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Voluntary trading update and trading statement for the six month period ending 30 June 2020
Standard Bank Group Limited
Registration No. 1969/017128/06
Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa
JSE and A2X share code: SBK
ISIN: ZAE000109815
NSX share code: SNB
SBKP ZAE000038881 (First preference shares)
SBPP ZAE000056339 (Second preference shares)
(“Standard Bank” or “the group”)
Voluntary trading update and trading statement for the six month period ending 30 June 2020
Trading update
Shareholders are advised that the outlook for the twelve month period ending 31 December 2020
(FY20) continues to deteriorate. In sub-Saharan Africa, the human impact of the Covid-19 pandemic
is growing. Standard Bank recognises the need to “flatten the curve”. We will continue to prioritise the
safety and wellbeing of our employees and our customers, while also supporting community initiatives
in the countries in which we operate.
The group also recognises the significant impact the lockdowns have had, and continue to have, on
our clients. While the lockdowns in some of our markets started to ease or be lifted in early May,
South Africa’s lockdown has continued to constrain large parts of the economy. In Africa Regions, the
group’s African operations outside South Africa, the lockdown period has averaged 37 days. South
Africa has been under a relatively restrictive lockdown for 63 days. We welcome the SA
Government’s decision to transition to level 3 and open-up more of the economy.
While the economic data is likely to take some time to catch up, the toll of the lockdowns is starting to
emerge. By 28 May, the Personal and Business Banking division (PBB) had provided R92 billion in
relief to individuals, SMMEs and commercial clients in SA across 285 000 accounts and R11 billion to
predominantly commercial PBB clients in Africa Regions across 14 000 accounts. The Corporate &
Investment Banking division (CIB) had concluded restructures for eligible clients with risk exposures
amounting to approximately R30 billion. To date, the CIB requests have largely originated in SA.
From a Standard Bank perspective, the lockdowns negatively impacted sales, disbursements and
transaction activity levels. In South Africa, in April deeds offices and dealerships were closed which
halted mortgage disbursements and resulted in a more than 70% decline in VAF disbursements
compared to March. In addition, ATM and branch volumes were down 38% and 61% respectively.
While there has been an improvement in activity levels during the course of May, they remain below
those seen prior to the lockdown.
There remains a high degree of uncertainty regarding the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic and the
associated governmental responses will have on the economies in the markets in which the group
operates, and in turn, on the group. While we remain unable to provide guidance with regards to the
group’s performance for the year ending 31 December 2020, we wish to provide some high-level
commentary on the factors influencing the FY20 outlook.
Year to date, all the currencies across the 20 markets in which the group operates on the continent
have weakened relative to the USD. The South African Rand (ZAR), Zambian Kwacha and
Zimbabwean Dollar have weakened the most. In contrast, the countries in the group’s East Africa
Region have held up relatively well. While the ZAR is expected to strengthen by year end, it is likely to
be weaker on average relative to the USD and the Africa Regions currencies year on year. This will
support the earnings contribution from Africa Regions. Inflation has remained relatively subdued
despite currency weakness. There have been policy interest rate cuts in all but three markets, with
South Africa seeing the largest cumulative decline to date at 275 bps. In 2020, the economies in 12 of
our 20 Africa countries are expected to contract; South Africa, Botswana and Namibia are expected to
see the biggest declines. Our current expectation for South Africa is an 8.5% decline in real GDP in
2020, followed by a 6.5% recovery in 2021. The East Africa Region economies (Kenya, Tanzania and
Uganda) are currently expected to avoid a contraction.
Loan growth in the first 4 months of 2020 (4M20) was robust. The combination of higher digital
disbursements, corporate facility drawdowns and a weaker ZAR led to strong double-digit growth
period on period. CIB grew faster than PBB. In PBB, unsecured lending grew faster than secured
lending. Loan growth is expected to slow from current levels. Low business and consumer confidence
levels are expected to continue to be a constraint on secured portfolio growth. While instalment relief
is likely to temporarily support portfolio levels, this is likely to be offset by lower new business
disbursements. Unsecured lending growth will be subject to individual affordability and business and
sector viability over the medium term. Deposit growth was also strong period on period, in particular
demand deposits, as corporates drew down on facilities to access liquidity and placed it back on
deposit. Deposit growth is also expected to slow.
Balance sheet growth will partially offset a meaningful decrease in net interest margin on the back of
higher funding costs and negative endowment following the significant policy interest rate cuts seen to
date. In South Africa, a 25 bps movement equates to an annualised R300 million net interest income
impact. The group’s current assumption is that there will be no further policy rate cuts in South Africa
in 2020. Non-interest income growth, while supported by trading income in 4M20, will depend on the
pace and magnitude of the recovery in 2H20. Containing operating expense growth remains a focus.
Where possible, cost levers will be pulled, but not at the expense of the resilience of our systems or
our ongoing digital customer journeys.
Credit impairment charges have the greatest potential for variability and will depend on the depth of
the recession and pace of the recovery. In the modelling of expected credit losses, IFRS 9 requires
the consideration of the current portfolio performance, comprising individual counterparty and portfolio
performance, and a forward-looking view. In determining the latter, one is required to apply judgement
and make a number of forward-looking assumptions. We note the guidance and clarification provided
by the Prudential Authority in Guidance Note 3/2020 and Guidance Note 6/2020 in this regard. Our
current scenario analysis indicates that the group’s credit loss ratio for FY20 will be above the group’s
through-the-cycle range of 70 bps to 100 bps and may exceed the peak recorded in the Global
Financial Crisis of 160 bps.
The group ceased accruing earnings from its 20% stake in ICBC Argentina post the decision to sell its
stake in August 2019. ICBC Standard Bank Plc (ICBCS) incurred a significant single client loss in
FY19 which should not repeat in FY20. ICBCS’ ability to break even remains subject to better
integration with ICBC’s client base.
With regards to Liberty Holdings Limited’s (Liberty) performance, please refer to Liberty’s voluntary
operational update announcement released on the JSE Stock Exchange News Service (SENS) on 14
May 2020 and the trading statement released on SENS on 29 May 2020.
On capital, funding and liquidity, the group supports the actions taken by the South African Reserve
Bank. As at 31 March 2020, the group’s common equity tier one ratio was 12.9% and liquidity
coverage ratio was 141.9%. As at 30 April 2020, the group remained well capitalised and
liquid. Based on our scenario analysis, the group’s capital ratios are expected to remain strong and
above required minimums. In line with the Prudential Authority’s guidance on dividends, the group is
not planning to declare an FY20 interim ordinary dividend.
If the pandemic-related impacts are deeper or more sustained than currently expected, or government
actions are not effective, the group’s results could vary meaningfully. The group is reviewing the
group’s medium-term financial targets and will provide an update as and when able to do so.
Trading statement
Shareholders are advised that Standard Bank’s headline earnings per share (HEPS) and earnings per
share (EPS) for the six-month period ending 30 June 2020 are expected to be more than 20% lower
than the reported HEPS and EPS for the comparable period (1H19 HEPS: 837.4 cents, 1H19 EPS:
827.0 cents). We will issue a further trading statement with more specific guidance ranges once there
is reasonable certainty regarding the extent of the decline relative to the comparable period.
Standard Bank’s results for the six months ended 30 June 2020 are expected to be released on the
SENS on 20 August 2020.
The complexity and uncertainty surrounding the crisis has been stressful for our employees and we
thank them for their ongoing commitment. In a dynamic and broad crisis such as this, the depth of
skills and experience across the group has proven invaluable. In addition, the group is confident it has
the governance and risk management structures in place to ensure the appropriate and timely flow of
information required to support agile and effective decision-making. A large proportion of the group’s
employees across the continent, and in our international offices, continue to work productively from
home. This would not have been possible without our strategic partnerships and the systems
investments the group has made in recent years. Our digital customer channels have also proven
resilient.
While our immediate priorities remain employee, customer and community safety and support, we
also recognise the need to lift our heads and plan for the recovery phase and the opportunities a “new
normal” may bring. With our operational business continuity plans now well embedded, our focus is
increasingly moving towards growing the sustainable strength of our client franchise.
Investor call
Standard Bank will host an investor call at 17h00 (South Africa time) on 4 June 2020. The call details
are available on the Standard Bank Group Investor Relations website -
https://reporting.standardbank.com/
A replay will be available shortly after the end of the call.
Shareholders are advised that the information contained in this trading update and trading statement
have not been reviewed or reported on by the group’s auditors.
Johannesburg
1 June 2020
Lead sponsor
The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited
Independent sponsor
JP Morgan Equities South Africa Proprietary Limited
Namibian sponsor
Simonis Storm Securities (Proprietary) Limited
Date: 01-06-2020 08:00:00
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