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Valartis Group AG

EANS-Adhoc: Valartis Group AG
Group increases net profit and assets under management

  ad-hoc disclosure transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide
  distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this
  announcement.
6-month report
27.08.2009
The Valartis Group achieved net profit after minority interests of 
CHF 45.5 million for the first six months of 2009 (prior year: CHF 
4.0 million) on operating income of CHF 100 million. The Group´s 
shareholders´ equity was CHF 326.6 million as at end-June (including 
minority interests of CHF 47 million), producing an equity ratio of 
17% based on total assets of CHF 1,920 billion. As at 30 June 2009, 
client assets under management had risen by CHF 345 million versus 
end-2008 to CHF 4,360 billion.
Sources of income more broadly based The acquisition of Valartis Bank
(Austria) AG, Vienna, last December - part of the Group´s heightened 
strategic focus on private banking - has had a radical and lasting 
impact on the income structure of the Group. The resulting increase 
in total assets, which came to CHF 1,920 billion as at the end of 
June 2009, brings with it a more important role for interest 
arbitrage operations in particular; these produced net interest 
revenue (including dividends) of CHF 8.4 million in the first half of
2009 (prior year: CHF 1.8 million). In transactions with assets on 
the balance sheet, Valartis concentrated primarily on top-quality 
counterparties and attached a great deal of importance to the 
liquidity of the investments. As a result, it reduced amounts due 
from banks from CHF 902 million as at end-2008 to CHF 354 million by 
30 June 2009 and built up a well-diversified portfolio of 
fixed-income investments totalling CHF 873 million (end-2008: CHF 2.6
million).
Thanks to the calm that has set in on the financial markets over 
recent months and the marked decline in credit risk premiums, the 
Group was able to generate income of CHF 17.3 million from trading in
debt instruments. Meanwhile, trading in listed equity instruments 
(primarily Swiss equities) resulted in a gain of CHF 12.4 million 
(prior year: CHF -14.2 million), in spite of the conscious action 
taken to reduce these positions to below CHF 50 million (end-2008: 
CHF 70 million).
Net income from commission and service fee business fell as expected 
in the first six months of 2009, down year-on-year from CHF 29.8 
million to CHF 20 million, due to cautious client activity and lower 
income from investment companies and investment funds under 
management. The increased market dynamism observed in the second 
quarter of 2009 and the rise in assets under management in the Asset 
Management and Private Banking divisions is, however, likely to have 
a positive impact on earnings from this line of business in future. 
The stepping up of Private Banking activities in Geneva and Zurich, 
which - alongside the organisation in Vienna - are being developed 
into key pillars of the Group, provides further grounds for 
confidence. As at end-June 2009, the Private Banking division had 
assets under management of CHF 2,288 billion (end-2008: CHF 1,937 
billion). On a consolidated basis, assets under management totalled 
CHF 4.360 billion (prior year: CHF 4.015 billion).
The CHF 41.8 million recorded under "Other ordinary income" (prior 
year: CHF 14.0 million) comprises the increased stake - as previously
announced - in the real estate and property development company 
Eastern Property Holdings Ltd., which was acquired at a substantial 
discount to the carrying value. The resulting appreciation gain after
provisions for deferred taxes totalled approximately CHF 31 million. 
Valartis Group had a 37.4% stake in EPH as at end-June 2009.
Cost structure under control On the cost front, personnel and 
operating expenses rose to CHF 35.3 million (prior year: CHF 26.0 
million) on the back of the acquisition. Stripping out the costs 
associated with the acquisition of Valartis Bank (Austria) AG, 
Vienna, however, expenditure was reduced slightly on a like-for-like 
basis, and cost efficiency was increased. The reduction in headcount 
in Investment Banking was offset by expansion in other business 
areas. After Reto Peczinka (Investment Banking) and Felix Morf (Asset
Management) stood down from Group Management in the first half of 
2009, the organisation was streamlined and a management level was 
eliminated, enabling the Group to respond to market opportunities 
that may arise in its various activities in a more targeted and 
flexible manner.
The total operating income of CHF 99.6 million and expenses of CHF 
41.3 million (prior year: CHF 27.5 million) resulted in net profit 
before taxes of CHF 58.3 million (prior year: CHF 4.6 million). 
Depreciation and amortisation rose to CHF 5.9 million (from CHF 1.4 
million) as a consequence of acquisitions. After taking into account 
tax expenses of CHF 11.8 million (prior year: CHF 1 million) and the 
profit attributable to minority interests, net profit attributable to
the shareholders of Valartis Group AG increased from CHF 4 million to
CHF 45.5 million, or CHF 9.52 per outstanding bearer share.
Solid capital base The Valartis Group´s shareholders´ equity as at 30
June 2009 was CHF 326.6 million (end-2008: CHF 285.9 million). This 
means the Group has a solid capital and financing base: the equity 
ratio was 17% of total assets, while the tier I and tier II ratios 
were 10.5% and 12.1% respectively. Excluding minority interests of 
CHF 47 million, which remained unchanged versus end-2008, this 
resulted in a carrying value for the Valartis Group shareholders of 
CHF 280 million (end-2008: CHF 239 million), or CHF 59.8 (previously:
CHF 48.5) per outstanding bearer share.
The 2009 Half-Year Report can be downloaded in PDF format from our 
website at www.valartis.ch
end of announcement                               euro adhoc

Further inquiry note:

Gustav Stenbolt, CEO Valartis Group
Tel. +41 43 336 81 11

Branche: Financial & Business Services
ISIN: CH0001840450
WKN: 184045
Index: SPI, SPIEX, SSCI
Börsen: SIX Swiss Exchange / official market

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Plus de actualités: Valartis Group AG