Commerzbank AG / Capital Increase/Preliminary Results
27.04.2015 17:56
Dissemination of a Regulatory Announcement, transmitted by
DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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THIS PRESS RELEASE AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN ARE NOT BEING
ISSUED AND MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
CANADA, JAPAN OR AUSTRALIA.
- Revenues before loan loss provisions in the Group increased
year-on-year by EUR 522 m to approximately EUR 2.8 bn
- Operating profit more than doubled to EUR 685 m (Q1 2014: EUR 324 m)
- Preliminary net profit increased considerably to EUR 366 m (Q1 2014:
EUR 200 m)
- CET 1 capital ratio with full application of Basel 3 improved in the
first quarter to 9.5% (end of December 2014: 9.3%)
- Commerzbank increases share capital by as many as 113.85 m shares
through an accelerated bookbuilding procedure, with which gross issue
proceeds of as much as EUR 1.4 bn
- After successful completion of the capital measure the CET 1 capital
ratio would presumably be improved to more than 10% pro forma as at the
end of March 2015 (full application of Basel 3)
In the first quarter of 2015 Commerzbank has, on the basis of preliminary
figures, further increased the revenues before loan loss provisions as well
as the operating result and the capital ratio. The operating profit more
than doubled to EUR 685 million (Q1 2014: EUR 324 million). The improvement
was seen largely in the Core Bank but also in the Non-Core Assets segment.
Negative burdens from the recognition of the European bank levy for the
fiscal year 2015 as well as an impairment on HETA exposure have been
compensated in the core bank by positive one-off effects and in NCA by
positive valuation effects
The revenues before loan loss provisions increased to EUR 2.8 billion (Q1
2014: EUR 2.3 billion). The primary reasons for the positive deviation in
the results from market expectations are, at a comparable size revenues
from customer and capital market transactions, positive valuation effects,
and positive one-off effects.
The loan loss provisions decreased compared to the same period in the
previous year to EUR 158 million (Q1 2014: EUR 238 million). The operating
expenses increased slightly to approximately EUR 1.9 billion (Q1 2014:
approximately EUR 1.7 billion). The net profit improved to EUR 366 million
(Q1 2014: EUR 200 million).
The successful portfolio run-down in the Commercial Real Estate (CRE) and
Ships Finance divisions has been continued since the previous quarter,
despite negative foreign exchange effects to the amount of EUR 1.4 billion,
with a reduction of EUR 2.0 billion to approximately EUR 30.1 billion as at
the end of the first quarter of 2015.
On the basis of preliminary figures the CET 1 capital ratio with full
application of Basel 3 - including the interim profit of the first quarter
2015 and a dividend accrual to the amount of EUR 57 million - improved in
the first quarter of 2015 to 9.5% (end of December 2014: 9.3%). The
leverage ratio as at the end of March 2015 increased to 3.7% (end of
December 2014: 3.6%).
The Board of Managing Directors of Commerzbank AG today decided, with the
consent of the Supervisory Board, to increase the share capital. To this
end as many as 113.85 million new no-par-value shares are to be issued from
authorised capital with the exclusion of subscription rights. The new
shares are endowed with full dividend entitlement for the current financial
year and will be offered to institutional investors through a private
placement through the so-called accelerated bookbuilding procedure. Gross
issue proceeds of as much as EUR 1.4 billion are to be attained with the
placement. Commerzbank AG and Deutsche Bank are Joint Bookrunner for the
placement.
The capital increase serves to further strengthen the capital resources of
the Bank. With the successful conclusion of the capital measure announced
today the Bank expects a further increase in the Common Equity Tier 1 ratio
with full application of Basel 3 to presumably more than 10% (pro forma as
at the end of March 2015). Thus the level for the Common Equity Tier 1
ratio demanded in the meantime by the capital market will be attained more
quickly than planned.
With the successful conclusion of the transaction announced today the
leverage ratio is expected to improve to 3.9% (pro forma as at the end of
March 2015). Thus the Bank is moving closer to its target of 4% for the
leverage ratio.
The ongoing strengthening of the CET 1 capital ratio and of the leverage
ratio remains a strategic objective of the Bank. It is planned to increase
these organically on an ongoing basis. The Bank is underlining its target
of increasing the ROE after taxes in the Core Bank to at least 10% in 2016.
The final figures for the first quarter will be published on 7 May 2015.
****
Excerpt preliminary results first quarter of 2015
in EUR m Q1 2015 Q1 2014
Revenues before loan loss provisions 2,782 2,260
thereof net interest and trading income 2,017 1,538
thereof commission income 900 815
thereof other income -135 -93
Loan loss provisions -158 -238
Operating expenses 1,939 1,698
Operating profit 685 324
Pre-tax profit 619 324
Consolidated profit attributable to Commerzbank 366 200
shareholders
in % Q1 2015 Q4 2014
CET1 ( full application of Basel 3) 9.5 9.3
Leverage ratio ( full application of Basel 3) 3.7 3.6
****
Press contact:
Simon Steiner +49 69 136-46646
Alexander Cordes +49 69 136-42764
Kathrin Wetzel +49 69 136-44011
*****
About Commerzbank
Commerzbank is a leading international commercial bank with branches and
offices in more than 50 countries. The core markets of Commerzbank are
Germany and Poland. With the business areas Private Customers,
Mittelstandsbank, Corporates & Markets and Central & Eastern Europe, its
private customers and corporate clients, as well as institutional
investors, profit from a comprehensive portfolio of banking and capital
market services. Commerzbank finances more than 30 per cent of Germany's
foreign trade and is the unchallenged leader in financing for SMEs. With
its subsidiaries comdirect and Poland's mBank it owns two of the world's
most innovative online banks. With approximately 1,100 branches and
approximately 90 advisory centres for business customers Commerzbank has
one of the densest branch networks among German private banks. In total,
Commerzbank boasts approximately 15 million private customers, as well as 1
million business and corporate clients. The Bank, which was founded in
1870, is represented at all the world's major stock exchanges. In 2014, it
generated gross revenues of almost EUR 9 billion with an average of
approximately 52,000 employees.
*****
Disclaimer
This press release does not constitute a prospectus, an offer to sell
securities, or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities, in the United
States of America or in any other jurisdiction and may not be published,
distributed or transmitted, directly or indirectly, in or into the United
States, Canada, Japan or Australia. Securities may not be offered or sold
in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from
registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
'Securities Act'). The securities of COMMERZBANK Aktiengesellschaft
described herein have not been and will not be registered under the
Securities Act, or the laws of any state or territory of the United States,
and may not be offered or sold within the United States, except pursuant to
an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration
requirements of the Securities Act and any other applicable laws.
COMMERZBANK Aktiengesellschaft does not intend to register any portion of
the offering described herein in the United States or conduct a public
offering of securities in the United States.
This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute
an offer document or an offer of transferable securities to the public in
the U.K. to which section 85 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
of the U.K. ('FSMA') applies and should not be considered as a
recommendation that any person should subscribe for or purchase any of the
Securities. The Securities will not be offered or sold to any person in the
U.K. except in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in
an offer to the public in the U.K. in contravention of section 85(1) of
FSMA.
The communication of this document is restricted by law; it is not intended
for distribution to, or use by any person in, any jurisdiction where such
distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation.
This press release is not being distributed by, nor has it been approved
for the purposes of section 21 of FSMA by, a person authorised under FSMA.
This document is being communicated only to, and is directed only at, (I)
persons who are outside the United Kingdom (II) to investment professionals
falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
(Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the 'Order') or (III) high
net worth companies and other persons within the categories described in
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