Following the successful €150 million rights issue by Bank of Valletta plc late last year, which was the largest corporate action ever undertaken by a company listed on the Malta Stock Exchange, on March 23, Fimbank plc was granted approval for a $115 million rights issue.

Fimbank shareholders have until April 18 to exercise their entitlement to subscribe for two new shares for every three shares held at a price of $0.55 per share. This is indeed another very large rights issue, with shareholders being requested to apply for a sizeable proportion of their current shareholding.

In fact, it is worth highlighting the support of the bank’s two principal shareholders – United Gulf Holding Company BSC and Burgan Bank SAK (both members of the Kipco group of Kuwait) – who have committed themselves to exercise their right to subscribe to their entitlement of the rights issue. Moreover, United Gulf Holding Company BSC is also undertaking to underwrite up to U$105 million of the overall rights issue. This will not only ensure a successful offering but continues to show the support by Kuwait’s sovereign wealth fund, which has been instrumental for Fimbank following the very difficult times in recent years.

Fimbank had a profitable track record and a history of constant dividend distributions prior to 2013 but it then suffered considerable losses between 2013 and 2015 (with aggregate net losses of $49.2 million) mainly due to a significant deterioration in the business operations in Russia and India. This was also the result of the bank’s previous strategy that placed too much emphasis on rapid expansion without having sufficiently robust safeguards and risk controls in place. Fimbank had conducted a $50 million rights issue in mid-2014 at a price of $0.65 per share in order to strengthen its equity base following the significant losses incurred.

In mid-2015, Fimbank rolled out a new strategy in conjunction with the appointment of a new CEO as well as other members of top management. The overall aim was to achieve a quick turnaround in the group’s financial performance by retaining focus on global trade finance activities and consolidating the forfaiting, factoring and treasury management parts of the business. Fimbank’s management adop­ted a more stringent and selective ap­proach towards doing business and also installed much stronger governance and risk control procedures and structures. A significant restructuring exercise of the factoring network took place since some businesses were underperforming or else did not fall within the newly-established risk-reward parameters. In fact, the factoring businesses in Russia and Dubai were closed off.

Fimbank was quick in registering posi­tive results and returned to profitability in the last two financial years with a net profit of $5.02 million in 2016 and $7.52 million in 2017.

Fimbank held a meeting with financial analysts on March 16 to discuss the highlights of the 2017 financial performance and also delve into the immediate objectives in the coming years following the successful turnaround strategy since 2015.

More regular announcements and the publication of key performance indicators may help improve investor sentiment

Both chairman John Grech and the CEO Murali Subramanian confirmed that the business turnaround has been completed and the focus of the bank is now to grow its activities. The CEO explained that the bank now has a sounder business model and structures have been put in place to ensure that the bank has a solid platform which is scaleable and therefore it can take higher volumes of business without incurring additional costs.

The rights issue is therefore the main highlight of the current financial year, which should lead to higher business volumes and greater profitability in the years ahead.

Unfortunately, Fimbank did not publish additional details on its financial objectives for 2018 and future years. This would have helped tremendously in assisting many of the retail investors on whether to participate in the rights issue or otherwise.

The 2017 financial performance was positively impacted by some one-off items, such as the revaluation of part of the head office in St Julian’s, which is leased to third parties, and the recoveries of some of the old impairments of previous years. In 2017, Fimbank registered an impairment reversal of $2.3 million against an impairment charge of $2.3 million in 2016. Fimbank’s CEO explained during the meeting that, as a result of the efforts being undertaken, other significant recoveries are expected during 2018 and 2019. While this is positive for shareholders following the disappointing results between 2013 and 2015, Fimbank’s management now needs to prove to shareholders that profitability from core operations can also improve to more meaningful levels when excluding certain non-core and non-recurring items.

An important measure that should be analysed by shareholders in all companies is the return on equity. Fimbank’s ROE during 2017 was of only 4.6 per cent. When questioned on the future expected returns during the meeting on March 16, Fimbank’s CEO acknowledged that the return on equity is still low and also highlighted that in view of Fimbank’s business profile, which entails one of higher risks, more attractive returns should be produced.

Subramanian explained that the other banking subsidiaries within the Kipco group (the ultimate beneficial owners of Fimbank) give an average return on equity of 11 per cent and, therefore, Fimbank’s objective is to provide superior returns to these within the next five years. The CEO highlighted the ultimate target of achieving a return on equity of circa 15 per cent. This would imply a significant increase in profitability from current levels not only due to the fact that the return on equity during 2017 was of 4.6 per cent but, more importantly, since the equity base will increase sizeably as a result of the current rights issue.

Shareholders should also be aware of the recent comments and actions by the international credit rating agency Fitch­Ratings. In January 2015, FitchRatings had downgraded Fimbank’s long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘BB-’ from ‘BB’, citing the group’s “high-risk appetite” as well as a level of “capitalisation that is only just acceptable”. However, following the $50 million rights issue in 2014 and the initial signs of the success in the turnaround strategy, FitchRatings upgraded its outlook in January 2016 to ‘positive’ from ‘stable’, and in December 2016, it also improved its long-term IDR on Fimbank to ‘BB’.

Meanwhile, in its latest report published in September 2017, although FitchRatings maintained its long-term IDR on Fimbank at ‘BB’ with a ‘stable’ outlook, it hailed the group’s “niche trade finance focus and expertise” and commented positively on Fimbank’s “long-standing franchise and improving business model” as well as on its “capable management team and clear turnaround strategy”.

FitchRatings explained that although recent profitability trends have been “modest”, they “are showing improvement and reflect better cost control and lower loan impairment charges”. Moreover, FitchRatings noted that “risk management and controls are improving”. On the other hand, FitchRatings made reference to Fimbank’s risk appetite, which it views as being “above average due to the nature of the bank’s business”, and warned that “any material improvement to Fimbank’s currently weak asset quality metrics will take time”. It would be interesting to see the comments from FitchRatings following the current rights issue. Moreover, if Fimbank’s management succeed in im­proving the financial performance in future years, it will also be interesting to see whether this can help in achieving an ‘investment grade’ rating.

While some companies that are listed on the MSE have relatively stable business prospects that can be easily projected into the future, other companies have different business strategies that aim to grow internationally, and their financial performance is not easily predictable from one year to the next. These companies, such as Fimbank plc and various others, need to communicate more effectively with the market via regular company announcements, the issuance of interim directors’ statements and also the publication of financial forecasts similar to the strategy of Malta International Airport plc. This will help investors in gaining a better understanding of a company’s business prospects. In the case of Fimbank, more regular announcements and the publication of forecasted key performance indicators may help improve investor sentiment after a long period of disappointing returns for shareholders.

Rizzo, Farrugia & Co. (Stockbrokers) Ltd (Rizzo Farrugia) is a member of the Malta Stock Exchange and licensed by the Malta Financial Services Authority. This report has been prepared in accordance with legal requirements. It has not been disclosed to the company/s herein mentioned before its publication. It is based on public information only and is published solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any securities or related financial instruments. The author and other relevant persons may not trade in the securities to which this report relates (other than executing unsolicited client orders) until such time as the recipients of this report have had a reasonable opportunity to act thereon. Rizzo Farrugia, its directors, the author of this report, other employees or Rizzo Farrugia on behalf of its clients, have holdings in the securities herein mentioned and may at any time make purchases and/or sales in them as principal or agent, and may also have other business relationships with the company/s. Stock markets are volatile and subject to fluctuations which cannot be reasonably foreseen. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Neither Rizzo Farrugia, nor any of its directors or employees accept any liability for any loss or damage arising out of the use of all or any part thereof and no representation or warranty is provided in respect of the reliability of the information contained in this report.

© 2018 Rizzo, Farrugia & Co. (Stockbrokers) Ltd. All rights reserved.

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