KBC Ancora: Interim Financial Report 2017/2018

Regulated information, Leuven, 26 January 2018 (17.40 hrs CET)

Interim Financial Report 2017/2018

KBC Ancora recorded a profit of EUR 68.8 million in the first half of the financial year 2017/2018. This compared with a profit of EUR 67.2 million in the same period in the previous financial year. This increase of EUR 1.6 million in the result was mainly the consequence of a reduction in interest charges of EUR 1.7 million.

Abridged financial summary and notes^[1]

Results for the first half of the financial year 2017/2018

* No instruments have been issued which could lead to dilution.

KBC Ancora recorded a positive result of EUR 68.8 million in the first six months of the current financial year, equivalent to EUR 0.88 per share, compared with a positive result of EUR 67.2 million in the same period in the previous financial year.
The result consisted primarily of the interim dividend received from KBC Group (EUR 77.5 million), interest charges on debt (EUR 7.6 million) and operating costs (EUR 1.2 million).

Balance sheet as at 31 December 2017

* The balance sheet as at 30 June 2017 is shown after appropriation of profit.

The balance sheet total stood at EUR 3.17 billion, an increase of EUR 76.3 million compared with the end of the financial year 2016/2017.

The number of shares held by KBC Ancora in KBC Group remained unchanged at 77,516,380.

Equity increased by EUR 68.8 million, i.e. the positive result recorded for the first six months of the current financial year. Debt increased by EUR 7.5 million due to the pro rata application of interest charges during the first six months of the financial year.

Interim report on the first six months of the current financial year 2017/2018

Notes on the first half of the current financial year 2017/2018

Results for the first six months of the financial year 2017/2018

KBC Ancora recorded a positive result of EUR 68.8 million in the first six months of the current financial year, compared with a positive result of EUR 67.2 million in the same period in the previous financial year.

This result was influenced principally by the following factors:

• Dividend income amounting to EUR 77.5 million. KBC Group distributed an interim dividend of EUR 1 per share in November 2017.
• Interest charges amounting to EUR 7.6 million. The early extension in 2015 of a loan of EUR 175 million, which was scheduled to mature in May 2017, for a period of two years at a lower rate of interest led to a reduction in interest charges of EUR 1.7 million compared with the same period in the previous financial year.
• Operating expenses amounting to EUR 1.2 million, EUR 0.1 million more than in the same period in the previous financial year. The recurring operating expenses consisted primarily of costs incurred under the cost-sharing agreement with Cera (EUR 0.9 million). In addition, there were the usual costs such as listing fees (EUR 0.1 million) and management expenses (EUR 0.1 million).

Participating interest in KBC Group, net debt position and net asset value

The number of KBC Group shares in portfolio remained unchanged during the past six months, at 77,516,380. KBC Ancora holds 0.99 KBC Group shares per KBC Ancora share in issue. The average book value of the KBC Group shares is EUR 39.84 per share.

KBC Ancora's net debt amounted to EUR 3.80 per share as at 31 December 2017, a decrease of EUR 0.88 per share compared with 30 June 2017. This reduction in net debt was principally the result of the interim dividend distributed by KBC Group in November 2017. In view of the intention of KBC Ancora to distribute an interim dividend in early June 2018, net debt will increase again in the second half of the year.

The net asset value of one KBC Ancora share as at 31 December 2017 was thus equivalent to the price of 0.99 KBC Group shares less EUR 3.80. Based on the closing price of the KBC Group share on 31 December 2017 (EUR 71.11), the net asset value of one KBC Ancora share amounted to EUR 66.59, and the KBC Ancora share (EUR 52.49) was trading at a discount of 21.2% to its net asset value.

The following charts illustrate the movements in the price of the KBC Group and KBC Ancora shares and the discount of the KBC Ancora share to its net asset value.

Principal risks and uncertainties in the remaining months of the financial year

Certain risk factors could have an impact on the value of the assets held by KBC Ancora and on its ability to distribute a dividend. Reference is made in this regard to the description of the risks in the most recent annual report (page 19).

KBC Group reported a net result of EUR 2.18 billion for the first nine months of 2017. It will announce its annual result for the full financial year 2017 on 22 February 2018. KBC Group confirmed that its dividend policy would be based on a dividend payout ratio (including the coupon on the outstanding Additional Tier-1 instruments) of at least 50% of the consolidated profit. Following its annual general meeting in May 2018, KBC Group will distribute a final dividend, which together with the interim dividend distributed in November 2017 will constitute the total dividend in respect of the financial year 2017.
                                                                                                                          
In addition to a final dividend from KBC Group, KBC Ancora's result in the second half of the current financial year (2017/2018) will consist principally of interest charges plus the usual limited operating expenses (costs under the cost-sharing agreement with Cera, listing costs and management expenses).

Barring unforeseen circumstances, KBC Ancora will close the financial year 2017/2018 with a positive result. KBC Ancora intends to distribute its recurring result, after formation of the legal reserve, in the form of interim dividend. The amount and payment date of the interim dividend will be announced on 25 May 2018 (17.40 hrs CEST).

Declaration by the responsible individuals

"We, the members of the Board of Directors of Almancora Société de gestion, statutory manager of KBC Ancora SCA, hereby jointly declare that, in so far as we are aware:

1. the abridged financial summaries, drawn up in accordance with the applicable standards for financial statements, present a true and fair picture of the capital position, financial position and results of KBC Ancora,
2. the interim financial report presents a true and fair view of the key events and principal transactions with affiliated parties during the first six months of the current financial year and of their impact on the abridged financial summaries, as well as a description of the principal risks and uncertainties during the remaining months of the financial year."

Information on the external audit

The statutory auditor has reviewed the interim financial information. The statutory auditor's report is appended to this interim report.

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KBC Ancora is a listed company which holds 18.5% of the shares in KBC Group and which together with Cera, MRBB and the Other Permanent Shareholders is responsible for the shareholder stability and further development of the KBC group. As core shareholders of KBC Group, these parties have signed a shareholder agreement to this effect.

Financial calendar:
25 May 2018 (17.40 CEST)                 Announcement of amount and payment date of interim      dividend
31 August 2018                                    Annual press release for the financial year 2017/2018
25 September 2018 (17.40 CEST)      Annual Report 2017/2018 available
26 October 2018                                  General Meeting of Shareholders

This press release is available in Dutch, French and English on the website www.kbcancora.be.

KBC Ancora Investor Relations & Press contact: Jan Bergmans
Tel.: +32 (0)16 279672
E-mail: jan.bergmans@kbcancora.be or mailbox@kbcancora.be

Appendix: Detailed balance sheet and profit and loss account with comparative figures

Statutory auditor's report to the statutory manager of KBC Ancora SCA on the review of the condensed interim financial information as at 31 December 2017 and for the six-month period then ended

FREE TRANSLATION OF A REPORT ORIGINALLY PREPARED IN DUTCH

Introduction

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed statement of financial position of KBC Ancora SCA as at 31 December 2017 and the statements of profit or loss for the six-month period then ended ("the condensed interim financial information"). The management body is responsible for the preparation and presentation of this condensed interim financial information in accordance with the financial reporting framework applicable in Belgium for interim financial information. Our responsibility is to express a conclusion on this condensed interim financial information based on our review.

Scope of Review

We conducted our review in accordance with the International Standard on Review Engagements 2410, "Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity". A review of interim financial information consists of making inquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

Conclusion

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the accompanying condensed interim financial information as at 31 December 2017 and for the six-month period then ended has not been prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the financial reporting framework applicable in Belgium for interim financial information.

Brussels, 26 January 2018

KPMG Réviseurs d'Entreprises
Statutory Auditor
represented by

Olivier Macq
Réviseur d'Entreprises / Bedrijfsrevisor