ADCB nine-month net profit climbs 36% on lower impairment charges

Net profit during the period rose to Dh3.8bn

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank is the UAE’s third-largest lender. Courtesy ADCB

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, the UAE’s third-largest lender, reported an almost 36 per cent jump in its nine-month net profit thanks to lower impairment charges as the UAE economy continued to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The total profit attributable to equity holders of the bank for the period ending September 30 climbed to Dh3.8 billion ($1.03bn), the lender said in a statement to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares are traded. Impairment charges during the period dropped 35 per cent to Dh1.98bn, while net fees and commission income rose 24 per cent to Dh1.38bn.

“Despite the subdued macroeconomic conditions, the bank capitalised on an active lending pipeline and has extended Dh28bn in new credit this year to targeted economic sectors in line with our five-year growth strategy,” said Ala'a Eraiqat, ADCB's group chief executive.

Banks in the region are reporting higher profits as they book lower loan provisions behind a rapidly recovering economy. The UAE's non-oil economy is expected to expand about 4 per cent this year and in 2022 while overall economic growth is expected to be 3.8 per cent next year, the UAE Central Bank said in June.

ADCB's total assets climbed 6 per cent to Dh432bn during the nine-month period. Net loans and advances remained stable at Dh242bn, while deposits from customers grew 5 per cent to Dh256bn.

The bank, which is one of the biggest creditors of troubled NMC Group, said that its proactive approach to the healthcare company led to a significant positive development during the third quarter as NMC's creditors voting overwhelmingly in favour of the proposed debt restructuring plan, Mr Eraiqat said.

Last month, creditors of NMC Healthcare approved its proposed deeds of company arrangement restructuring process, a move that allows 34 companies of the UAE’s biggest healthcare provider to exit administration. NMC secured approval for its restructuring proposal from 95 per cent of its creditors.

“As a result of the creditors’ recent vote in September, ADCB is expected to receive approximately 39 per cent of exit instruments in a new $2.25bn facility – a debt claim sized to the expected future value of NMC Group. Given these material developments, we consider the provisions for NMC Group recorded to date to be at an appropriate level.”

However, the bank’s three month profit, slid 7 per cent to Dh1.27bn as impairment charges rose during the period.