26/08/2011

Anglo Losses Reduced To €101m

Anglo Irish Bank has narrowed its losses substantially in the first half of 2011.

The bank has reported pre-tax losses of €101m compared to a loss of €8.2bn for the same period last year.

The bank noted an operating profit of €332m before impairments in its trading update today. However, total provisions for impairments were €778m.

At this time last year, Anglo’s losses were astounding and ran into the billions. So this is a vast improvement for a bank that filed record -breaking losses last year, for the second year in a row.

The lending impairment charge, for Anglo's loans (that are unlikely to be repaid) have also reduced in the six months leading up to June.

They have fell to almost €1bn which compares to impairments of €4.7bn reported in the same period last year.

Staff costs have fallen by 16 % due to 210 workers being transferred to AIB. The headcount at the end of June was 1,075 and includes 130 people working in the Bank's NAMA unit.

However, higher litigation costs, external reviews and fees for expert work on loan book asset quality have led to increased non-staff costs of €60m.

In addition Anglo’s reliance on monetary authorities including Central Bank and the European Central Bank have also decreased slightly to €40.8bn. Although 89% of its funding is still represented by these authorities.

Commenting on the results, group Chief Executive, Mike Aynsley, said: "This reflects a major shift in focus for the organisation from being a high octane lender to an effective asset manager of portfolio sales and redemptions. This will remain our priority."

(LB/BMcC)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

27 August 2010
'Economy Improving' Says Bank, Despite Downgrade
Ulster Bank has announced that improving exports and more consumer spending has led to an improving economy, despite yesterday's downgrading of Ireland's credit rating. Ulster Bank said today it was revising its forecasts for Irish economic growth in 2010 upwards, predicts average annual GDP growth of 1%, up from -0.5% previously.
08 November 2002
Northern Bank posts record annual results
The annual results from the Northern Bank have revealed pre-tax profits of £111m up 13% on the previous corresponding year-end figures. The results include a £19.9m profit in relation to the disposal of subsidiary company Northern Bank Insurance Services to Wealth Management Europe Holdings another subsidiary of National Australia Bank.
04 November 2009
Bank of Ireland Losses Top €1bn
The Bank of Ireland's profits have been severely hit by the recession and poor management. It announced today that it had suffered almost €1billion in losses across six months this year.
05 August 2009
Irish Bank Losses Rising
Northern Ireland's First Trust Bank has lost £41m, according to the latest financial statement. The report also detailed how this led to a £28m loss at the parent company Allied Irish Bank group's UK operation. AIB in The Republic has also reported a pre-tax loss of €872m for the first six months of its financial year.
24 July 2001
Internet bank Egg announce reduced losses
Internet banking company Egg has announced a reduction in the company’s losses for the first six months of the year. Egg said that pre-tax losses were down 21 per cent to £63.4m in the first half of the year compared to £80.7m in the same period a year ago.