First Capital Holdings PLC recently hosted an evening of cocktails to celebrate the ongoing success of its partnerships and fete its stakeholders.Speaking at the reception, Executive Chairperson Manjula Mathews reflected on the company’s sustained growth and thanked those present for their continued support.

“We have achieved considerable progress over the past year thanks to the shared vision of all our stakeholders and propelled by a combination of teamwork, favourable market conditions and financial experience.We are sincerely grateful to our clients and other partners for their unstinting support as we progress on our journey towards becoming Sri Lanka’s leading investment bank.”

Elaborating on the company’s way forward, Mathews noted that the group plans to consolidate and build on the growth momentum of the past year by offering innovative and profitable investment banking solutions.Held at Cinnamon Grand, the reception brought together over 400 guests for a memorable evening of fellowship and entertainment and served as an occasion for the company to show its appreciation towards its regulators, collaborators, clients and members of the media.

The exclusive event provided an opportunity for the group’s senior management to engage and interact with all stakeholders and reaffirm the company’s commitment to strengthen and build on the trust and confidence placed in First Capital.During the first half of the financial year 2014/15, First Capital Holdings PLC reported profit after tax of Rs.868 million and received an upgrade in its national long-term and short-term corporate credit rating to A- /P2.

The company achieved several milestones such as the launch of a ‘Platinum Bond’ - the first-ever long-term repo investment product, pioneering the firstever microfinance-backed securitization and the introduction of three new unit trusts including a gilt-edged and money market unit trust.The First Capital Wealth Fund was lauded as the best performing fixed income unit trust over the past 12 months, with returns of over 25 percent.The corporate structuring arm of the company is accredited with the management of a landmark AAA-rated debenture, while First Capital Treasuries is currently the market leader in its niche, among standalone primary dealers.

Keenly attuned to the market and strengthened with a strong group research unit, First Capital Holdings PLC has recently added finance advisory services to its range of services in order to cater to the diverse needs of its clientele and provide superior investment banking solutions.First Capital Holdings PLC comprises of First Capital Treasuries Limited, First Capital Asset Management Limited, First Capital Equities (Private) Limited, First Capital Markets Limited and First Capital Limited.The company has a network of branches in Colombo, Matara, Negombo, Kandy and Kurunegala and is equipped with nearly three decades of experience in financial services.