Financial results of Kiwi Group Holdings (including Kiwibank) for the six months ending 31 December 2017

23/02/2018

Kiwi Group Holdings (‘Group’), which includes the Kiwibank Banking Group (‘Kiwibank’), Kiwi Wealth, Kiwi Insurance and New Zealand Home Loans, has reported an unaudited net profit after tax for the six months ending 31 December 2017 of $44 million ($65 million for the six months ending 31 December 2016).

The Group’s unaudited underlying profit1 of $60 million was down $7 million compared with $67 million in the prior comparative period.

Kiwibank, which provides the bulk of the Group’s earnings, achieved an unaudited net profit after tax1 for the six months ending 31 December 2017 of $42 million ($63 million for the six months ending 31 December 2016). Kiwibank’s unaudited underlying profit was $58 million compared with $65 million in the prior comparative period.

Acting Kiwibank Chief Executive Mark Stephen said that although the market experienced a significant slowdown in lending growth during the winter months and leading up to the election, it has returned to more normal levels. Lower funding costs and market pricing opportunities enabled Kiwibank’s net interest margin to improve, lifting net interest income to $198m (up 9% on the prior comparative period).

Other key financial metrics:

  • Net loans and advances to customers up 3.4% on the prior comparative period
  • Customer deposits up 3.9% on the prior comparative period
  • Impaired assets remain low at just 0.05% of total gross loans and advances
  • Net interest margin 2.00% for the 6 months to December 2017 (1.92% in June 2017)

Kiwibank’s net promoter scores for personal banking customers2 and small business banking customers3 continue to remain the highest among the major banks. Mr Stephen said it was pleasing to retain such high levels of customer advocacy in an extremely competitive market.

Investment continues to be made in the branch network to further improve the customer experience. As part of the broader distribution strategy, Kiwibank established a standalone branch in the Christchurch CBD, in addition to the Kiwibank only branches in Hamilton and Auckland CBD. The creation of the Christchurch Kiwibank branch is a significant permanent move back to the CBD after the devastating earthquakes, and includes a new business bank customer centre and regional office. A fourth standalone branch was created in New Plymouth in early January with more anticipated for other locations around the country in the coming 1-3 years.

Kiwi Wealth continues to be an outstanding performer. During the six months ending 31 December 2017, revenue of $22m was up 20% year-on-year, driven by increasing KiwiSaver membership and strong investment performance. The Kiwi Wealth KiwiSaver scheme membership growth of 5.8% was almost 3.5 times the industry rate of 1.7%. At 31 December 2017, Kiwi Wealth had in excess of $5b of funds under management.

Looking ahead, Mr Stephen said that Kiwibank remains committed to keeping the customer front and centre as we undertake a strategic review of the business. Kiwibank remains well capitalised, with strong shareholder support, and sound underlying financial performance – all of which holds us in good stead to pursue the opportunities available to us.

1 Unaudited net profit after tax has been adjusted to exclude non-core items to arrive at underlying profit. These items relate to the earthquake and the IT project known as CoreMod. CoreMod was closed during the reported period and the full financial consequences of this have been reflected in the financial statements. Refer to Summary of Key Financial Information for details of reconciling items between underlying profit and net profit after tax.

2 ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Kiwibank, Westpac. Source: Retail Market Monitor. Data is reported on a ‘rolled’ basis with rolling averages reported over 6 months.

3 Limited companies only in $0-$5 million turnover bracket. Source: Business Finance Monitor (BFM) from TNS. Data is reported on a ‘rolled’ basis with rolling averages reported over 4 quarters.

Summary of Key Financial Information – Kiwi Group Holdings

$m

6 months to 31-Dec-17*

6 months to 31-Dec-16*

12 months to 30-Jun-17

Income statement (extract)

Net interest income

202

185

375

Net fee and other income

97

85

180

Operating expenses

(224)

(183)

(384)

Net profit after tax

44

65

58

 

Reconciliation of net profit after tax to underlying profit

Net profit after tax

44

65

58

Reconciling items (net of tax):

Other impairment losses1

8

65

Operating costs incurred to wind down CoreMod2

7

Earthquake costs3

1

2

6

Underlying profit

60

67

129

 

CTI

74%

66%

68%

 

Total Assets

20,513

20,326

20,741

Total Equity

1,498

1,426

1,455

1. Other impairment losses: Impairment loss recognised in relation to computer software (the CoreMod IT project)

2. Operating costs incurred to wind down CoreMod: Operating costs incurred in relation to the CoreMod IT project subsequent to the Board decision to close the project

3. Earthquake costs: Earthquake costs are operating expenses incurred by the Group as a result of the November 2016 Kaikoura earthquake net of insurance payments received to date

* Dec-16 and Dec-17 are unaudited

Summary of Key Financial Information – Kiwibank Banking Group

$m

6 months to 31-Dec-17*

6 months to 31-Dec-16*

12 months to 30-Jun-17

Interest income

438

413

831

Interest expense

(240)

(231)

(463)

Net Interest Income

198

182

368

Gains/(losses) on financial instruments at fair value

5

7

8

Net fee income

60

59

118

Operating expenses

(197)

(164)

(339)

Impairment (losses)/reversals on loans and advances

(1)

2

6

Other impairment losses

(11)

(90)

Profit before taxation

54

86

71

Income tax expense

(12)

(23)

(18)

Net profit after tax

42

63

53

 

Reconciliation of net profit after tax to underlying profit

Net profit after tax

42

63

53

Reconciling items (net of tax):

Other impairment losses1

8

65

Operating costs incurred to wind down CoreMod2

7

Earthquake costs3

1

2

4

Underlying profit

58

65

122

 

CTI

75%

66%

69%

 

Dividends paid on ordinary shares

(5)

(5)

Other distributions paid

(5)

(7)

(13)

$m

As at 31-Dec-17*

As at 31-Dec-16*

As at 30-Jun-17

Assets

Loans and advances

18,027

17,428

17,815

Other assets

2,354

2,580

2,801

Total assets

20,381

20,008

20,616

 

Liabilities

Deposits and other borrowings

15,960

15,362

15,983

Debt securities issued

2,170

2,446

2,258

Other liabilities

831

905

995

Total liabilities

18,961

18,713

19,236

 

Shareholders' equity

Share capital

737

490

737

Reserves

683

805

643

Total shareholders' equity

1,420

1,295

1,380

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

20,381

20,008

20,616

1. Other impairment losses: Impairment loss recognised in relation to computer software (the CoreMod IT project)

2. Operating costs incurred to wind down CoreMod: Operating costs incurred in relation to the CoreMod IT project subsequent to the Board decision to close the project

3. Earthquake costs: Earthquake costs are operating expenses incurred by the Group as a result of the November 2016 Kaikoura earthquake net of insurance payments received to date

* Dec-16 and Dec-17 are unaudited

Download Kiwibank’s latest Disclosure Statement.