     2 389                    
share premium                                                                   
Non distributable reserves       4 777       4 512     5 028                    
Distributable reserves           33 756      27 096    31 612                   
                                39 627      33 847    39 029                    
Non cumulative non redeemable    4 519       4 519      4 519                   
preference shares                                                               
Capital and reserves             44 146      38 366    43 548                   
attributable to equity holders                                                  
Minority interest                1 916       3 369     3 672                    
Total equity                     46 062      41 735    47 220                   
Total equity and liabilities     781 236     676 507   721 559                  
consolidated cash flow statement                                                
                                  Six months            Year                    
ended                 ended                   
                                  31 December           30 June                 
R million                          2007      2006        2007                   
Cash flows from operating                                                       
activities                                                                      
Net cash flows from operating      7 955     9 957       21 717                 
activities                                                                      
Net cash flows from operating      7 582      5 388      (4 637)                
funds                                                                           
Tax paid                           (2 228)   (3 497)      (3 912)               
Dividends paid                     (2 418)   (2 200)     (3 795)                
Net cash inflow from operating      10 891   9 648       9 373                  
activities                                                                      
Net cash outflow from investment   (5 673)   (4 989)     (9 887)                
activities                                                                      
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from     1 712     (285)       (102)                  
financing activities                                                            
Net increase/(decrease) in cash    6 930      4 374      (616)                  
and cash equivalents                                                            
Cash and cash equivalents at the   46 952    46 684      46 684                 
beginning of the period                                                         
Cash and cash equivalents at the   53 882                46 068                 
end of the period                            51 058                             
Cash and cash equivalents sold*    (450)      -           -                     
Cash and cash equivalents bought*   135      -           884                    
Cash and cash equivalents at the   53 567     51 058     46 952                 
end of the period                                                               
* Cash and cash equivalents sold and bought relate to subsidiaries acquired and 
sold during the year.                                                           
statement of changes in equity                                                  
                        Share     Non       Distri-     Total                   
                        capital   distri-   butable     ordinary                
and       butable   reserves    share-                  
                        share     reserves              holders`                
                        premium                         funds                   
Balance at 1 July 2007   2 389     5 028     31 612      39 029                 
Movement in other        -          57        -           57                    
associates                                                                      
Currency translation     -          (164)     -           (164)                 
differences                                                                     
Movement in revaluation  -          (17)      -           (17)                  
reserves                                                                        
Movement in other        -          15       -            15                    
reserves                                                                        
Earnings attributable    -          -        6 283       6 283                  
to shareholders                                                                 
Ordinary dividends       -          -         (2 224)    (2 224)                
Preference dividends     -          -         -           (194)                 
Transfer (to)/from       -          (41)      41          -                     
reserves                                                                        
Effective change of      -          -         -           -                     
shareholding of                                                                 
subsidiary                                                                      
Subsidiary                                                                      
sold/unbundled -                                                                
Discovery                (1 201)   (192)     (2 051)     (3 444)                
Share based payment      -          101      -            101                   
reserve                                                                         
Consolidation of         (94)       (10)     95           (9)                   
treasury shares                                                                 
Balance at 31 December   1 094      4 777     33 756     39 627                 
2007                                                                            
Balance at 1 July 2006   3 635     3 522     24 854      32 011                 
as previously stated                                                            
BEE share based payment  -          1 655     (1 655)    -                      
reserve                                                                         
Balance at 1 July 2006   3 635      5 177    23 199      32 011                 
as restated                                                                     
Issue of share capital   -          -         -           -                     
Conversion of            (165)      -         165         -                     
convertible redeemable                                                          
preference shares                                                               
Currency translation     -          (64)      -           (64)                  
differences                                                                     
Movement in revaluation  -          (153)     -           (153)                 
reserves                                                                        
Movement in other        -          (1)       2           1                     
reserves                                                                        
Earnings attributable    -          -         5 381       5 381                 
to shareholders                                                                 
Ordinary dividends       -          -         (1 753)    (1 753)                
Preference dividends     -          -         -           -                     
Transfer (to)/from       -         (2)        2           -                     
reserves                                                                        
Effective change of      -          -         (1)         (1)                   
shareholding of                                                                 
subsidiary                                                                      
Share based payment      -          116       -          116                    
reserve                                                                         
Consolidation of         (1 231)    (561)     101         (1 691)               
treasury shares                                                                 
Balance at 31 December   2 239     4 512     27 096      33 847                 
2006                                                                            
                             Non cumulative     Minority    Total share-        
                             non redeemable     interest    holders`            
                             preference share               funds               
capital and                                        
                             premium                                            
Balance at 1 July 2007        4 519              3 672       47 220             
Movement in other associates   -                  -           57                
Currency translation           -                  (22)        (186)             
differences                                                                     
Movement in revaluation       -                  7            (10)              
reserves                                                                        
Movement in other reserves     -                  4          19                 
Earnings attributable to      194                618         7 095              
shareholders                                                                    
Ordinary dividends            -                   (413)      (2 637)            
Preference dividends          (194)               -          (194)              
Transfer (to)/from reserves    -                  -           -                 
Effective change of            -                  146         146               
shareholding of subsidiary                                                      
Subsidiary sold/unbundled -                                                     
Discovery                      -                 (2 100)      (5 544)           
Share based payment reserve    -                  4           105               
Consolidation of treasury      -                  -           (9)               
shares                                                                          
Balance at 31 December 2007    4 519             1 916        46 062            
Balance at 1 July 2006 as      4 519              2 974       39 504            
previously stated                                                               
BEE share based payment        -                  -           -                 
reserve                                                                         
Balance at 1 July 2006 as      4 519              2 974      39 504             
restated                                                                        
Issue of share capital         -                  (1)         (1)               
Conversion of convertible      -                  -           -                 
redeemable preference shares                                                    
Currency translation           -                 1            (63)              
differences                                                                     
Movement in revaluation        -                  69         (84)               
reserves                                                                        
Movement in other reserves     -                  (1)         -                 
Earnings attributable to              163        564         6 108              
shareholders                                                                    
Ordinary dividends                    -           (284)       (2 037)           
Preference dividends                  (163)       -           (163)             
Transfer (to)/from reserves           -           -           -                 
Effective change of shareholding of   -          -           (1)                
subsidiary                                                                      
Share based payment reserve          -            10          126               
Consolidation of treasury shares     -            37         (1 654)            
Balance at 31 December 2006          4 519       3 369       41 735             
assets under management or administration                                       
                           At                           At                      
31 December          %       30 June                 
R million                   2007      2006 3     Change  2007 1                 
Banking Group1              618 526   502 634    23      547 467                
Momentum Group1             182 532   179 008    2        184 088               
Discovery Group1            -         7 550      (100)    8 500                 
FirstRand company and       (19 822)  (12 685)   56      (18 496)               
consolidation2                                                                  
Total on balance sheet      781 236    676 507   15       721 559               
assets                                                                          
Off balance sheet assets    211 942    192 097   10      178 589                
managed or administered on                                                      
behalf of clients                                                               
Total assets under          993 178   868 604    14      900 148                
management or                                                                   
administration                                                                  
Pro forma total assets      993 178   861 054    15      891 648                
under management or                                                             
administration                                                                  
                                                                                
1. Assets are disclosed before elimination of intergroup balances. Refer note 2.
2. All consolidation entries have been included.                                
3. December 2006 numbers have been restated. Refer to www.firstrand.co.za.      
sources of normalised earnings                                                  
R million                2007      %       2006     % compo-%                   
compo-           sition  change               
                                  sition                                        
FNB                      2 741     45      2 187    39      25                  
FNB Africa               249       4       209      4       19                  
RMB                      1 927     31       1 690   30      14                  
WesBank                  462       7        538      10     (14)                
Momentum                 783       13       652      12      20                 
- Insurance operations   643                513                                 
- Asset management       140                139                                 
operations                                                                      
Discovery                185       3        220      4       (16)               
Group Support            34        1       275       5      (88)                
Banking Group            (96)               159                                 
Momentum Group           130                116                                 
FirstRand                (49)       (1)    (69)      (1)     (29)               
Dividend payment to non  (194)      (3)     (163)   (3)     19                  
cumulative non                                                                  
redeemable preference                                                           
shareholders                                                                    
Normalised earnings      6 138      100     5 539   100     11                  
1. The definition of normalised earnings is provided at the end of this         
announcement.                                                                   
description of normalised earnings                                              
The Group believes normalised earnings more accurately reflect actual           
operational performance. Headline earnings are adjusted to take into account non
operational and accounting anomalies.                                           
These adjustments are consistent with those reported at 30 June 2007, except for
private equity realisations.                                                    
Private equity realisations                                                     
In August 2007 a new headline earnings circular, Circular 8/2007, was issued by 
the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants ("SAICA").                 
The Group has applied this circular in preparation of this document. Private    
equity realisations are included in headline earnings per the new circular under
an industry specific rule, and consequently no normalised adjustment is         
necessary.                                                                      
Discovery BEE transaction                                                       
In December 2005 Discovery issued 38.7 million shares in terms of its BEE       
transaction. The special purpose vehicles and trusts to which these shares have 
been issued have been accounted for as share options of Discovery, eliminating  
the shares issued as treasury shares.                                           
The normalised adjustment:                                                      
* adds back the IFRS 2 charge; and                                              
* adds back the treasury shares to equity.                                      
Treasury shares: Effective shareholding in Discovery Holdings Limited           
Discovery consolidates in its results treasury shares relating to its BEE       
transaction, which effectively increases FirstRand`s share in Discovery from    
57.1% to 62.3%. This adjustment is to reflect the actual shareholding which     
existed pre the unbundling in Discovery at 57.1%.                               
Share based payments and treasury shares: Consolidation of share trusts         
IFRS 2 - Share based payments requires that all share based payments            
transactions for goods or services received must be expensed with effect from   
financial periods commencing on or after 1 January 2005. FirstRand hedges itself
against the price risk of the FirstRand share price in the various staff shares 
schemes. The staff schemes purchase FirstRand shares in the open market to      
ensure the company is not exposed to the increase in the FirstRand share price. 
Consequently, the cost to FirstRand is the funding costs of the purchases of    
FirstRand`s shares by the staff share trust. These trusts are consolidated and  
FirstRand shares held by the staff share scheme are treated as treasury shares. 
For purposes of calculating the normalised earnings, the consolidation entries  
are reversed and the Group shares held by the staff share scheme are treated as 
issued to parties external to the Group.                                        
The normalised adjustments:                                                     
* adds back the IFRS 2 charge; and                                              
* adds back the treasury shares to equity.                                      
Treasury shares: FirstRand shares held by policyholders                         
FirstRand shares held by Momentum Group and Discovery Life are invested for the 
risk and reward of its policyholders, not its shareholders, and consequently the
Group`s shareholders are not exposed to the fair value changes on these shares. 
In terms of IAS 32, FirstRand Limited and Discovery Holdings Limited shares held
by Momentum Group and Discovery Life on behalf of policyholders are deemed to be
treasury shares for accounting purposes. The corresponding movement in the      
policyholder liabilities is, however, not eliminated, resulting in a mismatch in
the overall equity and income statement of the Group.                           
Increases in the fair value of Group shares and dividends declared on these     
shares increase the liability to policyholders. The increase in the liability to
policyholders is accounted for in the income statement. The increase in assets  
held to match the liability position is eliminated. For purposes of calculating 
the normalised earnings, the adjustments described above are reversed and the   
Group shares held on behalf of policyholders are treated as issued to parties   
external to the Group.                                                          
Adjustment of listed property associates                                        
Momentum`s investments in its listed property associates (Emira and Freestone)  
were adjusted from fair value to net asset value in the Group consolidated      
financial statements until 31 December 2006. The policyholder liabilities are   
mainly based on the fair value of the units held, resulting in a mismatch       
between policyholder assets and liabilities that is reflected as a non          
operational item outside of normalised earnings. Since 1 January 2007, these    
investments in associates were reflected at fair value, as these assets back    
linked policyholder liabilities in terms of IAS28.                              
restatement of prior year numbers                                               
Line items on the face of the statement of headline earnings, income statement  
and balance sheet have been restated.                                           
For details on restatement of prior year numbers please refer to                
www.firstrand.co.za                                                             
Directors:                                                                      
GT Ferreira (Chairman), PK Harris (CEO), VW Bartlett, DJA Craig (British), LL   
Dippenaar, DM Falck, PM Goss, Dr NN Gwagwa, G Moloi, AP Nkuna, SE Nxasana, TN   
Nzimande, KC Shubane, RK Store,                                                 
BJ van der Ross, Dr F van Zyl Slabbert, RA Williams.                            
Secretary: AH Arnott                                                            
Registered office:                                                              
4th Floor, 4 Merchant Place, 1 Fredman Drive, Sandton, 2196                     
Postal address: PO Box 786273, Sandton, 2146,                                   
Telephone: +27 11 282 1808, Telefax: +27 11 282 8088                            
Web address: www.firstrand.co.za                                                
Sponsor: Rand Merchant Bank (a division of FirstRand Bank)                      
Date: 04/03/2008 08:30:03 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.                  
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employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct,     
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature,     
howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,          
information disseminated through SENS.
Profile Group (Pty) Ltd. has taken care in preparing all information on this website, but does not accept any liability for errors or out-of-date information.
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