Commerzbank AG interim results to June 30, 2007: Continued record profits » MyForex


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	Commerzbank AG interim results to June 30, 2007: Continued record profits 9 августа 2007, 22:05
	Commerzbank continued to perform strongly in 2007. Organic growth and efficiency programs are being successfully implemented in all business lines, supported by a dynamic domestic economy. Operating profit of EUR 1.08 billion in the second quarter was more than 50% ahead of the previous year’s level. The consolidated surplus rose to EUR 768 million (285 million). The bank’s results for the first half of 2007 were the best in its history. Operating profit rose by almost a fifth to EUR 1.98 billion and the consolidated surplus grew by a third to EUR 1.38 billion, which results in earnings per share of EUR 2.10. After-tax return on equity of 22.1% was the highest ever within a half year period. The cost/income ratio also continued at a good level of 53.9%. Chairman of the Board Klaus-Peter Müller was upbeat about the results: “We are very pleased with Commerzbank’s performance in the first half of 2007. Almost all business lines contributed to the rise in profits. This proves that we continue to meet our combined objectives of keeping costs under control, whilst pursuing our organic growth programmes. As a result, we have been able to increase the number of retail customers by 250,000 since October 2006.” Net interest income of around EUR 1 billion in the second quarter was somewhat lower than in the previous quarter, despite satisfactory interest income from our client business. Loan loss provisions in our credit business, at EUR 151 million in the second quarter, were considerably lower than last year. Valuation allowances of EUR 311 million for the first six months are at half of the upper limit currently forecast for this year. Net commission incomein the second quarter continued to be encouraging, at EUR 758 million. This figure was 12% above the strong levels of the previous year, mostly due to the high earnings growth in the real estate business and our buoyant private securities business. A sustainably positive impact resulted from the trading profit of EUR 381 million, the highest quarterly result in five years. The result in our investments and securities portfolio of EUR 262 million includes most of the profit from the sale of our British subsidiary Jupiter Asset Management at the end of June. Commerzbank continues to keep costs firmly under control. Operating expenses rose by only 1.4% during the first half of the year in the pro-forma comparison to last year (i.e. full consolidation of Eurohypo). This was despite ongoing growth programmes in the operating business lines. In addition, 700 apprentices were hired, 100 more than in the previous year. At EUR 638 billion, the consolidated balance sheet at mid-year was 5% higher than at the end of 2006. At the same time, the core capital ratio has improved to 6.9% and is therefore at the upper end of our target range of 6.5% - 7%. The Private and Business Customers segment, which was expanded by the combination with our Asset Management business at the beginning of the year, saw a significant increase in operating profit to EUR 249 million in the first six months. This exceeded the previous year’s figure by one-fifth, driven by the success of the growth programme in our branch business and comdirect bank, as well as the good performance in our asset management and securities businesses. The operating return on equity rose to around 20%. The Mittelstand segment particularly benefited from the healthy German domestic economy as well as dynamic growth in Central and Eastern Europe. Along with double-digit growth in net commission income, net interest income rose by 15% in the first half of the year. The operating return on equity almost doubled from 18% to 35%, whilst keeping the cost/income ratio at only 48%. The Corporates & Markets segment continued to be successful. The rise in profit was driven by a strong trading result and considerably higher net interest income in our business with large corporates. The six-month operating return on equity increased further to an excellent 35%. Continued strong levels of new business at Eurohypo, lower loan loss provisions and real estate fund inflows have contributed to the good profit in the Commercial Real Estate segment. The operating return on equity reached 15%. In the Public Finance and Treasury segment the profit of EUR 95 million for the first six month was significantly below that of the previous year. The operating return on equity decreased to 16%. Based on the good performance in the first half of the year and continued favourable overall economic conditions, Klaus-Peter Müller maintains an optimistic outlook for the business: “We will earn a full-year result above expectations, significantly exceeding our target return, which we have already raised to over 12%. With the implementation of growth programs in our operating business lines, we aim to increase market share in our buoyant domestic market, as well as seizing significant opportunities in selected growth markets. At the forefront of these are the Central and Eastern European markets.”

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