• Interim Financial Report 2021/2022

    Source: Nasdaq GlobeNewswire / 28 Jan 2022 10:40:00   America/Chicago

    Regulated information, Leuven, 28 January 2022 (17.40 hrs CET)

    Interim Financial Report 2021/2022

    KBC Ancora recorded a profit of EUR 223.9 million in the first half of the financial year 2021/2022. This compared with a loss of EUR 8.1 million in the same period in the previous financial year. The difference was due almost entirely to the decision by KBC Group to distribute both an interim dividend in respect of financial year 2021 and an extra dividend in respect of financial year 2020 in the second half of 2021. In the same period in the previous financial year KBC Group, following the recommendation of the European Central Bank (ECB), took the decision not to distribute an interim dividend.

    Abridged financial summaries and notes1

    Results for the first half of financial year 2021/2022

     1H fin. year

    (x EUR 1,000)    		2021/2022
    per share
    (in EUR)    		1H fin. year


    (x EUR 1,000)    		2020/2021

    per share
    (in EUR)
    Income232,5762.97340.00
    Dividends from financial fixed assets232,5492.9700.00
    Other income270.00340.00
    Expenses-8,667-0.11-8,115-0.10
    Cost of debt-6,934-0.09-6,884-0.09
    Services and sundry goods-1,332-0.02-1,230-0.02
    Other costs-400-0.01-1-0.00
    Result after taxes223,9102.86-8,081-0.10
    Distribution of interim dividend180,0932.3000.00
    Number of shares in issue* 78,301,314 78,301,314

    * No instruments have been issued which could lead to dilution.

    KBC Ancora recorded a profit of EUR 223.9 million in the first six months of the current financial year, equivalent to EUR 2.86 per share, compared with a loss of EUR 8.1 million in the same period in the previous financial year.

    Income consisted principally of dividend received on the participating interest in KBC Group (EUR 232.5 million). Expenses were made up mainly of interest charges on debt (EUR 6.9 million), operating costs (EUR 1.3 million) and tax on securities accounts (EUR 0.4 million).
    On 9 December 2021 KBC Ancora distributed an interim dividend of EUR 2.30 gross per share, amounting to a total of EUR 180.1 million.

    Balance sheet as at 31 December 2021

    (x EUR 1,000)31.12.2021*30.06.2021
    BALANCE SHEET TOTAL3,715,0363,664,327
    Assets  
    Fixed assets3,599,9793,599,979
    Financial fixed assets3,599,9793,599,979
    Current assets115,05864,348
    Liabilities  
    Equity3,363,5753,319,759
    Issued capital2,021,8712,021,871
    Legal reserve101,659101,659
    Other unavailable reserves1,136,2571,136,257
    Available reserves59,58859,588
    Profit (loss) carried forward383383
    Result for the period223,9100
    Distribution of interim dividend-180,0930
    Creditors351,461344,568
    Amounts falling due after more than     
    one year    		243,000243,000
    Amounts falling due within one year100,209100,244
    Accrued expense and deferred   
        income    		8,2521,324

    * The balance sheet as at 30 June 2021 is shown after appropriation of profit.        

    The balance sheet total at 31 December 2021 stood at EUR 3.7 billion, an increase of EUR 50.7 million compared with the end of financial year 2020/2021.

    The number of shares held by KBC Ancora in KBC Group remained unchanged at 77,516,380. Cash at bank and in hand increased by EUR 50.7 million.

    Equity rose by EUR 43.8 million, being the result for the first six months of the current financial year (EUR 223.9 million) less the interim dividend distributed in December 2021 (EUR 180.1 million). Debt increased by EUR 6.9 million, principally due to the pro rata application of interest charges in respect of the first six months of the financial year.

    Interim report on the first six months of the current financial year 2021/2022

    Notes on the first half of the current financial year 2021/2022

    Results for the first six months of the financial year 2021/2022

    KBC Ancora recorded a profit of EUR 223.9 million in the first six months of the current financial year, compared with a loss of EUR 8.1 million in the same period in the previous financial year.

    This result was influenced principally by the following factors:

    • an interim dividend of EUR 1.00 per KBC Group share distributed in respect of financial year 2021, and an extra dividend of EUR 2.00 per KBC Group share in respect of financial year 2020 (together totalling EUR 232.5 million). In the same period in the previous financial year KBC Group, following the recommendation of the European Central Bank (ECB), did not distribute an interim dividend.
    • interest charges amounting to EUR 6.9 million, in line with the same period in the previous financial year.
    • operating expenses amounting to EUR 1.7 million, EUR 0.5 million more than in the same period in the previous financial year. The operating expenses consisted primarily of costs incurred under the cost-sharing agreement with Cera (EUR 0.9 million). In addition, there were the usual costs such as listing fees and management expenses. There was also a tax liability of EUR 0.4 million on the securities accounts in the first half of the financial year.

    Interim dividend of EUR 2.30 per KBC Ancora share on 9 December 2021

    On 9 December 2021 KBC Ancora distributed an interim dividend of EUR 2.30 gross per share, amounting to a total of EUR 180.1 million. This represented a one-off deviation from KBC Ancora’s usual dividend calendar, in light of the extra dividend distributed by KBC Group on 17 November 2021 in respect of financial year 2020.

    Participating interest in KBC Group, net debt position and net asset value

    The number of KBC Group shares in portfolio remained unchanged during the past six months at 77,516,380. KBC Ancora holds 0.99 KBC Group shares per KBC Ancora share in issue. The average book value of the KBC Group shares is EUR 46.44 per share.
    KBC Ancora’s net debt amounted to EUR 3.02 per share at 31 December 2021, a reduction of EUR 0.56 per share compared with 30 June 2021.

    The net asset value of one KBC Ancora share at 31 December 2021 was thus equivalent to the price of 0.99 KBC Group shares less EUR 3.02.

    Based on the closing price of the KBC Group share on 31 December 2021 (EUR 75.46), the net asset value of one KBC Ancora share amounted to EUR 71.68, and the KBC Ancora share price (EUR 42.02) was trading at a discount of 41.4% to the net asset value.

    The following charts illustrate the movements in the price of the KBC Group and KBC Ancora shares and the discount of the KBC Ancora share to its net asset value.

    Trend in KBC Group and KBC Ancora share price
    (January – December 2021)    		Trend in discount of KBC Ancora share to its
    net asset value (January – December 2021)
      

    Appointments at the statutory director, Almancora Société de gestion

    On 26 November 2021 Fintrac BV, represented by Professor Marc De Ceuster, who has been an independent director since November 2019, was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Almancora Société de gestion, statutory director of KBC Ancora. He succeeded Herman Vandaele, who had reached the age limit set in the Articles of Association.

    Philippe Vanclooster was appointed as a new independent director on the Board of Directors of Almancora Société de gestion, succeeding Herman Vandaele.

    Principal risks and uncertainties in the remaining months of the financial year

    Certain risk factors could have an impact on the value of the assets held by KBC Ancora and on its ability to distribute a dividend. Reference is made in this regard to the description of the risks in the most recent annual report (page 19).

    KBC Group reported a net result of EUR 1.95 billion for the first nine months of 2021. KBC Group will announce its annual result for the financial year 2021 on 10 February 2022.

    KBC Ancora's expenses in the second half of the current financial year (2021/2022) will consist principally of interest charges plus the usual limited operating expenses. KBC Ancora estimates the total expenses in respect of the financial year 2021/2022 at approximately EUR 16.6 million.

    Partly dependent on the decisions taken by KBC Group regarding the distribution in the first half of 2022 of a final dividend in respect of financial year 2021, the Board of Directors of Almancora Société de gestion, statutory director of KBC Ancora, will take a decision at the end of May 2022 on whether to distribute a second interim dividend in June 2022 in respect of financial year 2021/2022, in line with its dividend policy. KBC Ancora's dividend policy sets out the intention to pay out 90% of the recurring result available for distribution in the form of an interim dividend (i.e. after adjustment for any exceptional results and after mandatory formation of the legal reserve).

    During the second half of financial year 2021/2022, KBC Ancora will make the necessary preparations and take the appropriate decisions in respect of the loans (totalling EUR 100 million) which mature in May 2022. Taking into account the normal dividend policy, the accrued cash position at that time will be applied to these loans. At 31 December 2021, the cash position stood at EUR 115.1 million.

    Declaration by the responsible individuals

    “We, the members of the Board of Directors of Almancora Société de gestion, statutory director of KBC Ancora SA, hereby jointly declare that, in so far as we are aware:

    a)   the abridged financial summaries, drawn up in accordance with the applicable standards for financial statements, present a true and fair picture of the capital position, financial position and results of KBC Ancora;

    b)   the interim financial report presents a true and fair view of the key events and principal transactions with affiliated parties during the first six months of the current financial year and of their impact on the abridged financial summaries, as well as a description of the principal risks and uncertainties during the remaining months of the financial year.”


    Information on the external audit

    The statutory auditor has reviewed the abridged interim financial information and accompanying notes. The auditor's report is appended to this interim report.

            ---------------------------------

    KBC Ancora is a listed company which holds 18.6% of the shares in KBC Group and which together with Cera, MRBB and the Other Permanent Shareholders is responsible for the shareholder stability and further development of the KBC group. As core shareholders of KBC Group, these parties have signed a shareholder agreement to this effect.

    Financial calendar:
    26 August 2022 (17.40 hrs CEST)        Annual press release for the financial year 2021/2022
    27 September 2022 (17.40 CEST)        Annual Report 2021/2022 available
    28 October 2022        General Meeting of Shareholders

    This press release is available in Dutch, French and English on the website www.kbcancora.be.

    KBC Ancora Investor Relations & Press contact: Jan Bergmans
    Tel.: +32 (0)16 279672
    E-mail: jan.bergmans@kbcancora.be or mailbox@kbcancora.be

    Appendix: Balance sheet and profit and loss account with comparative figures

    (x EUR 1,000)31.12.2021*30.06.2021
    BALANCE SHEET TOTAL3,715,0363,664,327
       
    Assets  
    Fixed assets3,599,9793,599,979
    Financial fixed assets3,599,9793,599,979
    Companies with which there is a   
    participatory relationship    		3,599,9793,599,979
    Participating interests3,599,9793,599,979
    Current assets115,05864,348
    Receivables due within one year75
    Trade receivables75
    Cash at bank and in hand115,05164,337
    Accrued income and deferred expense06
       
    Liabilities  
    Equity3,363,5753,319,759
    Contribution2,021,8712,021,871
    Issued capital2,021,8712,021,871
    Reserves1,297,5051,297,505
       Unavailable reserves1,237,9161,237,916
    Legal reserve101,659101,659
    Other unavailable reserves1,136,2571,136,257
    Available reserves59,58859,588
    Profit (loss) carried forward383383
    Profit/loss for the period223,910n/a
    Distribution of interim dividend-180,0930
    Creditors351,461344,568
    Amounts falling due after more than one year243,000243,000
    Financial liabilities243,000243,000
    Credit institutions243,000243,000
    Amounts falling due within one year100,209100,244
    Financial liabilities100,000100,000
    Credit institutions100,000100,000
    Trade creditors142168
    Suppliers142168
    Other creditors6776
    Accrued expense and deferred income8,2521,324

    * The balance sheet as at 30 June 2021 is shown after appropriation of profit.

    (x EUR 1,000)01.07.2021-
    31.12.2021    		01.07.2020-
    31.12.2020
       
    Operating income2734
    Other operating income2734
    Operating costs1,7331,231
    Services and sundry goods1,3321,230
    Other operating costs4001
    Operating profit (Operating loss)-1,705-1,197
       
    Financial income232,5490
    Recurring financial income232,5490
    Income from financial fixed assets232,5490
    Financial expenses6,9346,884
    Cost of debt6,9346,884
    Other financial expenses00
       
    Profit (loss) before tax223,910-8,081
       
    Profit (loss) after tax223,910-8,081


    Statutory auditor's report to the board of directors of KBC Ancora NV on the review of the condensed interim financial information as at 31 December 2021 and for the 6-month period then ended

    FREE TRANSLATION OF A REPORT ORIGINALLY PREPARED IN DUTCH

    Introduction

    We have reviewed the accompanying interim financial report 2021/2022, containing the condensed balance sheet of KBC Ancora NV as at 31 December 2021, the condensed profit and loss statement and notes (“the condensed interim financial information”). The board of directors is responsible for the preparation and presentation of this condensed interim financial information in accordance with the financial reporting framework applicable in Belgium for interim financial information. Our responsibility is to express a conclusion on this condensed interim financial information based on our review.

    Scope of Review

    We conducted our review in accordance with the International Standard on Review Engagements 2410, “Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity”. A review of condensed interim financial information consists of making inquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

    Conclusion

    Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the accompanying condensed interim financial information as at 31 December 2021 and for the 6-month period then ended is not prepared, in all material respects in accordance with the financial reporting framework applicable in Belgium for condensed interim financial information.

    Zaventem, 28 January 2022

    KPMG Bedrijfsrevisoren - Réviseurs d’Entreprises
    Statutory Auditor
    represented by

    Kenneth Vermeire
    Bedrijfsrevisor / Réviseur d’Entreprises

    1         KBC Ancora's reporting is based on Belgian GAAP.
            See Appendix for the balance sheet and profit and loss account.

    Attachment


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