SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 

 

FORM 6-K

Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of May 2009
 
 


CREDICORP LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 
 
Clarendon House
Church Street
Hamilton HM 11 Bermuda
(Address of principal executive office)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.  
 
Form 20-FForm 40-F o
 
 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 o  No x

 
 

 
 
 
 
CREDICORP Ltd. reports First Quarter 2009 Earnings
 
Lima, Peru, May 7, 2009 - Credicorp (NYSE:BAP) announced today its unaudited results for the first quarter of 2009. These results are reported on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS in nominal U.S. Dollars.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
 
•      Credicorp reported net earnings of US$ 110.6 million for 1Q09, reflecting a recovery of its income generation capacity from the strongly depressed 4Q08 earnings of only US$ 13.5 million. This result reveals the strength of Credicorp’s business in the midst of the worst financial crisis in decades, with BCP maintaining its strong business and contribution, and the other subsidiaries becoming also significant contributors to bottom line results.
•      Net loan growth reveals however the impact of the world recession and market uncertainties, which froze the decision-making processes of the Peruvian business world and generated defensive actions to reduce potential risks leading to a sluggish demand for financing that resulted in a 4% contraction of our total loan book balance. However, when measuring average daily outstanding balances in each currency, it shows that the Nuevos Soles loan volumes (mainly retail sector) continued growing and could compensate the loan volume drop in US Dollars (mainly the still dominant wholesale sector) resulting in a weighted average 1.1% QoQ loan growth in average balances per currency.
•      Cancelling the open position in Nuevos Soles (with resulting low USD yields) and a drop in market interest rates, mainly for US Dollar lending, resulted in lower interest income, which was attenuated by lower interest paid on deposits, the main financial expense. As a consequence, financial margins slimmed (-3.9%) and NIM slipped 10 basis points.
•      Thus, NIM reached 4.7%, though it is worth highlighting that NIM on our loan book improved to 7.5% (vs. 7.3% 4Q08), but could not offset the impact of the weak interest income earned by our USD liquidity position. On the other hand, and to compensate the lack of yield in the Dollar position, excess liquidity was partly invested in USD Global Sovereign Bonds (as alternative to BCR CD’s) which generated a significant gain when sold boosting non interest income.
•      Non financial income was boosted not only by the gains referred to above, but also by the fee increase at Prima, jumping 11.7% QoQ. These compensated a lower fee collection at BCP given the drop in commercial activity and capital markets & loan placement related fees.
•      Loan portfolio quality is still strong, though a deteriorating trend due to a slow down of growth was expected and is accelerating with the sharper slowdown in economic activity. Delinquencies increased only by US$ 34 million from US$ 84 million to US$ 117 million in this 1Q09, but given the drop in loan book balances, the ratio PDL/Loans reached 1.2%, up from 0.8% by the end of 2008.
•      Operating expenses were fairly flat QoQ as the increase of costs resulting from the network expansion was already reflected last 4Q08. Increased earnings however impact positively the efficiency ratio which reaches 44%, down from 46.4% in 4Q08.
•      BCP’s contribution to Credicorp’s bottom line therefore continues being strong at US$ 99 million and reveals a 19% increase vis-à-vis 4Q08.
•      BCP Bolivia could not continue its high performance in the economic and political environment it operates, and reports a drop in earnings contribution to US$ 8.5 million for 1Q09.
•      ASHC recovered from the market related write-off’s and provisions of last quarter and reported a normalized business result, though significantly lower than that of a year ago, reflecting the lower fee income resulting from the contraction of its AuM and reduced investment activity. Its contribution to Credicorp reached US$ 3 million for 1Q09.
•      PPS on the other hand, is harvesting the results of its newly implemented business strategy and reported gains in all business segments leading to a total US$ 6.8 million earnings for 1Q09, which results in a contribution to Credicorp of US$ 5.2 million.
•      Finally, despite the still volatile market, Prima AFP reports increased income through higher fees and growth of its business. Its contribution reached US$ 6.2 million, a significant increase from US$ 1.4 million for 4Q08.
•      Credicorp’s results for this difficult 1Q09 reflect the solid business & financial condition of the corporation and the resilience of our economy. Net earnings are in line with our expectations and reflect a significant 26.3% ROAE and 2.1% ROAA, with a PDL ratio of 1.2%, and an efficiency ratio of 44%.


 
 

 


I. Credicorp Ltd.
 
Overview

Credicorp reported net earnings of US$ 110.6 million for 1Q09, reflecting a recovery of its income generation capacity from the low 4Q08 earnings of only US$ 13.5 million, which were strongly depressed due to the events of last year related to the financial crisis. This represents EPS of US$ 1.39, and an excellent ROAE of 26.35%.

It is however noteworthy, that even though the massive market meltdown experienced in the second half of 2008 impacted our year end bottom line results for 2008, it did not affect then the operational results of Credicorp’s core business. This quarter however, the consequent world recession has impacted the Peruvian markets resulting in a very quick slowdown in economic activity in 1Q09 which affected our banking core business. On the other hand, measures taken to improve the yields achieved by BCP’s treasury management, as well as improved results from other subsidiaries of Credicorp, i.e. the insurance business and the asset management business, have enabled Credicorp to report such net earnings improvement.

As indicated, operating results for the 1Q09 show the effects of the world recession. In fact, the severity of the international financial crisis, followed by an unprecedented and fast slowdown in the world economy, affected Peru’s economic activity this 1Q09 in a stronger magnitude than anticipated reaching only a 2% GDP growth for the quarter. Furthermore, the uncertainties in the world markets froze the decision making processes of the Peruvian business world, resulting in defensive actions such as inventory reductions and postponement of investments to reduce potential risks, leading to a sluggish demand for financing, especially in the corporate and middle market sectors. The retail sector on the other hand was less impacted and continued growing. The visible impact of these events on total loan book as of March 31/2009 reveals a contraction of -4% compared to our loan book at December 31/2008 and makes the negative trend this quarter evident. Nevertheless, when looking at average daily balances which reflect real lending activity, and separating our loan book by currency to eliminate currency fluctuation distortions, loan book grows 1.1% QoQ and 21.3% YoY, a significant achievement in this market environment.

Despite this higher “real” lending volumes, interest income from lending reports a drop which is to a great extent explained by declining market interest rates, mainly for US Dollar lending in the wholesale sector, and also due to accounting procedures which incorporate currency fluctuations within the quarter since Nuevos Soles results are converted every month at the exchange rate of the month into US Dollars and monthly dollar numbers added up for the quarter. However, when analyzing interest income by currency, we reveal increasing Nuevo Soles interest generation in line with the loan expansion in such currency, and a proportionately stronger contraction in US Dollar income generation from lending mainly in the wholesale sector due to declining interest rates. On the other hand, dropping interest rates allowed some better spreads on loans improving our NIM on loans as we will see further on.

In addition, a more significant negative impact on interest income came from the investment of excess liquidity, which was held almost entirely in US Dollars following the conservative and risk adverse policy on currency exposure, and achieved very low returns. However, to improve income, the Treasury decided already in October 08 to invest in alternative US Dollar and Soles denominated global government bonds which offered better yields and a tax shield, instead of keeping its liquidity in Central Bank deposits. This decision provided an improved overall yield on investments which escapes the NII and therefore NIM calculation since it appears when sold through gains on the value of these securities and the tax shield which reduces our effective tax rate for the period. Consequently, interest income dropped by -8.5% while gains on the sale of securities went up threefold reaching US$ 50 million.

On the other hand, lower market interest rates for both currencies led to a drop in interest expense of -15.5%, softening the drop in Net Interest Income to -3.9%, which as explained above, was widely compensated by the gains in the sale of those sovereign securities. Nevertheless, the lower NII is reflected in a drop in NIM from 4.9% to 4.7%, despite the slight improvement in loan spreads which improved NIM on loans from 7.3% to 7.5%. On a yearly comparison, NII was still 7.6% up.

 
2

 


As expected following the events described above, total non financial income was up 11.7% QoQ, not only because of the gains in sale of securities mentioned before, but also because of better fee income from the asset management business (Prima and ASB), which compensated BCP’s lower fee income contribution and resulted in a 4.9% QoQ fee income increase at Credicorp.

The insurance business also improved its performance as the change in business policies was fully implemented for the insurance book of PPS. This is mainly reflected in the rates of incurred claims, which dropped by -24% QoQ, and the costs for life and health policies, which dropped also by -14% QoQ. Therefore, net income from insurance was up 41% QoQ to US$ 28.5 million.

Credicorp Ltd.
 
Quarter
   
Change %
 
US$ thousands
   
1Q09
     
4Q08
     
1Q08
     
1Q09/1Q08
     
1Q09/4Q08
 
Net Interest income
    205,866       214,230       191,267       7.6 %     -3.9 %
Total provisions, net of recoveries
    (26,425 )     (5,621 )     (16,191 )     63.2 %     370.1 %
Non financial income
    178,105       159,387       152,085       17.1 %     11.7 %
Insurance premiums and claims
    28,507       20,284       12,298       131.8 %     40.5 %
Operating expenses
    (221,212 )     (220,262 )     (184,100 )     20.2 %     0.4 %
Income before non-recuring items, translation results, workers´ profit sharing and income taxes
    164,842       168,018       155,359       6.1 %     -1.9 %
Translation results
    (4,708 )     (31,813 )     68,695       -106.9 %     -85.2 %
Impairment
    (4,437 )     (40,856 )     -       0.0 %     -89.1 %
Provision Atlantic Blue Chip Fund and propietary exposure
    -       (43,489 )     -       0.0 %     -100.0 %
Worker's profit sharing and income taxes
    (38,209 )     (33,771 )     (39,329 )     -2.8 %     13.1 %
Net income
    117,488       18,088       184,726       -36.4 %     549.5 %
Minority Interest
    6,910       4,597       6,728       2.7 %     50.3 %
Net income attributed to Credicorp
    110,578       13,491       177,998       -37.9 %     719.6 %
Net income/share (US$)
    1.39       0.17       2.23       (0.38 )     719.6 %
Total loans
    10,119,759       10,546,378       8,919,841       13.5 %     -4.0 %
Deposits and Obligations
    13,327,794       13,779,414       12,929,288       3.1 %     -3.3 %
Net Shareholders' Equity
    1,668,154       1,689,394       1,850,680       -9.9 %     -1.3 %
Net interest margin
    4.7 %     4.9 %     4.5 %                
Efficiency ratio
    44.0 %     46.4 %     40.3 %                
Return on average shareholders' equity
    26.3 %     3.1 %     40.4 %                
PDL/Total loans
    1.2 %     0.8 %     0.8 %                
Coverage ratio of PDLs
    205.4 %     270.7 %     310.0 %                
Employees
    20,030       19,882       17,348                  

On the cost side, total operating costs were basically flat QoQ but showed the expected 20% increase when measured against 1Q08. Personnel and administrative expenses were in fact lower QoQ but in line with overall higher expenses related to the expanded network. The opening of new branches was basically completed in January and no further significant expansion will take place this year. However, other expenses within operating costs did increase threefold and are basically explained by the provisions generated by the imperfect hedge of our SAR program due to the high volatility of our stock, the lower earnings on sale of “repossessed assets” and to a less extent, larger commissions paid in the insurance business. Nevertheless, Credicorp’s efficiency ratio shows an improvement QoQ at 44% vs. 46.3% in 4Q08.

Loan portfolio quality is still sound, though it shows some signs of the economic slowdown, as well as some deterioration due to the natural maturity cycles in loans. In fact, the 0.79% PDL/Loans ratio was certainly viewed as a low point expected to be a turning point. Absolute volumes of past due loans increased since the end of December from US$ 82.9 million to US$ 117.0 million by the end of March. This increase in delinquencies results in our PDL ratio moving up to 1.16% PDL/Loans, though the move in the ratio also incorporates the 4% contraction of our loan book. Provisions for loan losses were in line with projections, but not enough to avoid a reduction of coverage which fell from 270% to 205%. We continue following a more conservative provisioning policy for our retail portfolio, increasing the internal minimum provisioning requirements in line with a more sophisticated risk assessment methodology which might lead to higher net provisioning. Nevertheless, the increase in delinquencies is in line with the economic slowdown and though we view and monitor these numbers with some concern and take certain precautionary measures, it does not represent any major concern since the deterioration is by no means an indication of any significant nor worrisome credit quality deterioration.

 
3

 
 

Furthermore, elements that have generated volatility in earnings in the past are expected to be under control: (i) The volatile translation results of the last year were gradually eliminated as we changed our policy on currency exposure, eliminating any open Nuevo Sol position on our balance sheet. Thus, the translation loss of US$ 4.7 million is probably the last significant amount to be seen for now since we have in the meantime eliminated any Nuevos Soles net exposure. (ii)The impairment of US$ 4.4 million is also non material and responds to further market volatility. (iii)Regarding the volatile provisions related to the SARs program, we are introducing a modification to the SARs program that will minimize the large variations in provisions required due to the imperfect coverage of those options in scenarios of high volatility in the market price of BAP.
Finally, taxes for Credicorp will have an inevitable though small volatility since these are determined based on Nuevo Sol local accounting and thus different earnings results of the individual subsidiaries and incorporate the tax shields provided by investment in government securities.

Credicorp – the Sum of its Parts

Results of Credicorp this 1Q09 reflect the better performance of all of Credicorp subsidiaries. Even though the effects of the economic recession we are facing are reflected in the operating performance of our banking business for this 1Q09, there is still growth in our lending business and performance of the other businesses has improved. Therefore, overall bottom line results for Credicorp reveal a recovery of its earnings generation to normalized and even improved levels that reflect the still robust business opportunities the Peruvian market offers.

BCP has seen this quarter the impact of the deep world recession on our market’s economic activity which sacked to the lowest level in February as the business community froze in expectation of developments in the world that might affect them. Therefore, operating results dropped more than anticipated, but were widely compensated by some protective measures to generate additional income, leading to a very strong 19% QoQ net income growth. Thus, BCP’s contribution to Credicorp reached US$ 98.9 million from US$ 82.9 million in 4Q08, reflecting a solid 29.5% ROAE

Earnings Contribution
                             
(US$ Thousands)
   
1Q09
     
4Q08
     
1Q08
     
1Q09/1Q08
     
1Q09/4Q08
 
Banco de Crédito BCP(1)
    98,911       82,867       161,353       -39 %     19 %
BCB
    8,518       11,414       10,476       -19 %     -25 %
Atlantic
    3,017       (65,468 )     5,673       -47 %     105 %
PPS
    5,230       (7,440 )     2,342       123 %     170 %
Grupo Crédito (2)
    6,866       5,273       9,807       -30 %     30 %
Prima
    6,246       1,437       9,015       -31 %     335 %
Others
    620       3,836       792       -22 %     -84 %
Credicorp and Others (3)
    (3,446 )     (1,741 )     (1,178 )     193 %     98 %
Credicorp Ltd.
    (3,941 )     (2,464 )     (1,724 )     129 %     60 %
Otras
    495       723       546       -9 %     -32 %
Net income attributable to Credicorp
    110,578       13,491       177,997       -38 %     720 %
(1) Includes Banco de Crédito de Bolivia.
(2) Includes Grupo Crédito, Servicorp and Prima AFP
(3) Includes taxes on BCP's and PPS's dividends, and other expenses at the holding company level.

BCP Bolivia, which is consolidated within BCP, reported a contribution of US$ 8.5 million for 1Q09 vs. US$ 11.4 million for 4Q08, which despite the drop are still solid earnings and reflect a significant stagnation of investment activity in the country.

 
4

 


After the hard year end for ASHC, which carried the bulk of the effects from the financial crisis on Credicorp and reported losses of US$ 65.5 million in 4Q08, results of the private banking activity at ASB have recovered normal levels, which undoubtedly reflect the contraction in portfolio values of the asset management business and reduced investment activity. Nevertheless, results are satisfactory and mean a contribution to Credicorp of US$ 3 million (vs. US$ 5.7 million a year ago). Furthermore, the strategy for handling the Madoff event contributed to minimize the reputational damage and preserve our clientele. But more importantly, the strategy developed for a coordinated and improved Asset Management business is setting the stage for future growth.

The insurance business at PPS reported blue numbers in all insurance business segments for the first time after 1.5 years. The changes in the business model implemented in the last 18 months which aim at a reduction of the risk retention levels in our books for the P&C corporate business are proving effective and enabled PPS to reduce casualties significantly. As a consequence of this however, net premiums earned contributed to Credicorp dropped -5.4% to US$99 million from US$ 105 million, but the lower claims in the property and casualty sector, led to significantly improved technical results which reached US$ 13.4 million in 1Q09, up from US$ 3.9 million in 4Q08 and a technical result of US$ - -0.4 million in 3Q08. This improvement is also reflected by its NEL (Net Earned Loss) ratio which reached 69.2% for 1Q09 vs. 78.6% for 4Q08, 82% for 3Q08 and even 94% in 2Q08. Therefore, the change in business strategy might reduce premium growth but significantly improve profitability. In addition, better cost controls support the downward trend in operating expenses which reached US$ 18.1 million vs. US$ 20.1 million a year ago. Consequently, total contribution to Credicorp reached this 1Q09 US$ 5.2 million, a significant recovery from the losses of 4Q08 of US$ 7.4 million, and a very encouraging number even in comparison to previous quarters in the last years.

Finally, Prima’s business results are showing significant improvements. Prima’s fee income was up 11% from last year reaching US$ 21.2 million in 1Q09, while operating costs were lower YoY by -7%, leading to a significant 34% increase in operating profits, which reached US$ 10.4 million and led to a bottom line and contribution to Credicorp of US$ 6.2 million. Furthermore, and despite Prima’s announced fee increase which became effective for this quarter, Prima maintains its dominant position in the market, capturing important market shares (30.3% of AuM, 32.0% of collections and 45.0% of voluntary contributions to the funds).

 
5

 
 
 
II. Banco de Crédito – BCP - Consolidated
 
Overview 1Q09

BCP reported net 1Q09 earnings of US$ 99.98 million (US$ 0.07 per share) reflecting a 15.4% increase in earnings compared with US$ 86.6 million (US$ 0.06 per share) in the previous quarter. A comparison with 1Q08 is however distorted by the significant non-recurrent translation gains reported in 1Q08 which boosted earning to US$ 0.129 per share.

This strong income growth, especially when considering we are in the midst of the worst world recession in decades, was achieved despite QoQ lower though still robust results from BCP’s core business, which were supported by gains realized on treasury activities. In fact, the severity of the international financial crisis followed by an unprecedented and fast slowdown in the world economy affected Peru’s economic activity, and therefore BCP growth this 1Q09 in a stronger magnitude than expected. This is reflected in its loan book balances and core income. As explained before, the uncertainties in the world markets froze the decision making processes of the Peruvian business world, resulting in defensive actions such as inventory reductions and postponement of investments to reduce potential risks, leading to a sluggish demand for financing. Though the retail sector was less impacted and continued growing, loan book growth was neutralized by the demand drop in the still dominant wholesale sector, mainly in the US Dollar denominated portfolio, resulting in a contraction of -4% QoQ of our loan book balances at the end of each period. However based on average daily balances and separating the currencies to eliminate distortions due to currency volatility, QoQ average balances growth of 1.1% is still reported and 21.3% YoY, though a negative trend could not be denied. Though core earnings do not reflect this “real” growth because of dropping US Dollar market rates, low yields in US Dollar investments of excess liquidity, and lower fee income, the boost in net earnings from treasury activities enabled BCP to report ROAE of 29.5% for 1Q09, a significant improvement compared to 25.5% last quarter.

Core Earnings

Core Revenues
 
Quarter
   
Change %
 
US$ 000
   
1Q09
     
4Q08
     
1Q08
     
1Q09/1Q08
     
1Q09/4Q08
 
Net interest and dividend income
    186,161       189,322       172,610       7.9 %     -1.7 %
Fee income, net
    77,553       84,826       79,747       -2.8 %     -8.6 %
Net gain on foreign exchange transactions
    20,328       33,175       19,971       1.8 %     -38.7 %
Core Revenues
    284,042       307,323       272,328       4.3 %     -7.6 %

As anticipated, BCP’s core earnings suffered (-7.6%) as (i) our loan book reflected the extreme caution exercised by our clients from the wholesale (corporate and middle market) segment leading to only small growth, (ii) our accounting methodology to report Nuevos Soles income (and expenses) in US Dollars incorporated currency fluctuations understating this quarter interest income, and to a greater extent (iii) our investment of excess liquidity achieved poor yields in a market with extremely low US dollar rates. Consequently, and despite slightly better spreads, interest income contracted -7.5%.

On the other hand, BCP benefited from dropping market rates that allowed increasing spreads since interest expense dropped at a higher rate of -15.6% smoothing out the contraction of net interest and dividend income to only -1.7% QoQ. On fee income, the stronger QoQ drop of -8.6% is the result of less economic activity leading to a drop in trade related fees, mortgage fees and fees related to less capital market activities and less corporate lending (both being also significant fee generating businesses). Finally, the drop of -38.7% in net gains on FX transactions is linked to the reduced transactional and trade related activity. Nevertheless, Core Earnings are still 4.3% higher than in the 1Q08, which was characterized by very strong growth in economic activity of the country.

 
6

 
 
 
 
Banco de Crédito and Subsidiaries
 
Quarter
   
Change %
 
US$ 000
   
1Q09
     
4Q08
     
1Q08
     
1Q09/1Q08
     
1Q09/4Q08
 
Net Financial income
   
186,161
      189,322       172,610       7.9 %     -1.7 %
Total provisions, net of recoveries
    (27,180 )     (6,428 )     (16,951 )     60.3 %     322.8 %
Non financial income
    148,246       141,433       124,563       19.0 %     4.8 %
Operating expenses
    (173,095 )     (171,967 )     (137,909 )     25.5 %     0.7 %
Translation results
    (4,260 )     (28,346 )     57,249       -107.4 %     -85.0 %
Worker's profit sharing and income taxes
    (29,607 )     (36,851 )     (33,365 )     -11.3 %     -19.7 %
Net income
    99,982       86,631       165,773       -39.7 %     15.4 %
Net income/share (US$)
    0.066       0.057       0.129       0.066       0.129  
Total loans
    10,031,099       10,444,723       8,837,689       13.5 %     -4.0 %
Deposits and obligations
    13,608,169       14,063,720       12,938,927       5.2 %     -3.2 %
Shareholders equity
    1,312,090       1,400,404       1,195,587       9.7 %     -6.3 %
Net interest margin
    4.5 %     4.6 %     4.7 %                
Efficiency ratio
    55.2 %     57.3 %     47.5 %                
Return on average equity
    29.5 %     25.5 %     57.0 %                
PDL/Total loans
    1.2 %     0.8 %     0.8 %                
Coverage ratio of PDLs
    206.6 %     271.9 %     313.2 %                
BIS ratio
    12.4 %     11.5 %     13.8 %                
Branches
    339       330       277                  
ATMs
    926       890       778                  
Employees
    16,628       15,971       10,959                  

Despite an improvement in spreads and NIM for our loan book, the poor returns on US Dollar excess liquidity depressed NIM slightly resulting in 4.5%, down from 4.6% the previous quarter. Some successful measures taken by our treasury to improve such returns on liquidity are however not captured in our NIM calculation. These refer to the investment in Global Peruvian Government bonds (US dollar denominated instruments), as an attractive alternative to CB deposits in US Dollars given their volatility in spreads and resulting market value, and tax exemption. The improved earnings come from the increased market value of these securities since their purchase, which were partially realized and therefore reported as gains on the sale of securities within Non-Financial Income providing at the same time an interesting tax shelter. It is this gain which helped boost our bottom line results for the 1Q09.

As expected, provisions were increased this quarter. Net provisions however raised over 4 times QoQ because of the large provision reversals of last quarter, and 60% YoY according to plan and despite an evolution in delinquencies which is within our expectations given the normal maturity cycle of loans and the market circumstances. Our ratio for past due loans reflect this evolution reaching 1.2% for 1Q09 vs. 0.8% for 4Q08, but this deterioration was exacerbated by the drop in loan volumes. A similar evolution of our coverage ratio is also observed which dropped to 207% from 272% QoQ.

Non Financial Income also grew an important 4.8% QoQ, though as explained before, boosted by the gains on sale of securities (USD denominated Global Bonds from Peruvian and Colombian Government). As also explained above, the core non financial income contributors were actually down by -8.6% for fee income and -38.7% for gains on FX-transactions.

Operating expenses were on the other hand below our forecast and remain basically flat from the levels of last quarter, showing the expected increase of 25.5% over expenses in 1Q08 resulting from the branch expansion carried out last year. Given this minimal expense increase for the quarter and the important increase in earnings, our efficiency ratio improved from last quarter to 55.2% from 57.3%, but is still higher than the 47.5% level of 1Q08. We are aware this improvement in the ratio does not reflect a real efficiency improvement of our cost structure, which is something we are focusing on achieving within the next few years.

The last element, BCP’s effective tax rate also dropped favoring bottom line results, given that the gains realized on the Sovereign bonds are tax exempt providing a tax shelter, and taxes are calculated and paid based on Nuevos Soles results (which were lower) under Peruvian GAAP.

 
7

 
 
 
II.1 Interest Earning Assets

Overall, interest earning assets remained unchanged compared to 4Q08 and grew 6.1% YoY. The decision to eliminate the local currency position and a small retrenchment in loan balances in 1Q09 led to a reshuffled asset portfolio.

Interest Earning Assets
 
Quarter
   
Change %
 
US$ 000
   
1Q09
     
4Q08
     
1Q08
     
1Q09/1Q08
     
1Q09/4Q08
 
BCRP and Other Banks
    3,141,925       2,875,230       2,077,661       51.2 %     9.3 %
Interbank funds
    25,134       28,662       1,468       1611.7 %     -12.3 %
Trading Securities
    29,973       36,084       38,538       -22.2 %     -16.9 %
Available For Sale Securities
    3,672,154       3,406,248       4,928,259       -25.5 %     7.8 %
Current Loans, net
    9,914,864       10,362,659       8,767,674       13.1 %     -4.3 %
Total interest earning assets
    16,784,050       16,708,883       15,813,601       6.1 %     0.4 %
 
Total interest earning assets remained basically unchanged compared to the position at the end of 2008 with only slight 0.4% QoQ growth. Yet their structure changed as a consequence of a small reduction in loan balances at the end of the period resulting from the severe global recession which in turn created a surplus. As a consequence, deposits in Central Bank (BCRP) and other banks, and investments available for sale grew compared to the prior quarter by 9.3% and 7.8%, respectively. Furthermore, the decision to eliminate the Nuevos Soles open position increased the US dollar denominated short term deposits with foreign banks and Central Bank.
 
Current loans remained as the main component of the interest earning asset portfolio, despite a smaller share QoQ from 62% to 59.1% after a 4.3% drop in 1Q09. Such minor portfolio contraction clearly reflected the impact of the deepening world recession after the financial meltdown at year-end 2008 and the beginning of 2009.
 
Investments available for sale and deposits at BCRP and other banks rose as explained above because of surpluses available for investment. The balance of deposits at BCRP and other banks grew more than proportionately as we searched for instruments meeting risk, return, currency and term standards required by our Bank’s investment policy.

Interest Earning Assets March
2009
 
Interest Earning Assets December
2008
 
 
Loan portfolio
 
The Bank’s net loan balance totaled US$9,791.0 million at the end of 1Q09 showing a small 4.2% fall QoQ and a 13.6% growth compared to the position of a year ago. A volatile exchange rate led to some distortions when analyzing evolutions in the local currency portfolio, mainly when compared to 1Q08. Once the exchange rate effect is excluded, net loans show a larger increase YoY, at +19.6% while the QoQ fall is slightly abated to only -4.0%.

 
8

 
 
 
EOQ Balance of Loans in US$ million
 
Mar-08
   
Mar-09*
   
Change %
 
Exchange rate
    2.744       3.161       15.2 %
Loans Domestic Currency (in US$)
    2,809       3,921       39.6 %
Loans Foreign Currency
    5,809       6,388       10.0 %
Total
    8,618       10,309       19.6 %
*Loans in Domestic Currency expresed using the exchange rate of month-end March 2008

Nonetheless, the average daily loan balance, which represents a better indicator of the portfolio’s performance, shows a 0.1% QoQ increase and a 17.0% rise compared to 1Q08. In addition, once the exchange rate effect is excluded by assuming a stable exchange rate (S/. 2.996 at December close) the average daily loan balance increases 1.1% QoQ and 21.3% YoY.

This becomes more evident when scrutinizing the way loans evolved by type of currency. As the following tables show, local currency denominated loans (mainly retail banking) grew 8.1% QoQ and 37.9% YoY, respectively. The Nuevos Soles portfolio’s behavior was mitigated by a 2.2% QoQ reduction in the foreign currency portfolio, which accounted for 65.3% of the total portfolio at the end of this year’s first quarter.

   
Domestic Currency Loans (1)
   
Foreign Currency Loans (1)
 
   
(Nuevos Soles million)
   
(US$ million)
 
     
1Q08
     
4Q08
     
1Q09
   
YoY
   
QoQ
     
1Q08
     
4Q08
     
1Q09
   
YoY
   
QoQ
 
Wholesale Banking
    3,730.3       4,256.2       4,638.7       24.4 %     9.0 %     3,726.9       4,594.2       4,475.8       20.1 %     -2.6 %
- Corporate
    2,783.7       2,998.8       3,519.2       26.4 %     17.4 %     2,208.8       2,796.4       2,875.4       30.2 %     2.8 %
- Middle Market
    946.6       1,257.4       1,119.5       18.3 %     -11.0 %     1,518.1       1,797.7       1,600.4       5.4 %     -11.0 %
Retail Banking
    4,015.6       5,612.2       6,020.5       49.9 %     7.3 %     1,697.7       1,831.1       1,816.1       7.0 %     -0.8 %
- SME
    1,393.8       1,955.4       2,092.7       50.1 %     7.0 %     539.2       593.5       572.0       6.1 %     -3.6 %
- Mortgages
    891.9       1,306.9       1,394.6       56.4 %     6.7 %     876.7       903.6       909.0       3.7 %     0.6 %
- Consumer
    836.7       1,331.4       1,431.8       71.1 %     7.5 %     225.1       268.7       271.1       20.5 %     0.9 %
- Credit Cards
    893.3       1,018.4       1,101.5       23.3 %     8.2 %     56.8       65.3       63.9       12.6 %     -2.1 %
Consolidated total loans (2)
    7,764.2       9,905.1       10,709.5       37.9 %     8.1 %     5,997.1       7,015.7       6,859.2       14.4 %     -2.2 %
(1) Average daily balance
(2) Includes work out unit, other banking and BCP Bolivia
 
The previous table also allows analyzing the quarterly evolution of loans by banking segment, measured as daily loan averages and excluding exchange rate volatility. This shows the impact of a slower Peruvian economy and its different impact on bank business segments. While Wholesale Banking experienced a fall in foreign currency loans that was slightly mitigated by growing local currency loans, Retail Banking stayed on a climbing track though at lower speed as the Nuevos Soles portfolio expanded 7.3%, making up for a minor 0.8% contraction in the foreign currency portfolio.

In Wholesale Banking again, a smaller Middle Market line is the consequence of a portfolio resegmentation and its consequent transfer to the Corporate Banking segment of US$ 338 million (including both local and foreign currency positions) that explained the growth in the Corporate Banking business line, where portfolios actually decreased once we exclude the impact of the described reallocation.

In the lively Retail Banking business a trend to lower level of dollarization is worth noticing. While the share of the US dollar in this business reached 54.6% in 1Q08, the US dollar accounted for 49.1% of this segment in this quarter. All products grew in local currency while the foreign currency portfolio shrank for SMEs and Credit Cards, with negligible growth rates in home and consumer loans.

The following graphs show the evolution of loans in local and foreign currencies by bank business segment. They evidence the slipping trend of the foreign currency portfolio and continuous growth in the local currency portfolio but at lower rate. Though all of this means that slightly higher average volumes of loans were outstanding in this 1Q09, it does hide a downward trend in those volumes, mainly in the wholesale sector which is reflected by the loan balances at the end of each period.
 
9

 
 
Foreign currency loans by segment (average daily balances)
(US$ '000)
 
Domestic currency loans by segment (average daily balances)
(S/. '000)
 
 
Market Share

BCP continued leading the loan market despite keen competition and lower system-wide loans. BCP’s share reached 30.6% in March 2009, 10% above its nearest competitor and slightly below last December’s 31.6% share.

Its share of the Corporate and Middle Market segments evidences BCP’s strong leadership with 45% and 33% market portions, respectively, at the end of 1Q09.

In Retail Banking consumer (personal) and home loans reached 19.6% and 35.5% shares, respectively. The Peruvian bank regulator SBS has decided that starting December 1, 2008, home purchase or building loans not subject to individual mortgages are now reclassified from consumer to home loans.

Dollarization

Asset dollarization expanded from 65.9% in 4Q08 to 67.0% at the end of 1Q09. The increase in the share of assets in foreign currency within the total assets is due mainly to the larger position in investment securities available for sale in foreign currency, a consequence of the decision to close the open position in Nuevo Soles so that exposure to Exchange rate volatility could be eliminated.

On the other side loans in US dollars fell from 66.2% to 63.9% QoQ. On a yearly basis, the decrease was slightly stronger compared to the 66.1% reached by the end of 1Q08.
 

 
10

 
 
 
II.2 Deposits and  Mutual Funds

BCP deposits fell 3.2%  QoQ  but  expanded 5.2%  annually, and  remained as  the  main  source  of funding. At 45.2%  market share,  mutual funds  retained their large market share  as last quarter.

Deposits and Obligations
 
Quarter ended
   
Change %
 
US$ (000)
   
1Q09
     
4Q08
     
1Q08
     
1Q09/1Q08
     
1Q09/4Q08
 
Non-interest bearing deposits
    4,147,227       4,260,406       2,965,756       39.8 %     -2.7 %
Demand deposits
    17,006       1,630,976       761,123       -97.8 %     -99.0 %
Saving deposits
    3,162,172       2,968,842       2,749,983       15.0 %     6.5 %
Time deposits
    5,217,625       4,090,043       5,543,993       -5.9 %     27.6 %
Severance indemnity deposits (CTS)
    987,247       1,039,887       859,630       14.8 %     -5.1 %
Interest payable
    76,892       73,566       58,442       31.6 %     4.5 %
Total customer deposits
    13,608,169       14,063,720       12,938,927       5.2 %     -3.2 %
Mutual funds in Perú
    1,307,943       1,273,566       2,088,039       -37.4 %     2.7 %
Mutual funds in Bolivia
    133,336       109,862       83,890       58.9 %     21.4 %
Total customer funds
    13,608,169       14,063,720       12,938,927       5.2 %     -3.2 %
 
Customers’ deposits retrenched slightly as repo operations with the Central Bank became due and a minor loss of deposits was recorded driven by lower rates, mainly in demand deposits where clients earn lower rates. Nevertheless, deposits actually grew 5.2% compared to 1Q08
 
Structure changed slightly as a consequence of a 99.0% fall in demand deposits while term deposits grew 27.6%. This was mainly the consequence of two events, namely i) a regulatory reclassification of repo operations with the Central Bank in demand deposits and are now in the term class; and ii) increased time deposits thanks to a major marketing effort to encourage these deposits that lured a greater number of (individual) clients and pushed their share in total deposits from 29.1% to 38.3%, QoQ. Severance compensation deposits (CTS is the Spanish acronym) retrenched 5.1% QoQ as a result of lower rates. Savings deposits grew 6.5% mainly through payments of company profit sharing and worker bonuses payments.
 
Deposits and Obligations
 
 
 
As mentioned earlier, deposits fell 3.2% QoQ. The fall is accounted for by loss of deposits triggered by declining interest shares. In fact, the volatility of the exchange rate did not affect our deposits reporting QoQ since balances at the end of each period are converted then to US Dollars and the exchange rate was very similar at those moments in time. However, a look at the YoY evolution of deposits, which reported 5.2% growth, reveals this growth incorporates significant currency volatility. From the end of March 08 to March 09 the Nuevo Sol showed a depreciation of 15.2% to the US dollar. The following chart shows that if the March 2009 deposits are recalculated at the March 2008 exchange rate to simulate a constant exchange rate, they actually grew 10.6%.
 
 
11

 
 
 
Deposits in US$ million
 
Mar-08
   
Mar-09*
   
Change %
 
Exchange rate
    2.744       3.161       15.2 %
Deposits Domestic Currency (in US$)
    6,084       5,302       -12.8 %
Deposits Foreign Currency
    6,855       9,005       31.4 %
Total
    12,939       14,307       10.6 %
*Deposits in Domestic Currency expresed using the exchange rate of month-end March 2008
 
Market Share
 
In the first quarter of 2009 lower rates paid by the bank led to a slight market share reduction for all types of deposits. However, BCP remained as the undisputed leader. BCP’s share in the deposits market by the end of March 2009 reached 36.8%, slightly below last December’s 38.5%.

The following table shows each type of deposit’s share by currency:

   
Market share (%)
 
Deposit
 
Domestic
currency
   
Foreign currency
 
Demand Deposits
    42.5 %     46.0 %
Saving Deposits
    37.4 %     42.3 %
Time Deposits
    23.0 %     39.1 %
Severance Indemnity
    39.3 %     53.3 %
 
Dollarization
 
Finally, by the end of March 2009, 64.0% of the deposits were denominated in foreign currency, keeping the trend started at the beginning of 2008. This is at least partially explained by the clients’ likely preference to hold deposits in US dollars as hedging in a stronger US dollar context that was evident in the 0.7% devaluation of the Nuevo Sol against the US dollar during 1Q09
 
 
 
12

 
 
 
II.3 Net Interest  Income
 
Cancelling the open position in Nuevos Soles and a drop in market interest rates (mainly US Dollars) impacted interest income, though attenuated by lower interest paid on deposits, the main financial expense. As a consequence, financial margins slimmed and the NIM slipped 10 basis points.
 
Net interest income
 
Quarter
   
Change %
 
US$ 000
   
1Q09
     
4Q08
     
1Q08
     
1Q09/1Q08
     
1Q09/4Q08
 
Interest income
    302,370       327,007       296,660       1.9 %     -7.5 %
Interest on loans
    258,751       269,851       213,932       21.0 %     -4.1 %
Interest and dividends on investments
    2,704       -       1       270300 %     100  
Interest on deposits with banks
    9,413       17,551       16,924       -44.4 %     -46.4 %
Interest on trading securities
    24,757       34,991       54,527       -54.6 %     -29.2 %
Other interest income
    6,745       4,614       11,276       -40.2 %     46.2 %
Interest expense
    116,209       137,685       124,050       -6.3 %     -15.6 %
Interest on deposits
    83,182       97,842       90,233       -7.8 %     -15.0 %
Interest on borrowed funds
    10,053       16,816       15,545       -35.3 %     -40.2 %
Interest on bonds and subordinated note
    14,452       14,386       11,480       25.9 %     0.5 %
Other interest expense
    8,522       8,641       6,792       25.5 %     -1.4 %
Net interest income
    186,161       189,322       172,610       7.9 %     -1.7 %
Average interest earning assets
    16,746,466       16,661,248       14,859,043       12.7 %     0.5 %
Net interest margin*
    4.45 %     4.55 %     4.65 %                
*Annualized
 
Interest income slipped 7.5% QoQ mainly due to i) a decision to cancel the Nuevos Soles open position, whose resulting surplus was invested in foreign currency instruments (BCRP CDRs and foreign deposits) that provided lower returns when comparing to those of local currency instruments (BCRP’s CDs and Peruvian Sovereign Bonds); and ii) a drop in market interest rates, transferred mainly to US Dollar corporate lending which still dominates our loan portfolio, that resulted in lower interest income from lending activity.

Within the strategy to invest the above surplus, deposits in other banks were rearranged to the benefit of foreign currency and short term deposits (in line with our investment policy). These products yield lower returns than investments in Nuevos Soles. This resulted in interest on deposits with other banks to contract by 46.4% QoQ and 44.4% YoY. Interest on securities also slipped as a result of sales of global and sovereign bonds mainly in January and February, for which earnings stemming from the increased market value of those securities were recorded as non financial revenues.

Expenses on interest dropped 15.6% QoQ and 6.3% YoY, mainly thanks to lower interest paid on deposits. Smaller deposit rates paid and client preference for deposits in US dollars (at lower rates) account for the lower cost of funding from deposits. Notwithstanding, interest paid on deposits remain the principal source of expenses, as they account for 71.6% of expenditure on interests.

Lower financial income explained above was attenuated by a proportionately stronger drop in financial expenses, resulting in a very moderate drop of net interest income of only -1.7% QoQ and therefore led to a minor drop in net interest margins reaching 4.45% vs. 4.55% the previous quarter.
 
 
13

 
 
 

It is worthwhile underscoring that NIM for our loan book has evolved along a positive trend in recent quarters, reaching 7.5% this quarter, up from 7.3% recorded in 4Q08 and 1Q08’s 6.9%. This reflects higher margins as a result of higher risk perceptions worldwide that made the market accept such slightly wider spreads.
 
II.4 Loan provisions

Provisioning rose significantly by 148% QoQ as foreseen while past due loans grew 41.6% QoQ, resulting in 1.16% portfolio quality indicator, above 4Q08’s 0.79%.

Provisión for loan losses
 
Quarter ended
   
Change %
 
US$ 000
   
1Q09
     
4Q08
     
1Q08
     
1Q09/1Q08
     
1Q09/4Q08
 
Provisions
    (32,026 )     (12,903 )     (25,867 )     23.8 %     148.2 %
Loan loss recoveries
    4,846       6,474       8,915       -45.6 %     -25.1 %
Total provisions, net of recoveries
    (27,180 )     (6,428 )     (16,951 )     60.3 %     322.8 %
Total loans
    10,031,099       10,444,723       8,837,689       13.5 %     -4.0 %
Reserve for loan losses (RLL)
    240,091       223,161       219,295       9.5 %     7.6 %
Charge-Off amount
    13,293       13,160       9,281       43.2 %     1.0 %
Past due loans (PDL)
    116,235       82,064       70,015       66.0 %     41.6 %
PDL/Total loans
    1.16 %     0.79 %     0.79 %                
Coverage
    206.56 %     271.94 %     313.21 %                
 
As foreseen, low past due rates recorded by end-2008 increased partly due to an expected evolution in the maturity cycles for loans, further accentuated by the drop in loan balances at the end of the period following the global economic slowdown, and no doubt, also some deterioration related to the economic slowdown and job losses in certain sectors of the economy.

This, together with higher pro-cyclical allowances (enforce since December 1, 2008), rose provisions 148.2% QoQ, although it is important to highlight that provisions of 4Q08 were very low due to a reversal related to IAS39. Additionally, revenues from recovery of written off loans fell 25.1% compared to the previous quarter increasing net provisions by 322.8% QoQ.

Our past due loans to total loans ratio grew from 0.79% in 4Q08 to 1.16% in 1Q09, reflecting the increased (41.6% QoQ and 66.0% YoY) overdue loans and 4.2% lower loan balances. Provisioning for past due loans reached 206.6% at the end of 2009’s first quarter.
 
 
14

 
 
 
 
II.5 Non Financial Income
 
Non financial revenues experienced a slight 4.8% QoQ increase mainly thanks to significant windfall earnings from the sale of securities in 1Q09, namely earnings from sales of global and sovereign bonds purchased last October, which compensated weaker fee income.

In fact, other items within the non financial income did not perform as well as they did during the last quarter of 2008. Net gains on Foreign Exchange transactions reflect commissions generated by our dual currency system, which dropped from last quarter given the lower exchange rate volatility reaching US$ 20.3 million, or 38.2% less than in the preceding quarter when uncertainties about the exchange rate generated significant FX-revenues.

On the other hand, earnings on commissions were also affected by the economic slowdown and fell US$7.1 million QoQ or 8.6% less. This drop is mainly explained by lower income from fees related to Home Loans and Mortgages (US$ -2.4 million), Contingencies and Trade-financing fees (US$ -1.0 million) and Consumer Loans’ fees (US$ -0.8 million lower).

Non financial income
 
Quarter
   
Change %
 
US$ 000
   
1Q09
     
4Q08
     
1Q08
     
1Q09/1Q08
     
1Q09/4Q08
 
Fee income
    77,553       84,826       79,747      
-2.8
%     -8.6 %
Net gain on foreign exchange transactions
    20,328       33,175       19,971       1.8 %     -38.7 %
Net gain on sales of securities
    46,291       15,325       22,655       104.3 %     202.1 %
Other income
    4,074       8,107       2,190       86.0 %     -49.7 %
Total non financial income
    148,246       141,433       124,563       19.0 %     4.8 %
 
The contraction of fee income is also associated to lower earnings from commissions charged on bank services that are mainly accounted for by a lower volume of transactions per channel. The average monthly number of transactional operations reached 38.9 million in 1Q09, 4.6% lower QoQ but 20.1% above 1Q08’s. Such decrease was a result of the slowdown of Peruvian economy that reduced bank intermediation. Transactions through our Agente BCP continued to grow, by 9.9% QoQ and 111.4% YoY, and remained on a strong growth track since they were introduced as an alternative banking services penetration channel.

 
15

 
 
 
N° of Transactions per channel
 
Quarter
   
Change %
 
   
Average 1Q09
   
Average 4Q08
   
Average 1Q08
     
1Q09/1Q08
     
1Q09/4Q08
 
Teller
    9,792,291       10,478,167       9,091,066       7.7 %     -6.5 %
ATMs Via BCP
    6,430,467       7,154,602       5,376,097       19.6 %     -10.1 %
Balance Inquiries
    2,468,762       2,671,103       2,249,668       9.7 %     -7.6 %
Telephone Banking
    1,354,645       1,321,179       1,126,113       20.3 %     2.5 %
Internet Banking Via BCP
    8,937,239       9,507,673       7,448,052       20.0 %     -6.0 %
Agente BCP
    2,639,140       2,400,437       1,248,203       111.4 %     9.9 %
Telecrédito
    3,686,367       3,816,293       2,884,387       27.8 %     -3.4 %
Direct Debit
    485,649       422,867       341,265       42.3 %     14.8 %
Points of Sale P.O.S.
    2,901,872       2,785,821       2,466,764       17.6 %     4.2 %
Other ATMs network
    210,673       227,863       173,343       21.5 %     -7.5 %
Total transactions
    38,907,105       40,786,007       32,404,959       20.1 %     -4.6 %
 
Agentes BCP once again emerged as the most dynamic channel as they are a low cost way to provide bank services to new clients.
 
   
Balance as of
   
Change %
 
     
1Q09
     
4Q08
     
1Q08
   
Dec 08/Dec 07
   
Dec 08/Sep 08
 
Branches
    339       330       277       22.4 %     2.7 %
ATMs
    926       890       699       32.5 %     4.0 %
Agentes BCP
    2,037       1,851       1,552       31.3 %     10.0 %
Total
    3,302       3,071       2,528       30.6 %     7.5 %
 
II.6 Operating Costs and Efficiency
 
Due to 4.8% higher earnings from operations and flat operating expenses, efficiency indicators improved slightly from 57.3% in 4Q08 to 55.2% in 1Q09.

Operating expenses
 
Quarter
   
Change %
 
US$ 000
   
1Q09
     
4Q08
     
1Q08
     
1Q09/1Q08
     
1Q09/4Q08
 
Salaries and employees benefits
    79,349       88,805       70,553       12.5 %     -10.6 %
Administrative, general and tax expenses
    63,553       74,407       48,520       31.0 %     -14.6 %
Depreciation and amortizacion
    13,756       12,740       10,364       32.7 %     8.0 %
Other expenses
    16,437       (3,984 )     8,471       94.0 %     -512.6 %
Total operating expenses
    173,095       171,968       137,908       25.5 %     0.7 %
Efficiency Ratio
    55.15 %     57.25 %     47.53 %                
 
Although operating expenses were flat QoQ, they expanded by 25.5% YoY, triggered by growth of the office network produced during last year’s second half.

Worker compensation and benefits fell 10.6%  QoQ after an allowance for exceptional bonuses made in the preceding quarter, despite a 4.4% QoQ larger payroll.

Administrative and general expenses fell 14.6% QoQ mainly due to lower marketing expenses following the significant expenditure made in 2008’s year end campaigns under this heading. Maintenance, consultancies, transportation and communications expenses also fell QoQ.
 
16

 
 
 
Detailed administrative expenses and quarterly fluctuations are shown below:

Administrative Expenses
 
Quarter
   
Change %
 
US$ (000)
   
1Q09
   
%
     
4Q08
   
%
     
1Q08
   
%
     
4Q08/4Q07
     
4Q08/ 3Q08
 
Marketing
    10,896       17 %     9,749       13 %     6,892       14 %     58.1 %     11.8 %
Systems
    4,725       7 %     14,765       20 %     5,032       10 %     -6.1 %     -68.0 %
Transportation
    4,537       7 %     5,476       7 %     4,458       9 %     1.8 %     -17.2 %
Consulting
    4,000       6 %     5,172       7 %     2,207       5 %     81.2 %     -22.7 %
Maintenance
    2,873       5 %     3,139       4 %     2,497       5 %     15.1 %     -8.5 %
Communications
    2,205       3 %     3,415       5 %     2,444       5 %     -9.8 %     -35.4 %
Other expenses
    18,710       29 %     20,794       28 %     14,195       29 %     31.8 %     -10.0 %
Property taxes and others
    6,631       10 %     5,129       7 %     5,487       11 %     20.9 %     29.3 %
Other subsidiaries and eliminations, net
    8,975       14 %     6,768       9 %     5,308       11 %     69.1 %     32.6 %
Total Administrative Expenses
    63,553       100 %     74,407       100 %     48,520       100 %     31.0 %     -14.6 %
 
Most administrative expenses, both business related and otherwise, fell in 1Q09. IT expenditures increased, mostly related to software maintenance and other costs related to support IT systems’ development.

II.7 Shareholders’ Equity and Regulatory Capital

Shareholders' equity
 
Quarter
   
Change %
 
US$ 000
   
1Q09
     
4Q08
      1Q08      
1Q09/1Q08
     
1Q09/4Q08
 
Capital stock
    667,646       439,474       364,707       83.1 %     51.9 %
Reserves
    388,365       388,062       388,062       0.1 %     0.1 %
Unrealized Gains and Losses
    40,652       34,746       90,285       -55.0 %     17.0 %
Retained Earnings
    115,445       114,593       186,761       -38.2 %     0.7 %
Income for the year
    99,982       423,529       165,773       -39.7 %     -76.4 %
Total shareholders' equity
    1,312,090       1,400,404       1,195,588       9.7 %     -6.3 %
Return on average equity (ROAE)
    29.49 %     25.48 %     56.96 %                
 
Net equity reached US$ 1,312 million at the end of 1Q09 which represented a contraction of 6.3% QoQ. This is mainly the consequence of 2008 dividend payments made in the first quarter of this year. This equity contraction together with higher profits (15.4% up QoQ) explained the quarterly increase of ROAE from 25.5% to 29.5%. A comparison with 1Q08 is however meaningless since net income was distorted by the extraordinary US$ 57 million translation revenue.

Regulatory Capital and Capital Adequancy Ratios
 
Balance as of
   
Change %
 
US$ (000)
 
Dec-08
   
Sep-08
   
Dec-08
   
Dec 08/
Dec 07
   
Dec 08/
Sep08
 
Capital Stock, net
    704,931       480,346       468,851       50.4 %     46.8 %
Legal and Other capital reserves
    420,454       423,052       484,105       -13.1 %     -0.6 %
Net income capitalized
    -       229,299       80,816       -100.0 %     -100.0 %
Investment in subsidiaries and others
    173,921       209,393       152,839       13.8 %     -16.9 %
Goodwill
    8,290       8,027       5,440       52.4 %     3.3 %
Generic Contingency loss reserves
    104,450       109,207       91,469       14.2 %     -4.4 %
Subordinated Debt
    342,634       278,688       307,422       11.5 %     22.9 %
Total Regulatory Capital
    1,390,260       1,303,173       1,274,384       9.1 %     6.7 %
                                         
Tier 1 (1)
    1,052,583       1,019,974       951,913       10.6 %     3.2 %
Tier 2 (2)
    360,124       283,199       322,472       11.7 %     27.2 %
                                         
Risk-weighted assets
    10,407,244       10,787,723       9,168,514       13.5 %     -3.5 %
Market risk
    85,544       47,928       8,893       861.9 %     78.5 %
Capital ratios
                                       
BIS ratio
    12.45 %     11.52 %     13.75 %                
Risk-weighted assets / Regulatory Capital
    8.03       8.68       7.27                  

(1) Tier 1 = Capital + Reserves + Net Income capitalized - Goodwill - (0.5 x Inverstment in Subsidiaries)
(2) Tier 2 = Subordinated Debt + Generic Contigency loss reserves - (0.5 x Investment in subsidiaries)

 
17

 
 
 
At the end of 1Q09 the capital adequacy ratio for BCP reached 12.45%, almost 100 bps above last quarter’s and well above the system’s regulatory minimum (9.1%). The higher ratio is mainly the consequence of lower risk weighted assets associated to credit risk that comes from the reduction of the loan portfolio. Nevertheless, the lower loan risk was partially offset by higher market risk related to the increased foreign currency (US dollar) position which pursuant to Peruvian accounting standards results in higher capital requirements to balance currency risks. At the end of 1Q09, market risk required US$ 85.5 million of capital.

Nevertheless, the regulatory capital adequacy ratio decreased YoY, principally as a result of growth in loans that in turn increased the risk weighted assets requiring a larger capital.

Additionally, accumulated earnings from previous quarters were capitalized in 1Q09, strengthening BCP’s capital position by almost 50%. This did not impact TIER I calculations (+3.2% QoQ) which reached US$ 1,053 million, since capitalized earnings are included in TIER I. Moreover, TIER II increased 27.2% QoQ, to US$ 360 million, as a consequence of increased balances in subordinated debt from US$ 279 million to US$ 343 million.
 
 
18

 
 
 
III. Banco de Crédito de Bolivia
 
Bolivia’s financial system

Total loans in the Bolivian financial system fell from US$ 3,566 million in December 2008 to US$ 3,530 million in March 2009 or 0.1% lower. Loan quality in the banking systems has suffered slightly since 2008. To June 2008, past due loans of the banking system reached 5.2% compared to 4.3% in December last year and 4.8% in March 2009. The banking system’s coverage ratio reached 135.7% to March 2009, compared to 144.3% last December.
 
Deposits in Bolivian banks grew from US$ 5,676 million in December 2008 to US$ 5,921 million in March this year, a 4.3% increase. This growth split between demand deposits’ growth of 3.4%, a 0.9% drop in savings and 9.9% growth in time deposits.

Results

In 1Q09, net income of BCP Bolivia reached US$ 6.9 million reflecting a QoQ fall of 46.9% and a YoY slide reaching 33.7%. The decline is a result of lower net interest income (-2.0% QoQ) and non-financial income. It is important to highlight that non financial income fell 23.0% QoQ mainly due to a regulatory change that prevents bank from charging fees and commissions for financial services and in some extent for a drop in gains from FX-transactions. Furthermore, larger operating expenses due to regulatory changes that increased salaries by 11% (27.4% QoQ and 40.5% YoY) intensified the contraction in income.
 
A conservative loan risk management strategy led to a 2.3% past due loan rate (2.0 % in 4Q08 and 1.7% in 1Q08) and 204.6% provisioning rate (226.1% in 4Q08 and 229.1% en 1Q08) demonstrating BCP Bolivia ranks among the best performing banks in Bolivia’s banking system where the corresponding ratios reached 4.8 and 135.7%. BCP Bolivia’s ROAE reached 25.0%, lower than last December’s 53.4% but still high compared to market average figures.

Assets and liabilities

Total loans to March 2009 reached US$ 468.2 million, 1.9% lower than December 2008’s US$ 477.5 million though 0.1% higher YoY. Such fall in this year’s first quarter is a consequence of expectations of a slower economy and smaller GDP, combined with weaker aggregate demand and lower international prices.
 
Retail Banking slipped 1.1% QoQ though it expanded 13.5% YoY, with major impacts on the Bank’s results as this segment accounts for 52.6% of our portfolio and is the largest profit maker. The Corporate and Middle Market Banking account for 42.1% of our portfolio and are a smaller source of earnings compared to Retail Banking.
 
Individual cash loans were the fastest growing product QoQ (3.96% up) and accounted for 10.7% of the retail portfolio. Mortgage loans accounted for 48.6% of the portfolio and did not grow significantly QoQ though it experienced 3.2% growth YoY.
 
On the liabilities side, deposits at BCP Bolivia grew 13.3% QoQ and 24.8% YoY. Demand deposits grew significantly (25.0% QoQ and 20.0% YoY). Time deposits expanded 20.2% QoQ and 26.2% YoY, followed by savings (1.6% QoQ and 28.7% YoY).
 
Net shareholders’ equity fell 21.6% QoQ due to lower annual earnings (-33.7% YoY) linked to dividend distribution, though it grew 11.8% YoY.
 
Finally, BCP Bolivia held to its 12.6% market share for loans and 14.1% for deposits, making it Bolivia’s third largest bank on both accounts. It has also strengthened its position in the strategic services and products segment, and launched innovative offerings in the local market in its constant search of recognition as the bank providing the safest transaction environment. Meanwhile, BCP Bolivia continued expanding its Agente BCP - banking business model to increase penetration of underserved segments. To March 2009, BCP Bolivia managed a total 74 Agentes BCP.


 
19

 
 

 
Banco de Crédito de Bolivia
 
Quarter
   
Change %
 
US$ million
   
1Q09
     
4Q08
     
1Q08
     
1Q09 / 1Q08
     
1Q09/4Q08
 
Total Loans
    468.2       477.5       467.6       0.1 %     -1.9 %
Past due loans
    10.8       9.2       7.9       36.7 %     17.4 %
Loan loss reserves
    -22.1       -20.8       -18.1       22.1 %     6.3 %
Total Assets
    1006.5       939.7       845.0       19.1 %     7.1 %
Deposits
    874.5       771.9       701.0       24.8 %     13.3 %
Shareholders net equity
    84.8       108.2       75.8       11.9 %     -21.6 %
Net Income
    6.9       13.0       10.4       -33.7 %     -46.9 %
PDL/Total loans
    2.3 %     1.9 %     1.7 %                
Coverage ratio of PDLs
    204.6 %     226.1 %     229.1 %                
ROAE
    31.3 %     53.4 %     56.1 %                
Branches
    63       64       61                  
ATMs
    186       182       166                  
Employees
    1536       1593       1503                  
*ROAE is calculated as follows:
(Acumulated net income/average monthly net equity(from dec. to month-end))/(number of months)*12

 
20

 
 
 
IV. Atlantic Security Holding Corporation
 
ASHC
 
Quarter
   
Change %
 
(US$ Million)
   
1Q 2009
     
4Q 2008
     
1Q 2008
     
1Q09 / 1Q08
     
1Q09 / 4Q08
 
Net interest income
    6.0       5.8       5.7       5.5       3.8  
Dividend income
    0.0       0.2       0.0       -36.9       -80.5  
Fees and commissions from services
    1.3       2.0       2.1       -37.6       -32.3  
Net gains on foreign exchange transactions
    -0.8       -0.6       0.6       -227.9       -31.9  
Core Revenues
    6.6       7.3       8.5       -22.9       -10.1  
Impairment
    4.4       26.0       2.0       125.2       -83.0  
Provision Atlantic Blue Chip Fund and proprietary exposure
    0.0       43.5       0.0       0.0       -100.0  
Net gains from sale of securities
    1.3       3.4       0.7       87.1       -60.3  
Other income
    1.5       1.4       0.5       174.6       8.1  
Operating expenses
    1.8       2.0       2.2       -18.4       -13.5  
Net income
    3.2       -59.4       5.7       -43.2       105.4  
Net income/share
    0.0       -0.8       0.1       -55.8       104.2  
Total loans
    181.4       201.4       146.4       23.9       -9.9  
Total investments available for sale
    617.2       575.6       824.3       -25.1       7.2  
Total asset
    1,479.8       1,454.2       1,490.7       -0.7       1.8  
Total deposits
    1,289.2       1,270.2       1,382.9       -6.8       1.5  
Shareholder's equity
    119.0       115.7       214.1       -44.4       2.8  
Net interest margin
    1.90 %     1.83 %     1.62 %                
Efficiency ratio
    18.7 %     16.8 %     22.0 %                
Return on average equity
    11.0 %     -160.8 %     9.4 %                
PDL / Total loans
    0.00       0.00       0.00                  
Cover ratio
    0.1 %     0.6 %     1.0 %                
BIS ratio
    13.75 %     14.11 %     14.93 %                
 
During this 1Q09 and after having endured the high impairment losses by the end of last year as the market meltdown took its toll, Atlantic Security Holding Corporation (ASHC) reports a net income of US$ 3.2 millions recovering a normalized income contribution level from its asset management business, though affected by lower AuM volumes and reduced investment activity. Therefore, these 1Q09 earnings represent a decrease of 43.2% YoY.

Total core revenues for 1QT09 reached US$ 6.6 million, reflecting a decrease of 10.1% and 22% QoQ and YoY, respectively. This performance was mainly caused by the contraction of fees and commissions from services and higher foreign exchange losses QoQ and YoY. Net Interest income registered a slight expansion of 3.8% QoQ and 5.5% YoY.

Commissions and fee income reached US$ 1.3 million, representing a decrease of 32% when compared to 4Q08 results of US$ 2.0 millions and a decrease of 37% YoY. This item reported lower volumes on quarterly and yearly basis due to the reduction of AuM that contracted as a direct result of dropdowns on performance yields and net asset value of managed funds which are the base for determination of such commissions and fees.

Foreign exchange operations reported a US$ 800 thousands loss which represents an increase of 31% when compared 4Q08 figures and higher in more than 100% in comparison with the figures of the same quarter of prior year. This loss arises from the un-hedged positions in euros, currency that has presented significant devaluation against the US dollar by the end of this quarter.

ASHC continued with its conservative provisioning, which led to the large amounts impaired of investment securities available for sale by the end of last year, and a remnant position impaired this 1Q09 of US$ 3.4 million. As indicated in previous quarters, reserves were constituted to confront possible losses resulting from credit exposure of issuers, and were increased according to market conditions in 1Q09. Nevertheless, markets are starting to report slight recoveries.

The investment portfolio maintains a significant concentration of 75% on “safe” investment grade securities. Maintaining this structure through the year confirms the investment strategy of the company which is based on generating earnings through yields, rather than making profits through the trading of securities. Based on this fact, we expect important reserve recoveries as market corrections begin.
 
 
21

 
 
 
Realized gains on sale of securities reached US$ 1.3 million, reflecting lower income from this business that was reduced by 60% QoQ but that increased 87% YoY.

Efficiency ratio went from 16.8% reported in 4QT08 to 18.7% in 1Q09. Better results reported on this ratio are due to constant level of operating expenses and less reserve in comparison to prior quarters.

Asset level expanded by 1.7% QoQ and decreased by 0.7% YoY. This increase was produced by the larger amount of available cash, generated by the maturities of investments, migration from customers’ off-balance products to traditional deposits and the reinforcement of shareholders’ equity through the direct capitalization received in this quarter.

The capitalization plan was executed through the issuance of common stock for US$ 20.0 millions and long-term subordinated debt agreement for US$ 15.0 million
 
Interest Earning Assets

Interest earning assets reached US$ 1,348 million, as shown in the table below. This figure increased 1.2% QoQ while it dropped 2.5% YoY. Cash balances remained on similar levels to those reported in 4QT08 with an increase of 0.5% QoQ and of 34.3% YoY. Loans contracted 9.9% QoQ and expanded 24% YoY. Investments reported an increase of 6.1% QoQ and a decrease of 27.6% YoY. The observed increase QoQ was due to reinvestment process of accumulated cash balance initiated during this 1QT09

The share of investment-grade securities in the investment portfolio is 75%, emphasizing ASB’s prudent investment policy of concentrating its portfolio in high credit quality investments.

INTEREST EARNING ASSETS*
 
Quarter
   
Change %
 
(US$ Million)
    1Q 2009       4Q 2008       1Q 2008       1Q09 / 1Q08       1Q09 / 4Q08  
Due from banks
    588       584       437       34.3 %     0.5 %
Loans
    181       201       146       23.9 %     -9.9 %
Investments
    579       546       799       -27.6 %     6.1 %
Total interest-earning assets
    1,348       1,332       1,383       -2.5 %     1.2 %
(*) Excludes investments in equities and mutual funds.

ASHC: Portfolio Distribution
March 2009
ASHC: Portfolio Distribution
December 2008
   
 
 
22

 
 
  
Asset Management Business

Third party managed funds include, besides third party managed funds, customers’ deposits, mutual funds and proprietary investments held for custody. The total of these funds has decreased by 4.6% QoQ and 22% YoY.

This decrease is a result of general drop on market value of managed funds and securities in custody on behalf of customers, which is also in line with the reported loss of value of the available for sale investments portfolio. In addition to this market value loss, many of our customers have opted out for safe investments such as traditional time deposits, causing a migration to these banking products.

During 4Q08, the case of Madoff Securities LLC had a negative effect in our asset management business through the failure of one of the feeder funds of the mentioned company, which at the same time was the solely asset of one of our managed funds (AUSBCF). The collapse of this fund originated a decrease in this item of approximately US$ 110 millions represented by the Net Asset Value (NAV) of our fund in which our customers were investors.

Assets Under Management and Deposits
 

 
23

 
 
 
V. Prima AFP

V1. Recent evolution of the private pension fund market

Private pension market trends in 2009’s first quarter slowed to 24,000 transfers compared to 60,000 transfers in the preceding period. New memberships increased from 46,000 last period to 52,000 in the first quarter. By end-March, system members totaled 4.3 million.

Financial markets in the first quarter improved slightly with a positive impact on the value of funds under management. Volatility of the local currency was reflected in a weaker Nuevo Sol in February followed however by a strong bounce back at the end of March. As a consequence, the funds under management system-wide had increased 5.7% compared to the previous quarter, from US$ 15.8 billion in December 2008 to US$ 16.7 billion in March 2009.

The system’s financial bottom line recorded a positive US$ 70 million worth of earnings in the first quarter or 2.9% more than a year earlier. Such increase is principally a consequence of greater contributions prompted by a dynamic economy and surging formal jobs.

Operating expenses system-wide reached US$ 37.2 million while earnings from operations reached US$ 32.7 million, or a 37.1% improvement over a year earlier. After earnings from legal reserves totaling US$ 6.6 million booked as local accounting results, and other revenues and expenses, as well as tax and profit sharing provisioning, AFPs added US$ 27.1 million earnings to their net results for 2009’s first quarter.
 
Private Pension Fund System: Main Indicators
At the end of the period:
    1Q09       4Q08       1Q08  
Affiliates (thousand)
    4,338       4,296       4,156  
% Change (1)
    1.0 %     0.8 %     1.3 %
Sales force
    1,229       1,763       2,031  
Asset under management (US$ mm)
    16,692       15,875       22,279  
% change (1)
    5.1 %     -11.7 %     9.4 %
Income (US$ mm) (2)
    70.0       57.4       68.0  
Operating expenses (US$ mm)
    37.2       43.2       44.1  
Operating income (US$ mm)
    32.7       14.3       23.9  
Net Income (US$ mm) (3)
    27.1       -7.7       15.7  
Source: Conasev, SBS:
(1) Quarter Variation
(2) Income for the first quarter includes double collection
(3) In local Peruvian accounting, legal reserves are included in the income statement as opposed to the IFRS There is no infomation for results adjusted to international financial reporting standards for the Total System.
 
V2. Prima AFP

PRIMA’s market operations in the first quarter of 2009 mainly focused on recruitment of new clients, and resulted in a significant 20.8% increase in new affiliations compared to figures for the preceding quarter. Regarding client transfers, marketing intensity at PRIMA, and the system overall, fell sharply in line with evolutions in sales forces.

PRIMA held fast to its premier position system-wide for collections with a 32.0% share of the total, and also ranked first for voluntary contributions with a 45% share of the total voluntary fund in January.

 
24

 
 
 
PRIMA AFP: Main quarterly indicators and market share
   
PRIMA 1Q09
   
System 1Q09
   
Share 1Q09
%
   
PRIMA 4Q08
   
System 4Q8
   
Share 4Q08
%
 
Affiliates (1)
    1,053,772       4,337,570       24.3 %     1,045,410       4,296,480       24.3 %
New affiliations (2)
    11,520       51,975       22.2 %     9,538       45,959       20.8 %
Fund under management US$ mm (1)
    5,057       16,692       30.3 %     4,862       15,875       30.6 %
Collections US$ mm (3)
    134       421       32.0 %     119       366       32.4 %
Voluntary Contributions US$ mm (4)
    59       131       45.0 %     62       137       45.3 %
RAM US$ mm (5)
    334       1,046       31.9 %     344       1,063       32.3 %
(1) Source: Superintencia de Banca y Seguros
(2) Accumulated to the Quarter
(3) Accumulated to the Quarter. Include voluntary contributions
(4) Stock level at the end of the period
(5) Monthly remuneration retained, earnings base calculation estimated by PRIMA on average earning during the last 4 months excluding double collection effect, special collections and voluntary contributions fees.
 
Commercial results

New members and inbound transfers in the first quarter reached close to 17,700 (6,200 transfers and 11,500 new affiliates), lower than a quarter earlier. Outbound transfers also fell sharply in the first quarter. Both figures are a consequence of a smaller sales force both at PRIMA and throughout the system. RAM flows show a net positive result for PRIMA.

To March, PRIMA’s funds under management reached US$ 5.057 million or 30.3% of the system’s total.

Investments

Local and international financial markets swings slightly softened in the first quarter after the freefall of last year’s second half. In the most recent 12 months returns of funds under PRIMA’s management reached -2.96%, -18.48% and -36.67% for funds 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

Yet pension fund investments are managed with a long term perspective, to smooth out short term fluctuations. In the last three years, returns on investments by PRIMA’s funds under management reached 27.30% for fund 1, 27.82% for fund 2 and 51.97% for fund 3, ranking our organization as the second, top and second market players respectively. An analysis since the beginning of system operations reveals nominal growth of the consolidated fund 2 managed by all pension fund management companies reached 12.54% annual average.

Individual fund shares of the total portfolio under management to March 2009 appear below:
 
PRIMA AFP: Funds under management as of December 2009
   
Mar-09
   
Share %
   
Dec- 08
   
Share %
 
Fund 1
    463       9.2 %     397       8.2 %
Fund 2
    3,467       68.6 %     3,355       69.0 %
Fund 3
    1,126       22.3 %     1,110       22.8 %
Total US$ mm
    5,057       100.0 %     4,862       100.0 %
Source: Superintendencia de Banca y Seguros

 
25

 
 
 
Financial results
 
Revenues

Prima’s revenues in the first quarter reached US$ 21.2 million. Contrary to what happened in the previous quarter, this period includes the impact of year end bonuses. Prima’s revenues are typically 60% to 70% higher in January and August because of end and mid year bonuses paid to workers pursuant to Peruvian regulations. A comparison of first quarter revenues for 2008 and 2009 (1Q08: US$ 19.1 million) reveals an 11.0% increase, taking account of close to 9% devaluation of the local currency between 1Q08 and 1Q09. Revenues in the first quarter of 2009 incorporate a recently modified 1.75% administration charge which resulted in more than 20% increase in revenues in Nuevos Soles, compared to a year ago.

Base salaries that are the source of PRIMA’s revenues in the first quarter topped the system’s scale, reaching 31.9% market share, as revealed by public information on revenues and administration charges for individual pension management companies. In consequence, the total amount of salaries of PRIMA members who contribute to the fund every month, and against which the administration fee is charged, was once again the system’s highest.

 
PRIMA AFP: Total earnings-US$ Million
   
PRIMA Mar-09
   
System Mar-09
   
Share %
 
Income (1)
    5.6       19.1       29.5 %
Administrative Fees (2)
    1.75 %  
n.a.
         
RAM estimated base (3)
    334       1,046       31.9 %
PRIMA AFP estimates. In accordance to local public infomation, (CONASEV)
(1) Average monthly income from the last four months, excluding special collections and voluntary contribution fees
(2) Administrative fee 1.75% effective since january 2009
(3) RAM: Monthly Accumulated Salary
 
Expenditures

In the first quarter of 2009 the company’s operative expenses remained unchanged, though revealing a declining trend in sales payroll and administration expenses, together with smaller portfolio management related expenditures compared to the preceding period.

Operating expenses reached US$ 10.4 million, in line with expectations. This result already included charges related to the merger, through the amortization of certain assets. By adding amortization and depreciation charges for real estate and computer investments, we reach total D&A expenses of US$ 2.3 million over this period.

Volatility characterized the local currency in the first quarter, after weakening in February and bouncing back in March. The net impact of currency translation and differed liability adjustments was a US$ 0.1 million loss. After provisioning for taxes and profit sharing, PRIMA’s net earnings for the period reached US$ 6.25 million, slightly above expectations.

The company’s assets at the end of the first quarter reached US$ 224.7 million, including US$ 90.9 million liabilities and equity worth US$ 133.8 million.

 
26

 
 

The company’s main financial figures appear below:
 
PRIMA AFP: Main financial indicators (US$ thousand) (1)
      1Q09       4Q08       1Q08  
Income
    21,187       15,538       19,075  
Administrative and sale expenses
    (8,549 )     (10,424 )     (9,201 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (2,276 )     (2,172 )     (2,135 )
Net operating income
    10,363       2,942       7,739  
Other income and expenses, net
    (479 )     (933 )     (859 )
Workers profit sharing and Income tax
    (3,544 )     (245 )     (2,530 )
Net income before translation results
    6,339       1,764       4,351  
Translation results and deferred liabilities
    (93 )     (328 )     4,664  
Net income (looses)
    6,246       1,437       9,015  
Total Assets
    224,720       222,242       254,311  
Total Liabilities
    90,900       92,975       116,534  
Equity
    133,820       129,268       137,777  
(1) IFRS

 
27

 
 
 
VI. EL PACIFICO PERUANO SUIZA AND SUBSIDIARIES

VI.1 PACIFICO GROUP

Pacífico Insurance Group (PGA), a consolidation of general (PPS), life (PV) and health care (EPS) insurance businesses, earned US$ 6.8 million profit in 1Q09, compared to a US$ 9.8 million loss in 4Q08.

The positive result is mainly accounted for by two reasons: i) a 9.4 point lower claims rate that dropped from 78.6% in 4Q08 to 69.2% in 1Q09, and ii) financial income above 4Q08 when results were negatively impacted due to impaired investments to the tune of US$ 11.3 million in PPS and PV as a consequence of the international financial meltdown.

Pacífico Insurance Group has significantly reduced claims rates in its three business lines and managed technical results reaching US$ 13.4 million in 1Q09, significantly above the US$ 3.9 million earned in 4Q08 and the US$ 0.5 million from 1Q08. Such improvements stem from the adoption of a strategy to split and spread risk, focusing on greater penetration in the personal insurance market and also on transferring large corporate risk transfer to the international insurance market.

General expenses fell to US$18.1 million from US$19.6 million in 4Q08 and US$ 20.1 million in 1Q08. The general expenses to net premiums ratio at PGA fell from 18.2% in 4Q08 to 17.8% in 1Q09, mainly as a consequence of US$1.1 million lower expenses at PPS resulting from lower provisioning and an effective control policy.

Quarterly results were impacted by a US$ 0.5 million translation loss resulting from exchange rate fluctuations, and increased income tax and profit sharing provisioning totaling US$ 2.2 million as a consequence of an enhanced bottom-line.

The contribution to Credicorp totaling US$ 5.1 million in 1Q09 exceeds both 1Q08’s and the US$ 7.4 million loss from 4Q08 that was impacted by the abovementioned adjustments in the investment portfolio’s value at PPs and PV during that period.

US$ Thousand
 
Net Earnigns *
   
Ajustment for
   
Total Contribution to
 
Period
 
PPS
   
PV
   
EPS
   
PGA
   
Consolidation
   
BAP
 
1Q08
    (121 )     2,544       797       3,093       (750 )     2,343  
2Q08
    (7,657 )     692       (2,759 )     (9,525 )     2,311       (7,214 )
3Q08
    (2,537 )     4,569       (900 )     1,221       (4,810 )     (3,589 )
4Q08
    (9,253 )     1,156       (1,731 )     (9,824 )     2,384       (7,440 )
1Q09
    1,852       4,281       805       6,884       (6,884 )     5,230  
Var % 1Q09 / 4Q08
 
n.a.
      270 %  
n.a.
   
n.a.
      -389 %  
n.a.
 
Var % 1Q09 / 1Q08
 
n.a.
      68 %     1 %     123 %  
n.a.
      -100 %
* Including minority interest
 
VI.2 
PACIFICO GENERAL P&C INSURANCE (PPS)

Net earnings to March 2009 reached US$ 1.8 million, or US$ 1.1 million above losses in 4Q08. This difference is mainly accounted for by three reasons: i) first quarter technical results worth US$ 8.7 million stemming from lower claims rates from 77.2% in 4Q08 to 65.3% in 1Q09; ii) 1Q09 financial earnings for US$ 3.1 million compared to a US$ 4 million loss in 4Q08 and iii) lower general expenses of US$ 1.1 million as a consequence of lower provisioning and effective expense containment.

The US$ 8.7 million technical result reached in 1Q09 is a significant increase above results of 4Q08 worth US$ 2.3 million mainly accounted for by the claims rate fall from 77.2% in 4Q08 to 65.3% in 1Q09.

 
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Such improvement results from a fall in the General Insurance (RRGG) claim rate from 60.3% to 43.7%, in Medical Assistance from 100.2% to 79.9%, and in Car & Mandatory Car (SOAT is the Spanish acronym) Insurance from 77.1% to 72.1% between 4Q08 and 1Q09.

Car & SOAT technical results of US$ 1.6 million in 1Q09 reflect an improvement compared to 4Q08’s US$0.1 million.
 
Technical Results by Unit Business
   
1Q09
    4Q08  
US$ millon
 
Vehicles 
& SOAT
   
Assistance
   
P&C
   
TOTAL
PPS
   
Vehicles 
& SOAT
   
Assistance
   
P&C
   
TOTAL
PPS
 
Net Premiums Earned
    18.6       11.7       13.7       44.1       19.1       12.1       16.4       47.6  
Technical Results
    1.6       1.2       5.8       8.7       0.1       (1.3 )     3.5       2.3  
Net claims / Earned Net Premiums
    72.1 %     79.9 %     43.7 %     65.3 %     77.1 %     100.2 %     60.3 %     77.2 %
Technical Results / Earned net Premiums
    8.4 %     10.6 %     42.6 %     19.6 %     0.5 %     -10.8 %     21.6 %     4.9 %

Technical results in Car insurance worth US$ 1.4 million in 1Q09 compared to 4Q08 are a consequence of reduced claims rate from 73.9% in 4Q08 to 72.4% in 1Q09. A growth strategy introduced two years ago for this business aimed at improving market positioning. Growth of net premiums earned slowed down this quarter as the company approached its market size target. Moreover, PPS’s positioning allows it to tap synergies, introduce improved containment schemes and build a more efficient cost structure, thus achieving not only lower claims costs but also lower frequency, despite the significant increase in car theft experienced in recent years.

SOAT technical results in 1Q09 reached US$ 0.2 million, above the US$ 0.9 million loss experienced in 4Q08, an improvement explained by lower claims rate related to less numerous severe claims and measures adopted last year to enhance portfolio quality through a new pricing policy.

The Medical Assistance business accomplished technical results totaling US$ 1.2 million in 1Q09 thanks to lower claims rates. In 4Q08 IBNR actuarial reserves reached US$ 1.5 million aimed at determining a conservative reserve to hedge against the frequency and severity of fluctuations in this particular business line. Once this goal was accomplished at year end 2008 a lower need was felt to increase the actuarial reserve which reached US$ 0.1 million with only a marginal impact on results. Still, the claims ratio in the Medical Assistance business fell 20 points, from 100.2% in 4Q08 to 79.9% in 1Q09, of which 12 points are a consequence of lower IBNR reserves and 8 points result from measures and improvements introduced since 2008 to change rate schedules and terms for this business’s products and which are still successfully enforced without impairing the quality service provided by our company.

Claims rate in the General Insurance business dropped to 43.7%, a slide that continued for the fourth quarter in a row, thanks to a strategy to develop the ability to underwrite risk and manage reinsurance. Although net premiums earned in this business line are lower than in 4Q08, this lower figure must also be seen in the light of improved risk election to ultimately increase and stabilize technical results and reduce claims severity.
 
Claims - - General insurance
 

 
29

 
 

Net financial income at PPS resulted in US$ 3.1 million earnings in 1Q09 compared to losses of US$ 4 million in 4Q08. The difference is accounted for by a US$ 6.9 million loss suffered in December 2008 through stocks’ impairment due to the international financial crisis.

In sum, the following is worth taking into account in regards of the 1Q09 bottom line for the General Insurance (PPS) business line: (i) Revenues from net insurance premiums reached US$ 44.1 million while (ii) total cost for operations reached US$ 44.2 million. These results give us a (iii) quarterly 100.2% combined ratio of which 65.3 points are net claims-related costs or expenditures (claims rate), 15.0 points are business purchasing costs, and the remaining 19.9 points are accounted for by general or administrative expenses.

The combined 100.2% ratio accomplished in 1Q09 is therefore very close to Pacífico Seguros Generales’s 99.9% target for 2009.
 
VI.3
PACIFICO VIDA

Pacifico Vida, our life insurance segment, realized profit before minority interests totaling US$ 6.9 million in 1Q09, higher than 4Q08’s US$ 1.8 million. The larger quarterly earnings are mainly a result of a US$ 1.6 million technical results, US$ 12.8 million financial income and US$ 7.0 million general expenses.

Technical results in 1Q09 worth US$ 1.6 million exceed 4Q08’s US$ 1 million thanks to lower claims rates in this year’s first quarter, down to 61.8% from 68.8% in last year’s closing quarter. Lower claims were recorded in particular in the group life and credit life products.

Net financial income totaling US$ 12.8 million in the first quarter are above the US$ 8.3 million earned in U$Q08 because of losses recorded in December 2008 in revenues from securities sales relating to the US$ 4.4 million adjustment prompted by impaired investments resulting to the international financial meltdown.

Products
 
Total Premiums
   
Change %
 
(US$ millon)
    1Q09       4Q08       1Q08       4Q08       1Q08  
Individual life
    11.6       11.6       9.7       0.0 %     20.4 %
Individual annuity
    10.6       8.0       12.0       33.2 %     -33.5 %
Disability & survivor ( Pension)
    7.3       9.0       8.9       -19.2 %     1.5 %
Credit Life
    5.3       5.7       4.2       -8.4 %     36.7 %
Personal accidents
    2.6       2.6       2.1       0.1 %     23.4 %
Group life (Law)
    2.4       1.9       2.3       27.5 %     -19.3 %
Group life
    3.4       3.0       2.6       13.3 %     13.7 %
Limited workers compensation
    2.7       2.2       2.2       26.4 %     0.0 %
TOTAL
    45.9       44.0       44.0       4.3 %     0.1 %

General expenses in 1Q09 fell 4.7% compared to 4Q08 to US$7.0 million, or US$ 0.3 million less from one quarter to another.

After US$ 2.6 million minority interests paid to AIG, net profits of the life insurance segment reaches US$ 4.3 million in 1Q09, or a US$ 3.1 million increase compared to the prior quarter.

 
30

 
 

VI.4 
PACIFICO HEALTH (EPS)

The health insurance business earned US$ 0.8 million profits in 1Q09, above losses of US$ 1.7 million in 4Q09, mainly thanks to a US$ 2.6 million increase in technical results compared to 4Q08.

Technical results reached US$ 3.2 million in 1Q09 compared to US$ 0.5 million accomplished in 4Q08. The claims rate in 1Q09 reached 82.5% or 8.8 points below the 4Q08 rate. Improvements are accounted for mainly by lower IBNR actuarial reserves in 1Q09 compared to 4Q08’s US$ 2.1 million, and a lower amount for claims resulting from changes in co-insurance and deductibles. The company continued adopting a strategy to adjust the terms of its health contracts to reduce the service costs and improve technical results, and revising conditions for accounts showing high consumption balances.

General expenses totaling US$ 2.4 million in 1Q09 remained unchanged compared to the previous quarter while miscellaneous revenues in 1Q09 increased US$ 0.2 million quarter over quarter due to last year’s lower collections provisioning.

 
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VII. ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

Economic Activity

During the first quarter of 2009, Peruvian economy grew 2% compared to performance of 1Q08. It is important to underscore that Peru’s economy grew 0.2% in February, an outcome that was not only lower than expected but was also the lowest growth rate since July 2001. Thus, the annually adjusted growth rate declined for the fifth consecutive month, to 8.2% (9.8% at the end of 2008).

As in the first two months of last year, the construction industry was the leading growth industry, driven not just by lively home and shopping centre building, but also by various infrastructure works, including El Platanal hydropower plant, the Pampa Melchorita gas liquefaction plant in Pisco, the Cajamarquilla refinery and road building in Lima. However, trade slowed down notoriously, slipping from almost the top of the growth charts to one of the slowest industries in the first two months this year, driven by a sharp decline in imports. February’s results may seem particularly poor due to the comparison with a longer month in 2008, a leap year, inventory drawdown, slower government expenditure and strong downward slide of other Latin American economies.

The first quarter therefore exhibited modest growth though prospects are for a strong recovery as the year wears on and the global meltdown abates, an evolution expected for the second half, and also as the impact of fiscal and monetary stimulus measures starts to be felt.

Gross Domestic Product and Internal Demand
(Annualized percentage variation)
 
 
Source: INEI
 
External Sector

The declined trend of the trade balance was maintained. In the 12 months to February, the trade surplus reached US$ 2,244 million, below last years closing quarter US$ 846 million surplus, mainly due to the 32.7% annually adjusted imports’ growth (mostly capital goods driven by construction materials bought by Peru LNG, a natural gas company), and despite the fall in the last two months in the value of imports as a consequence of lower food and oil international prices. Exports from March 2008 to February 2009 totaled US$ 29,916 million (US$ 31,259 million in 2008) including 10.1% larger non traditional foreign sales and a 0.3% retrenchment of conventional exports. Lower prices now impact not just mineral sold abroad and other major conventional exports, but also non-conventional export products. Finally, as the Central Reserve Bank shied away from the exchange market and foreign currency inbound flows slowed down due to the international crisis, net international reserves dropped in the first quarter by US$ 266 million, closed at US$ 32,929 million on March 31, and continued to drop thereafter to reach US$ 30,754 million on April 22.

 
32

 
 
Exports and Imports
(Annualized percentage variation)

 
Source: BCRP

Prices and Exchange rate

Significantly lower than the rate at 2008 closing (6.7%) and the lowest on record since January last year. Yet, this rate is still above the Central Reserve Bank’s 2% ± 1 target rate. Declining prices in recent months is mostly due to a correction in imported foodstuff inputs’ prices worldwide. Local origin foods’ prices did not fall significantly likely as a consequence of supply interruptions triggered by bad weather. Underlying inflation reacted more slowly than total inflation but has shown signs of a slow retrenchment. Given reduced upward pressures on prices and a downcast scenario where the wholesale price index also appears to trend downwards amidst a more slowly paced economy, the Central Reserve Bank decided to cut the prime reference interest rate at its April session by 100 base points. World uncertainty and the Central Reserve Bank’s absence from the exchange market led to exchange rate volatility exceeding even that during the 2006 presidential elections. Although the exchange rate reached S/. 3.26 to the US dollar at the beginning of March, expectations among market players of a world recovery sharpened appetites for taking position in emerging markets and weakened the dollar. Thus, the exchange rate at the end of March closed at S/. 3.16 and remained on a downward trend in April.

Consumer price index
Exchange Rate and purchases US$ BCRP
   
   
(Annual percentage variation)
(S/. per dollar and US$ MM)
 
 
Source: INEI, BCR

 
33

 
 
 
Fiscal Sector

Central government tax receipts to March dropped 7.0% compared to a year ago and recorded a first quarter 9.0% slide compared to last year’s first quarter. This pattern is a response to a drop in internal tax collection, 3.7% down, and customs duties’ decline of 11.9%. Slower internal tax collections were due to a drop in Income Tax charges (11.7% lower) though partially set off by growth in value added and excise taxes, which grew 6.4% and 21.7% respectively. A lower import duty collection is linked to smaller imports. Government expenditure grew, in particular for capital outlays, the impact of which is expected to start showing in the second half. Following three years of fiscal surplus, 2008 is expected to run a deficit the size of which will ultimately depend on the celerity in implementing the government’s Economic Stimulus Plan.
 
Fiscal Income of the Central Government
(Annual percentage variation)
 
 
 
Source: Sunat
 
Banking System

Central Reserve Bank data revealed dollar denominated bank loans to business grew 15.9% in annual terms to March, compared to 26.6% at year-end 2008. The slower growth pace does not necessarily reflect a less dynamic economy, but rather a 14.9% annual depreciation rate, compared to 4.7% at the end of last year. On the contrary, local currency loans grew 33.2% to March, compared to 32.5% in December. Home loans grew the fastest (45.3% to February and 41.3% at the end of 2008) and were the only ones to experience any growth this year.

Deposits slowed growth and expanded 17.1% (21.5% at 2008 closing) particularly in time deposits, which slowed growth from 18.5% to 12.0% though savings and demand deposits also entered a slow annual growth stage.

Meanwhile the dollar may be gaining ground in the banking system contrary to recent evolutions towards less acute dollarization. Thus, the dollar’s share of deposits fell to 55.8% at the end of 2008 but bounced back to 57.5% in February mainly driven by savings where the dollar’s share climbed from 54.0% to 56.1%. Time deposits in dollar increased significantly from 57.6% to 59.3%. Dollar loans now account for 58.5% of total loans (57.5% at the end of 2008), in particular credits for micro-businesses. Meanwhile, the dollar continued to lose share in the mid-market loan segment.

Finally, interest rates remained relatively stable and even slipped slightly in recent months, in line with the Central Bank’s efforts to spur credits and abate the economic slowdown. The charge rate in Nuevos Soles (TAMN) closed March at 22.6% (23.0% at the end of 2008), while at the end of the first quarter the dollar charge rate (TAMEX) closed at 10.1% (compared to 10.5% at 2008 closing). While the paying rate in dollars dropped from 1.9% to 1.6% over the same period, the paying rate in local currency (TIPMN) did increase from 3.8% to 4.0 in the first three months.

 
34

 
 

Main Financial Indicators
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
Year
   
IQ
   
IIQ
   
IIIQ
   
IVQ
   
Year
   
IQ
   
IIQ
   
IIIQ
   
IVQ
   
Year
 
                                                                   
GDP (US$ MM)
    92,439       23,855       27,510       26,579       29,561       107,504       30,341       34,904       32,527       29,966       127,738  
Real GDP (var. %)
    7.7       8.5       8.1       8.9       9.8       8.9       10.3       11.7       10.7       6.7       9.8  
GDP per-cápita (US$)
    3,400       3,454       3,971       3,825       4,242       3,873       4,340       4,978       4,612       4,211       4,535  
 Domestic Demand (var. %)
    10.3       11.5       10.8       13.4       11.7       11.8       11.9       14.6       13.5       9.3       12.3  
 Consumption (var. %)
    6.4       8.3       8.1       8.0       9.0       8.3       8.4       9.4       9.5       8.0       8.8  
 Private Investment (var. %)
    18.9       16.9       22.5       27.9       22.5       22.6       23.0       35.8       31.5       22.5       28.0  
CPI (annual change %)
    1.1       0.3       1.6       2.8       3.9       3.9       5.5       5.7       6.2       6.7       6.7  
Exchange rate, eop (S/. per US$)
    3.20       3.18       3.17       3.09       3.00       3.00       2.74       2.97       2.98       3.14       3.14  
Devaluation (annual change %)
    -6.8       -5.2       -2.8       -5.0       -6.1       -6.1       -13.8       -6.4       -3.6       4.7       4.7  
Exchange rate, average (S/. per US$)
    3.26       3.19       3.17       3.14       2.98       3.12       2.89       2.81       2.90       3.09       2.92  
Non Financial Public Sector (% of GDP)
    2.1       5.0       8.1       2.1       -2.4       3.1       4.3       5.4       1.4       -2.7       2.1  
 Central government current revenues (% of GDP)
    17.4       17.3       20.4       17.5       17.1       18.1       18.0       19.4       18.4       17.0       18.2  
 Tax income (% of GDPI)
    15.0       14.9       17.6       15.2       14.7       15.6       15.4       16.4       15.7       14.9       15.6  
 Non Tax Income (% of GDP)
    2.4       2.4       2.8       2.3       2.4       2.5       2.5       3.0       2.7       2.1       2.6  
 Current expenditures (% of GDPI)
    12.3       11.7       14.0       11.5       13.1       12.6       10.4       10.5       16.1       12.4       12.4  
 Capital expenditures (% of GDP)
    2.0       0.7       1.1       1.5       3.5       1.8       0.8       1.4       1.9       3.2       1.8  
Trade Balance (US$ MM)
    8,986       1,531       2,170       2,250       2,336       8,287       1,505       920       838       -173       3,090  
 Exports (US$ MM)
    23,830       5,739       6,665       7,540       7,938       27,882       7,771       8,470       8,814       6,474       31,529  
 Imports (US$ MM)
    14,844       4,208       4,495       5,290       5,602       19,595       6,265       7,550       7,976       6,648       28,439  
Current Account Balance (US$ MM)
    2,866       -15       207       338       688       1,220       -848       -1,581       -993       -757       -4,180  
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)
    3.1       -0.1       0.8       1.3       2.3       1.1       -2.8       -4.5       -3.1       -2.5       -3.3  
 
 
35

 
 
 
Company Description:

Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE: BAP) is the leading financial services holding company in Peru. It primarily operates via its four principal Subsidiaries: Banco de Credito del Peru (BCP), Atlantic Security Holding Corporation (ASHC), El Pacífico-Peruano Suiza Compañía de Seguros y Reaseguros (PPS) and Grupo Credito. Credicorp is engaged principally in commercial banking (including trade finance, corporate finance and leasing services), insurance (including commercial property, transportation and marine hull, automobile, life, health and pension fund underwriting insurance) and investment banking (including brokerage services, asset management, trust, custody and securitization services, trading and investment). BCP is the Company's primary subsidiary.

Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements:

This material includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical information provided herein are forward-looking and may contain information about financial results, economic conditions, trends and known uncertainties.

The Company cautions readers that actual results could differ materially from those expected by the Company, depending on the outcome of certain factors, including, without limitation: (1) adverse changes in the Peruvian economy with respect to the rates of inflation, economic growth, currency devaluation, and other factors, (2) adverse changes in the Peruvian political situation, including, without limitation, the reversal of market-oriented reforms and economic recovery measures, or the failure of such measures and reforms to achieve their goals, and (3) adverse changes in the markets in which the Company operates, including increased competition, decreased demand for financial services, and other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.

The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, including, without limitation, changes in the Company’s business strategy or planned capital expenditures, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 
36

 
 
 
CREDICORP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In US$ thousands, IFRS)
 
   
As of
   
Mar-09/
   
Mar-09/
 
   
Mar-09
   
Dec-08
   
Mar-08
   
Mar-08
   
Dec-08
      
                               
Assets
                             
Cash and due from banks
                             
Non-interest bearing
    920,392       2,655,820       585,618       57.2 %     -65.3 %
Interest bearing
    3,029,996       1,107,181       2,195,174       38.0 %     173.7 %
Total cash and due from banks
    3,950,387       3,763,001       2,780,792       42.1 %     5.0 %
                                         
Marketable securities, net
    29,973       36,084       41,538       -27.8 %     -16.9 %
                                         
Loans
    10,119,759       10,546,378       8,919,841       13.5 %     -4.0 %
Current
    10,002,756       10,463,514       8,848,671       13.0 %     -4.4 %
Past Due
    117,003       82,864       71,169       64.4 %     41.2 %
Less - Reserve for possible loan losses
    (240,267 )     (224,337 )     (220,617 )     8.9 %     7.1 %
Loans, net
    9,879,492       10,322,042       8,699,223       13.6 %     -4.3 %
                                         
Investments securities available for sale
    5,266,472       4,972,592       6,802,999       -22.6 %     5.9 %
Reinsurance assets
    184,579       165,144       112,457       64.1 %     11.8 %
Premiums and other policyholder receivables
    98,693       111,561       94,406       4.5 %     -11.5 %
Property, plant and equipment, net
    326,019       329,458       275,206       18.5 %     -1.0 %
Due from customers on acceptances
    202,563       232,580       49,637       308.1 %     -12.9 %
Other assets
    1,133,882       1,130,639       1,089,004       4.1 %     0.3 %
                                         
Total Assets
    21,072,060       21,063,099       19,945,264       5.6 %     0.0 %
                                         
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
                                       
Deposits and Obligations
                                       
Non-interest bearing
    4,213,305       4,345,273       2,875,990       46.5 %     -3.0 %
Interest bearing
    9,114,489       9,434,142       10,053,298       -9.3 %     -3.4 %
Total deposits and Obligations
    13,327,794       13,779,414       12,929,288       3.1 %     -3.3 %
                                         
Due to banks and correspondents
    2,768,068       2,330,707       2,439,363       13.5 %     18.8 %
Acceptances outstanding
    202,563       232,580       49,637       308.1 %     -12.9 %
Reserves for property and casualty claims
    875,335       822,856       742,774       17.8 %     6.4 %
Reserve for unearned premiums
    137,985       144,914       127,285       8.4 %     -4.8 %
Reinsurance payable
    39,722       55,841       24,444       62.5 %     -28.9 %
Bonds and subordinated debt
    866,978       799,083       743,065       16.7 %     8.5 %
Other liabilities
    1,076,530       1,101,376       899,350       19.7 %     -2.3 %
Minority interest
    108,990       106,933       139,378       -21.8 %     1.9 %
Total liabilities
    19,403,966       19,373,705       18,094,584       7.2 %     0.2 %
                                         
Capital stock
    471,852       471,912       471,912       0.0 %     0.0 %
Treasury stock
    (73,107 )     (73,107 )     (73,107 )     0.0 %     0.0 %
Capital surplus
    140,693       140,693       140,693       0.0 %     0.0 %
Reserves
    1,053,494       815,387       587,218       79.4 %     29.2 %
Unrealized gains
    (35,415 )     (45,171 )     176,231       -120.1 %     -21.6 %
Retained earnings
    110,578       379,680       547,733       -79.8 %     -70.9 %
Net Shareholder's equity
    1,668,094       1,689,394       1,850,680       -9.9 %     -1.3 %
                                         
Total liabilities and net shareholder's equity
    21,072,060       21,063,099       19,945,264       5.6 %     0.0 %
                                         
Contingent Credits
    6,225,515       6,083,243       6,066,208       2.6 %     2.3 %

 
37

 
 
 
CREDICORP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
QUARTERLY INCOME STATEMENT
(In US$ thousands, IFRS)

   
Quarter
   
Change %
 
                       
1Q09/
     
1Q09/
 
     
1Q09
     
4Q08
     
1Q08
     
1Q08
     
4Q08
      
                                         
Interest income and expense
                                       
Interest and dividend income
    325,909       356,374       325,264       0.2 %     -8.5 %
Interest expense
    (120,043 )     (142,145 )     (133,997 )     -10.4 %     -15.5 %
Net interest income
    205,866       214,230       191,267       7.6 %     -3.9 %
                                         
Provision for loan losses
    (26,425 )     (5,621 )     (16,191 )     63.2 %     370.1 %
                                         
Non financial income
                                       
Fee income
    98,295       93,676       99,647       -1.4 %     4.9 %
Net gain on foreign exchange transactions
    19,516       32,559       20,606       -5.3 %     -40.1 %
Net gain on sales of securities
    50,315       18,811       24,310       107.0 %     167.5 %
Other
    9,980       14,341       7,522       32.7 %     -30.4 %
Total non financial income, net
    178,105       159,387       152,085       17.1 %     11.7 %
Insurance premiums and claims
                                       
Net premiums earned
    99,069       105,044       88,390       12.1 %     -5.7 %
Net claims incurred
    (18,650 )     (24,435 )     (19,854 )     -6.1 %     -23.7 %
Increase in cost for life and health policies
    (51,912 )     (60,324 )     (56,237 )     -7.7 %     -13.9 %
Total other operating income, net
    28,507       20,284       12,298       131.8 %     40.5 %
Operating expenses
                                       
Salaries and employees benefits
    (94,100 )     (107,010 )     (88,504 )     6.3 %     -12.1 %
Administrative, general and tax expenses
    (74,773 )     (83,270 )     (58,913 )     26.9 %     -10.2 %
Depreciation and amortization
    (17,288 )     (16,224 )     (13,733 )     25.9 %     6.6 %
Merger Expenses
    -       -       -       100.0 %     100.0 %
Other
    (35,051 )     (13,757 )     (22,950 )     52.7 %     154.8 %
Total operating expenses
    (221,212 )     (220,262 )     (184,100 )     20.2 %     0.4 %
Income before non-recuring items, translation results,workers' profit sharing and income taxes
    164,842       168,018       155,359       6.1 %     -1.9 %
Translation result
    (4,708 )     (31,813 )     68,695       -106.9 %     -85.2 %
Impairment
    (4,437 )     (40,856 )     -       0.0 %     -89.1 %
Provision Atlantic Blue Chip Fund propietary exposure
    -       (43,489 )     -       0.0 %     -100.0 %
Workers’ profit sharing
    (4,579 )     (4,260 )     (5,417 )     -15.5 %     7.5 %
Income taxes
    (33,630 )     (29,512 )     (33,912 )     -0.8 %     14.0 %
Net income
    117,488       18,088       184,726       -36.4 %     549.5 %
Minority interest
    6,910       4,597       6,728       2.7 %     50.3 %
Net income attributed to Credicorp
    110,578       13,491       177,998       -37.9 %     719.6 %
 
 
38

 
 

CREDICORP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
SELECTED FINANCIAL INDICATORS
 
                   
   
Quarter
 
     
1Q09
     
4Q08
     
1Q08
 
                         
Profitability
                       
Net income per common share (US$ per share)(1)
    1.39       0.17       2.23  
Net interest margin on interest earning assets (2)
    4.72 %     4.89 %     4.47 %
Return on average total assets (2)(3)
    2.10 %     0.26 %     3.73 %
Return on average shareholders' equity (2)(3)
    26.35 %     3.10 %     40.41 %
No. of outstanding shares (millions)(4)
    79.76       79.76       79.76  
                         
Quality of loan portfolio
                       
Past due loans as a percentage of total loans
    1.16 %     0.79 %     0.80 %
Reserves for loan losses as a percentage of total past due loans
    205.35 %     270.73 %     309.99 %
Reserves for loan losses as a percentage of total loans
    2.37 %     3.95 %     2.47 %
                         
Operating efficiency
                       
Oper. expense as a percent. of total income (5)
    44.04 %     46.35 %     40.30 %
Oper. expense as a percent. of av. tot. assets(2)(3)(5)
    3.53 %     3.95 %     3.38 %
                         
Average balances (millions of US$) (3)
                       
Interest earning assets
    17,454.28       17,519.39       17,099.14  
Total Assets
    21,067.58       20,916.29       19,072.89  
Net equity
    1,678.74       1,741.59       1,762.12  

(1) Based on Net Income attributed to BAP. Number of shares outstanding of 79.8 million in all periods.
(2) Ratios are annualized.
(3) Averages are determined as the average of period-beginning and period-ending balances.
(4) Net of treasury shares. The total number of shares was of 94.38 million.
(5) Total income includes net interest income, fee income, net gain on foreign exchange transactions and net premiums earned. Operating expense does not include Other expenses.
(6) For holding's financial institutions.
(7) Risk-weighted assets include market risk.

 
39

 
 

BANCO DE CREDITO DEL PERU AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
 
(In US$ thousands, IFRS)
 
                               
   
As of
   
Change %
 
   
Mar-09
   
Dec-08
   
Mar-08
   
Mar- 09/
Mar-08
   
Mar-09/
Dec 08
      
    
 
   
 
   
 
             
ASSETS
                             
Cash and due from banks
    3,735,010       3,526,552       2,640,741       41.4 %     5.9 %
Cash and BCRP
    2,959,967       2,620,166       2,304,499       28.4 %     13.0 %
Deposits in other Banks
    747,836       875,302       330,662       126.2 %     -14.6 %
Interbanks
    25,134       28,662       1,468       1611.7 %     -12.3 %
Accrued interest on cash and due from banks
    2,073       2,422       4,111       -49.6 %     -14.4 %
                                         
Marketable securities, net
    29,973       36,084       38,538       -22.2 %     -16.9 %
                                         
Loans
                                       
Current
    9,914,864       10,362,659       8,767,674       13.1 %     -4.3 %
Past Due
    116,235       82,064       70,015       66.0 %     41.6 %
Less - Reserve for possible loan losses
    (240,091 )     (223,161 )     (219,295 )     9.5 %     7.6 %
Loans, net
    9,791,008       10,221,562       8,618,394       13.6 %     -4.2 %
                                         
Investment securities available for sale
    3,672,154       3,406,248       4,928,259       -25.5 %     7.8 %
Property, plant and equipment, net
    259,043       261,967       217,746       19.0 %     -1.1 %
Due from customers acceptances
    202,563       232,580       49,594       308.4 %     -12.9 %
Other assets
    834,183       822,440       806,106       3.5 %     1.4 %
                                         
Total Assets
    18,523,934       18,507,433       17,299,378       7.1 %     0.1 %
                                         
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                       
                                         
Deposits and obligations
    13,608,169       14,063,720       12,938,927       5.2 %     -3.2 %
Demand deposits
    4,164,233       5,891,382       3,726,879       11.7 %     -29.3 %
Saving deposits
    3,162,172       2,968,842       2,749,983       15.0 %     6.5 %
Time deposits
    5,217,625       4,090,043       5,543,993       -5.9 %     27.6 %
Severance indemnity deposits (CTS)
    987,247       1,039,887       859,630       14.8 %     -5.1 %
Interest payable
    76,892       73,566       58,442       31.6 %     4.5 %
                                         
Due to banks and correspondents
    1,629,959       1,179,863       1,538,238       6.0 %     38.1 %
Bonds and subordinated debt
    876,708       809,148       768,783       14.0 %     8.3 %
Acceptances outstanding
    202,563       232,580       49,594       308.4 %     -12.9 %
Other liabilities
    890,983       817,304       805,225       10.7 %     9.0 %
                                         
Total liabilities
    17,208,382       17,102,615       16,100,768       6.9 %     0.6 %
                                         
NET SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    1,312,090       1,400,404       1,195,587       9.7 %     -6.3 %
Capital stock
    667,646       439,474       364,706       83.1 %     51.9 %
Reserves
    388,365       388,062       388,062       0.1 %     0.1 %
Unrealized Gains and Losses
    40,652       34,746       90,285       -55.0 %     17.0 %
Retained Earnings
    115,445       114,593       186,761       -38.2 %     0.7 %
Income for the year
    99,982       423,529       165,772       -39.7 %     -76.4 %
                                         
Minority interest
    3,461       4,414       3,022       14.5 %     -21.6 %
                                         
TOTAL LIABILITIES and NET SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    18,523,933       18,507,433       17,299,378       7.1 %     0.1 %
                                         
CONTINGENT CREDITS
    6,219,698       6,047,377       6,071,114       2.4 %     2.8 %
 
 
40

 
 
 
BANCO DE CREDITO DEL PERU AND SUBSIDIARIES
QUARTERLY INCOME STATEMENT
(In US$ thousands, IFRS)

   
Three months ended
   
Change %
 
   
1Q09
   
4Q08
   
1Q08
   
1Q09/
1Q08
   
1Q09/
4Q08
      
                               
Interest income and expense
                             
Interest and dividend income
    302,370       327,007       296,660       1.9 %     -7.5 %
Interest expense
    (116,209 )     (137,684 )     (124,050 )     -6.3 %     -15.6 %
                                         
Net interest and dividend income
    186,161       189,323       172,610       7.9 %     -1.7 %
                                         
Provision for loan losses
    (27,180 )     (6,428 )     (16,951 )     60.3 %     322.8 %
Non financial income
                                       
Banking services commissions
    77,553       84,826       79,747       -2.8 %     -8.6 %
Net gain on foreign exchange transactions
    20,328       33,175       19,971       1.8 %     -38.7 %
Net gain on sales of securities
    46,291       15,325       22,655       104.3 %     202.1 %
Other
    4,074       8,106       2,190       86.1 %     -49.7 %
Total fees and income from services, net
    148,246       141,432       124,563       19.0 %     4.8 %
Operating expenses
                                       
Salaries and employees benefits
    (79,349 )     (88,805 )     (70,553 )     12.5 %     -10.6 %
Administrative expenses
    (63,553 )     (74,407 )     (48,520 )     31.0 %     -14.6 %
Depreciation and amortization
    (13,756 )     (12,740 )     (10,364 )     32.7 %     8.0 %
Other
    (16,437 )     3,984       (8,471 )     94.0 %     -512.6 %
Total operating expenses
    (173,095 )     (171,967 )     (137,908 )     25.5 %     0.7 %
Income before translation results, workers' profit sharing and income taxes
    134,132       152,360       142,314       -5.7 %     -12.0 %
Translation result
    (4,260 )     (28,346 )     57,249       -107.4 %     -85.0 %
Workers’ profit sharing
    (3,815 )     (4,708 )     (5,073 )     -24.8 %     -19.0 %
Income taxes
    (25,792 )     (32,143 )     (28,292 )     -8.8 %     -19.8 %
Minority Interest
    (283 )     (532 )     (425 )     -33.4 %     -46.8 %
Net income
    99,982       86,631       165,773       -39.7 %     15.4 %
 
 
41

 
 
 
BANCO DE CREDITO DEL PERU AND SUBSIDIARIES
SELECTED FINANCIAL INDICATORS
 
   
1Q09
   
4Q08
   
1Q08
 
                         
Profitability
                       
Net income per common share (US$ per share)(1)
    0.066       0.057       0.129  
Net interest margin on interest earning assets (2)
    4.45 %     4.55 %     4.65 %
Return on average total assets (2)(3)
    2.16 %     1.88 %     4.08 %
Return on average shareholders' equity (2)(3)
    29.49 %     25.48 %     56.96 %
ROE before transalation results
    30.83 %     33.97 %     37.44 %
No. of outstanding shares (millions)
    1,508.29       1,508.29       1,286.53  
                         
Quality of loan portfolio
                       
Past due loans as a percentage of total loans
    1.16 %     0.79 %     0.79 %
Reserves for loan losses as a percentage of total past due loans
    206.56 %     271.93 %     313.21 %
Reserves for loan losses as a percentage of total loans
    2.39 %     2.14 %     2.48 %
                         
Operating efficiency
                       
Oper. expense as a percent. of total income (4)
    55.15 %     57.25 %     47.53 %
Oper. expense as a percent. of av. tot. assets(2)(3)(4)
    3.38 %     3.83 %     3.19 %
                         
Capital adequacy
                       
Total Regulatory Capital (US$Mn)
    1,390       1,303       1,274  
'Risk-weighted assets (US$Mn)
    10,407       10,788       9,169  
Regulatory capital / risk-weighted assets (5)
    12.5 %     11.5 %     13.8 %
                         
Average balances (millions of US$) (3)
                       
Interest earning assets
    16,746.5       16,661.2       14,859.0  
Total Assets
    18,515.7       18,390.9       16,235.4  
Net equity
    1,356.2       1,360.1       1,164.1  
 
(1) Shares outstanding of 1,287 million is used for all periods since shares have been issued only for capitalization of profits and inflation adjustment.
(2) Ratios are annualized.
(3) Averages are determined as the average of period-beginning and period-ending balances.
(4) Total income includes net interest income, fee income and net gain on foreign exchange transactions.
Operating expense includes personnel expenses, administrative expenses and depreciation and amortization
(5) Risk-weighted assets include market risk assets

 
42

 

 
EL PACIFICO-PERUANO SUIZA Y SUBSIDIARIAS
Chart 8
(in thousand dollars)

   
Balance to and for the period of
Three month ending
   
Change %
 
   
31-Mar-08
   
31-Dec -08
   
31-Mar-09
   
1Q09/1Q08
   
1Q09/4Q08
      
   
1Q08
   
4Q08
   
1Q09
             
Results
                             
                               
Total Premiums
    137,491       152,497       138,237       0.5 %     -9.4 %
Ceded Premiums
    27,294       34,518       23,104       -15.4 %     -33.1 %
Adjusment of reserves
    18,606       10,130       13,161       -29.3 %     29.9 %
Earned net premiums
    91,591       107,849       101,972       11.3 %     -5.4 %
Direct claims
    97,066       95,714       107,990       11.3 %     12.8 %
Ceded claims
    20,975       10,954       37,428       78.4 %     241.7 %
Net claims
    76,091       84,760       70,562       -7.3 %     -16.8 %
Direct commissions
    10,521       18,066       16,902       60.7 %     -6.4 %
Commissions received
    2,443       2,050       2,349       -3.9 %     14.6 %
Net commissions
    8,078       16,016       14,554       80.2 %     -9.1 %
Technical expenses
    9,343       5,772       5,709       -38.9 %     -1.1 %
Technical resolves
    2,457       2,618       2,267       -7.7 %     -13.4 %
Net technical expenses
    6,886       3,154       3,443       -50.0 %     9.2 %
Technical results
    535       3,920       13,414       2405.0 %     242.2 %
                                         
Financial income
    15,402       18,273       14,164       -8.0 %     -22.5 %
Gains pn sale of real state and secutirities
    2,507       (14,210 )     1,675       -33.2 %     111.8 %
Renting ( Net of expenses)
    728       751       866       18.9 %     15.4 %
    (-) Financial expenses
    425       523       685       60.9 %     30.8 %
Financial income, net
    18,212       4,291       16,020       -12.0 %     273.4 %
                                         
Salaries and benefits
    11,186       10,953       9,799       -12.4 %     -10.5 %
Administrative expenses
    8,913       8,685       8,333       -6.5 %     -4.0 %
Third party services
    4,127       3,668       3,936       -4.6 %     7.3 %
Sundry management expenses
    1,802       1,549       1,756       -2.6 %     13.4 %
Provisions
    1,173       1,237       1,261       7.5 %     1.9 %
Taxes
    1,163       1,231       1,196       2.8 %     -2.9 %
Other expenses
    648       1,000       185       -71.4 %     -81.5 %
General expenses
    20,099       19,637       18,132       -9.8 %     -7.7 %
                                         
Other income
    875       1,352       916       4.7 %     -32.3 %
Traslations results
    5,924       (2,669 )     (511 )     -108.6 %     -80.9 %
Employee participations and income tax
    795       (3,630 )     2,199       176.4 %     160.6 %
                                         
Income before minority interest
    4,652       (9,115 )     9,508       104.4 %     204.3 %
Minority interest
    1,559       709       2,624       68.3 %     270.1 %
                                         
Net income
    3,093       (9,824 )     6,884       122.6 %     170.1 %
                                         
Balance ( end of period)
                                       
                                         
Total Assets
    1,257,642       1,308,096       1,323,292       5.2 %     1.2 %
Invesment on securities and real state (1)
    866,924       822,297       828,689       -4.4 %     0.8 %
Technical reserves
    871,313       968,499       1,013,762       16.3 %     4.7 %
Net equity
    208,946       146,255       156,333       -25.2 %     6.9 %
                                         
Ratios
                                       
                                         
Ceded
    19.9 %     22.6 %     16.7 %                
Groos loss ratio
    70.6 %     62.8 %     78.1 %                
Net claims/ earned net premiums
    83.1 %     78.6 %     69.2 %                
Acquisition costs/ earned premium
    8.8 %     14.9 %     14.3 %                
Commissions+technical expenses, net / earned net premiums
    16.3 %     17.8 %     17.6 %                
Technical results / total premium
    0.4 %     2.6 %     9.7 %                
Technical results / earned net premiums
    0.6 %     3.6 %     13.2 %                
General expenses / earned net premiums
    21.9 %     18.2 %     17.8 %                
Net income/ total premium
    2.2 %     -6.4 %     5.0 %                
Return on equity (2)(3)
    6.1 %     -23.8 %     19.5 %                
Return on total premiums
    2.2 %     -6.4 %     5.0 %                
Net equity / Total Assets
    16.6 %     11.2 %     11.8 %                
Increase in technical reserves
    16.9 %     8.6 %     11.4 %                
General expenses / Assets (2)(3)
    6.7 %     6.2 %     5.6 %                
                                         
Combined ratio of  PPS + PS (4)
    115.6 %     112.3 %     99.1 %                
Net claims / earned net premiums
    85.5 %     82.6 %     72.2 %                
General expenses and commissions / earned net premiums
    30.1 %     29.7 %     26.9 %                

(1)Real state investment were excluded
(2) Annualized
(3) Average are determined as the average of period - begging and period ending
(4) Without consolidated adjusments
 
43

 
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.
 
Date: May 8, 2009

     
 
CREDICORP LTD.
 
  
 
  
    
 
 
 
By:  
/s/ Guillermo Castillo
 
Guillermo Castillo
Authorized Representative