LB Finance crosses Rs.100bn in assets with Rs.6.9bn PBT

LB Finance accomplished a stellar performance overall for the year ended March 31, 2017. Total assets crossed the Rs. 100 billion milestone to reach Rs. 102.8 billion as at March 31, 2017, a growth of 21.6 percent over the previous year. 
The company has been able to record compounded annual growth rates (CAGR) of 19.2 percent, 17.3 percent and 19.6 percent respectively in total assets, customer deposits and loans and advances over the past 
five years. 
Profit before tax (PBT) on financial services grew by 17 percent reaching Rs. 6.9 billion for the financial year 2016/17, the highest recorded among all the players in the non-banking financial institutions (NBFI) Sector for the year. 
Correspondingly, profit before income tax too grew to Rs. 5.9 billion, the highest ever recorded in the Company’s history, albeit at a lower rate of 10 percent year-on-year due to an increase in the VAT rate.
 Profit After Tax (PAT) was recorded at Rs.3.9 billion with a growth of 5 percent. Profitability in terms of return on assets and return on equity were recorded at satisfactory levels of 4.2 percent and 34.1 percent respectively for 
the year.
This is a commendable achievement given the challenging external environment during the year characterized by, amongst others, tight liquidity, rising interest rates, change in import duties on vehicles, restrictions on lending imposed by the regulator and lacklustre investor confidence. 
Commenting on the performance LB Finance Managing Director Sumith Adhihetty  stated: “In a year filled with many challenges, we proved our resilience by successfully maintaining our growth momentum and meeting the challenges posed by the external environment and asserted our dominance in the industry. The financial stability we have demonstrated is a testament to the trust placed in us by our valued stakeholders for the last 46 years.”  
LB Finance recorded a strong, above industry average total capital adequacy ratio of 17.1 percent as at March 31, 2017 against the minimum regulatory requirement of 10 percent. Further, A- (lka) rating from Fitch Ratings Lanka Ltd. with a stable outlook denotes expectations of low default risk and strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. In its endeavors to enhance shareholders’ value, LB Finance is committed to the highest standards of business ethics, corporate governance and risk management. Acknowledging the commitment to transparency, accountability and good governance in financial reporting, CA Sri Lanka bestowed many awards for the company’s annual report 2015/16 including the overall special Gold award for Integrated Reporting Best Disclosure on Capital Management at its 52nd Annual Report Awards. The report also won Bronze at the CMA Excellence in Integrated 
Reporting Awards.
Established in 1971, LB Finance succeeded in building an unmatched reputation as one of Sri Lanka’s most trusted financial institutions as evident from the total deposit base of over Rs.60 billion, one of the largest in the NBFI sector.