Standard Chartered Regulatory News (STAN)

30 October 2019

Standard Chartered PLC - third quarter 2019 results

Standard Chartered PLC (the Group) today releases its results for the third quarter ended 30 September 2019. All figures are presented on an underlying basis and comparisons are made to the third quarter of 2018, unless otherwise stated. A reconciliation of restructuring and other items that have been excluded from underlying results is set out on page 8 below.

"Our strategy of the last few years has progressively created a stronger and more resilient business as evidenced by a 16% increase in underlying profits in the third quarter. The continuing execution of that strategy remains our priority, enabling us to face the more challenging external environment confidently, determined to continuously enhance our service to our clients, our performance-oriented culture and our profitability."

Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive

Progress year-to-date on strategic priorities

·; Deliver our network: income from corporate and institutional clients using our international network grew 7%

·; Grow our affluent business: income from Premium, Priority and Private Banking clients increased 5%

·; Optimise low-returning markets: aggregate profit in India, Indonesia, Korea and UAE improved 16%

·; Improve productivity: income per full-time employee increased 5%

·; Transform and disrupt with digital: key client digital adoption measures continued to improve

·; Drive sustainability: adopted Principles for Responsible Banking; issued Asia's first sustainable deposit

Progress in 3Q'19 on financial framework

·; Return on tangible equity up 160bps to 8.9%

o Underlying profit before tax up 16% to $1.2bn

o Statutory profit before tax up 4% to $1.1bn

·; Income up 7% to $4.0bn; up 8% on a constant currency basis

o Broad-based growth across all segments and regions

o Particularly strong performance in Corporate & Institutional Banking up 13% and Private Banking up 14%

o Europe & Americas grew 19% and ASEAN & South Asia was up 13%

o Income year-to-date up 3%; up 5% on a constant currency basis

·; Costs flat at $2.5bn; up 1% on a constant currency basis

o Significantly positive income-to-cost jaws both in 3Q'19 and year-to-date

o Costs in 2H'19 will be slightly higher than in 1H'19 due to investment phasing; so 4Q'19 will exceed 3Q'19

o Costs in FY'19 excluding the UK bank levy are expected to grow below the rate of inflation

·; Capital

o Completed $1bn buy-back: 116m shares acquired and cancelled reducing total issued share capital by 3.5%

o Common equity tier 1 ratio remains within 13-14% target range at 13.5%: up 6bps since 30 June 2019

- Changes to Pillar 2A and HK counter-cyclical buffers increased the CET1 requirement by 21bps to 10.2%

o Risk-weighted assets (RWA) down $2bn since 30 June 2019 to $269bn

- Credit risk RWA reduced by $2bn whilst total assets grew by 3% in the same period

- RWA grew broadly in line with income year-to-date

Other 3Q'19 financial highlights

·; Pre-provision operating profit up 22% to $1.5bn

·; Asset quality remains stable despite higher credit impairment driven partly by IFRS 9 expected credit losses

o Higher stage 3 credit impairment from a small number of unconnected corporate exposures

o Stage 1 and 2 credit impairment of $54m compared to a net release of $35m in 3Q'18

·; Average interest-earning assets up 8% to $603bn; yield up 19bps to 3.28%

·; Average interest-bearing liabilities up 11% to $530bn; rate paid up 18bps to 1.96%

·; Net interest margin year-to-date flat at 1.58%

Outlook

We continue to focus on executing our strategy with the objective of delivering a 10% return on tangible equity by 2021 but there are growing headwinds from the combination of continuing geopolitical tensions and expectations of declining near-term global growth and interest rates.

1 Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders is after the deduction of dividends payable to the holders of non-cumulative redeemable preference shares and Additional Tier 1 securities classified as equity

2 When calculating this ratio, total loans and advances to customers excludes reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending, excludes approved balances held with central banks, confirmed as repayable at the point of stress and includes loans and advances to customers held at fair value through profit and loss. Total customer accounts includes customer accounts held at fair value through profit or loss

3 Represents the underlying or statutory earnings divided by the basic weighted average number of shares

4 Represents the recommended ordinary dividend per share

5 Calculated on period end net asset value, tangible net asset value and number of shares

Summary of financial performance 4

Analysis of operating income by

Product 5

Client segment 6

Geographic region 6

Statutory net interest income and margin 7

Credit risk summary 7

Restructuring and other items 8

Balance sheet and liquidity 8

Risk-weighted assets 9

Capital base and ratios 9

Additional information

Quarterly underlying operating income by segment, region and product 11

Basis of preparation 12

IFRS 16 12

Credit grade 12 accounts 12

Forward-looking statements

This document may contain 'forward-looking statements' that are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future events. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements often use words such as 'may', 'could', 'will', 'expect', 'intend', 'estimate', 'anticipate', 'believe', 'plan', 'seek', 'continue' or other words of similar meaning. By their very nature, such statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause actual results, and the Group's plans and objectives, to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Recipients should not place reliance on, and are cautioned about relying on, any forward-looking statements. There are several factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include (but are not limited to) changes in global, political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory forces or conditions, future exchange and interest rates, changes in tax rates, future business combinations or dispositions and other factors specific to the Group. Any forward-looking statement contained in this document is based on past or current trends and/or activities of the Group and should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future.

No statement in this document is intended to be a profit forecast or to imply that the earnings of the Group for the current year or future years will necessarily match or exceed the historical or published earnings of the Group. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement. Except as required by any applicable laws or regulations, the Group expressly disclaims any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement contained within this document, regardless of whether those statements are affected as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Nothing in this document shall constitute, in any jurisdiction, an offer or solicitation to sell or purchase any securities or other financial instruments, nor shall it constitute a recommendation or advice in respect of any securities or other financial instruments or any other matter.

This information will be available on the Group's website at www.sc.com

1 Comparisons presented on the basis of the current period's functional currency rate

2 Not meaningful

3 Statutory net interest income divided by average interest earning assets, annualised

4 Represents the underlying or statutory earnings divided by the basic weighted average number of shares

The Group delivered an encouraging and resilient performance in the third quarter of 2019. Income grew at the top end of the medium-term guidance range of 5-7 per cent and at a significantly faster rate than costs; profitability improved despite an increase in impairments; capital and liquidity levels remain strong; and the balance sheet is growing.

All commentary that follows is on an underlying basis and comparisons are made to the equivalent period in 2018 where the percentage change is better / (worse) unless otherwise stated.

·; Operating income grew 7 per cent or 8 per cent on a constant currency basis. Net interest income grew 9 per cent with increased contribution from trading book assets in Financial Markets and increased volumes and margins within Cash Management and Retail Deposits whilst Other income increased 4 per cent

·; Operating expenses were flat or up 1 per cent on a constant currency basis, with tight control of costs generating positive cost-to-income jaws of 7 per cent. The Group has clear strategic priorities and continues to invest behind them. As previously guided: excluding the UK bank levy, costs in the second half of 2019 are expected to be slightly higher than in the first half. That means that costs in the fourth quarter will be higher than in the third quarter due to investment phasing but for full-year 2019 are expected to grow below the rate of inflation

·; Credit impairment increased by $164 million to $279 million driven mainly by higher stage 3 credit impairment relating to a small number of unconnected single-name exposures within Corporate & Institutional Banking. Expected credit losses relating to stage 1 and 2 exposures of $54 million in the quarter were $89 million higher compared to a net release of $35 million in 3Q'18, and included $24 million related to the impact of changes to macroeconomic forecasts during the period. Credit impairment of $533 million year-to-date represents a loan-loss rate of 23 basis points, an increase of 2 basis points year-on-year

·; Other impairment reduced by $71 million to $5 million following the Group's decision to discontinue its ship leasing business, with the related impairment now recorded as a restructuring charge and excluded from underlying results

·; Profit from associates and joint ventures was down 4 per cent with the exclusion from underlying performance of the Group's non-core share of PT Bank Permata Tbk's earnings offsetting an increase in profit from the Group's other associates and joint ventures

·; Profit before tax improved 16 per cent on both a reported and a constant currency basis. Charges relating to restructuring and other items totalled $133 million, an increase of $126 million. Including these items statutory profit before tax improved 4 per cent 

·; Taxation was $333 million on a statutory basis. The underlying effective tax rate was 27.1 per cent (3Q'18: 27.2 per cent)

·; Return on tangible equity improved by 160 basis points to 8.9 per cent reflecting the increase in underlying profit and the reduction in tangible equity following the completion of the $1 billion share buy-back programme

·; Basic earnings per share (EPS) increased 4.4 cents to 26.6 cents and statutory EPS increased 1.1 cents to 22.5 cents

1 Following a reorganisation of certain product teams within Financial Markets, $46 million of income that in 1H 2018 was reported within Credit and Capital Markets was transferred to Rates during 3Q 2018. Prior periods have not been restated

2 Not meaningful

3 In Dec 2018 it was decided to discontinue the ship operating lease business; any future profits and losses will be reported as restructuring. Prior periods have not been restated.

Transaction Banking income grew 4 per cent with continued strong performance in Cash Management and growth in Trade and Securities Services. Corporate & Institutional Banking clients generated 78 per cent of this income with the remainder generated by Commercial Banking clients.

Financial Markets income grew 25 per cent benefiting from market volatility and increased hedging and investment activity by clients. Credit and Capital Markets income more than trebled and there was double-digit growth in the Capital Structuring Distribution Group and Other Financial Markets and a positive $11m movement in the Debit Valuation Adjustment.

Corporate Finance income increased 5 per cent despite the Group's decision to discontinue its ship leasing business, with the related income now recorded as a restructuring charge and excluded from underlying results. Excluding the impact of discontinuing ship leasing, Corporate Finance income was up 10 per cent driven by asset origination.

Lending and Portfolio Management income was up 18 per cent from improved margins in Corporate Lending and lower costs from collateralised loan obligation initiatives to optimise risk-weighted assets.

Wealth Management income grew 5 per cent - despite the more challenging market conditions - primarily from growth in equity and fixed income investment products partially offset by lower bancassurance income as a result of an accelerated recognition of an annual bancassurance bonus within Retail Banking into the prior quarter. Retail Banking clients generated 81 per cent of this income with the remainder generated by Private Banking clients.

Retail Products income grew 5 per cent or 7 per cent on a constant currency basis with continued growth from Deposits as well as an 8 per cent increase in Mortgages and Auto.

Treasury income reduced 2 per cent with a $12 million favourable movement in hedge ineffectiveness offset by the impact of interest rate movements within the Treasury Markets portfolio.

Corporate & Institutional Banking income grew 13 per cent with double digit growth in Financial Markets and continued growth in Cash Management.

Retail Banking income grew 4 per cent or 6 per cent on a constant currency basis driven primarily by Retail Products, and Deposits in particular, with Wealth Management income broadly stable.

Commercial Banking income grew 8 per cent or 9 per cent on a constant currency basis with broad-based growth across multiple products.

Private Banking income grew 14 per cent primarily driven by Wealth Management, with positive contributions from all products.

Central & other items income reduced 19 per cent with lower Other income from the impact on fixed assets of adopting IFRS 16 and increased funding charges, and lower Treasury income.

Greater China & North Asia income grew 2 per cent with growth in Financial Markets, Lending and Portfolio Management, Retail Products and Wealth Management offsetting a lower contribution from Treasury and Corporate Finance. Income grew in Hong Kong, Korea and China.

ASEAN & South Asia income grew 13 per cent with broad-based growth across all products. There was double-digit income growth in India, Bangladesh and Indonesia as well as high single-digit growth in Singapore.

Africa & Middle East income grew 2 per cent or 8 per cent on a constant currency basis, with double-digit growth in Financial Markets partly offset by reduced contribution from Retail Products and Treasury. Income grew in Pakistan and Ghana, partly offset by marginally lower income in UAE and Nigeria.

Europe & Americas income grew 19 per cent with strong double-digit growth across Treasury, Corporate Finance and Financial Markets.

Central & other items income grew 5 per cent with favourable movements in hedge ineffectiveness within Treasury and lower costs from collateralised loan obligation programmes. 

1 Variance is better/(worse) other than assets and liabilities which is increase/(decrease)

2 Change is the basis points (bps) difference between the two periods rather than the percentage change

3 Statutory net interest income divided by average interest earning assets, annualised

Compared to the third quarter of 2018 statutory net interest income grew 8 per cent while the net interest margin was flat at 156 basis points.

·; Average interest-earning assets increased 8 per cent driven by higher loans and advances to customers and increased trading book assets to support client demand for emerging market bonds and reverse repurchase agreements. Gross yields increased 19 basis points compared to the average in the third quarter of 2018 and predominantly reflected the rises in global interest rates that occurred through last year

·; Average interest-bearing liabilities increased 11 per cent driven by growth in customer accounts and client demand for repurchase agreements. The rate paid on liabilities increased 18 basis points compared to the average in the third quarter of 2018 reflecting the same historical rises in interest rates

1 Variance is increase/(decrease)

2 Includes reverse repurchase agreements and other similar secured lending held at amortised cost of $6,132 million at 30 September 2019, $2,704 million at 30 June 2019, $3,151 million at 31 December 2018 and $3,597 million at 30 September 2018

3 Change is the percentage points difference between two points rather than percentage change

Asset quality overall was broadly stable in the quarter with no new areas of stress identified. The Group remains vigilant considering continuing geopolitical uncertainty and performs regular reviews and stress tests of its portfolio to help identify then mitigate any risks that may arise.

Gross Stage 3 loans and advances to customers of $6.2 billion were flat compared to 30 June 2019. These credit-impaired loans represented 2.3 per cent of gross loans and advances, the same proportion as at 30 June 2019. They are 61 per cent covered before collateral and 82 per cent covered after collateral, an improvement of 1 percentage point for both measures compared to 30 June 2019.

Credit grade 12 balances grew 10 per cent since 30 June 2019 reflecting a combination of upgrades from Stage 3 and new inflows. Early alert accounts increased 10 per cent in the quarter due to a few material exposures but are lower year-on-year and on a year-to-date basis.

The proportion of investment grade corporate exposures has increased to 63 per cent due to growth in repurchase agreements. This is back to broadly the same levels as at 31 December 2018 following a drop as at 30 June 2019.

The Group's statutory performance is adjusted for profits or losses of a capital nature, amounts consequent to investment transactions driven by strategic intent, other infrequent and/or exceptional transactions that are significant or material in the context of the Group's normal business earnings for the period and items which management and investors would ordinarily identify separately when assessing underlying performance period-by period. These adjustments are set out below.

Restructuring charges of $123 million primarily related to the run-down of the Group's Principal Finance exposures together with impairments related to the Group's discontinued ship leasing business. Other items of $10 million included profits from the Group's joint venture investment in Indonesia which is no longer considered core as well as provisions for regulatory matters.

1 Variance is increase/(decrease)

2 The Group now excludes $10,632 million held with central banks (30.06.19: $6,835 million, 31.12.18: $7,412 million, 30.09.18: $7,172 million) that has been confirmed as repayable at the point of stress

3 Change is percentage points difference between two points rather than percentage change

The Group's balance sheet remains strong, liquid and well diversified.

·; Loans and advances to customers increased 2 per cent since 30 June 2019 to $270 billion driven in particular by Financial Markets and Corporate Finance

·; Customer accounts of $388 billion reduced 3 per cent since 30 June 2019 with an increase in operating account balances within Cash Management balances offset by a run-off in Corporate Term Deposits. As a result, the Group's advances-to-deposits ratio rose to 65.6 per cent from 63.7 per cent in the prior quarter

·; Other assets and other liabilities since 30 June 2019 were 4 per cent and 15 per cent higher respectively. The growth in other assets was driven by increased trading book assets and reverse repurchase agreements partly offset by a reduction of cash balances at central banks. The growth in other liabilities reflects increased trading book liabilities and repurchase agreements

1 Variance is increase/(decrease)

Total risk-weighted assets (RWA) reduced $2 billion since 30 June 2019 to $269 billion.

·; Credit risk RWA reduced $1.8 billion, with asset growth offset by favourable foreign exchange movements and efficiency actions including model changes and the partial sale of the Group's Principal Finance portfolio

·; Market risk RWA reduced slightly, to $23 billion

·; Operational risk RWA are calculated annually so are unchanged

On a year-to-date constant currency basis total RWA increased at broadly the same rate as income growth. The execution of organic and inorganic RWA optimisation initiatives support the expectation that income growth will exceed RWA growth in the medium-term.

1 Variance is increase/(decrease)

2 Change is percentage points difference between two points rather than percentage change

The Group's common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 13.5 per cent was up 6 basis points compared to 30 June 2019 due to profits generated in the quarter and lower RWA partly offset by adverse foreign exchange movements on reserves and an increase in the foreseeable dividend. The Group's formulaic approach to setting the ordinary dividend results in a higher foreseeable dividend in the second half of the year.

The Group repurchased 116,103,483 ordinary shares for an aggregate consideration of approximately $1 billion between 2 May 2019 and 25 September 2019 at a volume-weighted average price of 686.3p per ordinary share. The shares were subsequently cancelled, reducing the total issued share capital by 3.5 per cent.

The Group was advised during the period that its Pillar 2A requirement as reviewed regularly by the Prudential Regulation Authority has increased. After the period end, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced that the countercyclical buffer rate for Hong Kong would reduce from 2.5 to 2 per cent. The net effect of these changes (applied to the period-end balance sheet) is to increase the Group's CET1 requirement by 21 basis points to 10.2 per cent and its expected 2022 minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL) including the combined buffer by 90 basis points to 26.6 per cent. The Group continues to operate above its minimum capital requirements and remains well positioned relative to expected MREL.

For further information, please contact:

Mark Stride, Head of Investor Relations +44 (0) 20 7885 8596

Julie Gibson, Head of Media Relations +44 (0) 20 7885 2434

1 Following a reorganisation of certain product teams within Financial Markets, $46 million of income that in 1H 2018 was reported within Credit and Capital Markets was transferred to Rates during 3Q 2018. Prior periods have not been restated

2 In Dec 2018 it was decided to discontinue the ship operating lease business; any future profits and losses will be reported as restructuring. Prior periods have not been restated

Basis of presentation

This interim management statement covers the results of Standard Chartered PLC together with its subsidiaries and equity accounted interest in associates and jointly controlled entities (the Group) for the three months ended 30 September 2019. The financial information on which this statement is based, and the data set out in the appendix to this statement, are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with Standard Chartered's significant accounting policies as described in the Annual Report 2018, except for IFRS 16 as described below.

The information in this announcement does not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. Statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2018, which contained an unqualified audit report under Section 495 of the Companies Act 2006 (which did not make any statements under Section 498 of the Companies Act 2006) have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies in accordance with Section 441 of the Companies Act 2006.

IFRS 16

IFRS 16 Leases became effective on 1 January 2019 and introduced a single lessee accounting model that requires a lessee to recognise assets and liabilities for all leases with a term of more than 12 months, unless the underlying asset is of low value. A lessee is required to recognise a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying leased asset and a lease liability representing its obligation to make lease payments.

The impact on the Group of adopting IFRS 16 is primarily where the Group is a lessee in property lease contracts. The Group has elected to adopt the simplified approach of transition and has not restated comparative information. On 1 January 2019 the Group recognised a lease liability, being the remaining lease payments including extensions options where renewal is reasonably certain, discounted using the Group's incremental borrowing rate at the date of initial application in the economic environment of the lease. The corresponding right-of-use asset recognised is the amount of the lease liability adjusted by prepaid or accrued lease payments related to those leases. The balance sheet increase as a result of recognition of the lease liability and right-of-use asset as of 1 January 2019 was approximately $1.4 billion, with no adjustment to retained earnings. The asset is presented in 'Property, plant and equipment' and the liability is presented in 'Other liabilities'.

The Group uses a number of alternative performance measures in addition to underlying earnings including credit grade 12 and cover ratio in the discussion of its business performance and financial position. These are defined as follows:

Credit grade 12 accounts

These are customer accounts that while performing at present exhibit potential credit weaknesses and could become impaired in the future. There is however, currently, no expectation of specific loss of principal or interest, and therefore interest on credit grade 12 accounts is taken to income.

Cover ratio

The cover ratio under IFRS 9 represents the extent to which stage 3 loans are covered by stage 3 impairment allowances.

This information will be available on the Group's website at www.sc.com.