Erste Group provides update on performance - closes profitable 2008 with 19% operating profit growth

Following a meeting of the Management Board today, Erste Group Bank AG announces key highlights of the 2008 preliminary results, ahead of the full presentation on 27th February 2009.rnrn· Erste Group reports continued solid improvement in operating profit: up more than 19% vs 2007, underscoring the strength of its retail banking business model in Austria and Central and Eastern Europernrn· Net profit for the year 2008 – including the positive impact of the sale of the insurance business and the negative revaluation of certain financial assets as a result of the continued difficult market conditions, particularly in December 2008 – exceeds EUR 1.3 billion; however:rn· the management board has taken the decision to assign the proceeds from the sale of the insurance business to the full write-down of intangibles related to the Ukrainian and Serbian operations and to the partial write-down of intangibles in Romania, amounting to a total of approx EUR 570 million (pre-tax); andrn- in view of the deterioration in the macroeconomic environment over recent months, Erste Group has proactively decided to bolster risk provisions in all of its geographies, resulting in risk costs in relation to average customer loans of close to 90bps for the year 2008; as a result,rn- clean net profit is expected to total EUR 860 million for the year 2008rnrn· Including all of the above measures and prior to the announced issuance of participation capital the Group’s Tier 1 ratio is expected to reach 7.2% at YE 2008.rnrnErste Group continues to be convinced that the longer term outlook for superior growth opportunities in its region remains unchanged. However, following a thorough review of activities across its operating region the Group’s management has taken the decision to adjust the business plans for 2009 to 2011 to reflect the expected impact of the worldwide economic slowdown on Austria and the CEE region in the near term.rnrnThus, the proceeds from the sale of the insurance business in early 2008 have been assigned to the full write-down of goodwill acquired in respect of operations in Ukraine and Serbia (EUR 87 million) as well as a partial write-down for the Romanian business (EUR 480 million). rnrnIncluding the additional reduction of goodwill and customer relationship value due to the sale of the insurance business (EUR 112 million) and the linear depreciation of customer relationships (EUR 69 million), as well as the effects from currency depreciation which have no P&L impact (EUR 370 million) the total intangible assets for BCR will decline by more than EUR 1 billion to EUR 2.7 billion as at YE 2008.rnrnIn the full year 2008 operating revenues improved by almost 14% to EUR 7 billion while – supported by a cost reduction of nearly 10% in Q4 2008 – operating costs increased by less than 10% (to EUR 4bn) for the FY 2008 – substantially better than forecast. rnrnThis very positive performance is reflected in the expected above 19% operating profit growth, substantially exceeding the previously stated 15% target, and will result in a operating result of EUR 3 billion for the full year 2008.rnrnThe proactive decision to bolster risk provisions in 2008 again reflects the deterioration in the macroeconomic environment over recent months and the consequent expectation for a rise in NPLs across all business segments. Additional provisions have been made in all geographies, including Austria and the savings banks, in accordance with Erste Group’s conservative approach to risk management.rnrnThe total negative P&L result from financial assets is expected to amount to nearly EUR 570 million pre-tax in 2008 including, as previously announced, a write-off for exposures to Icelandic Banks (booked in Q4 2008) and to Lehman Brothers. Also included are, revaluations of the ABS/CDO portfolio, which amounted to almost EUR 160 million for the full year 2008. As guided no impairments were recorded in this portfolio in 2008.rnrnDespite these extraordinary effects, Erste Group expects to report a clean full year net profit for 2008 of EUR 860m, underlining the solid, sustainable earnings capability of the retail-focused operating model.rnrnCommenting on the Group’s performance, Andreas Treichl, CEO of Erste Group said: “Against the backdrop of an exceptionally difficult fourth quarter, these initial results underline the solid foundation on which the Erste Group is based. We are well-funded and profitable, and with the steps we have taken to further tighten our risk management and reduce costs, together with our dedication and commitment to providing an unrivalled service to our over 16 million customers, we believe that Erste Group is well positioned to withstand whatever new challenges 2009 may bring.”rnrnErste Group Bank AG will publish its detailed results according to IFRS on Friday 27 February 2009.rnPlease note that the information contained in this release is based on preliminary, unaudited figures.