11th Aug 2026 09:48
(Alliance News) - Lion Finance Group PLC on Tuesday reported progress in Georgia and Armenia in the first half of 2026 reflected in higher group profit and net interest income.
The Tbilisi-based lender in Georgia and Armenia, formerly known as Bank of Georgia, said pretax profit rose 19% to GEL1.45 billion, around GBP411.8 million, in the first half of 2026 from GEL1.22 billion the year prior.
Net interest income grew 20% to GEL1.71 billion from GEL1.42 billion, while net operating income climbed 17% to GEL2.37 billion from GEL2.02 billion.
In the second quarter, pretax profit rose 23% to GEL751.1 million from GEL610.0 million the year prior.
Net interest income grew 22% to GEL886.2 million from GEL727.5 million while net operating income climbed 20% to GEL1.24 billion from GEL1.04 billion.
Basic earnings per share rose 22% to GEL14.52 in the second quarter from GEL11.89 a year ago, taking it to GEL28.24 in the first six months of 2026, up 19% from GEL23.70.
"Our results for the first half reflect a business performing with a real momentum," said Chief Executive Archil Gachechiladze.
"In Georgia, although our franchise has already reached significant scale, customer engagement continues to deepen - daily active users surpassed 1 million for the first time, up 20.0% year-on-year, with the loan book growing 17.1% y-o-y. In Armenia, we are growing well ahead of both the market and our own guidance, with the loan book up 36.8% year-on-year in constant currency," the CEO added.
Shares in Lion Finance were up 0.8% at 12,604.05 pence each in London on Tuesday morning.
Lion Finance said its key targets for the medium term remain around 15% annual growth of the group's loan book, a 20% plus return on average equity and a 30% to 50% payout ratio.
The firm declared an interim dividend of GEL3.05 per share, bringing the first half dividend to GEL5.90 per share, up 16% on-year from GEL5.10.
In addition, the company approved a GEL59.0 million extension to its share buyback programme. This will start "shortly" and end no later than the company's annual general meeting in 2027. In February, the company approved a GEL53.5 million extension to its buyback.
The programme will be run by Cavendish Capital Markets Ltd.
By Jeremy Cutler, Alliance News reporter
Comments and questions to [email protected]
Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Related Shares:
Bank Of Georgia Group