LONDON (Alliance News) - African banking investment company Atlas Mara Ltd said it posted a loss in the first quarter of 2016 but said it remains broadly on track to meet its expectations for the full year.
The company said it made a USD2.0 million loss in the quarter to the end of March, compared to a USD9.0 million profit a year earlier, excluding one-offs. Including these exceptional items, the loss was USD6.7 million, compared to a USD500,000 profit.
The first quarter loss was driven by weakness in some key African currencies against a stronger US dollar, plus credit provisions booked in Zimbabwe against some specific corporate loans amid economic challenges in the country.
Atlas Mara affirmed its expectations for the full year to outpace its USD11.3 million profit made a year earlier, but said it could well face challenges in the balance of the year from weak African currencies.
Atlas Mara shares were down 1.0% to USD4.90 early Thursday.
By Sam Unsted; samunsted@alliancenews.com; @SamUAtAlliance
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