FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a - 16 or 15d - 16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of March, 2007
HSBC Holdings plc
42nd Floor, 8 Canada
Square, London E14 5HQ, England
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F).
Form 20-F X Form 40-F ......
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934).
Yes....... No X
(If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ..............)
The following text is the English version of a news release issued in Germany by
HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt, a 78.6 per cent held subsidiary of HSBC
Holdings plc.
HSBC TRINKAUS & BURKHARDT AG 2006 RESULTS
- Operating profit up 34.0 per cent to EUR182.5 million in 2006 - the
highest in the bank's history.
- Trading profits up 40.0 per cent to EUR104.0 million.
- Return on equity before tax 28.0 per cent, down from 30.4 per cent in
2005.
- Successfully completed change of legal structure from partnership to
limited company.
In 2006, all four business segments continued to show encouraging signs of
improvement.
Growth in net interest income of 20.2 per cent to EUR88.6 million was driven by
strengthening positions in consumer loans and deposits. Overall, net interest
income after risk provisions was up 12.4 per cent to EUR93.8 million.
Net fees and commission accounted for a 59.2 per cent share of the bank's
operating profit. Thanks to the substantial broadening of the client base in the
private and corporate banking business, these rose by 6.6 per cent in 2006 to
EUR281.8 million. This solid performance also reflects the broader range of
products and services on offer to the bank's clients as a result of increasing
integration with the HSBC network.
Trading profit became the second highest contributor to earnings, increasing
EUR29.7 million to EUR104.0 million, exceeding the record level prior-year
figure by 40.0 per cent. The bank had particular success marketing retail
products under the HSBC Trinkaus Investment Products brand.
The bank's administrative expenses rose by 3.8 per cent to EUR298.6 million, a
figure which included an increase in personnel expenses of 1.6 per cent to
EUR189.7 million. Administrative expenses and in particular personnel expenses,
increased at a far slower rate due to the transfer of securities settlement
services to the International Transaction Services GmbH (ITS) subsidiary and the
establishment of a Contractual Trust Arrangement (CTA) in 2005. Depreciation
declined 17.6 per cent to EUR10.3 million due to the sale of the license for the
GEOS securities settlement system to ITS the previous year.
The cost:income ratio declined slightly to 61.8 per cent, well below the upper
limit of 65 to 70 per cent target set by the bank.
There was a substantial decline in investment income and other income/expense as
no notable non-recurring items were recorded in contrast to the previous year.
Thanks to the strong increase in the operating performance however, the bank
managed to compensate for these one-off effects with only a marginal decline in
profit before tax of 2.1 per cent to EUR189.5 million. Correspondingly, profit
after tax also declined only slightly by 2.4 per cent to EUR114.6 million.
Return on equity before tax was 28.0 per cent after 30.4 per cent the year
before. As in the previous year, a dividend of EUR2.50 per share will be
proposed to the annual shareholders' meeting on 5 June 2007.
Consolidated total assets rose strongly in 2006 by 17.1 per cent to EUR18,676
million. At the balance sheet date the bank's total capital ratio and core
capital ratio were 12.3 per cent and 7.0 per cent, respectively, as defined by
the German Banking Act (KWG) and 12.5 per cent and 7.8 per cent according to
the BIS definition. The bank's capital resources remain strong.
The HSBC Group continues to hold 78.6 per cent and Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg
20.3 per cent of HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt AG's share capital.
Business Segment Commentary
The results in the individual business segments were calculated in 2006 based on
the greater allocation of costs to the customer divisions and proprietary
trading. The segment results for 2005 have been re-stated to enable a comparison
of the segment results in both years.
Of all customer segments, the institutional client business made the largest
contribution to the bank's results, posting a 24.6 per cent improvement in
earnings to EUR56.3 million. This increase was attributable to a very
successful performance in the asset management and equity business, leveraging
the bank's proven structured products expertise. In addition, HSBC Group
product offerings are contributing to an ever-increasing share of earnings.
The private banking division increased its contribution to earnings by 12.5 per
cent to EUR37.0 million in 2006, compared to a strong result last year of
EUR32.9 million. The division had favourable revenue growth due to the
expansion of the securities business with its focus on equities and investment
certificates. The client segment reported total assets under management of
EUR24.8 billion, a new record for the bank.
The corporate banking division contribution to earnings was up 8.6 per cent to
EUR41.7 million. The unit registered a substantial increase in net interest
income thanks to a marked increase in the deposit business and despite strong
continued pressure on margins in the lending. The division also recorded a
notable increase in net fees and commissions from asset management products and
interest rate derivatives.
The proprietary trading segment increased its earnings contribution
significantly by 23.9 per cent to EUR56.6 million, benefiting in part from
favourable market conditions. Equity and equity derivatives trading activities
recorded significant increases in revenues. HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt
participated on the interest capital market together with HSBC in almost 100
issues with an overall volume of EUR34 billion. The issue of retail products,
including warrants, certificates and bonds with diverse structures offered,
under the HSBC Trinkaus Investment Products brand, was responsible for much of
the positive performance of the proprietary trading segment. More than 14,500
securities were issued overall in 2006 after 11,305 the previous year, an
increase of just below 30 per cent.
The HSBC Investments Deutschland GmbH subsidiary, which manages institutional
assets and attractive public funds, recorded a significant increase in the
assets managed in its public and special funds and in income. Major inflows were
recorded, for example, in the asset liability/overlay management business.
Assets managed in public and special funds by subsidiary INKA International
Kapitalanlagegesellschaft mbH increased 30.7 per cent from EUR38.8 billion to
EUR50.7 billion, recording far stronger growth in the segment than the market
as a whole. The number of funds increased from 269 to 285 with the focus still
on institutional investor business with 239 special funds. According to the BVI
statistics published at the end of February, HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt was the
most successful institution in Germany in attracting new funds in the asset
management business in 2006 with growth of EUR10.5 billion.
The strong overall result, together with the close cooperation with HSBC,
Europe's largest quoted bank, prompted rating agency Fitch IBCA to upgrade HSBC
Trinkaus & Burkhardt's rating to AA-, now making the bank one of the highest
rated commercial banks in Germany. With a further EUR100 million in
participatory capital raised, the bank's equity capital increased to more than
EUR1 billion for the first time.
The Management Board is optimistic for 2007. The starting base is very high as
the bank has exceeded its operating performance objectives in financial year
2006. Coupled with that, clear double-digit growth rates have been recorded in
the bank's operating performance in each of the past four years. Nevertheless,
the Management Board is committed to the goal of a further increase in the
operating results in the year ahead. This will be dependent upon strong stock
market turnover, further demand for structured products in the bond business and
credit risk costs within the range seen in recent years.
Dusseldorf, March 2007
Consolidated figures according to International Financial Reporting Standards
1. Balance sheet (EUR m) 2006 2005 % change
Loans and advances to customers 3,245.4 2,554.0 27.1
Financial assets held for trading 7,880.5 6,470.6 21.8
Customer accounts 8,861.4 7,139.6 24.1
Financial liabilities held for trading 6,476.8 5,883.9 10.1
Equity capital 884.9 834.6 6.0
Total assets 18,676.4 15,948.1 17.1
2. Profit and loss account (EUR m)
Net interest income 88.6 73.7 20.2
Risk provisions -5.2 -9.7 -46.4
Net fees and commissions 281.8 264.4 6.6
Trading profit 104.0 74.3 40.0
Trading administrative expenses 298.6 287.6 3.8
Operating profit 182.5 136.2 34.0
Profit before tax 189.5 193.5 -2.1
Profit after tax 114.6 117.4 -2.4
3. Other key figures
Pre-tax return on equity (%) 28.0 30.4 -
Cost:income ratio of ordinary activities (%) 61.8 60.8 -
Funds under management and administration 80.5 62.8 28.2
(EUR bn)
Capital ratio according to BIS (%) 12.5 11.9 -
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
HSBC Holdings plc
By:
Name: P A Stafford
Title: Assistant Group Secretary
Date: 29 March, 2007