Land and Houses Financial Group emphasizes a comprehensive financial advisory strategy for 2022, recommending investment financial planning along with expertise in analysis and product development that meets customer needs, while also enhancing digital platforms to align with current customer behaviors.

Mr. Chi Ching-Fu, Managing Director of LH Financial Group Public Company Limited (LHFG), stated that in September 2021, CTBC Bank, the number one private bank in Taiwan, increased its stake in the company from 35.62% to 46.61% of the paid-up capital, becoming the major shareholder. This strengthens the competitiveness and growth of Land and Houses Financial Group as it moves towards international levels.

Land and Houses Financial Group will leverage its digital banking capabilities and the comprehensive financial solution platform expertise of CTBC Bank to develop Digital Infrastructure and Platforms to enhance competitive capabilities, rapidly expand high-margin businesses, establish good business partnerships, and focus on professional financial advisory services. Additionally, it aims to expand its customer base by delivering comprehensive products and services, including loans, deposits, foreign transactions, life and non-life insurance, and investment products that meet customer needs, ensuring they receive the best services and products.

For the fiscal year 2021, Land and Houses Financial Group reported a net profit of 1,383.7 million baht, a decrease of 32.7% compared to 2020 due to increased provisions. Although NPLs decreased from 2.77% at the end of 2020 to 2.44% at the end of 2021, the coverage ratio for non-performing loans increased from 148.4% in Q3 2021 to 179.1% at the end of 2021. Following CTBC Bank's acquisition of a major stake in September 2021, the bank recommended increasing provisions from 1,738.0 million baht in the first nine months of 2021 to 3,283.8 million baht by the end of 2021 to ensure confidence in executing its 2022 strategy, which includes accelerating business expansion and increasing retail loans.

Land and Houses Bank has a strong capital base, with a capital adequacy ratio (BIS Ratio) of 18.4% and a Tier 1 capital ratio of 16.1%, exceeding the minimum capital requirements of 11.0% and 8.5%, respectively, set by the Bank of Thailand.

Ms. Chomphunuch Pathomporn, CEO and Managing Director of LH Bank, stated that in 2022, the bank plans to expand loans by 6-7% and will continue to focus on expanding its industrial loan customer base, which shows growth potential, by offering digital foreign transaction products and accelerating personal loan growth. The bank will also restructure internally to enhance operational efficiency for faster customer service.

Additionally, the bank will upgrade its branch image to a more premium standard, enhance service quality while acting as a professional financial advisor, and develop comprehensive wealth management products, including mutual funds and various life insurance products. The bank will continue to assist business and retail debtors affected by the coronavirus pandemic to ensure they can continue their operations, contributing to an improved national economy.

Furthermore, the bank will provide the Profita application to support fund trading and exchanges, available 24/7, to help customers become proficient investors.

Mr. Monrat Padungsit, Managing Director of LH Fund, stated that in 2022, the company will continue to focus on asset growth by introducing new asset allocation products rather than single asset products to meet the diverse investment behaviors of customers. The company will also expand its institutional customer base and target ultra-high-net-worth clients while increasing new distribution channels through digital platforms to facilitate customer access to target groups.

The overall fund management in 2021 saw the company manage funds, including real estate mutual funds and real estate investment trusts (REITs), valued at approximately 63,851 million baht, growing about 10%. The private fund size reached 9,418 million baht, growing about 12%, while the provident fund (PVD) reached 5,808 million baht, growing about 56%.

Mr. Kant Atthathammasunthorn, Managing Director of LH Securities, stated that in 2022, the company will continue to focus on sustainable growth supported by Land and Houses Financial Group and the global expertise network of CTBC Bank, while building a new customer base alongside developing investment products and expanding service channels through digital platforms, such as online account opening and identity verification, targeting the mass customer segment, which has shown significant growth in the Thai financial market.