Erste Group Bank: Net profit of EUR 841.7 million in the first half of 2016

continued improvement of credit quality and capital position

Vienna (pta005/05.08.2016/07:30 UTC+2) Highlights

P&L: January-June 2016 compared with January-June 2015; balance sheet: 30 June 2016 compared with 31 December 2015

In a challenging market environment of persistently low interest rates, net interest income was largely stable at EUR 2,194.1 million (-0.8%; EUR 2,211.9 million) on the back of moderate lending growth. Net fee and commission income decreased to EUR 884.9 million (-3.5%; EUR 917.4 million), mainly due to lower income from the securities business and payment services. The net trading and fair value result declined to EUR 107.5 million (EUR 136.5 million) due to the non-recurrence of positive one-off effects and a negative fair value result. Operating income went down to EUR 3,316.6 million (-2.4%; EUR 3,399.4 million). General administrative expenses rose to EUR 1,980.3 million (+4.4%; EUR 1.896.8 million), mainly as a result of the advance booking of most of the expected contributions to deposit insurance schemes for 2016 in the total amount of EUR 79.3 million (EUR 38.8 million) and higher personnel expenses of EUR 1,152.7 million (EUR 1,113.9 million). This resulted in a decline of the operating result to EUR 1,336.3 million (-11.1%; EUR 1,502.6 million). The cost/income ratio stood at 59.7% (55.8%). Gains from financial assets and liabilities not measured at fair value through profit and loss (net) include a gain from the sale of shares in VISA Europe in the amount of EUR 138.7 million.

Net impairment loss on financial assets not measured at fair value through profit or loss dropped to EUR 25.8 million or 4 basis points of average gross customer loans (-93.1%; EUR 373.9 million or 58 basis points), due to a substantial decline of non-performing loans and higher income from the recovery of loans already written off in Romania and Hungary. The NPL ratio improved further to 5.8% (7.7%). The NPL coverage ratio stood at 65.6% (68.2%).

Other operating result amounted to EUR -192.2 million (EUR -200.6 million). This includes expected expenses for the annual contributions to resolution funds in the amount of EUR 64.6 million (EUR 55.2 million). Banking and financial transaction taxes declined to EUR 107.6 million (EUR 137.2 million), which was attributable to the significant reduction of the Hungarian banking levies to EUR 38.2 million (EUR 65.5 million). In Austria, banking levies of EUR 57.1 million (EUR 60.1 million) were at about the same level as in the previous year and in Slovakia amounted to EUR 12.3 million (EUR 11.6 million).

Due to the lower earnings contributions of savings banks covered by the cross-guarantee system, the minority charge declined to EUR 146.2 million (EUR 203.4 million). The net result attributable to owners of the parent rose to EUR 841.7 million (EUR 487.2 million).

Total equity increased to EUR 16.0 billion (EUR 14.8 billion). After regulatory deductions and filtering according to the CRR, common equity tier 1 capital (CET1, Basel 3 phased-in) rose to EUR 13.4 billion (EUR 12.1 billion); total eligible own funds (Basel 3 phased-in) amounted to EUR 18.9 billion (EUR 17.6 billion). Interim profit is included in the above figures. Total risk, i.e. risk-weighted assets including credit, market and operational risk (Basel 3 phased-in) rose to EUR 101.0 billion (EUR 98.3 billion). The common equity tier 1 ratio (CET 1, Basel 3 phased-in) stood at 13.3% (12.3%), the total capital ratio (Basel 3 phased-in) at 18.7% (17.9%).

Total assets increased to EUR 204.5 billion (EUR 199.7 billion). Loans and receivables to customers (net) were moderately higher at EUR 127.4 billion (+1.2%; EUR 125.9 billion). Securities held for trading rose to EUR 10.4 billion (EUR 8.7 billion). On the liabilities side, deposits from banks rose to EUR 16.4 billion (EUR 14.2 billion) and customer deposits increased to EUR 130.4 billion (EUR 127.9 billion). Debt securities in issue, mainly bonds and mortgage covered bonds, declined to EUR 28.0 billion (EUR 29.7 billion). The loan-to-deposit ratio stood at 97.7% (98.4%).

Outlook
Operating environment anticipated to be conducive to credit expansion. Real GDP growth in 2016 is expected to be between 1.4% and 4.1% in all major CEE markets, including Austria, driven by solid domestic demand.

Return on tangible equity (ROTE) expected at above 12% in 2016 underpinning continued dividend payout. Support factors include continued loan growth as well as further improvement in asset quality amid a benign risk environment. Headwinds are the persistent low interest rate environment affecting group operating income as well as lower operating results in Hungary (lower volumes) and Romania (following asset re-pricing). Banking levies (comprising banking taxes, financial transaction tax, resolution fund and deposit insurance fund contributions) are expected at about EUR 360 million pre-tax in 2016, prior to a potential banking tax one-off payment in Austria (pending parliamentary approval of the government proposal) of about EUR 200 million. An additional Austrian banking tax one-off payment in 2016 would result in a sustainable reduction from about EUR 130 million to about EUR 20 million pre-tax per annum from 2017. The guidance assumes no material negative one-offs in the second half of 2016.

Risks to guidance. Geopolitical risks and global economic risks, impact from negative interest rates, consumer protection initiatives.

(A "Financial data" table is included in the pdf)

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Emitter:	Erste Group Bank Am Belvedere 1 1100 Wien Austria
Contact Person:	Thomas Sommerauer/ Simone Pilz
Phone:	+43 (0)5 0100 - 17326
E-Mail:	thomas.sommerauer@erstegroup.com
Website:	www.erstegroup.com
ISIN(s):	AT0000652011 (Share)
Stock Exchange(s):	Vienna Stock Exchange (Official Trade)
Other Stock Exchanges:	Bucharest Stock Exchange, Prague Stock Exchange