Investec has announced in a conversation with City AM that it remains on course despite facing a “challenging macroeconomic backdrop and market volatility” during the first half of its financial year.
The FTSE 250 bank expects its adjusted operating profit before tax for the six months to range between £451 million and £481.8 million, aligning with the £474.7 million recorded in the same period last year. Adjusted earnings per share are forecast to be between 38.7p and 41.5p, representing a range from two percent below to five percent above last year’s figures. Basic earnings per share are expected to vary between a six percent decline and a two percent increase, falling between 36p and 38.8p.
Group Chief Executive Fani Titi stated, “We continued to make progress on our strategic objectives, notwithstanding the challenging macroeconomic backdrop and market volatility. We are on track with our strategy to build scale, leverage existing client franchises, and execute plans to enhance our proposition.” Investec remains committed to completing its £100 million share buyback programme announced in May, having purchased £46 million in shares to date. The group’s share price fell 0.5 percent in early morning trading to 582p.
Funds under management in Investec’s Southern African wealth arm increased by 7.8 percent to £25.2 billion from £23.4 billion. Rathbones, the UK wealth manager in which the bank holds a 41 percent stake, reported funds under management and administration of £109 billion. Investec also reported a 1.9 percent decrease in customer deposits to £40.8 billion, attributed to its ongoing strategy to optimise the liability mix in Southern Africa.
Specialist banking core loans rose by 4.7 percent to £33 billion, driven by growth in corporate lending books and private clients across both countries. Revenue was bolstered by increased activity levels, higher average advances, and positive net inflows in discretionary and annuity funds under management. However, growth was offset by the impact of lower average interest rates and reduced income from the group’s investments portfolio.
Titi remarked, “The group has robust capital and liquidity levels to manage the impact of external challenges and deliver on our clear and executable strategy to enhance long-term shareholder returns.”
The group also welcomed the Supreme Court’s motor finance ruling, having reserved £30 million in provisions prior to the decision last month. Titi commented, “We welcomed the ruling of the Supreme Court; we think there was a great degree of balance.” He added that the bank looks forward to “more clarity” from the FCA on the redress scheme, which the financial regulator estimated to cost between £9 billion and £18 billion.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of Investec increasing its stake in Switzerland-based M&A firm Capitalmind AG, rebranding the company as Investec as it strengthens its reach into the Swiss market.
