BOC Hong Kong(Holdings) Ltd. on March 30 reported a 9.3% year-over-year increasein net profit for 2015.

Profit attributable to equity holders rose to HK$23.97 billionfrom HK$21.93 billion in 2014. Basic EPS also increased year over year toHK$2.27 from HK$2.07.

Net operating income before impairment allowances climbedyear over year to HK$40.94 billion from HK$37.90 billion, while operatingprofit rose year over year to HK$28.18 billion from HK$27.03 billion.

Meanwhile, net interest income for 2015 declined to HK$25.74billion from HK$26.73 billion in 2014. The group's net interest margin dropped21 basis points to 1.46% from 1.67% due to the lower yuan interest rates andhigher deposit costs.

The impaired loan ratio increased to 0.24% at the end of2015 from 0.22% as of Dec. 31, 2014.

The group's common equity Tier 1 capital ratio clocked in at12.83% at the end of 2015, up from 12.30% in 2014. The Tier 1 capital ratioalso rose to 12.89% from 12.38%, while the total capital ratio increased to17.86% from 17.51%.

The board also declared a final dividend of 67.9 Hong Kongcents per share, up from 57.5cents per share in 2014. Together with an interim dividend of 54.5cents, the total dividend for 2015 is HK$1.22 per share, up from the prioryear's total dividend of HK$1.12 per share.

The final dividend is payable June 24 to shareholders ofrecord as of June 16. The final dividend is still subject to shareholders'approval.

BOC Hong Kong is a unit of