DUBAI: Bank Dhofar, currently in talks to merge with smaller rival Bank Sohar, recorded a 10.8 percent decline in third-quarter net profit, Reuters calculated yesterday.
Oman’s second-largest bank by market value made a profit of RO8.3m ($21.6m) in the three months to September 30 compared to a profit of RO9.3m in the prior-year period, Reuters calculated from previous financial statements.
Two analysts polled by Reuters had estimated a quarterly profit of RO9.2m and RO8m respectively.
Reuters calculated third-quarter profit from previous financial statements. Nine-month profit was reported as RO49.1m, according to a statement to the bourse, a significant jump on the RO28.7m Bank Dhofar made in the corresponding period of 2012.
The profit hike was fuelled by Oman’s Primary Court returning RO26.1m to Bank Dhofar in March after the country’s appeals court overturned a judgement relating to a 2011 case involving Oman International Bank and Ali Redha Trading and Muttrah Holding over the ownership of 1,925,000 Bank Dhofar shares.
The move resulted in first-half net profit more than doubling over the same period of 2012.
Despite the Q3 net profit decline, shares in Bank Dhofar closed yesterday 0.6 percent higher in light trading. The volume of shares traded on the wider Muscat bourse was also reduced due to much of the region celebrating the Eid Al Adha holiday this week.
Net loans and advances grew 13.7 percent to RO1.89bn from RO1.66bn at the end of September 2012. Deposits were also up over the same period, rising 19.3 percent year-on-year to RO1.91bn.
In July, Bank Dhofar said it had approached Bank Sohar with a view to merging the two entities and creating Oman’s second-largest bank, with the latter saying it would consider the move later that month. The new entity would have total assets worth RO4.1bn and a market capitalisation of around $1.8bn.
Abdul Oman Al Ojaili was appointed acting chief executive of Bank Dhofar on September 26, taking over from Anthony Mahoney who resigned for personal reasons.
Reuters
