DGAP-UK Regulatory Service: Commerzbank AG / Quarter Results
Commerzbank: EBA capital target achieved ahead of plan - operating
profit of EUR 584 m in the first quarter of 2012

09.05.2012 / 07:07

Commerzbank: EBA capital target achieved ahead of plan -
operating profit of EUR 584 m in the first quarter of 2012

- Original EBA capital target of EUR 5.3 bn already achieved as of
March 31, 2012 and additional buffer of approximately EUR 1.1 bn
generated

- Core Bank with operating profit of EUR 845 m, Group net profit of
EUR 369 m in first quarter of 2012

- Operating expenses reduced by 17% in a year-on-year comparison

- Risk-weighted assets reduced by a further 10% in the first quarter
of 2012 compared to previous year, Core Tier 1 ratio rises to 11.3%

- Blessing: 'Despite challenging markets we have made a solid start
to 2012 and have not only achieved the EBA capital target earlier
than demanded, but even surpassed it'

In the first quarter of 2012 Commerzbank posted an operating profit of EUR
584 million (Q1 2011: EUR 1,144 million) and has thus made a solid start to
the year. Adjusted for the positive one-off effect of EUR 358 million from
the measure to improve the capital structure in the first quarter of 2011
and a negative effect of EUR 158 million from the increased market valuation
of liabilities ('Own Credit Spread' - OCS) in the first quarter of 2012, the
operating profit in the Group is at a stable level in a year-on-year
comparison. At the Core Bank, which encompasses the strategically
significant customer-centric business of Commerzbank, the operating profit
was EUR 845 million (Q1 2011: EUR 1,219 million). The original capital
target of the European Banking Authority (EBA) of EUR 5.3 billion has
already been surpassed by approximately EUR 1.1 billion as of March 31,
2012. Approximately EUR 0.7 billion thereof originate from the measure to
improve the capital structure executed in March 2012.

'Despite challenging markets we have made a solid start to 2012. We have
again made good progress with our strategic goal of consistently
de-leveraging the balance sheet and further strengthening the capital base,'
said Martin Blessing, Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors of
Commerzbank. 'In the first quarter our priority was achieving the EBA
capital target. We have not only reached this goal earlier than required,
but even surpassed it.'

Downturn in revenues compensated for to a large extent by reduced costs and
lower loan loss provisions

The revenues before loan loss provisions in the Group in the first quarter
of 2012 were EUR 2,585 million (Q1 2011: EUR 3,616 million). The bulk of
this reduction is attributable to a positive one-off effect from the measure
to improve the capital structure in the same quarter of the previous year, a
balance sheet effect as a consequence of the increased market valuation of
the Bank's own liabilities and the de-risking in non-core areas. In addition
there were negative effects from the low interest rate environment and the
muted client activity. It was possible, however, to compensate the bulk of
the downturn in revenues through a significant reduction in costs and lower
loan loss provisions. The loan loss provisions in the Group were lowered in
the first quarter of 2012 due to the robust German economy and successful
risk reduction in commercial real estate financing by more than 30%, to EUR
212 million (Q1 2011: EUR 318 million). However, this was contrasted by
higher loan loss provisions in Ship Finance due to the difficult market
environment. In comparison with the same quarter of the previous year the
operating expenses were reduced by nearly EUR 400 million to approximately
EUR 1.8 billion (Q1 2011: approximately EUR 2.2 billion). Cost synergies
realised from the take-over of Dresdner Bank and additional cost measures
have had a positive impact here.

'If the operating profit in the Group is adjusted for one-off effects, it is
at a stable level compared with the strong opening quarter of 2011. The
revenues saw charges above all from the consistent de-leveraging, the weak
interest environment, and the ongoing reservation of customers, above all in
securities business. We were able to compensate for this to a large extent,
however, through reduced loan loss provisions and lower costs,' said Stephan
Engels, CFO of Commerzbank.

All segments of the Core Bank concluded the first quarter of 2012
positively. The Portfolio Restructuring Unit was also profitable and was
able to reduce net assets to a single-digit billion number. In the Asset
Based Finance segment there were charges on the result from the ongoing
de-risking in Public Finance, the wind-down of the Greek sovereign bond
exposure, and valuation effects concerning derivatives. In total Commerzbank
posted a net profit of EUR 369 million (Q1 2011: EUR 985 million).

EBA capital target already surpassed by some EUR 1.1 billion as of March 31,
2012

As of March 31, 2012 Commerzbank has already achieved the original capital
target of EUR 5.3 billion laid down by the European Banking Authority (EBA).
As of the end of March 2012 it was possible to surpass the capital
requirement, which had already been lowered to some EUR 1.8 billion as of
the end of 2011, by some EUR 1.1 billion thanks to several measures.
Included in these are retained earnings from the first quarter of 2012 which
were used to strengthen the Core Tier 1 capital by some EUR 0.4 billion. In
addition, the reduction in risk-weighted assets contributed some EUR 1.2
billion to achieving the EBA target in the first quarter of 2012, and the
reduction in regulatory capital deductions and other measures contributed
some EUR 0.6 billion. Furthermore, the measure to improve the capital
structure that was successfully concluded in March 2012 has strengthened the
Core Tier 1 capital by approximately EUR 0.7 billion.Therefore, despite a
lower result for the first half of 2012 than originally planned, Commerzbank
plans to significantly surpass the EBA capital target as of June 30, 2012.

Risk-weighted assets reduced by 10%, Core Tier 1 ratio rises to 11.3%

Commerzbank continues to consistently implement its strategy of de-risking
and de-leveraging non-strategic portfolios. The risk-weighted assets (RWA)
were reduced by 10% to EUR 223 billion in a year-on-year comparison (Q1
2011: EUR 248 billion). Compared with the fourth quarter of 2011 the RWA
were reduced by EUR 14 billion. The total assets decreased only slightly in
comparison with Q1 2011 to EUR 691 billion (Q1 2011: EUR 697 billion). This
is due to a further reduction of non-core assets compensated by an increase
in liquid assets due to a conservative liquidity management strategy. It was
possible to increase the Core Tier 1 ratio compared with the fourth quarter
of 2011 by 1.4 percentage points to 11.3%, and thus to a comfortable level.
In addition to the strengthening of the Core Tier 1 capital through the
repurchase of hybrid equity instruments in March 2012 to the amount of more
than EUR 760 million, in the first quarter of 2012 the successful reduction
of regulatory capital deductions also had a positive impact on the capital
base. 'Commerzbank is increasing its Core Tier 1 ratio and is thus preparing
itself at an early stage for the new regulatory requirements of Basel 3.
Including the stricter capital rules of Basel 3 which are valid as of the
coming year, for January 2013 we currently expect a Core Tier 1 ratio of at
least 10%,' said Stephan Engels.

Funding plan covered for 2012, clear growth in deposits

Commerzbank continues to enjoy a comfortable funding position. In particular
as a result of the clear growth in deposits within Commerzbank's branch
network and the de-leveraging in non-core areas the Bank has further
strengthened its funding profile in the first quarter of 2012. Thus, the
Bank has still, from today's stance, already met its need for capital market
funding for the current year.

All segments of the Core Bank profitable

The solid operating profit of EUR 845 million at the Core Bank in the first
quarter of 2012 shows the stability of Commerzbank's customer-centric
business model, which is firmly anchored in the real economy. All the
segments of the Core Bank were profitable in the first quarter of 2012.

Even in an ongoing difficult economic environment, the Private Customers
segment posted an operating profit of EUR 112 million in the first quarter
of 2012, which is on last year's level (Q1 2011: EUR 116 million). Revenues
in the private customers business continued to be impacted by the major
reservation on the part of customers in the securities segment and low
interest rates. It was possible, however, to compensate for this to a large
extent through a clear reduction in costs thanks to the integration
synergies and additional cost measures, as well as lower loan loss
provisions. Thus the operating expenses were lowered by 18% compared to the
first quarter of 2011. The focus of the Private Customers segment in the
first quarter of 2012 was above all on customer deposits, which increased by
approximately EUR 7 billion.

With an operating profit of EUR 487 million Mittelstandsbank again posted a
strong result (previous year: EUR 433 million). The segment profited from
its business model, which is firmly anchored in Germany's Mittelstand (SME),
and thus from the positive earnings position of German companies in the
months January to March 2012. In a year-on-year comparison the credit volume
in Germany was increased by approximately EUR 1.7 billion. The revenues
before loan loss provisions were 6% lower than in the strong first quarter
of 2011; compared to the previous quarter it was possible to increase them
by 1%. The segment also benefited from the release of loan loss provisions.

Central & Eastern Europe was able to continue the positive earnings trend

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May 09, 2012 01:07 ET (05:07 GMT)