This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
MACQUARIE Bank yesterday announced a $1.46 billion after tax profit for the full year to March 31 2007 — a 60% increase on the prior year and nearly six times the level of five years ago.
Macquarie Bank chairman, David Clarke declared the earnings per share increased 48% from $4.00 to $5.92.
Clarke said the earnings are 4.5 times the level of earnings per share of five years ago.
The Bank declared a second half dividend of $1.90 per ordinary share, franked to 100%, taking total ordinary dividends for the year to $3.15 per share, an increase of 47% from last year’s ordinary dividend of $2.15 per share.
Clarke noted that over the last five years, total shareholder returns were 204% compared to 118% for the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index over the same period.
Macquarie Bank managing director Allan Moss commented that Macquarie has transitioned from being an Australian institution growing internationally, to being a global institution headquartered in Australia.
“We have over 100 infrastructure and over 700 real estate assets worldwide employing some 65,000 people. Through these, we provide a range of essential community services to millions of people. These include electricity and gas, water and communications, and land, air and sea transport,” Moss added.
“There was strong growth across all regions and all groups. The Bank continues to invest for the future.”
Moss added that Macquarie has had a strong start to the financial year commencing April 01, 2007. All groups in all regions are busy and there have already been significant transactions.
“Subject to prevailing market conditions continuing, we expect strong IPO and mergers and acquisitions activity and good growth in the specialist funds. We expect the trading businesses to benefit from geographic and product expansion and from continued good equity broking volumes.”
Moss said Macquarie’s property businesses continued to grow strongly with notable contributions from the equities-related businesses.
Highlights included the establishment of a number of funds including Macquarie Goodman Hong Kong Wholesale Fund with $758 million to invest in property; a wholesale fund investing in retail shopping malls in China and MGP Japan Core Plus Fund, established by Macquarie Global Property Advisors, an unlisted Japanese real estate fund with $1.07 billion in capital raised.
In Japan, Macquarie established a new investment banking JV with Shinsei Bank Ltd. We secured lead manager equity capital markets roles in significant transactions in China/Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.
Macquarie maintained its leading market positions in Australia. Macquarie achieved No.1 2006 rankings in Australia for both announced and completed mergers and acquisitions and maintained leading market positions for Australian equity raised and Asia-Pacific project finance mandates.
Australian Property Journal
