Hardman & Co: 2017: capital deployed, adding value

2017: capital deployed, adding value: ABG has a long track record of adding value. The partial sale of its Secure Trust Bank (STB) in 2016 saw significant capital generated, and ABG is now deploying this surplus to generate returns. Despite heavy investment, profits nearly doubled, with loans and deposits up over a third. Credit remains outstanding, with the secured nature of lending seeing 2H'17 impairments of just £51k on a £1bn loan book. The outlook is for further strong profit growth, more investment, and greater diversification by business line and risk exposure. The shares trading below NAV appears an anomaly, given ABG's track record and earnings growth outlook.

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