In the year 2016, to support the needs of our valued customers in a digital society, Land and Houses financial business group has a great plan to launch IT renovation
Overall, Thailand's economy in 2015 slowed down continuously. The private consumption has still not showed a clear sign of recovery due to many influential factors, for example, the farm income remained low, the global commodity prices still did not recover, the high household debt pushed down the household spending. The private investments turned to contraction because the slowdown of economic trends and the confidence in private sector. The export sector drew back throughout the year since the decrease in external demands and infrastructure factors such as the shift of manufacturing base. However, at the end of the year, the government issued an economic stimulus measures such as investment promotion, the stimulation of Public expenditure's infrastructure and farmers administration. These led to the improving of economic conditions. Conversely, the impact of the obstacles mentioned above made the GDP in 2015 remained at a lower level than the forecast.
In the year 2015, the companies within LH financial group PLC expanded their business in various areas. The company performance showed a net profit of Baht 1,652 million, rising by 37.5% compared to the 2014. For the growth of Land and Houses Bank PLC, the bank's total asset were Baht 198,039 million or 20.2% growth from the year 2014, total loans were Baht 149,010 million or 16.8% growth from the year 2014, with a good quality of loan and NPL were 1.89% which considered lower than the average of the total banking system which were 2.55%.
In the year 2016, Land and Houses Bank PLC will develop and improve products and services for customers to satisfy a convenience and quickly services. The bank increased the number of branches from 117 branches in the year 2014 to 126 branches in the year 2015. In addition, the bank enhanced the information technology system as a part of the financial group's services and set a plan to reform its IT to support the digital society by providing the mobile application names "LH Bank M-Choice Application". Customers can use this application to manage the financial transactions quickly and conveniently such as checking balances, transferring money, product and service payment, verifying fund balance, searching for branches and ATM and it also can be used every day at anytime and anywhere.
Land and Houses Fund Management Co., Ltd., have had total assets under management of Baht 49,858 million and had a 1.23% market share, ranked 11th among 20 fund management companies.
Land and Houses Securities PLC, Land and Houses Bank PLC and the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) cooperated with each other to expand their marketing by operating the "Banker-to-Broker" program which was set to promote investment via the bank's branches to offer customers and investors for opening an investment account via the bank's branches located over the country conveniently.
The company's board of directors always recognizes the significance of good corporate governance, business transparency, justification and accountability as well as sustaining the utmost benefits of all stakeholders and the whole society. Thai Institute of Directors (IOD) revealed the result of the Corporate Governance Report Evaluation of Thai Listed Companies for the year 2015, LH Financial Group PLC was rated with "Excellent" Level (5 stars). In addition, In the year 2015, the Thaipat Institute awarded to the LH Financial Group PLC as 1 of the top 100 listed companies that demonstrated the outstanding Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance or the ESG100 lists.
Finally, on behalf of the company, I would like to thank all stakeholders, employees, public and private financial institutions and government agencies for trust and continued support that have been placed in LH Financial Group PLC.