Standard Bank - Trading statement in respect of th
Standard Bank - Trading statement in respect of the six months ended
30 June 2005
Standard Bank Group Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1969/017128/06)
South African Share Code: SBK
Namibian Share Code: SNB
ISIN: ZAE000057378
(`Standard Bank` or `the company`)
Trading statement in respect of the six months ended 30 June 2005
Standard Bank`s interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2005 will be
released on 17 August 2005 and will be presented in compliance with
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for the first time.
As reported at the company`s Annual General Meeting on 25 May 2005, Domestic
Banking is enjoying strong retail asset growth and lower than expected credit
losses. Africa`s earnings continue to grow satisfactorily while International
has been negatively affected by pricing and margin pressure in most of its
businesses. In a trading update issued on 21 July 2005, Liberty Life reported,
inter alia, satisfactory investment returns, good operational performance and
the inclusion for the first time of earnings generated by Capital Alliance.
These are all expected to add to an increased contribution from Liberty Life.
Taking these factors into account, indications are that growth in normalised
headline earnings per share for the six months to 30 June 2005 is likely to
range between 15% and 25%. Growth in earnings per share and headline earnings
per share before normalised adjustments is likely to be range between 25% and
35%.
Normalised adjustments account for the legal substance of the Black Ownership
Initiative concluded in October 2004 and, from 2005, the legal substance of
group shares held for the risk and reward of Liberty policyholders. In terms of
IFRS, Standard Bank and Liberty Holdings shares held by Liberty Life on behalf
of policyholders are deemed to be treasury shares and the investment in these
shares is accordingly set off against equity in the group`s financial
statements. The weighted average number of Standard Bank shares in issue is
therefore reduced by approximately 50 million shares for the period under
review. As reported in 2004, shares held by the participants in the group`s
Black Ownership Initiative are also treated as treasury shares, which further
reduces the weighted average number of shares in issue by approximately 100
million shares. The reinstatement of these shares is the main reason for the
difference in the above mentioned earnings per share growth rates.
The impact of IFRS on the group will be dealt with comprehensively in the
interim results announcement.
The above information has not been reviewed or reported on by the company`s
auditors.
Johannesburg
4 August 2005
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