Profit of BRD after nine months, down 98%

BRD, the second largest domestic bank in terms of assets, reported a net profit of 10.38 million lei after the first nine months of 2012, down 98%, compared to last year's similar period. Between January and September 2011, BRD had a net profit of 446.62 million lei.

This year's result came on the back of the increase of provisions to 1.16 billion lei, up 58% over last year's similar period, with this evolution being influenced mostly by the drop in the value of the collaterals of non-performing loans, according to a press release of the bank.

At the end of September, the assets of the bank fell to 47.60 billion lei, down from 48.75 billion lei at the end of 2011.

The bank's press release mentions: "The third quarter of 2012 confirmed the positive trend in the lending activity seen at the end of Q1, with an important increase in the portfolio of loans (+8.1%) compared to September 30th, 2011, higher than the growth rate of the banking system (+5%), which caused its market share to rise to 14.7%, on September 30th, 2012".

In September, the total amount of the gross awarded loans reached 36.25 billion lei, up from 33.95 billion lei at the end of 2011, thanks to loans granted to companies, especially to corporations, funding through the "First Home" program and consumer loans.

The value of the customers' deposits reached 31.66 billion lei at the end of Q3 2012, up 5.4% over the similar period of 2011, and up 4.5% compared to December 2011.

At the end of Q3 2012, the net banking revenue fell by approximately 6% YOY, to 2.18 billion lei, due to the drop of the net interest margin by 9%, compared to the first nine months of 2011, even though it entered an upward trend in Q3, with a rise of 13%, compared to the 2nd quarter.

Net commission revenues reached 572 million lei, at the end of the first nine months, up from 571 million lei at the end of Q3 2011.

In the first nine months, operating expenses fell 4%, to 1 billion lei, compared to the similar period of 2011.

The gross operating profit was 1.17 billion lei, down 7% compared to September 2011.

• Philippe Charles Lhotte, elected chairman of the Board of Directors of BRD

Yesterday, Philippe Charles Lhotte, elected chairman of the Board of Directors of BRD, after the National Bank of Romania (NBR) approved his appointment as CEO and member of the Board of Directors of the Bank.

The press release of the bank states: "In the meeting held on November 5th, 2012, the Board of Directors of the Bank elected Mr. Philippe Charles Lhotte as chairman of the Board of Directors of BRD-Groupe Societe Generale. On the same date, the function of interim Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mr. Petre Bunescu ended".

At the end of September, the shareholders of BRD approved the appointment of Philippe Charles Lhotte as director, for a four-year term.