20th Aug 2025 09:36
(Alliance News) - Lion Finance Group PLC on Wednesday said it is well-positioned to deliver more growth as it saw an increase in the number of retail monthly active digital users in Georgia.
The Tbilisi-based lender announced pretax profit totalled GEL1.22 billion or around GBP335.3 million, down from GEL1.63 billion but up from an adjusted profit of GEL956.7 million for the first half of 2024.
The GEL956.7 million adjusted figure for the first half of 2024 excludes a one-off item of GEL669.5 million "to better showcase underlying performance," the company said. This is due to a one-off gain on bargain purchase of GEL668.8 million Lion Finance had reported for the first quarter of 2024, resulting from the acquisition of Ameriabank in March 2024.
Meanwhile, interest income increased 38% on-year in the first half of 2025 to GEL2.54 billion from GEL1.84 billion. Net interest income was up 33% to GEL1.49 billion from GEL1.06 billion. The loan book increased 23% on-year at constant exchange rates to GEL36.53 billion as of June 30.
Lion Finance declared a total interim dividend of GEL5.10 per share, as it said it decided to move to a quarterly distribution schedule.
Further, it announced a GEL98.0 million extension to its share buyback programme, to start "shortly" and end no later than its next annual general meeting, which it currently expects to hold in May 2026.
Looking ahead, Chief Executive Officer Archil Gachechiladze said: "In Georgia, we continue to deliver on our strategic objectives, expanding retail monthly active digital users, up 15.5% year-on-year, increasing retail digital sales to 69% of total retail product sales, up 12 percentage points year-on-year, posting strong balance sheet growth, loans up 17.0% year-on-year in constant currency, and sustaining a high profitability, return on average total equity at 31.1% in 2Q25 and 31.6% in 1H25."
He added: "We remain committed and well-positioned to continue delivering strong growth and profitability in our core markets and delivering value to our shareholders in the coming quarters."
Lion Finance shares fell 3.0% to 7,415.00 pence each on Wednesday morning in London.
By Tom Budszus, Alliance News slot editor
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