KUALA LUMPUR: Petroliam Nasional Bhd's pre-tax profit for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2013 increased by five per cent to RM95.61 billion as compared to RM91.07 billion in 2012.

Revenue rose by nine per cent to RM317.31 billion from RM291.23 billion in the previous year, the group's Executive Vice President (Finance) Datuk George Ratilal told a media briefing here today.

"Total assets increased to RM528.7 billion in 2013 as compared to RM489.2 billion in the previous year primarily due to the profit generated for the year," he said.

The increase of shareholders' equity by RM28.8 billion to RM335.8 billion as at Dec 31, 2013 was mainly due to the net impact of profit attributable to shareholders of the company, the approved final dividend in the financial year 2012 and the declared interim dividend in 2013, he explained.

He said the higher shareholders' equity resulted in a decline in the gearing ratio to 11 per cent as at Dec 31, 2013 as compared to 11.7 per cent in year 2012 despite a marginal increase in the debt level. -- BERNAMA