Investec 9-month Adj. Operating Income Up 1% - Update

South African specialist banking and asset management group Investec Plc (INVP.L) Friday reported a 1% increase in adjusted net operating income for the nine months ended December 31. Investec also said net profit before goodwill and non-operating items for the period remained in line with the prior year.

For the nine-month period, net operating income, excluding impairments on loans and advances but including expenses and minorities, increased by 1%.

Defaults and impairments for the nine-month period have continued to increase in line with the previous guidance, Investec added. Credit loss charge as a percentage of average gross core loans and advances annualised for the period amounted to 1.1%, in line with that of March 31, 2009.

Since March 31, core loans and advances grew 7% to GBP17.4 billion, customer deposits increased 33% to GBP19.3 billion and third party assets under management rose 38% to GBP67.2 billion.

Investec's three core geographies remained profitable with recurring income as a percentage of total operating income amounting to about 63%. As at December 31, capital adequacy ratio of the company was 15.2% and the capital adequacy ratio of Investec Limited, which is incorporated in the Republic of South Africa, was 14.8%.

Currently the company's cash and near cash available to support its activities was GBP7.4 billion.

At the end of the nine-month period, core advances, excluding own originated assets, as a percentage of customer deposits were 84.0%, compared to 103.6% at March 31, 2009. Investec's gearing ratio remained low at around 12 times.

Investec said although there has been a sustained period of stability in financial markets, operating fundamentals remain mixed with activity levels below historic trends.

INVP is currently trading at 422.30 pence per share, up 0.88%, on the London Stock Exchange.

by RTTNews Staff Writer

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