Westpac predicts impairment charges to rise as growth slumps
Dec. 11 – Westpac Banking Corp., Australia’s biggest lender by market value, expects impairment charges will increase
in the next 12 months as the slump in global economic growth makes life tougher for some customers.
“There is absolutely no room for complacency,” Chairman Ted Evans told shareholders at their annual meeting in Sydney
today. “We expect our balance sheet growth will slow and our impairment charges will grow as the economy slows,” he
said.
The Australian lender this week completed a A$2.5 billion share placement, strengthening its balance sheet and giving
it more scope to grow after the A$14 billion acquisition of St George Bank effective last month. Westpac set aside A$500
million for "acquisition adjustments" following the takeover of St George, whose loan book included the failed Allco
Finance Group and ABC Learning Centres.
Evans said the task of merging the two banks “should not be under-estimated” though the board is “extremely pleased”
with the transaction.
Westpac, Commonwealth Bank and Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. have raised more than A$9 billion selling shares and bonds this week to bolster their
balance sheets amid increasing bad debts.
Evans said 2009 will be challenging with the world effectively in recession. “The year ahead will remain challenging
for the economies in which we operate and for our customers,” he said.
Shares of Westpac rose 0.3% to A$16.43 on the ASX in Sydney. The stock has declined 27% in the past three months.
(Businesswire)
ENDS