HSBC Bank Canada FY13 Results



Financial Commentary

 

Overview

 

HSBC Bank Canada reported a profit before income tax expense of C$232m for the fourth quarter of 2013, an increase of C$14m, or 6%, compared with the fourth quarter of 2012, and a decrease of C$19m, or 8%, compared with the third quarter of 2013. Profit before income tax expense for the year ended 31 December 2013 was C$934m, a decrease of C$95m, or 9%, compared with 2012.

 

Profit before income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2012 included a C$42m write down in the value of investment property. Excluding the impact of the write down, profit before income tax expense decreased by C$28m, or 11%, compared with the same quarter last year primarily due to lower net interest income from the declining run-off consumer finance portfolio. The decrease in profit before income tax expense compared with the prior quarter is primarily due to higher levels of specific provisions within Commercial Banking.

 

Profit before income tax expense for the prior year included a gain on the sale of the full service brokerage business of C$88m and a restructuring charge of C$36m mostly relating to the wind-down of the bank's consumer finance business. Excluding the impact of these items, profit before income tax expense for the year decreased by C$43m, or 4%, compared with the prior year primarily due to lower net interest income from the declining loan balances of the run-off consumer finance portfolio as well as a reduction in net interest spread. The decrease is partially offset by lower operating expenses as a result of our on-going organisational effectiveness programs, which resulted in sustainable cost savings as well as an increase in value of the bank's investment in private equity funds. Also partially offsetting the decrease were lower loan impairment charges primarily from a reduction in collectively assessed provisions driven by declining loan balances of the run-off consumer finance portfolio, as well as tightening credit spreads on our own subordinated debentures designated at fair value.

 

Commenting on the results, Paulo Maia, President and Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Bank Canada, said:

 

"In my first year as President and CEO of HSBC Bank Canada, I have been privileged to meet many of our customers and see the many ways in which we are working together to fulfil their hopes and dreams and realise their ambitions while supporting the Canadian economy. Our continued focus on growing our core businesses by connecting our customers to international markets and business, and making sustainable cost savings, consistent with HSBC's global strategy, leaves us well positioned for future growth. A 10% growth in customer accounts - a clear vote of confidence from our clients - and a significant decrease in our operating expenses are bright spots for the year."

 

Analysis of Consolidated Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter of 2013

 

Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2013 was C$316m, a decrease of C$32m, or 9%, compared with the fourth quarter of 2012 and broadly unchanged compared with the third quarter of 2013. Net interest income was C$1,311m for the year ended 31 December 2013, a decrease of C$164m, or 11%, compared with 2012. Net interest income decreased compared with prior year periods primarily due to the declining loan balances of the run-off consumer finance portfolio and the sale of the consumer private label credit card portfolio during the third quarter of 2013 as well as a reduction in net interest spread.

 

Net fee income for the fourth quarter of 2013 was C$151m, marginally lower compared with the fourth quarter of 2012 and broadly unchanged compared with the third quarter of 2013. Net fee income was C$603m for the year ended 31 December 2013, broadly unchanged compared with 2012.

 

Net trading income for the fourth quarter of 2013 was C$34m, a decrease of C$11m, or 24% compared with the fourth quarter of 2012, and a decrease of C$8m, or 19%, compared with the third quarter of 2013. Net trading income was C$178m for the year ended 31 December 2013, marginally lower compared with 2012. Net trading income decreased compared with the same quarter last year primarily as a result of lower activity in the rates business. Net trading income decreased compared with the prior quarter primarily due to trading losses driven by hedge ineffectiveness.

 

Net expense from financial instruments designated at fair value for the fourth quarter of 2013 was a loss of C$2m compared with a loss of C$3m in the fourth quarter of 2012 and nil in the third quarter of 2013. Net expense from financial instruments designated at fair value was a loss of C$5m for the year ended 31 December 2013 compared with a loss of C$27m in 2012. The bank designates certain of its own subordinated debentures to be recorded at fair value. The movement in fair value of these debt issues includes the effect of our credit spread changes. As credit spreads widen or narrow, accounting profits or losses, respectively, are booked. We reported net expense from financial instruments throughout both the current and last year, primarily as a result of adverse fair value movements driven by the tightening of credit spreads.

 

Gains less losses from financial investments for the fourth quarter of 2013 were C$6m, an increase of C$2m and C$4m respectively, compared with the fourth quarter of 2012 and the third quarter of 2013. Gains less losses from financial investments were C$58m for the year ended 31 December 2013, an increase of C$6m, or 12%, compared with 2012. Gains less losses from financial investments increased as Balance Sheet Management recognised higher gains on sales of available-for-sale debt securities as a result of the continued re-balancing of the portfolio for risk management purposes based on the low interest rate environment.

 

Other operating income for the fourth quarter of 2013 was C$19m, an increase of C$45m compared with the fourth quarter of 2012, and an increase of C$12m compared with the third quarter of 2013. Other operating income was C$16m for the year ended 31 December 2013, a decrease of C$8m, or 33% compared with the same period in 2012. The variances from comparative periods are primarily due to a reduction in fair value of an investment property.

 

Gain on the sale of the full service retail brokerage business. The sale of the full service retail brokerage business resulted in a gain of C$84m, net of assets written off and directly related costs, and was reported in the results of the first quarter of 2012. In the fourth quarter of 2012, the bank satisfied certain conditions relating to the sale which allowed a further gain of C$4m to be recognised. These gains were not repeated in 2013.

 

Loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions for the fourth quarter of 2013 were C$39m, an increase of C$6m and C$30m respectively, compared with the fourth quarter of 2012 and the third quarter of 2013. Loan impairment charges and other credit provisions were C$188m for the year ended 31 December 2013, a decrease of C$23m, or 11%, compared with 2012. The increase in loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions compared with the same quarter last year and the prior quarter is primarily due to higher specific allowances for commercial customers.

 

On a year-to-date basis, loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions decreased primarily due to a reduction in collectively assessed allowances driven by declining loan balances of the run-off consumer finance portfolio and lower provisions carried relating to off-balance sheet exposures due to an overall improved credit quality. The decrease in loan impairment charges and other credit provisions was partially offset by higher specific allowances for commercial customers in the energy, real estate and agriculture sectors.

 

Total operating expenses (excluding restructuring charges) for the fourth quarter of 2013 were C$270m, a decrease of C$7m, or 3%, compared with the fourth quarter of 2012 and broadly unchanged compared with the third quarter of 2013. Total operating expenses were C$1,070m for the year ended 31 December 2013, a decrease of C$52m, or 5%, compared with 2012. Total operating expenses decreased compared with the same periods in 2012 notably as a result of our on-going organisational effectiveness programs, which resulted in sustainable cost savings of C$9m in the current quarter and C$33m in 2013. Cumulative sustainable cost savings from 2011 to the end of 2013 are in excess of C$130m. Right sizing operations of the bank's consumer finance business further contributed to the decrease in total operating expenses.

 

Restructuring charges of C$36m were recognised in the first quarter of 2012 mainly relating to the wind-down of the bank's former consumer finance business. These restructuring charges were not repeated in 2013.

 

Share of profit in associates for the fourth quarter of 2013 was C$17m, an increase of C$15m and C$8m respectively, compared with the fourth quarter of 2012 and the third quarter of 2013. Share of profit in associates was C$31m for the year ended 31 December 2013, an increase of C$26m compared with 2012. Share of profit in associates was higher due to an increase in value of the bank's investment in private equity funds.

 

Income tax expense. The effective tax rate in the fourth quarter of 2013 was 21.8%, compared with 29.5% in the fourth quarter of 2012 and 26.5% in the third quarter of 2013. The effective tax rate was 26.7% for the year ended 31 December 2013, broadly unchanged compared with 2012. Income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2013 included a reversal of an overprovision resulting in a lower effective tax rate.

 

Statement of Financial Position

Total assets at 31 December 2013 were C$84.3bn, an increase of C$3.5bn from 31 December 2012, primarily due to increases of C$2.2bn in reverse repurchase agreements, C$1.5bn in trading assets, and C$1.4bn in financial investments. The increase was partially offset by a C$1.9bn decrease in loans and advances to customers excluding reverse repurchase agreements. The growth in reverse repurchase agreements is primarily due to balance sheet management activities as well as customer facilitation. The growth in trading assets is primarily as a result of a higher holding of government and agency bonds from increased trading activity in the rates business as well as a higher pending settlement balances. The growth in financial investments is primarily due to the investment of excess liquidity within bonds and treasury bills. Loans and advances to customers decreased primarily as a result of the declining loan balances of the run-off consumer finance portfolio, the sale of the consumer private label credit card portfolio during the third quarter of 2013, as well as a decline in mortgage and overdraft accounts.

 

Total liabilities at 31 December 2013 were C$79.2bn, an increase of C$3.8bn from 31 December 2012, primarily due to increases of C$4.6bn in customer accounts excluding repurchase agreements and C$1.7bn in trading liabilities. The increase was partially offset by decreases of C$1.5bn in repurchase agreements, C$0.6bn in debt securities in issue and C$0.5bn in deposits by banks excluding repurchase agreements. The increase in customer accounts is primarily due to growth in savings, deposits and current accounts. The increase in trading liabilities is primarily as a result of increased activity in the rates business. Repurchase agreements decreased primarily as a result of reduced customer facilitating activity and balance sheet management activities. Debt securities in issue decreased primarily as a result of the maturity of C$2.6bn in secured funding and bearer deposit notes, partially offset by replacement wholesale term funding of C$2.0bn. Deposits by banks excluding repurchase agreements decreased primarily due to a reduction in treasury money market term deposits.

 

Total equity at 31 December 2013 was C$5.1bn, a decrease of C$0.3bn from 31 December 2012, primarily due to the purchase and cancellation of C$346m preferred share capital and C$30m in non-controlling interests in accordance with the bank's capital plan. The decrease in equity was partially offset by profits generated in the year.

 

Business Performance in the Fourth Quarter of 2013

 

As a result of the bank's previous decision to wind-down the consumer finance business in Canada and in order to more appropriately reflect the bank's active global lines of business, effective for 2013, results previously reported as the 'Consumer Finance' segment have been included under Retail Banking and Wealth Management, with exception of results relating to corporate credit cards, which are included under Commercial Banking. The results for the comparative period have been restated to reflect this change.

 

Commercial Banking

 

Profit before income tax expense was C$160m for the fourth quarter of 2013, an increase of C$39m, or 32%, compared with the fourth quarter of 2012, and a decrease of C$5m, or 3%, compared with the third quarter of 2013. Profit before income tax expense increased compared with the same quarter last year primarily due to a decline in value of an investment property recorded in the fourth quarter of 2012. Profit before income tax expense decreased compared with the prior quarter primarily as a result of higher specific loan impairment charges, partially offset by a higher share of profit in associates due to an increase in value of the bank's investment in private equity funds.

 

Profit before income tax expense was C$523m for the year ended 31 December 2013, a decrease of C$49m, or 9%, compared with 2012. On a year-to-date basis, profit before income tax decreased, primarily due to higher specific loan impairment charges in the energy, real estate and agriculture sectors as well as lower net interest income from the narrowing of net interest spread in a competitive low interest rate environment. The decrease in profit before tax was partially offset by growth in the value of the bank's investment in private equity funds and higher net fee income as a result of growth in bankers' acceptances and related transaction volume.

 

Global Banking and Markets 

 

Profit before income tax expense was C$62m for the fourth quarter of 2013, a decrease of C$7m, or 10%, compared with the fourth quarter of 2012 and an increase of C$7m, or 13%, compared with the third quarter of 2013. The decrease in profit before income tax compared with the same quarter last year is primarily due to lower net trading income as a result of lower activity in the rates business. The increase in profit before income tax compared with the prior quarter is mainly due to higher total gains realised from disposals of available-for-sale financial investments. The increase in profit before income tax compared with the prior quarter was partially offset by a decrease in net trading income from lower activity in the rates business and trading losses driven by unfavourable hedge ineffectiveness.

 

Profit before income tax expense was C$287m for the year ended 31 December 2013, a decrease of C$22m, or 7%, compared with 2012. Profit before income tax in 2012 included a gain of C$8m on the sale of full services retail brokerage business. Excluding the impact of the gain, profit before income tax expense decreased by C$14m, or 5%, compared with 2012 primarily due to lower net interest income from reduced interest margin, lower trading income as a result of a decline in customer spreads on foreign exchange products, as well as lower net fee income from a decline in derivative sales and debt underwriting fees.

 

Retail Banking and Wealth Management

 

Profit before income tax expense for the fourth quarter of 2013 was C$9m, a decrease of C$23m, or 72%, compared with the fourth quarter of 2012, and a decrease of C$24m, or 73%, compared with the third quarter of 2013. The decrease in profit before income taxes was primarily due to lower net interest income from the run-off consumer finance portfolio and a reduction in net interest spread. The decrease in profit before income taxes compared with the same quarter last year was partially offset by lower loan impairment charges from a release in collective provisions relating to the run-off consumer finance portfolio as well as an improvement in credit quality.

Profit before income tax expense for was C$131m for 2013, a decrease of C$57m, or 30%, compared with 2012. Profit before income tax expense relating to ongoing business (excluding the run-off consumer finance portfolio and gain on the sale of the full service retail brokerage business) was C$52m for 2013, an increase of C$9m, or 21%, compared with 2012. Profit before income tax expense relating to ongoing business increased, primarily due to lower total operating expenses as a result of cost control and continued delivery of our organisational effectiveness programs as well as higher net trading income from mark to market gains on structured products and an increase in foreign exchange activity. Profit before income tax expense relating to the run-off consumer finance portfolio was C$79m for 2013, an increase of C$14m, or 22%, compared with 2012. We continue to manage the run-off consumer finance portfolio profitably through cost reductions as we right size operations commensurate to declining loan balances. Loan impairment charges were also lower as loans are repaid or sold combined with stable to improving delinquency levels.

 

Other

 

Activities or transactions which do not relate directly to the above business segments are reported in 'Other'. The main items reported under 'Other' include income and expense from the impact of changes in credit spreads on our own subordinated debentures designated at fair value and income and expense related to information technology services provided to HSBC Group companies on an arm's length basis. Profit before income tax expense for the fourth quarter of 2013 was C$1m, an increase of C$5m compared with the fourth quarter of 2012, and an increase of C$3m compared with the third quarter of 2013. Profit before income tax expense was a loss of C$7m for the year ended 31 December 2013, compared with a loss of C$40m in 2012. The variances from comparative periods are primarily due to the impact of the items noted above.

 

Dividends

 

During the fourth quarter of 2013, the bank declared and paid C$90m in dividends on HSBC Bank Canada common shares, an increase of C$8m from the same period in 2012. The bank declared and paid C$360m in dividends on common shares during the year ended 31 December 2013, an increase of C$30m compared with 2012.

 

Regular quarterly dividends of 31.875 cents per share have been declared on HSBC Bank Canada Class 1 Preferred Shares - Series C, 31.25 cents per share on Class 1 Preferred Shares - Series D, 41.25 cents per share on Class 1 Preferred Shares - Series E and 7.75 cents per share on Class 2 Preferred Shares - Series B. Dividends will be paid on 31 March 2014, for shareholders of record on 15 March 2014.

 

Use of non-IFRS financial measures

 

In measuring our performance, the financial measures that we use include those which have been derived from our reported results. However these are not presented within the Financial Statements and are not defined under IFRS. These are considered non-IFRS financial measures and are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The following non-IFRS financial measures are used throughout this document and their purposes and definitions are discussed below:

 

Performance ratios

Performance ratios are useful for management to evaluate profitability on equity, assets and risk-weighted assets.

 

Return on average common equity is calculated as annual profit attributable to common shareholders divided by average common equity (determined using month-end balances).

 

Post-tax return on average assets is calculated as annual profit attributable to common shareholders divided by average assets (determined using average daily balances).

 

Post-tax return on average risk-weighted assets is calculated as profit attributable to common shareholders divided by the average monthly balances of risk-weighted assets for the year. Risk-weighted assets are calculated using guidelines issued by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada ('OSFI') in accordance with the Basel II and III capital adequacy frameworks (2012 and 2011: Risk weighted assets are calculated using the guidelines issued by OSFI in accordance with the Basel II capital adequacy framework).

 

Efficiency ratios

Efficiency ratios are measures of the bank's efficiency in managing its operating expense to generate revenue.

 

Cost efficiency ratio is calculated as annual total operating expenses as a percentage of annual net operating income before loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions.

 

Adjusted cost efficiency ratio is calculated similar to the cost efficiency ratio; however, annual net operating income before loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions excludes annual gains and losses from financial instruments designated at fair value, as the movement in value of the bank's own subordinated debt issues primarily driven by changes in market rates and are not under the control of management.

 

Revenue mix ratio

This measure demonstrates the contribution of each of the primary revenue streams to total income.

 

Net interest income, net fee income and net trading income as a percentage of total operating income is calculated as annual net interest income, annual net fee income and annual net trading income divided by annual net operating income before loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions.

 

Financial ratios

These measures are indicators of the stability of the bank's balance sheet and the degree funds are deployed to fund assets.

 

Ratio of customer advances to customer accounts is calculated by dividing loans and advances to customers by customer accounts using year-end balances.

 

Average total shareholders' equity to average total assets is calculated by dividing average total shareholders' equity for the year (determined using month-end balances) with average total assets (determined using daily balances) for the year.

 

Assets under administration

These are assets administered by the bank on behalf of our customers. The bank does not recognise these assets on its consolidated statement of financial position because our customers are the beneficial owners. This indicator demonstrates the bank's ability to earn net fee income.

 

About HSBC Bank Canada

 

HSBC Bank Canada, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, is the leading international bank in Canada. With around 6,300 offices in 75 countries and territories and assets of US$2,671bn at 31 December 2013, the HSBC Group is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations.

 

 

Copies of HSBC Bank Canada's Annual Report and Accounts 2013 will be sent to shareholders in March 2014.

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