Boursorama: Third quarter 2008 results
Boursorama Banque is financially strong
Resilient operating performance in worsening economic context
Consolidated net income up 31% to €16.5 million
BOULOGNE-BILLANCOURT, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:
Boursorama (Paris:BRS):
Highlights
Sound fundamentals
- Financial strength: Boursorama has a strong balance sheet and a high capital adequacy ratio, with the Tier 1 ratio at 12.8%.
- Attractive products: Boursorama Banque is still seen as the “cheapest” (Capital, October 2008).
- A business model that is balanced between cyclical and defensive businesses has helped Boursorama record a further increase in the number of client accounts (9% growth at the Group level and 13% in France compared with the third quarter of 2007).
Business performance: resilient results
- Brokerage: business held up well as the economic environment worsened. The number of orders in the third quarter of 2008 was down by 14% compared with the third quarter of 2007, a particularly high basis of comparison.
- Banking: momentum continued, with the number of bank accounts opened in the third quarter of 2008 increasing by 35% compared with the third quarter of 2007.
- Savings: assets under management (life insurance and mutual funds) fell by a limited amount to €3.13 billion.
- Media: revenue increased in France (+2% compared with the third quarter of 2007), while there was a strong impact in Germany from market conditions and the disposal of Onmeda, Ligatus and Ad2Net.
Results: affected by market conditions and exceptionals
- Results were affected by exceptionals related to reorganisation of the German businesses.
- Net banking income fell by 6% to €49.1 million.
- Gross operating income amounted to €14.2 million. This was affected by a €2 million exceptional expense related to reorganisation of the German businesses.
- Before this exceptional item, gross operating income was down 10%.
- Net income increased 31% to €16.5 million, helped by an exceptional €7.8 million gain on the disposal of Veritas in Germany.
Vincent Taupin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Boursorama, comments: “The Group’s fundamentals remain strong at a particularly uncertain time. Boursorama Banque has one of the soundest financial profiles. With a diversified and attractive range of products, Boursorama continues to attract more clients. While paying constant attention to profitability, we are determined to achieve our main objective: to make Boursorama Banque the online bank.”
- Boursorama: strong fundamentals
At a time of intensifying financial crisis and increased fragility for a large number of banks, Boursorama sets itself apart with a strong balance sheet, deposits greater than customer commitments, and a Tier 1 capital ratio of 12.8%, well above the level required by regulators.
Boursorama’s diversified product range has enabled it to win customers looking to take advantage of strong market volatility, such as those wishing to invest their in Livret savings accounts offering very competitive returns (3.75% with no cap on payments). As a result, the number of accounts has increased again (rising 9% at the Group level and 13% in France compared with the third quarter of 2007).
Boursorama has continued to implement the operating efficiency plan introduced at the beginning of 2008, which is expected to lead to savings of about €1 million over the year, in order to improve its cost structure. This plan will produce its full effect in 2009. Boursorama is also reorganising its sales process: the network of branches, which is evolving from 20 to 14, will be devoted exclusively to sales functions.
At the same time, Boursorama is maintaining its investment in marketing, which is essential to sales momentum, particularly for new Bank account openings. Boursorama is also continuing to develop innovations, in particular a new interface for the www.boursorama.com website, which will go online in December, and new services.
- Financial results: affected by market conditions but the business model is resilient
Against a background of deteriorating economic conditions, the Group posted net banking income of €49.1 million in the third quarter of 2008 (down 6% compared with the third quarter of 2007). Restructuring of the German businesses led to an exceptional expense of €2 million. As a result, gross operating income was down 21% to €14.2 million (down 10% before exceptional expenses). The disposal of Veritas in Germany has led to a gain of €7.8 million. This has had a positive impact on net income, which was up 31% compared with the third quarter of 2007 to €16.5 million.
- Brokerage business: volatility has had a positive impact, but base effects were negative
The number of stock market transactions was down 14% compared with the third quarter of 2007, which was a record quarter due to the exceptional conditions at the time. There were 1.3 million orders placed in the third quarter of 2008.
Boursorama performed well during the period of volatility. The Group’s relative performance in terms of transactions (down 14%) was better than the ACSEL1 online brokers (down 17%) in the third quarter of 2008 compared with the same period in 2007.
Sales momentum remained positive, with 8,600 new brokerage accounts in the third quarter, taking the total number of accounts to 370,305.
Finally, the Group’s gross commission per order was €18.8 in the third quarter of 2008 due to a less favourable product mix in Spain and Germany. In France, the introduction of new prices by the Group following the elimination of stock market duty had an impact as gross commission per order returned to a more normal level of around €20.
Brokerage operating income amounted to €23.6 million and represented 40% of total revenues.
- Banking business: continuing positive momentum
In France, the banking business’s sales momentum was reconfirmed in the third quarter of 2008, with 5,275 new bank accounts, a 35% increase compared with the third quarter of 2007. At the end of September 2008, there were 74,691 bank accounts.
At the Group level, customer loans amounted to €1.8 billion, while customer deposits were €2.49 billion at the end of September 2008 (compared with €2.42 billion at the end of September 2007). Livret savings account outstandings continued to grow very strongly, reaching €376 million at the end of September 2008 compared with €169 million at the end of September 2007.
In the third quarter of 2008, banking activity held up well with revenues of €22.6 million. Revenues consist of €20.3 million of interest margin, including interest income from the brokerage business (sight deposits on brokerage accounts) and €2.3 million of banking commissions.
Banking operating income represented 38% of total revenues.
- Savings business: good performance in life insurance, falling mutual fund assets
In the third quarter of 2008, Boursorama opened 3,334 Savings accounts, taking the number of accounts in Europe to 96,124 at the end of September 2008 compared with 77,172 at the end of September 2007.
- Life insurance: Boursorama outperformed the market, recording 7% outstandings growth to €1.58 billion at the end of September 2008 (vs 2% for the market – source: FFSA monthly review, September 2008).
- Mutual funds: mutual fund assets under management stood at €1.55 billion at the end of September 2008 compared with €1.88 billion at the end of September 2007. This amounts to a decline of 18% compared with a 30% decline by European markets (Eurostoxx 50 performance from 1 January 2008 to 30 September 2008).
Savings operating income amounted to €4.5 million in the third quarter of 2008, and represented 8% of total revenues.
- Media business: differing impacts from economic conditions in France and Germany
Boursorama is now the leader in online financial information in the two largest European countries: France through the www.boursorama.com site and Germany through the www.onvista-bank.de site.
In France, Media revenue grew to €2.7 million in the third quarter, a 2% increase compared with the third quarter of 2007. Financial products made a substantial contribution to this performance, with financial conditions generating strong site traffic.
In Germany, OnVista AG’s contribution to revenues amounted to €3.4 million due to the impact of the economic environment and disposals (Onmeda, Ligatus and Ad2Net).
In the third quarter of 2008, Media operating income amounted to €6.1 million (of which €3.4 million came from OnVista AG) and represented 10% of total revenues.
About Boursorama
Founded in 1995, Boursorama is a major player in online savings in Europe and is part of the Société Générale Group, with more than 1.3 million orders executed in the third quarter of 2008, 541,120 direct accounts and total assets under management of €10.1 billion at end-september 2008. Boursorama Group is present in four countries. In France, it is market leader in online financial information with the www.boursorama.com portal and a key player in online banking under the Boursorama Banque brand. It is one of the top three online brokerage in the United Kingdom and Spain under the respective brands of Self Trade and Self Trade Bank. In Germany, Boursorama holds 82.49% of the shares of OnVista AG, and is present under the brand OnVista Bank. Boursorama is listed on Eurolist by Euronext Paris - compartment B - ISIN: FR0000075228 (BRS) – Reuters: FMTX.LN – Bloomberg BRS FP. For all the latest financial news on Boursorama, go to: http:// Groupe.boursorama.fr
|
Sequential comparison of quarterly consolidated financial statements |
|||||||||||
| (in € m) | Q3 2008 | Q3 2007 | |||||||||
| Group | France | Germany | UK | Spain | Group | France | Germany | UK | Spain | ||
| Operating income | 59,2 | 42,4 | 7,1 | 8,0 | 1,6 | 64,7 | 46,8 | 6,6 | 8,9 | 2,5 | |
| Order processing costs | -8,7 | -6,4 | -0,6 | -1,4 | -0,3 | -10,3 | -7,1 | -0,8 | -2,2 | -0,3 | |
| Other banking operating expenses | -1,4 | -0,8 | -0,7 | 0,0 | 0,1 | -2,4 | -0,9 | -1,5 | 0,0 | 0,1 | |
| Net banking income | 49,1 | 35,3 | 5,8 | 6,7 | 1,4 | 52,1 | 38,7 | 4,3 | 6,8 | 2,3 | |
| Overheads (excl. Mkg) | -29,1 | -17,7 | -6,8 | -3,5 | -1,2 | -29,0 | -19,9 | -3,7 | -4,0 | -1,3 | |
| marketing costs | -3,8 | -2,4 | -0,4 | -0,8 | -0,2 | -4,0 | -2,6 | -0,4 | -0,8 | -0,2 | |
| Depreciation | -2,0 | -1,6 | -0,3 | 0,0 | 0,0 | -1,1 | -0,9 | -0,1 | 0,0 | -0,1 | |
| Total operating expenses | -34,9 | -21,7 | -7,5 | -4,4 | -1,4 | -34,1 | -23,4 | -4,2 | -4,9 | -1,6 | |
| Gross operating income | 14,2 | 13,6 | -1,7 | 2,2 | 0,0 | 18,0 | 15,4 | 0,1 | 1,9 | 0,7 | |
| Risk costs | -0,1 | 0,1 | -0,2 | 0,0 | 0,0 | 0,1 | 0,2 | 0,0 | 0,0 | 0,0 | |
| Gains/losses on fixed assets | 7,3 | -0,5 | 7,8 | 0,0 | 0,0 | 0,0 | 0,0 | 0,0 | 0,0 | 0,0 | |
| Profit before tax | 21,3 | 13,2 | 5,9 | 2,3 | 0,0 | 18,1 | 15,6 | 0,0 | 1,8 | 0,7 | |
| Tax | -4,8 | -4,6 | -0,2 | 0,0 | 0,0 | -5,5 | -5,5 | 0,0 | 0,0 | 0,0 | |
| Net income | 16,5 | 8,6 | 5,7 | 2,3 | 0,0 | 12,6 | 10,0 | 0,0 | 1,8 | 0,7 | |
| Net income attributable to equity holders of the parent | 16,5 | 8,6 | 5,7 | 2,3 | 0,0 | 12,6 | 10,0 | 0,0 | 1,8 | 0,7 | |
|
Comparison of 9-month consolidated financial statements |
||||||||||||||||||
| (in € m) |
9M 2008 |
9M 2007 | ||||||||||||||||
| Group | France | Germany | UK | Spain | Group | France | Germany | UK | Spain | |||||||||
| Operating income | 191,9 | 130,2 | 31,2 | 23,2 | 7,3 | 198,9 | 143,8 | 19,8 | 26,1 | 9,1 | ||||||||
| Order processing costs | -26,5 | -19,6 | -1,8 | -4,3 | -0,8 | -32,8 | -23,1 | -2,4 | -6,2 | -1,2 | ||||||||
| Other banking operating expenses | -8,7 | -2,6 | -6,2 | 0,0 | 0,1 | -7,7 | -3,2 | -4,7 | 0,0 | 0,2 | ||||||||
| Net banking income | 156,7 | 108,0 | 23,2 | 18,9 | 6,6 | 158,3 | 117,5 | 12,8 | 19,9 | 8,1 | ||||||||
| Overheads (excl. Mkg) | -91,1 | -56,5 | -20,7 | -10,2 | -3,7 | -91,3 | -64,2 | -11,4 | -11,7 | -4,1 | ||||||||
| marketing costs | -14,5 | -9,4 | -1,4 | -2,6 | -1,1 | -12,4 | -7,0 | -1,1 | -2,5 | -1,9 | ||||||||
| Depreciation | -4,8 | -3,4 | -1,2 | -0,1 | -0,1 | -3,3 | -2,6 | -0,3 | -0,1 | -0,2 | ||||||||
| Total operating expenses | -110,4 | -69,3 | -23,3 | -12,9 | -4,9 | -107,0 | -73,8 | -12,8 | -14,3 | -6,1 | ||||||||
| Gross operating income | 46,3 | 38,7 | -0,1 | 5,9 | 1,8 | 51,3 | 43,7 | 0,0 | 5,6 | 2,0 | ||||||||
| Risk costs | -0,2 | 0,1 | -0,2 | 0,0 | 0,0 | -0,2 | 0,0 | -0,1 | -0,1 | 0,0 | ||||||||
| Gains/losses on fixed assets | 7,7 | -0,1 | 7,7 | 0,0 | 0,0 | 0,0 | 0,0 | 0,0 | 0,0 | 0,0 | ||||||||
| Profit before tax | 53,8 | 38,7 | 7,4 | 5,9 | 1,8 | 51,2 | 43,7 | -0,1 | 5,5 | 2,0 | ||||||||
| Tax | -14,2 | -12,5 | -1,1 | 0,0 | -0,6 | -15,5 | -15,6 | 0,0 | 0,0 | 0,0 | ||||||||
| Net income | 39,6 | 26,2 | 6,3 | 5,9 | 1,2 | 35,6 | 28,2 | 0,0 | 5,5 | 2,0 | ||||||||
| Net income attributable to equity holders of the parent | 39,4 | 26,2 | 6,1 | 5,9 | 1,2 | 35,6 | 28,2 | 0,0 | 5,5 | 2,0 | ||||||||
|
Follow-up of business indicators |
|||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Total | |||||||||||
| Number of B2C orders executed | |||||||||||||||||||
| France | 1 266 559 | 1 117 539 | 1 133 008 | 1 120 600 | 4 637 706 | 1 104 554 | 930 354 | 954 523 | 2 989 431 | ||||||||||
| Germany | 114 708 | 106 240 | 122 260 | 103 689 | 446 897 | 118 101 | 91 038 | 114 629 | 323 768 | ||||||||||
| Spain | 85 797 | 63 965 | 59 923 | 66 778 | 276 463 | 58 036 | 42 995 | 44 145 | 145 176 | ||||||||||
| United Kingdom | 210 071 | 198 629 | 207 790 | 198 322 | 814 812 | 199 725 | 187 469 | 195 726 | 582 920 | ||||||||||
| Group | 1 677 135 | 1 486 373 | 1 522 981 | 1 489 389 | 6 175 878 | 1 480 416 | 1 251 856 | 1 309 023 | 4 041 295 | ||||||||||
| New account openings | |||||||||||||||||||
| France | 12 996 | 11 876 | 11 221 | 12 915 | 49 008 | 14 575 | 11 562 | 11 071 | 37 208 | ||||||||||
| o/w savings (Bvie+0%) | 5 692 | 4 777 | 3 899 | ||||||||||||||||