Handelsbanken's Interim Report January - March 2008*



Summary January - March 2008, compared with January - March 2007
* Operating profits were SEK 2,919m (3,714) and the period's profits
  after tax were SEK 2,288m (2,831)
* Return on shareholders' equity for the total operations was 12.3%
  (17.1)
* Earnings per share for the total operations were SEK 3.68 (4.48)
* Net interest income rose by 17% to SEK 4,399m (3,763) and the
  average volume of loans to the public by 16% to SEK 1,310bn (1,129)
* Total income was SEK 6,055m (6,535)
* Realised and unrealised losses in the Bank's liquidity portfolio
  had a negative impact on income and operating profits by SEK 962m
  (-7)
* Profits from a property sale were SEK 272m
* The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority's examination of the
  Bank's internal capital adequacy assessment process (ICAAP) was
  completed without objections
Summary of Q1 2008, compared with Q4 2007 
* Operating profits were SEK 2,919m (3,101). Excluding the impact
  from the liquidity portfolio and property sale, profits rose by 11%
* Net interest income rose by 10% to SEK 4,399m (4,010)
* Expenses decreased by 1% to SEK 3,301m (3,349)
* The Swedish branch office operations increased their profits by 4%
  to
  SEK 2,401m (2,314)
* The branch office operations outside Sweden increased their profits
  by 13% to SEK 563m (497)
* The Bank opened five new branches during the quarter and 18 branch
  managers have been appointed for further new branches
 
* All the comments and figures in the interim report refer to
continuing operations, unless otherwise stated.
 
 
THE GROUP
 
JANUARY-MARCH 2008 COMPARED WITH JANUARY-MARCH 2007
Operating profits fell to SEK 2,919m (3,714). As previously
announced, at the end of March, the Bank sold its exposure to US
asset-backed securities, secured by credit card receivables which had
a negative impact on profits of SEK 767m. The total realised and
unrealised value change in the liquidity portfolio was
SEK -1,321m (-7), of which SEK -962m (-7) through profit/loss and SEK
-359m (0) through equity. Excluding the impact on earnings in the
liquidity portfolio, income rose by 7%.
 
A property sale increased profits by SEK 272m.
 
Return on equity for total operations after actual tax was 12.3%
(17.1). The C/I ratio was 54.5% and 46.9% excluding the
above-mentioned effects in the liquidity portfolio. Earnings per
share were SEK 3.61 (4.26).
 
The net profit from discontinued operations was SEK 44m (137) and the
period's profit for total operations was SEK 2,288m (2,831).
 
Net interest income rose by 17%
Net interest income rose by 17% to SEK 4,399m (3,763). Branch office
operations outside Sweden increased their net interest income by 27%,
corresponding to 7 percentage points of the total increase. The
Swedish branch operations boosted their net interest income by 9%
which represented 6 percentage points of the total increase in the
Group.
 
The average volume of lending to the public grew by 16% to SEK
1,310bn (1,129), while deposits increased by 12% to SEK 494bn (440).
Branch operations outside Sweden increased their lending by 29% to
SEK 387m (299) and in Sweden, household deposits rose by 22% to SEK
135bn (111).
 
Net fee and commission income fell by 6% or SEK 105m, to SEK 1,739m
(1,844). This was mainly due to a fall in brokerage income of 20% or
SEK 111m due to lower turnover on the stock market.
 
Falling share prices also contributed to a decrease in mutual fund
commissions by 7%. Asset management commission in discontinued
operations was SEK 77m.
 
Net fee and commission income related to the equity market fell by
SEK 125m to 813m (938).
 
Payment commissions were SEK 553m and increased by 8% mainly due to
continued positive trends for card commissions.
 
Insurance commissions decreased to SEK 136m (162), which was due to
the yield split being SEK 0 (SEK 36m).
 
Net gains/losses on financial items at fair value went down to SEK
-177m (754). The main reason for this was the reported earnings
impact on the Bank's liquidity portfolio of SEK -962m.
 
Expenses
The Bank's international expansion continued and operations outside
Sweden made up some two thirds of the Group's total increase in
expenses. Total Group expenses rose to SEK 3,301m (2,892).
 
Staff costs were SEK 1,983m (1,710). Here too operations outside
Sweden represented more than 60% of the increase. The number of
employees outside Sweden was 2,988 (2,510). The positive effect of
recognition to the appropriate period of actuarial gains/losses (IAS
19) was SEK 39m lower than in the corresponding period in the
previous year and was SEK 11m (50).
 
The provision for performance-related remuneration was SEK 29m.
 
Loan losses
Loan losses were SEK 107m (net recoveries 70). Net loan losses as a
proportion of lending were 0.03%
(-0.02). Bad debts increased, the net amount being SEK 1,330m (937).
The proportion of bad debts was 0.09% (0.07) of lending.
 
Q1 2008 COMPARED WITH Q4 2007
Operating profits were SEK 2,919m (3,101). The quarterly figures
contain realised and unrealised losses in the liquidity portfolio
totalling SEK -962m (-152) and a capital gain on the sale of property
totalling SEK 272m. Excluding these effects, the operating profit was
11% higher.
 
Net profits from discontinued operations were SEK 44m (4,154).
 
Return on shareholders' equity for the continuing operations was
12.0% (13.1) and earnings per share were SEK 3.61 (3.61).
 
Net interest income continued to increase
Net interest income increased by 10% to SEK 4,399m (4,010). Business
volumes continued to grow. Average lending volumes rose by 4%, while
deposits grew by 4%.
 
Lending margins improved in the Swedish branch operations and made a
positive contribution to net interest income. The margin for
mortgages in Sweden where the rate is newly set, or reset, showed a
clear improvement during the quarter from having been stable during
the second half of 2007.  The average margin for the whole mortgage
loan portfolio was unchanged at 50bp. The total deposit margin fell
slightly during the quarter.
 
Net fee and commission income decreased by 11%. Mutual fund and
custody commissions were SEK 102m lower, of which SEK 39m is due to a
change of cut-off date in the fourth quarter. Adjusted for this,
mutual fund and custody commissions fell by 12%. Turnover on the
equity market also fell, which caused brokerage income to decrease by
17%. In total, net fee and commission income related to the equity
market fell by 25% to SEK 813m (1,079).
 
Net gains/losses on financial items at fair value decreased by SEK
700m to SEK -177m (523). Value changes and realised losses in the
Bank's liquidity portfolio had a negative impact on earnings of
SEK 962m (-152).
 
Expenses fell by 1% to SEK 3,301m (3,349). Staff costs were 1% lower
at SEK 1,983m (1,995). Performance-related remuneration was lower at
SEK 29m.
 
Other administrative expenses fell by SEK 58m or 5% to SEK 1,221m
(1,279).
 
Loan losses
Loan losses remained low and were SEK 107m (166). Net loan losses as
a proportion of lending were 0.03% (0.05). Bad debts increased, the
net amount being SEK 1,330m (624). The proportion of bad debts was
0.09% (0.05) of lending.
 
TRENDS IN THE BUSINESS SEGMENTS
(Q1 2008 compared with Q4 2007)
 
Branch office operations in Sweden
Operating profit increased by 4% to SEK 2,401m (2,314). Net interest
income went up by 5% to SEK 3,058m (2,905) mainly due to larger
business volumes, but the lending margins also improved and made a
positive contribution to the net interest income. Average lending
volumes were up by 3%. The average volume of household deposits rose
by 4%. Expenses fell by 3%.
 
Branch office operations outside Sweden
Operating profit increased by 13% to SEK 563m (497). Income rose by
4% to SEK 1,729m (1,659) Net interest income went up by 8% to SEK
1,220m (1,134). The average volume of lending increased by 8% to SEK
387bn (360). Expenses were generally unchanged between the two
quarters.
 
During the first quarter of the year, five new branches were opened,
of which four in Great Britain and one in the Netherlands.
 
Handelsbanken Capital Markets
Operating profits were SEK -533m (66), due to realised and unrealised
value changes in the liquidity portfolio amounting to SEK -962m
(-152). Excluding these portfolio effects, profits increased to SEK
429m.
 
Handelsbanken Asset Management
Operating profits were SEK 46m (207), of which SEK 49m (58) from
Handelsbanken Liv. Falling stock market values resulted in lower
mutual fund commissions. Expenses were SEK 374m (332). Due to lower
total yield, Handelsbanken Liv did not receive any yield split (0).
 
Discontinued operations
Discontinued operations for the comparative period include the
activities which the Bank sold to Storebrand ASA and the net amount
of the compensation which Handelsbanken received for asset management
assignments carried out for SPP/Storebrand. For the current year,
discontinued operations also include the income and expenses
Handelsbanken has for the services the Bank still sells to SPP.
 
The net profit was SEK 44m as compared to SEK 4,154m (of which the
capital gain from the sale of SPP amounted to SEK 4,082m) during the
fourth quarter.
 
HIGHER GROWTH OUTSIDE SWEDEN
An increasingly large proportion of the Group's growth and earnings
are attributable to the expansion outside Sweden. Including
investments in new branches for SEK 73m, operating profits in branch
operations outside Sweden rose in the first quarter by 13% compared
with the same period in the previous year, and made up 19% (18) of
the Group's profits.
 
Net interest income increased by 27% and these operations were the
largest contributor to the increase in the Group's net interest
income during the quarter.
 
The non-Swedish branch operations' share of lending to the public
grew by 30% (26).
 
During the period 2001 to 2007, the Bank expanded its branch office
network in the Nordic countries and Great Britain by 116 branches, of
which 92 are through organic growth by means of new branches, of
which 55 in 2006 and 2007. As previously announced, in 2008, the Bank
plans to open 35-45 new branches outside Sweden. Five branches were
opened during the first quarter and 18 branch managers have been
appointed for further new branches.
 
EQUITY, FUNDING AND LIQUIDITY
As previously, during the first quarter, the Bank was able to fund
its day-to-day operations in the normal way. Various types of funding
instruments have been issued on a regular basis. Every day during the
quarter, the Bank was a net lender in Swedish kronor in the Swedish
interbank market.
 
The total market value of the Bank's liquidity portfolio was SEK
66bn, of which 38% was available for sale (AFS). As at the year-end,
the market value was SEK 88bn. The portfolio comprises bonds that are
eligible as collateral with central banks in order to create
immediate liquidity.
 
The changes in market value and sales in the part of the liquidity
portfolio that was invested in AFS affected the Bank's equity by SEK
-359m during the quarter.
 
CAPITAL
Starting on 1 February 2007, the Bank reports the capital requirement
and capital base in accordance with the Basel II rules. The changed
capital requirements have a gradual impact since the transitional
rules allow for an adaptation over a period of three years. In 2008,
the Bank is allowed to include a maximum of 10% as a reduction.
 
Tier 1 capital increased to SEK 64,556m (59,426). SEK 6.8bn of the
Tier 1 capital was Tier 1 hybrid capital. Calculated according to the
transitional rules, the Bank's capital ratio (including the period's
profits and after the proposed dividend) was 10.5%, while the Tier 1
capital ratio was 6.8%. The corresponding figures, excluding the
transitional regulations, were 16.2% and 10.5% respectively.
 
If no transitional rules had applied, the statutory capital
requirement under Basel II would have been reduced by 43% compared to
the requirement in accordance with Basel I.
 
Under what is known as Pillar 2 in Basel II, the Bank has designed a
model for its internal capital adequacy assessment process (ICAAP).
The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority's examination of the
Bank's internal capital adequacy assessment process was completed
during the quarter without objections.
 
ISSUE OF SUBORDINATED CONVERTIBLE LOAN
The board is proposing that the annual general meeting resolves on
the implementation of a convertible bond programme aimed at employees
of the Group. The programme implies that Handelsbanken will raise a
subordinated convertible loan in the nominal amount of not more than
SEK 2.3bn through an issue of convertible bonds. The issue will be on
market terms and is expected to be completed before the end of the
second quarter. More information is available on the Bank's website:
www.handelsbanken.se/ireng.
 
RATING
Handelsbanken's rating was unchanged with all three rating agencies
which rate the Bank. Moody's rating for the Bank was Aa1, and from
Fitch and Standard & Poor's AA-. All three agencies consider the
Bank's outlook to be stable.
 
 
For further information please contact:
 
Pär Boman, President and group chief executive
phone: +46 (0)8 - 22 92 20, pabo01@handelsbanken.se
 
Ulf Riese, CFO
phone: +46 (0)8 - 22 92 20, ulri02@handelsbanken.se
 
Mikael Hallåker, Head of Investor Relations
phone: +46 (0)8 - 701 2995, miha11@handelsbanken.se
 
 
The full report including tables can be downloaded from the following
link.

Pièces jointes

Handelsbankens Interim Report Jan-March 2008
GlobeNewswire