Bad times lift Cinda
China Cinda Asset Management (1359), one of China's four largest bad-debt managers, posted a 17.9-percent increase in net profit to 14.03 billion yuan (HK$16.72 billion) last year.
A final dividend of 1.16 yuan per 10 shares was proposed with earnings per share standing at 39 fen.
Income from distressed debt assets classified as receivables, which is Cinda's core business, rose 4 percent to 18.884 billion yuan last year.
Investment income was also up by 49 percent to 13.533 billion yuan. This was mainly due to gains from selling financial assets and also a rise in dividend income from these assets, with the latter surging 155 percent to 2.722 billion yuan in the year.
Gross written premiums earned was up 25 percent to 13.854 billion yuan, mainly driven by life insurance policies sold by its subsidiary Happy Life.
The company said non-performing loans in banks are on the rise and higher default rate might be triggered amid an economic downturn this year.
Source: The Standard