1Q2021 Group Financial Results

RNS Number : 7063Z
Bank of Cyprus Holdings PLC
25 May 2021
 

Announcement 

Group Financial Results for the quarter ended 31 March 2021

 

Nicosia, 25 May 2021

 

 

Key Highlights for the quarter ended 31 March 2021

 

COVID-19 Developments

· Cypriot economy gradually recovering

· Continuing to support this recovery; new lending of €487 mn, up 30% qoq

· Cyprus ranks 4th in the EU in COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100 people1

· 48% of adult population in Cyprus already vaccinated with first dose2 and on track to reach target of 65% by end of June 2021

 

Positive Organic Performance

· Total income of 136 mn, down 3% qoq, Operating profit of €45 mn broadly flat qoq

· Cost of risk of 66 bps, improved by 33 bps qoq

· Organic profit after tax of 14 mn, up 12 mn qoq

· Profit after tax of 8 mn, vs loss after tax of 49 mn in 4Q2020

 

Operating Efficiency

· Total operating expenses3 of 82 mn, down 9% qoq, driven by seasonality

· Cost to income ratio3 at 60%, down 4 p.p. qoq

 

Good Capital, Strong Liquidity

· CET1 ratio of 14.6%4,5 and Total Capital ratio of 18.3%4,5

· Successful refinancing of Tier 2 in April 2021 at a significantly lower coupon rate; Total Capital ratio expected to increase to 19.2%4,5,6

· Deposits at €16.3 bn, broadly flat qoq; Significant surplus liquidity of 4.9 bn (LCR at 284%)

 

Balance Sheet Repair Continuing

· 0.5 bn NPE sale (Helix 2 Portfolio B) signed in January 2021

· NPEs at €1.7 bn4 (€0.7 bn net4)

· Gross NPE ratio at 16%4 stable qoq4 (7% net4); organic NPE reduction impacted by lockdown

· Coverage maintained at 59%4

· 95% of performing loans7 under expired payment deferrals with an instalment due by 14 May 2021, presented no arrears

 

 

 

 

1.  According to ECDC https://vaccinetracker.ecdc.europa.eu/public/extensions/COVID-19/vaccine-tracker.html#uptake-tab

2.  Data as at 21 May 2021. 20% have completed their vaccination regime (Source: Ministry of Health)

3.  Excluding special levy and contributions to SRF and DGF

4.  Pro forma for Helix 2 (Portfolio A and B). Calculations on a pro forma basis assume legal completion of the transaction

5.  Allowing for IFRS 9 and temporary treatment for certain FVOCI instruments transitional arrangements

6.  On the basis of 31 March 2021 figures. The Total Capital ratio pro forma for Helix 2 is expected to increase to 19.5%, including 28 bps relating to the outstanding Existing Notes (remaining after the Tender Offer) of €43 mn. The Existing Notes are redeemable at the option of the Bank (subject to applicable regulatory consents) in January 2022.

7.  As at 31 March 2021

 

Group Chief Executive Statement

"The first quarter of the year has again been a period characterised by on-going pandemic-related disruption. Despite the significant progress made both within Cyprus and globally with the vaccine roll-out programme, the day-to-day operating environment continues to be challenging, and the first quarter saw restrictions remaining in place within Cyprus. As such, our priority during the period has continued to be focused on providing support to our customers, colleagues and community. Although the pace of economic recovery in Cyprus temporarily slowed in the first quarter as result of the restrictions, we have continued to support the country's return to growth, extending €487 mn of new loans in the period, the strongest quarter in new lending since the pandemic struck a year ago.

 

This lending performance, allied to the recent relaxation of restrictions and the progress of the vaccination programmes both in Cyprus and abroad support our confidence in the economic recovery gathering pace. As at 21 May 2021, 48% of the adult population in Cyprus have been vaccinated with the first dose, on track with the target of reaching 65% by the end of June. Also, Cyprus ranks 4th in the EU in COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100 people. As a bank we remain ready to do all we can to ensure Cyprus recovers quickly and emerges strongly from the crisis.

 

During the first quarter of the year, we generated total income of €136 mn and a positive operating result of €45 mn. Cost of risk was reduced by 33 bps to 66 bps. We delivered an underlying profit of €14 mn and the overall result for the quarter was a profit after tax of €8 mn. At the same time, we reduced our total operating expenses (excluding levies and contributions) by €9 mn or 9% on the prior quarter to €82 mn, reflecting our on-going efforts to contain costs.

The Bank's capital position remains good and comfortably in excess of our regulatory requirements. As at 31 March 2021, our capital ratios (on a transitional basis) were 18.3% for the Total Capital ratio and 14.6% for CET1 ratio, both pro forma for NPE sales. Our liquidity position also remains strong and we continue to operate with almost €5 bn surplus liquidity and an LCR at 284%. Deposits on our balance sheet remained broadly flat in the quarter at €16.3 bn.

 

In April 2021, we successfully refinanced our Tier 2 capital, further optimising the capital structure of the Group. The issuance of €300 mn Tier 2 Capital Notes is expected to increase the Group's Total Capital ratio pro forma for NPE sales by c.100 bps to 19.2%. The transaction has also enhanced the diversification of our investor base, and the significant reduction in the coupon to 6.625% confirms market recognition of the significant progress made in evolving the Group's financial profile.

 

Balance sheet repair has continued in the first quarter of the year. As previously noted, in January 2021, despite the challenging environment, we reached agreement for the sale of a further €500 mn NPE portfolio, continuing to deliver on one of the Group's strategic priorities of improving asset quality through the reduction of NPEs. Overall, since the peak in 2014, we have now reduced the stock of NPEs by €13.3 bn or 89% to €1.7 bn and the NPE ratio by 47 percentage points, from 63% to 16%, pro forma for NPE sales. This remained stable qoq as organic NPE reduction was impacted by the lockdown. Whilst we expect this to recover in the coming quarters, we continue to actively explore strategies to accelerate de-risking including further portfolio sales, and remain on track with achieving a single digit NPE ratio by the end of 2022. At the same time, we continue to closely monitor the performance of loans which had been granted payment deferrals in the previous year, and we remain cautiously optimistic based on their performance to date.

 

As the leading bank in Cyprus, it is both our focus and purpose to help support the country's return to growth, and we remain confident about the future and committed to playing our part in that. Despite the challenges of the last year having persisted in the quarter, we, as a Bank, have continued to make progress, and remain absolutely committed to our strategic initiatives of completing de-risking, revenue enhancement and cost reduction through business transformation in order to deliver shareholder returns in the medium term."

 

 

Panicos Nicolaou



 

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Income Statement

€ mn

1Q2021

1Q2020

4Q2020

(1q vs 4q) +%

yoy +%

Net interest income

76

85

80

-5%

-10%

Net fee and commission income

39

38

38

1%

1%

Net foreign exchange gains and net losses on financial instrument transactions and disposal/dissolution of subsidiaries and associates

2

6

1

-

-55%

Insurance income net of claims and commissions

13

11

14

-9%

15%

Net gains/(losses) from revaluation and disposal of investment properties and on disposal of stock of properties

2

1

5

-46%

-

Other income

4

4

4

-5%

-19%

Total income

136

145

142

-3%

-6%

Staff costs

(50)

(49)

(50)

1%

2%

Other operating expenses

(32)

(35)

(41)

-21%

-6%

Special levy and contributions to Single Resolution Fund (SRF) and Deposit Guarantee Fund (DGF)

(9)

(9)

(6)

48%

-1%

Total expenses

(91)

(93)

(97)

-5%

-1%

Operating profit

45

52

45

1%

-15%

Loan credit losses

(20)

(64)

(31)

-35%

-68%

Impairments of other financial and non-financial assets

(5)

(4)

(6)

-15%

19%

Provisions for litigation, claims, regulatory and other matters

(1)

(2)

(3)

-71%

-60%

Total loan credit losses, impairments and provisions

(26)

(70)

(40)

-34%

-63%

Profit/(loss) before tax and non-recurring items

19

(18)

5

-

-

Tax

(2)

(2)

(1)

18%

9%

Loss/(profit) attributable to non-controlling interests

0

(0)

(1)

-

-

Profit/(loss) after tax and before non-recurring items (attributable to the owners of the Company)

17

(20)

3

-

-

Advisory and other restructuring costs - organic

(3)

(3)

(1)

-

-14%

Profit/(loss) after tax - organic (attributable to the owners of the Company)

14

(23)

2

-

-

Provisions/net loss relating to NPE sales, including restructuring expenses1

(6)

(3)

(42)

-86%

99%

Restructuring costs - Voluntary Staff Exit Plan (VEP)

-

-

(6)

-

-

DTC levy

-

-

(3)

-

-

Profit/(loss) after tax (attributable to the owners of the Company)

8

(26)

(49)

-

-







 







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

Unaudited Consolidated Income Statement - Key Performance Ratios

Key Performance Ratios2

1Q2021

1Q2020

4Q2020

(1q vs 4q) +%

yoy +%

Net Interest Margin (annualised)

1.63%

1.95%

1.75%

-12 bps

-32 bps

Cost to income ratio

67%

64%

69%

-2 p.p.

+3 p.p.

Cost to income ratio excluding special levy and contributions to SRF and DGF

60%

58%

64%

-4 p.p.

+2 p.p.

Operating profit return on average assets (annualised)

0.8%

1.0%

0.8%

-

-0.2 p.p.

Basic earnings/(losses) per share attributable to the owners of the Company - organic (€ cent)

3.16

(5.14)

0.42

2.74

8.30

Basic earnings/(losses) per share attributable to the owners of the Company (€ cent)

1.83

(5.81)

(11.20)

13.03

7.64

 

1. 'Provisions/net (loss)/profit relating to NPE sales, including restructuring expenses' refer to the net loss on transactions completed during each year/period, net loan credit losses on transactions under consideration, as well as the restructuring costs relating to these trades. For further details please refer to Section A.2.4. 2. Including the NPE portfolios classified as "Non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale". p.p. = percentage points, bps = basis points, 100 basis points (bps) = 1 percentage point

 

 

Commentary on Underlying Basis

 

The financial information presented in this Section provides an overview of the Group financial results for the quarter ended 31 March 2021 on the 'underlying basis' which the management believes best fits the true measurement of the performance and position of the Group, as this presents separately the exceptional and one off items.

 

Reconciliations between the statutory basis and the underlying basis are included in section F.1 'Reconciliation of income statement between statutory and underlying basis' and in Section G. 'Definitions and Explanations', to facilitate the comparability of the underlying basis to the statutory information.

 

With respect to the 'Balance Sheet Analysis', please note the following in relation to the disclosure of pro forma figures and ratios with respect to Project Helix 2 (as explained in the paragraph below). All relevant figures are based on 31 March 2021 financial results, unless otherwise stated. Numbers on a pro forma basis are based on the 31 March 2021 underlying basis figures and are adjusted for Project Helix 2, and assume its completion, which remains subject to required customary regulatory and other approvals. Where numbers are provided on a pro forma basis this is stated.

 

Project Helix 2 refers to the agreement the Group reached in August 2020 with funds affiliated with Pacific Investment Management Company LLC ("PIMCO"), for the sale of a portfolio of loans with gross book value of €0.9 bn (Helix 2 Portfolio A), as well as to the agreement the Group reached with PIMCO in January 2021 for the sale of an additional portfolio of loans with gross book value of €0.5 bn (Helix 2 Portfolio B). Further details are provided in Section A.1.5 'Loan portfolio quality'.

 

 

 



 

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Interim Balance Sheet

€ mn


31.3.2021

31.12.2020

+ %

Cash and balances with central banks


6,926

5,653

23%

Loans and advances to banks


421

403

4%

Debt securities, treasury bills and equity investments


2,113

1,913

10%

Net loans and advances to customers


9,960

9,886

1%

Stock of property


1,328

1,350

 -2%

Investment properties


126

128

 -2%

Other assets


1,544

1,550

-0%

Non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale


626

631

-1%

Total assets


23,044

21,514

7%

Deposits by banks


412

392

5%

Funding from central banks


2,692

995

-

Customer deposits


16,332

16,533

-1%

Subordinated loan stock


254

272

-7%

Other liabilities


1,266

1,247

1%

Total liabilities


20,956

19,439

8%






Shareholders' equity


1,844

1,831

1%

Other equity instruments


220

220

-

Total equity excluding non-controlling interests


2,064

2,051

1%

Non-controlling interests


24

24

1%

Total equity


2,088

2,075

1%

Total liabilities and equity


23,044

21,514

7%






Key Balance Sheet figures and ratios

31.3.2021 (proforma)1

31.3.2021

(as reported)2

31.12.2020

(as reported)2

+2

Gross loans (€ mn)

10,942

12,281

12,261

0%

Allowance for expected loan credit losses (€ mn) 

1,002

1,869

1,902

-2%

Customer deposits (€ mn) 

16,332

16,332

16,533

-1%

Loans to deposits ratio (net)

61%

64%

63%

+1 p.p.

NPE ratio

16%

25%

25%

-

NPE coverage ratio

59%

62%

62%

-

Leverage ratio

8.3%

8.3%

8.8%

-0.5 p.p.

Capital ratios and risk weighted assets

31.3.2021 (proforma)1

31.3.2021

(as reported)2

31.12.2020

(as reported)2

+2

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio (transitional)3

14.6%

14.4%

14.8%

-40 bps

Total capital ratio

18.3%

18.0%

18.4%

-40 bps

Risk weighted assets (€ mn)

11,286

11,546

11,636

-1%

1. Pro forma for the sale of NPEs (Project Helix 2, Portfolios A and B) of €1.3 bn on the basis of 31 March 2021 figures; calculations on a pro forma basis assume completion of Project Helix 2 (Portfolios A and B), which remains subject to required customary regulatory and other approvals. 2. As reported: Including the NPE portfolios classified as "Non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale". 3.The CET1 fully loaded ratio as at 31 March 2021 amounts to 13.1% and 13.3% pro forma for Helix 2 (Portfolios A and B) (compared to 12.9% and 13.3% pro forma for Helix 2 (Portfolios A and B) as at 31 December 2020). p.p. = percentage points, bps = basis points, 100 basis points (bps) = 1 p.p.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

A.1. Balance Sheet Analysis

A.1.1 Capital Base

Total equity excluding non-controlling interests totalled €2,064 mn at 31 March 2021, compared to €2,051 mn at 31 December 2020. Shareholders' equity totalled €1,844 mn at 31 March 2021, compared to €1,831 mn at 31 December 2020.

 

The Common Equity Tier 1 capital (CET1) ratio on a transitional basis stood at 14.4% at 31 March 2021 and 14.6% pro forma for the Project Helix 2 (Portfolios A and B) sale agreements reached in 3Q2020 and 1Q2021 respectively (referred to as "pro forma for Helix 2"), compared to 14.8% at 31 December 2020 and 15.2% pro forma for Helix 2. During 1Q2021, the CET1 ratio was negatively affected mainly by the phasing-in of IFRS 9 transitional arrangements, and provisions and impairments, and was positively affected by the pre-provision income and the decrease in risk-weighted assets (RWAs). Throughout, the capital ratios as at 31 March 2021 include unaudited / unreviewed profits for 1Q2021, unless otherwise stated.

 

The Group has elected to apply the EU transitional arrangements for regulatory capital purposes (EU Regulation 2017/2395) where the impact on the impairment amount from the initial application of IFRS 9 on the capital ratios is phased-in gradually. The amount added back to CET1 each year decreases based on a weighting factor until the impact of IFRS 9 is fully absorbed at the end of the five years. The impact on the capital position for year 2018 was 5% of the impact on the impairment amount from the initial application of IFRS 9, increased to 15% (cumulative) for year 2019, 30% (cumulative) for year 2020 and 50% (cumulative) for year 2021. This will increase to 75% (cumulative) for year 2022 and will be fully phased in (100%) by 1 January 2023. The phasing-in of the impairment amount from the initial application of IFRS 9 on 1 January 2021 had a negative impact of c.45 bps on the CET1 ratio.

 

In June 2020, Regulation (EU) 2020/873, regarding certain adjustments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, came into force, extending the IFRS 9 transitional arrangements and introducing further relief measures to CET1, such as allowing to temporarily add back unrealised gains or losses on certain financial instruments measured at fair value through other comprehensive income. Further details are set out below under 'Implications on capital from the Outbreak of COVID-19'.

 

The CET1 ratio on a fully loaded basis   amounted to 13.1% as at 31 March 2021 and 13.3% pro forma for Helix 2, compared to 12.9% as at 31 December 2020 and 13.3% pro forma for Helix 2 . On a transitional basis and on a fully phased-in basis, after the transition period is completed, the impact of IFRS 9 is expected to be manageable and within the Group's capital plans.

 

The Total Capital ratio stood at 18.0% as at 31 March 2021 and 18.3% pro forma for Helix 2, compared to 18.4% as at 31 December 2020 and 18.7% pro forma for Helix 2.

 

The Group's capital ratios are above the Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP) requirements.

 

In the context of the European Central Bank's (ECB's) capital easing measures for COVID-19, in April 2020, the Bank received an amendment to the December 2019 SREP decisioneffective as of 12 March 2020, reducing the Group's minimum phased-in Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio to 9.7% (comprising a 4.5% Pillar I requirement, a 1.7% Pillar II requirement, the Capital Conservation Buffer of 2.5% and the Other Systemically Important Institution Buffer of 1.0%), following the frontloading of the new rules on the Pillar II Requirement composition, to allow banks to use Additional Tier 1 (AT1) capital and Tier 2 (T2) capital to meet Pillar II Requirements and not only by CET1, initially scheduled to come into effect in January 2021.

 

The SREP Total Capital Requirement remained unchanged at 14.5%, comprising an 8.0% Pillar I requirement (of which up to 1.5% can be in the form of AT1 capital and up to 2.0% in the form of T2 capital), a 3.0% Pillar II requirement, the Capital Conservation Buffer of 2.5% and the Other Systemically Important Institution Buffer of 1.0%. The ECB has also provided non-public guidance for an additional Pillar II CET1 buffer. Pillar II add-on capital requirements derive from the context of the SREP, which is a point in time assessment, and are therefore subject to change over time.

 

In November 2020, the Group received communication from the ECB according to which no SREP decision would be issued for the 2020 SREP cycle and that the 2019 SREP decision will remain in force, hence leaving the Group's capital requirements unchanged, as well as other requirements established by the 2019 SREP decision (as amended in April 2020). The communication followed a relevant announcement by the ECB earlier in 2020 that the ECB would be taking a pragmatic approach towards the SREP for the 2020 cycle. 

 



 

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

A.1. Balance Sheet Analysis (continued)

A.1.1 Capital Base (continued)

In accordance with the provisions of the Macroprudential Oversight of Institutions Law of 2015, the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) is the responsible authority for the designation of banks that are Other Systemically Important Institutions (O-SIIs) and for the setting of the O-SII buffer requirement for these systemically important banks. The Group has been designated as an O-SII and the O-SII buffer currently set by the CBC for the Group is 2%. This buffer is being phased-in gradually, having started from 1 January 2019 at 0.5% and increasing by 0.5% every year thereafter, until being fully implemented (2.0%). In April 2020, the CBC decided to delay the phasing-in (0.5%) of the O-SII buffer on 1 January 2021 and 1 January 2022 by 12 months. Consequently, the O-SII buffer will be fully phased-in on 1 January 2023, instead of 1 January 2022 as originally set.

 

Further analysis on the recent developments on the regulatory capital ratios due to the COVID-19 outbreak is set out further below under 'Implications on capital from the Outbreak of COVID-19'.

 

The European Banking Authority (EBA) final guidelines on SREP and supervisory stress testing and the Single Supervisory Mechanism's (SSM) 2018 SREP methodology provide that own funds held for the purposes of Pillar II Guidance cannot be used to meet any other capital requirements (Pillar I, Pillar II requirements or the combined buffer requirement), and therefore cannot be used twice. Following the 2019 SREP decision, the new provisions became effective as of 1 January 2020.

Based on the SREP decisions of prior years, the Company (Bank of Cyprus Holdings PLC) and the Bank were under a regulatory prohibition for equity dividend distribution and therefore no dividends were declared or paid during 2019. Following the 2020 SREP communication, the Company and the Bank are still under equity dividend distribution prohibition as the 2019 SREP decision remains in force. This prohibition does not apply if the distribution is made via the issuance of new ordinary shares to the shareholders, which are eligible as CET1 capital. No prohibition applies to the payment of coupons on any AT1 capital instruments issued by the Company or the Bank.

The ECB, as part of its supervisory role, has completed an onsite inspection and review on the value of the Group's foreclosed assets with reference date 30 June 2019. The findings relate to a prudential charge of up to 44 bps, the majority of which is expected to be taken at 30 June 2021, depending on the Bank's progress in disposing the properties impacted by the prudential charge.

Project Helix 2

 

In August 2020, the Group signed an agreement (the 'agreement') for the sale of a portfolio of loans with gross book value of €0.9 bn as at 30 June 2020, known as Project 'Helix 2 Portfolio A'. Loan credit losses in relation to the agreement of c.€68 mn, including transaction costs were recognised during 2Q2020.

 

In January 2021, the Group amended and restated the agreement to incorporate the sale of an additional portfolio of loans with gross book value of €0.5 bn as at 30 September 2020, known as Project 'Helix 2 Portfolio B'. As at the year‑end, in anticipation of the agreement for Project 'Helix 2 Portfolio B' loan credit losses of c.€27 mn were recognised in 4Q2020.

 

The completion of Helix 2 Portfolio B will be aligned with the completion of Helix 2 Portfolio A and is currently estimated to occur early in 2H2021. The completion remains subject to a number of conditions, including required customary regulatory and other approvals.

 

Project Helix 2 (Portfolios A and B) up to and including legal completion (including the impact in FY2020) is expected to have a negative capital impact of 48 bps on the Group's CET1 ratio, on the basis of 31 March 2021 figures. The legal completion of the transaction is expected to increase the CET1 ratio as at 31 March 2021 from 14.4% to 14.6% (pro forma). Upon the full payment of the deferred considerations and without taking into consideration any positive impact from the earnout, Project Helix 2 (Portfolios A and B) is expected to have an additional positive capital impact of 64 bps on the Group's CET1 ratio, on the basis of 31 March 2021 figures.

 

Further details regarding the consideration, including the deferred component and earnout, are provided in Section A.1.5 'Loan portfolio quality'.

 

Legislative amendments for the conversion of DTA to DTC

 

Legislative amendments allowing for the conversion of specific deferred tax assets (DTA) into deferred tax credits (DTC) became effective in March 2019. The law amendments cover the utilisation of income tax losses transferred from Laiki Bank to the Bank in March 2013. The introduction of CRD IV in January 2014 and its subsequent phasing-in led to a more capital-intensive treatment of this DTA for the Bank. The law amendments resulted in an improved regulatory capital treatment, under CRR , of the DTA amounting to c.€285 mn or a CET1 uplift of c.190 bps in March 2019.

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

A.1. Balance Sheet Analysis (continued)

A.1.1 Capital Base (continued)

Legislative amendments for the conversion of DTA to DTC (continued)

 

The Group understands that, in response to concerns raised by the European Commission with regard to the provision of state aid arising out of the treatment of such tax losses, the Cyprus Government is considering the adoption of modifications to the Law, including requirements for an additional annual fee over and above the 1.5% annual guarantee fee already acknowledged, to maintain the conversion of such DTAs into tax credits. 

 

The Group, in anticipation of modifications in the Law, acknowledges that such increased annual fee may be required to be recorded on an annual basis until expiration of such losses in 2028. The determination and conditions of such amount will be prescribed in the Law to be amended and the amount determined by the Government on an annual basis. Amendments to the Law will need to be adopted by the Cyprus Parliament and published in the Official Gazette of the Republic for the amendments to be effective. The Group, however, understands that contemplated amendments to the Law may provide that the minimum fee to be charged will be 1.5% of the annual instalment and can range up to a maximum amount of €10 mn per year. The Group estimates that such increased fees could range up to €5.3 mn per year (for each tax year in scope i.e. since 2018) although the Group understands that such fee may fluctuate annually as to be determined by the Ministry of Finance. In this respect, an amount of €3 mn was recorded in 4Q2020 to bring the total amount provided for years 2018-2020 to €16 mn, being the maximum expected increased amount for these years (€13 mn in 4Q2019 and €19 mn in FY2019).

 

Voluntary Staff Exit Plans

 

In December 2020, the Group completed a targeted voluntary staff exit plan (VEP) at a total cost of €6 mn, recorded in the consolidated income statement in 4Q2020, resulting in a negative impact of c.5 bps on the Group's CET1 ratio as at 31 December 2020 . For further information please refer to Section A.2.2 'Total expenses'.

 

Tier 2 Capital Notes

In April 2021, the Company issued €300 mn unsecured and subordinated Tier 2 Capital Notes (the 'New Notes').

 

Immediately after, the Company and the Bank entered into an agreement pursuant to which the Company on-lent to the Bank the entire €300 mn proceeds of the issue of the New Notes (the 'Tier 2 Loan') on terms substantially identical to the terms and conditions of the New Notes. The Tier 2 Loan constitutes an unsecured and subordinated obligation of the Bank.

 

The New Notes were priced at par with a fixed coupon of 6.625% per annum, payable annually in arrears and resettable on 23 October 2026. The maturity date for the New Notes is 23 October 2031. The Company will have the option to redeem the New Notes early on any day during the six-month period from 23 April 2026 to 23 October 2026, subject to applicable regulatory consents.

 

At the same time, the Bank invited the holders of its €250 mn Fixed Rate Reset Tier 2 Capital Notes due January 2027 (the 'Existing Notes') to tender their Existing Notes for purchase by the Bank at a price of 105.50%. The Bank received valid tenders of €207 mn in aggregate nominal amount, all of which were accepted by the Bank, and after which €43 mn in aggregate nominal amount of the Existing Notes remain outstanding.

 

The issuance of the New Notes is expected to increase the Group's Total Capital ratio pro forma for Helix 2 by 123 bps to 19.5%, on the basis of 31 March 2021 figures, including 28 bps relating to the outstanding Existing Notes. The Existing Notes are redeemable at the option of the Bank (subject to applicable regulatory consents) in January 2022.

 

The issuance is expected to be MREL eligible, contributing towards the Bank's MREL requirements.

 



 

A.1. Balance Sheet Analysis (continued)

A.1 Capital Base (continued)

Implications on capital from the Outbreak of COVID-19

 

The Group continues to closely monitor developments in, and the effects of COVID-19 on both the global and Cypriot economy. In early 2020, the ECB announced a package of positive measures that should help to support the capital position of banks, in order to secure favourable conditions of financing for the economy with the aim to mitigate the effects of the crisis. Specifically, the measures increased the Group's capital base available to absorb potential losses due to the crisis. In addition, the early adoption of CRD V for the composition of the Pillar II Requirement provides flexibility regarding the Group's compliance with the minimum capital requirement of Pillar II.

 

In the context of the ECB's capital easing measures for COVID-19, in April 2020, the Bank received an amendment to the December 2019 SREP decision effective as of 12 March 2020, r educing the Group's minimum phased-in CET1 capital ratio to 9.7%. In addition, in March 2020, the ECB announced that banks are temporarily allowed to operate below the level of Pillar II Guidance (P2G), the capital conservation buffer (CCB) and the countercyclical buffer. In July 2020, the ECB committed to allow banks to operate below the P2G and the combined buffer requirement until at least end of 2022, without automatically triggering supervisory actions. In addition, in April 2020, the CBC decided to delay the phasing-in of the O-SII buffer. Further details are given above. The CBC has set the level of the countercyclical buffer for Cyprus at 0% for the year 2020 and the six months to 30 June 2021.

 

In June 2020, Regulation (EU) 2020/873, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, came into force, bringing forward some of the capital-relieving measures that were due to come into force at a later stage and introducing modifications as part of the wider efforts of competent authorities to provide the support necessary to the institutions. The main amendments with an impact on the Group's capital ratios related to the acceleration of the implementation of the new SME discount factor under CRR II introduced in June 2020, instead of June 2021, extending the IFRS 9 transitional arrangements and introducing further relief measures to CET1, advancing the application of the prudential treatment of software assets as amended by CRR II, and introducing a temporary treatment of unrealized gains and losses to exposures to central governments, regional governments or local authorities, measured at fair value through other comprehensive income. Overall, the Group's CET1 ratio benefited by c.80 bps in 2020 as a result of the above amendments.

 



 

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

A.1. Balance Sheet Analysis (continued)

A.1.2. Regulations and Directives

A.1.2.1 Revised rules on capital and liquidity (CRR II and CRD V)

On 27 June 2019, the revised rules on capital and liquidity (CRR II and CRD V) came into force. As this was an amending regulation, the existing provisions of CRR apply, unless they are amended by CRR II. Being a Regulation, CRR II is directly applicable in each member state. Member states are required to transpose the CRD V into national law. CRD V was transposed and implemented in Cyprus law in early May 2021. Certain provisions took immediate effect (primarily relating to Minimum Requirement for Own Funds and Eligible Liabilities, MREL), and most changes will start to apply from mid-2021. Certain aspects of CRR II are dependent on final technical standards to be issued by the EBA and adopted by the European Commission. The key changes introduced consist of, among others, changes to qualifying criteria for CET1, AT1 and Tier 2 instruments, introduction of MREL requirements and binding Leverage Ratio and Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) requirements. 

 

A.1.2.2 Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD)

Minimum Requirement for Own Funds and Eligible Liabilities (MREL)

The Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD) requires that from January 2016 EU member states shall apply the BRRD's provisions requiring EU credit institutions and certain investment firms to maintain a minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL), subject to the provisions of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1450.  On 27 June 2019, as part of the reform package for strengthening the resilience and resolvability of European banks, the BRRD Ι came into effect and was required to be transposed into national law. BRRD II was transposed and implemented in Cyprus law in early May 2021. In addition, certain provisions on MREL have been introduced in CRR Ι which also came into force on 27 June 2019 as part of the reform package and took immediate effect.

 

In April 2021, the Bank received notification from the Single Resolution Board (SRB) of the final decision for the binding minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL) for the Bank, determined as the preferred resolution point of entry.

 

As per the decision, the minimum MREL requirement is set at 23.32% of risk weighted assets and 5.91% of Leverage Ratio Exposure (LRE) and must be met by 31 December 2025. Furthermore, the Bank must comply by 1 January 2022 with an interim requirement of 14.94% of risk weighted assets and 5.91% of LRE. The own funds used by the Bank to meet the Combined Buffer Requirement (CBR) will not be eligible to meet its MREL requirements expressed in terms of risk-weighted assets. The above requirements replace those that were previously applicable. The Bank must comply with the MREL requirement at the consolidated level, comprising the Bank and its subsidiaries.

 

The MREL ratio of the Bank as at 31 March 2021, calculated according to SRB's eligibility criteria currently in effect and based on the Bank's internal estimate, stood at 15.03% of risk weighted assets and at c.9% of LRE. Pro forma for Project Helix 2, the MREL ratio of the Bank as at 31 March 2021, calculated on the same basis, stood at 15.27% of risk weighted assets. The MREL ratio expressed as a percentage of risk weighted assets does not include capital used to meet the CBR amount, currently at 3.5% and expected to increase to 4% on 1 January 2022. The MREL ratios as at 31 March 2021 include unaudited / unreviewed profits for 1Q2021.

 

The MREL requirement is in line with the Bank's expectations and funding plans, and in this context, and following the highly successful Tier 2 capital refinancing, the Bank will focus on evaluating opportunities for an MREL issuance in terms of debt capital markets activity.

 

 



 

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

A.1. Balance Sheet Analysis (continued)

A.1.3 Funding and Liquidity

Funding

 

Funding from Central Banks

 

At 31 March 2021, the Bank's funding from central banks amounted to €2,692 mn, which relates to ECB funding, comprising solely of funding through the Targeted Longer-Term Refinancing Operations (TLTRO) III, compared to €995 mn as at 31 December 2020.

 

In March 2021, the Bank borrowed an amount of €1.7 bn under the seventh TLTRO III operation, increasing the funding from central banks to €2.7 bn, as the Bank had already borrowed an amount of €1 bn under the fourth TLTRO III operation in June 2020, despite its comfortable liquidity position, given the favourable borrowing rate, in combination with the relaxation of collateral terms.

 

Based on internal estimations (subject to confirmation from the CBC), the Bank has exceeded the benchmark net lending threshold in the period 1 March 2020 -31 March 2021 and is therefore expected to qualify for a beneficial rate for the period from June 2020 to June 2021. Based on current ECB rates, the Bank estimates the NII benefit from its TLTRO III borrowing for the period from June 2020 to June 2021 at c.€7 mn, recognised over the respective period in the income statement.

 

The potential NII benefit from the TLTRO III borrowing for the period from June 2021 to June 2022 amounts to c.€13.5 mn, based on current ECB rates and provided the Bank meets the lending thresholds.

 

Deposits  

 

Customer deposits totalled €16,332 mn at 31 March 2021 (compared to €16,533 mn at 31 December 2020), reduced by 1% in the first quarter.

 

The Bank's deposit market share in Cyprus reached 34.5% as at 31 March 2021, compared to 35.0% at 31 December 2020. Customer deposits accounted for 71% of total assets and 78% of total liabilities at 31 March 2021 (compared to 77% of total assets and 85% of total liabilities at 31 December 2020).

 

The net Loans to Deposits (L/D) ratio stood at 64% as at 31 March 2021 (compared to 63% as at 31 December 2020). The L/D ratio had reached a peak of 151% as at 31 March 2014.  

 

Subordinated Loan Stock

 

At 31 March 2021 the Bank's subordinated loan stock (including accrued interest) amounted to €254 mn (compared to €272 mn at 31 December 2020) and relates to unsecured subordinated Tier 2 Capital Notes (the 'Existing Notes') of nominal value €250 mn, issued by the Bank in January 2017.

 

In April 2021, the Company issued €300 mn unsecured and subordinated Tier 2 Capital Notes (the 'New Notes'). The New Notes were priced at par with a fixed coupon of 6.625% per annum, payable annually in arrears and resettable on 23 October 2026. The maturity date for the New Notes is 23 October 2031. The Company will have the option to redeem the New Notes early on any day during the six-month period from 23 April 2026 to 23 October 2026, subject to applicable regulatory consents.

 

At the same time, the Bank invited the holders of the Existing Notes due January 2027 to tender them for purchase by the Bank at a price of 105.50%. The Bank received valid tenders of €207 mn in aggregate nominal amount, all of which were accepted by the Bank, and, as a result, a cost of c.€11 mn will be recorded in the income statement in 2Q2021, forfeiting the relevant obligation for future coupon payments. Existing Notes of €43 mn in aggregate nominal amount remain outstanding.

 



 

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

A.1. Balance Sheet Analysis (continued)

A.1.3 Funding and Liquidity (continued)

Liquidity

 

At 31 March 2021 the Group Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) stood at 284% (compared to 254% at 31 December 2020), above the minimum regulatory requirement of 100%.  

 

The liquidity surplus in LCR at 31 March 2021 amounted to €4.9 bn (compared to €4.2 bn at 31 December 2020). The increase in 1Q2021 is driven mainly by the borrowing of €1.7 bn through the ECB's TLTRO III in March 2021.

 

The Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) has not yet been introduced. It will be enforced as a regulatory ratio under CRR II in June 2021, with the limit set at 100%. At 31 March 2021, the Group's NSFR, on the basis of Basel Ι standards, stood at 140% (compared to 139% at 31 December 2020).

 

Regulatory measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 crisis on banks' liquidity position

 

Resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19, the ECB has adopted a broad set of policy measures to mitigate the economic impact of the crisis and to ensure that its directly supervised banks can continue to fulfil their role in funding the real economy. The main measures which have a direct or indirect impact on the liquidity position of banks are summarised below:  

 

· The ECB allows banks to operate below the defined level of 100% of the LCR until at least the end of 2021 .

 

· Collateral easing measures: The package included a set of collateral easing measures, which resulted in increasing the banks' borrowing capacity at the ECB operations and improving the liquidity buffers due to the lower haircuts applied to the ECB eligible collateral the bank holds, that consist of bonds and Additional Credit Claims (ACC). The collateral easing packages are designed mainly as temporary measures that will remain in place until June 2022 and will be reassessed before then. Furthermore, the ECB enlarged the scope of the ACC framework, increasing the universe of eligible loans. In addition, the ECB announced changes in collateral rules, temporarily accepting collateral with a rating below investment grade, not lower than a certain rating level.

 

· Favourable terms of LTRO operations: the package contained measures to provide liquidity support to the euro area financial system. Such measures include a series of LTROs which ran from March to June 2020 so that participants could shift their outstanding LTRO amounts to TLTRO III, as well as significant amendments in the terms and characteristics of TLTRO III, including a very low interest rate applicable to the TLTRO III funding, provided the lending performance target during the specified periods is achieved. Furthermore, a new series of longer-term refinancing operations, called Pandemic Emergency Longer-Term Refinancing Operations (PELTROs), with low rates, was introduced.

 

In December 2020, the ECB announced certain amendments in the terms of the third series of targeted longer-term refinancing operations (TLTRO III), including the extension of the period over which more favourable terms will apply by twelve months, to June 2022 and also announced that three additional TLTRO III operations will be conducted between June and December 2021. Please refer to 'Funding from Central Banks' in Section A.1.3. 'Funding and Liquidity' for further details.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

A.1. Balance Sheet Analysis (continued)

A.1.4 Loans

Group gross loans totalled €12,281 mn at 31 March 2021 , compared to €12,261 mn at 31 December 2020. Gross loans of the Group's Cyprus operations totalled €12,219 mn at 31 March 2021 accounting for 99% of Group gross loans. Pro forma for Helix 2, gross loans are reduced by €1,339 mn to €10,942 mn as at 31 March 2021.

 

New loans granted in Cyprus reached €487 mn for 1Q2021, compared to €374 mn for 4Q2020 (up by 30% qoq), and to €451 mn for 1Q2020 (up by 8% yoy). New lending in 1Q2021 comprised €233 mn of corporate loans, €159 mn of retail loans (of which €102 mn were housing loans), €63 mn of SME loans and €32 mn of shipping and international loans. 1Q2021 was the strongest quarter in new lending since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis in March 2020. The qoq increase reflects demand for new loans in 1Q2021 picking up, driven mainly by corporate (up by 34% qoq), as economic activity continues to improve. At the same time, demand for retail housing loans remain above pre-COVID levels, supported by Government schemes.

At 31 March 2021, the Group net loans and advances to customers totalled €9,960 mn (compared to €9,886 mn at 31 December 2020). In addition, at 31 March 2021 net loans and advances to customers of €472 mn were classified as held for sale in line with IFRS 5 and relate to Project Helix 2 (comprising €299 mn relating to Portfolio A and €173 mn relating to Portfolio B), compared to €493 mn as at 31 December 2020 relating to Project Helix 2 (€485 mn, comprising €310 mn relating to Portfolio A and €175 mn relating to Portfolio B) and Helix Tail (€8 mn).

 

The Bank is the single largest credit provider in Cyprus with a market share of 42.4% at 31 March 2021, compared to 41.9% at 31 December 2020.

 

A.1.5 Loan portfolio quality

Tackling the Group's loan portfolio quality remains a top priority for management. The Group has continued to make steady progress across all asset quality metrics and the loan restructuring activity has continued despite challenges brought upon by COVID-19. The Group has been successful in engineering restructuring solutions across the spectrum of its loan portfolio. The Group's near-term priorities include completing the balance sheet de-risking, whilst managing the post-pandemic NPE inflow.

 

The loan credit losses for 1Q2021 totalled €20 mn (excluding 'provisions/net loss relating to NPE sales, including restructuring expenses'), compared to €31 mn for 4Q2020 and to €64 mn for 1Q2020. Further details regarding loan credit losses are provided in Section A.2.3 'Profit/(loss) before tax and non-recurring items' below.

 

Loan moratorium

As part of the measures to support borrowers affected by COVID-19 and the wider Cypriot economy, the Cyprus Parliament voted for the suspension of loan repayments for interest and principal (loan moratorium) for the period to the end of the year 2020, for all eligible borrowers with no arrears for more than 30 days as at the end of February 2020. The payment holiday for all these loans expired on 31 December 2020.

P erforming loans as at 31 March 2021 under expired payment deferrals amounted to €5.1 bn   (compared to €5.3 bn as at 31 December 2020), of which €4.2 bn or 82% had an instalment due by 14 May 2021 with a strong performance; 95% present no arrears (of which €0.26 bn have been restructured) and 5% are in arrears.

Performing loans to private individuals as at 31 March 2021 under expired payment deferrals amounted to €1.86 bn, of which 96% had an instalment due by 14 May 2021. Of those, 91% present no arrears (of which €20 mn have been restructured) and 9% are in arrears.

Similarly, performing loans to businesses as at 31 March 2021 under expired payment deferrals amounted to €3.22 bn, of which 74% had an instalment due by 14 May 2021. Of those, 98% present no arrears (of which €0.24 bn have been restructured, mostly in the tourism sector) and 2% are in arrears.

In 1Q2021, net reclassifications of €53 mn of loans under expired payment deferrals were made from Stage 2 to Stage 1, following reclassifications of €304 mn of loans under expired payment deferrals from Stage 1 to Stage 2 as a result of management overlays and restructurings, and reclassifications of €357 mn of loans under expired payment deferrals from Stage 2 to Stage 1, mainly due to the good performance of loans to private individuals after the expiry of the payment deferrals. In addition, reclassifications of €14 mn of loans under expired payment deferrals were made mainly from Stage 2 to Stage 3 in 1Q2021.

 



 

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

A.1. Balance Sheet Analysis (continued)

A.1.5 Loan portfolio quality (continued)

Loan moratorium (continued)

The Bank will continue to monitor this portfolio closely, to ensure that potential difficulties in the repayment ability are identified at an early stage, and appropriate solutions are provided to viable customers. To that end, the Bank has enhanced its monitoring process to include transactional analysis to establish funds availability to meet upcoming instalments and performance of daily monitoring of arrears and excesses, as well as NPEs inflows and outflows.

The Bank has a strong track record in dealing with restructurings.   Targeted restructuring solutions are offered to alleviate pandemic-related short-term cash flow burden, following rigorous assessment of repayment ability. To date, most restructurings relate to tourism.

Regarding the economic effects of COVID-19, the impact of IFRS 9 Forward Looking Information (FLI), driven by the update of the macroeconomic assumptions, resulted in an €9 mn charge (29 bps) included in 1Q2021 loan credit losses of €20 mn (cost of risk of 66 bps), compared to a charge of €11 mn (37 bps) included in 4Q2020 loan credit losses of €31 mn (cost of risk of 99 bps). Overall, in FY2020, the impact of IFRS 9 FLI driven by the update of the macroeconomic assumptions resulted in a €54 mn charge (43 bps) included in the FY2020 loan credit losses of €149 mn (cost of risk of 1.18%).

 

Finally, the provision coverage of Stage 3 loans under payment deferrals that expired on 31 December 2020 of c.25% as at 31 March 2021 is considered to be adequate, as it is higher than the coverage of re-performing NPEs (NPEs in the pipeline to exit, subject to meeting all exit criteria) of 19%.  

The table below presents the loans under payment deferrals that expired on 31 December 2020, by IFRS 9 staging.

 

IFRS 9 staging for expired loan payment deferrals (€ bn)

 

 

€ bn

 

31.3.2021

 

 

31.12.2020

 

Stage 1

 

3.91

3.96

 

Stage 2

 

1.47

1.58

 

Stage 3

 

0.33

0.33

 

Total

 

5.71

5.87

 

A second scheme for the suspension of loan repayments for interest and principal (loan moratorium) was launched in January 2021 for customers impacted by the second lockdown. Payment deferrals are offered to the end of June 2021, however, the total months under loan moratorium, including the loan moratorium offered in 2020, cannot exceed a total of nine months. The application period expired on 31 January 2021 and loans of c.€20 mn were approved for the second moratorium. C lose monitoring of the credit quality of loans in moratoria continues.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the sectors most adversely affected are tourism, trade, transport, manufacturing and construction. The Group has a well - diversified performing loan portfolio. For further information on the Group's non-legacy loan book exposure to tourism and trade and the performance of these loans after the expiry of the loan moratorium, please refer to Section C. Business Overview.

For further information please refer to the presentation for the Group Financial Results for the quarter   ended 31 March 2021 (slides 7 to 10).



 

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

A.1. Balance Sheet Analysis (continued)

A.1.5 Loan portfolio quality (continued)

Non-performing exposure reduction  

Non-performing exposures (NPEs) as defined by the European Banking Authority (EBA)   were reduced by €74 mn (2%) during 1Q2021 (comprising net organic NPE reductions of €59 mn and further net NPE reductions of €15 mn relating to the NPE sales lockbox),   compared to a reduction of €152 mn or 5% in 4Q2020 (comprising organic net NPE reductions of €85 mn and further NPE reductions of €67 mn relating to the NPE sales lockbox) to €3,012 mn at 31 March 2021 (compared to €3,086 mn at 31 December 2020) . The organic NPE reduction in 1Q2021 were impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown. Pro forma for Helix 2, NPEs are reduced by a further €1.311 mn to €1,701 mn on the basis of 31 March 2021 figures.

 

The NPEs account for 25% of gross loans as at 31 March 2021, at the same level as at 31 December 2020, on the same basis, i.e. including the NPE portfolios classified as 'Non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale'. Pro forma for Helix 2 the NPE ratio is reduced to 16% on the basis of 31 March 2021 figures.

 

The NPE coverage ratio stands at 62% at 31 March 2021, at the same level as at 31 December 2020, on the same basis, i.e. including the NPE portfolios classified as 'Non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale'. When taking into account tangible collateral at fair value, NPEs are fully covered. Pro forma for Helix 2 the NPE coverage ratio is maintained at 59% on the basis of 31 March 2021 figures.

 

As of 1 January 2021, the new regulation on Definition of Default has been implemented, affecting NPE exposures and the calculation of Days-Past-Due (please refer to Section G. Definitions & Explanations for the changes in the definition). The impact of these changes on the Group on 1 January 2021 is immaterial.


31.3.2021 pro forma

31.3.2021

31.12.2020


 

€ mn

% gross loans

 

€ mn

% gross loans

 

€ mn

% gross loans

NPEs as per EBA definition

1,701

15.5%

3,012

24.5%

3,086

25.2%








Of which, in pipeline to exit:







-NPEs with forbearance measures, no arrears1

240

2.2%

300

2.4%

303

2.5%

1. The analysis is performed on a customer basis.

 

Project Helix 2

 

In August 2020, the Group signed an agreement for the sale of a portfolio of loans with gross book value of c.€898 mn (of which €886 mn related to non-performing exposures) as at 30 June 2020, known as Project Helix 2 Portfolio A. This portfolio had a contractual balance of €1.46 bn as at the reference date of 30 September 2019 and comprises loans to mainly retail and small-to-medium-sized enterprises, secured by real estate collateral. This portfolio is classified as a disposal group held for sale since 30 June 2020 and it includes other assets (comprising properties and cash already received since the reference date) amounting to c.€34 mn as at 30 June 2020.

 

The gross consideration amounts to 46% of the gross book value as at 30 June 2020 and 29% of the contractual balance, payable in cash, of which 35% is payable at completion, and the remaining 65% is deferred without any conditions attached. The deferred component is payable in three broadly equal instalments over 48 months from completion. The consideration can be increased through an earnout arrangement, depending on the performance of Portfolio A.

 

In January 2021, the Group reached agreement with the buyer of Project Helix 2 Portfolio A for the sale of an additional portfolio of loans with gross book value of €545 mn (of which €529 mn related to non-performing exposures) as at 30 September 2020, known as Project Helix 2 Portfolio B. The gross book value of €545 mn includes other assets (comprising properties and cash already received since the reference date) amounting to €26 mn as at 30 September 2020. This portfolio had a contractual balance of €783 mn as at the reference date of 30 September 2019 and comprises loans to mainly retail and small-to-medium-sized enterprises, secured by real estate collateral. This portfolio is classified as a disposal group held for sale since 31 December 2020.



 

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

A.1. Balance Sheet Analysis (continued)

A.1.5 Loan portfolio quality (continued)

Project Helix 2 (continued)

 

The gross consideration amounts to 44% of the gross book value as at 30 September 2020 and 31% of the contractual balance as at the reference date (30 September 2019), payable in cash, of which 50% is payable at completion and the remaining 50% is deferred up to December 2025 without any conditions attached. The consideration can be increased through an earnout arrangement, depending on the performance of Portfolio B.

 

The completion of Helix 2 Portfolio B will be aligned with the completion of Helix 2 Portfolio A and is currently estimated to occur early in 2H2021. The completion of Project Helix 2 remains subject to a number of conditions, including required customary regulatory and other approvals.

 

Following a transitional period where servicing will be retained by the Bank, it is intended that the servicing of both portfolios will be carried out by a third party servicer selected and appointed by the purchaser.

 

Project Helix 2 (Portfolios A and B) accelerates the Group's strategy of de-risking its balance sheet, by reducing its stock of NPEs by 44% to €1,701 mn pro forma on the basis of the 31 March 2021 figures, and its NPE ratio by 9 p.p., to 16% pro forma on the basis of the 31 March 2021 figures.

 

Project Velocity   2

 

In May 2020, the Group completed the sale of a non-performing loan portfolio of primarily retail unsecured exposures, with a contractual balance of €398 mn and gross book value of €144 mn as at the reference date of 31 August 2019 (known as Project Velocity 2) to B2Kapital Cyprus Ltd. This portfolio comprised c.10.000 borrowers, including c.8.400 private individuals and c.1.600 small-to-medium-sized enterprises. The gross book value of this portfolio as at the date of disposal was €133 mn. The sale was broadly neutral to both the profit or loss and to capital.

 

Additional strategies to accelerate de-risking

 

The Group remains committed to further de-risking its balance sheet and will continue to seek solutions to achieve this. The Group continues to work with its advisors towards the sale of portfolios of NPEs in the future, assessing the potential to accelerate the decrease in NPEs on the balance sheet through additional sales of NPEs.

 

 



 

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

A.1. Balance Sheet Analysis (continued)

A.1.6 Real Estate Management Unit (REMU)

The Real Estate Management Unit (REMU) is focused on the disposal of on-boarded properties resulting from debt for asset swaps. The Group completed disposals of €24 mn in 1Q2021 (compared to €32 mn in 4Q2020 and €14 mn in 1Q2020), resulting in a profit on disposal of €3 mn for 1Q2021 (compared to a profit on disposal of €3 mn for 4Q2020). Asset disposals are across all property classes, with 36% of sales by value relating to land.

 

During the quarter ended 31 March 2021, the Group executed sale-purchase agreements (SPAs) for disposals with contract value of €28 mn (164 properties), compared to €35 mn (172 properties) for 4Q2020. In addition, the Group had signed SPAs for disposals of assets with contract value of €49 mn as at 31 March 2021, compared to €53 mn as at 31 December 2020 .

 

REMU on-boarded €11 mn of assets in 1Q2021 (broadly flat yoy and down by 84% qoq), via the execution of debt for asset swaps and repossessed properties.

 

Details with respect to the prudential charge relating to the onsite inspection findings are provided in Section A.1.1 'Capital Base'.

 

Project Helix 2

 

Stock of property with a carrying value of €64 mn as at 31 March 2021 (compared to €59 mn as at 31 December 2020) is included in the Helix 2 portfolio, comprising stock of property with carrying value of €35 mn relating to Helix 2 Portfolio A and €28 mn of stock of property and €1 mn of investment property relating to Helix 2 Portfolio B, and is classified as non-current assets   and disposal groups held for sale.

 

Assets held by REMU

 

As at 31 March 2021, assets held by REMU had a carrying value of €1,433 mn (comprising properties of €1,328 mn classified as 'Stock of property' and €105 mn as 'Investment properties'), compared to €1,457 mn as at 31 December 2020 (comprising properties of €1,350 mn classified as 'Stock of property' and €107 mn as 'Investment properties').

 

In addition to assets held by REMU, properties classified as 'Investment properties' with carrying value of €21 mn as at 31 March 2021 (at the same levels as at 31 December 2020), relate to legacy properties held by the Bank before the set-up of REMU   in January 2016.

 

 

 

Assets held by REMU (Group)

€ mn


1Q2021

1Q2020

4Q2020

(1q vs 4q) +%

yoy +%

Opening balance


1,457

1,490

1,467

-1%

-2%

On-boarded assets (including construction cost)


11

12

72

-84%

-

Sales


(24)

(14)

(32)

-25%

75%

Net impairment loss


(6)

(4)

(2)

-

51%

Transfer to non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale


(5)

-

(48)

-90%

-

Closing balance


1,433

1,484

1,457

-2%

-3%

 

 



 

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

A.1. Balance Sheet Analysis (continued)

A.1.6 Real Estate Management Unit (REMU) (continued)

Analysis by type and country

Cyprus

Greece

Romania

Total

31 March 2021 (€ mn)





Residential properties

152

23

0

175

Offices and other commercial properties

237

26

5

268

Manufacturing and industrial properties

70

27

0

97

Hotels

24

1

-

25

Land (fields and plots)

598

6

2

606

Golf courses and golf-related property

262

-

-

262

Total

1,343

83

7

1,433

 

 


Cyprus

Greece

Romania

Total

31 December 2020 (€ mn)





Residential properties

158

24

0

182

Offices and other commercial properties

240

26

5

271

Manufacturing and industrial properties

74

29

0

103

Hotels

24

1

-

25

Land (fields and plots)

606

6

2

614

Golf courses and golf-related property

262

-

-

262

Total

1,364

86

7

1,457

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

A.2. Income Statement Analysis

A.2.1 Total income

€ mn

1Q2021

1Q2020

4Q2020

(1q vs 4q) +%

yoy +%

Net interest income

76

85

80

-5%

-10%

Net fee and commission income

39

38

38

1%

1%

Net foreign exchange gains and net losses on financial instrument transactions and disposal/dissolution of subsidiaries and associates

2

6

1

-

-55%

Insurance income net of claims and commissions

13

11

14

-9%

15%

Net gains/(losses) from revaluation and disposal of investment properties and on disposal of stock of properties

2

1

5

-46%

-

Other income

4

4

4

-5%

-19%

Non interest income

60

60

62

-2%

-0%

Total income

136

145

142

-3%

-6%

Net Interest Margin (annualised)1

1.63%

1.95%

1.75%

-12 bps

-32 bps

Average interest earning assets
(€ mn)1

18,978

17,539

18,215

4%

8%

 

1. Including the NPE portfolios classified as "Non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale".

p.p. = percentage points, bps = basis points, 100 basis points (bps) = 1 percentage point

 

 

Net interest income (NII) for 1Q2021 amounted to €76 mn, down by 5% qoq mainly due to higher interest collections in 4Q2020 of c. 2.5 mn not previously recognised and continuing pressure from the low interest rate environment. Net interest income (NII) for 1Q2021 was down by 10% yoy due to higher interest collections in 1Q2020 of €4 mn not previously recognised, continuing pressure from the low interest rate environment and the impact of the NPE sale (Project Helix 2). Net interest margin (NIM) for 1Q2021 amounted to 1.63% (compared to 1.75% in 4Q2020) negatively impacted mainly by the increase in liquid assets following the increase in the borrowing under TLTRO III by €1.7 bn in March 2021.

 

Quarterly average interest earning assets for 1Q2021 amounted to €18,978 mn, up by 4% qoq and 8% yoy, following the increase in liquid assets resulting from the participation in TLTRO III in June 2020 and March 2021, partly offset by the reduction in net loans.

 

Non-interest income for 1Q2021 amounted to €60 mn (compared to €62 mn for 4Q2020, down by 2% qoq and at the same levels yoy), comprising net fee and commission income of €39 mn, net foreign exchange gains and net losses on financial instrument transactions and disposal/dissolution of subsidiaries and associates of €2 mn, net insurance income of €13 mn, net gains/(losses) from revaluation and disposal of investment properties and on disposal of stock of properties of €2 mn and other income of €4 mn. The qoq decrease is mainly due to higher net revaluation gains relating to specific properties in Greece in 4Q2020.

 

Net fee and commission income for 1Q2021   amounted to €39 mn, compared to €38 mn for 4Q2020 (and 1Q2020), mainly due to the extension of liquidity fees to a broader pool of customers and the introduction of a revised price list in February 2021, partially offset by lower transactional fees impacted by the lockdown in 1Q2021.

 

Net foreign exchange gains and net losses on financial instrument transactions and disposal/dissolution of subsidiaries and associates of €2 mn for 1Q2021 (comprising net foreign exchange gains of c.€3.5 mn and net revaluation losses on financial instrument transactions of €1 mn) compared to €1 mn for 4Q2020 and decreased by 55% yoy. The increase qoq is mainly driven by the higher net foreign exchange gains in 1Q2021 compared to 4Q2020. The decrease yoy is mainly driven by the lower net foreign exchange gains in 1Q2021, impacted by the lockdown.

 

Net insurance income of €13 mn for 1Q2021 (compared to €14 mn for 4Q2020), down by 9% qoq , mainly driven by seasonally lower premiums, partially offset by lower claims.

 

Net gains from revaluation and disposal of investment properties and on disposal of stock of properties for 1Q2021 amounted to €2 mn (comprising a profit on disposal of stock of properties of €3 mn and net losses from revaluation of investment properties of €1 mn) , compared to €5 mn in 4Q2020. The decrease qoq is mainly due to higher net revaluation gains relating to specific properties in Greece in 4Q2020 . REMU profit remains volatile.

 

Total income for 1Q2021 amounted to €136 mn, compared to €142 mn for 4Q2020 (down by 3% qoq ) and to €145 mn for 1Q2020 (down by 6% yoy ).

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

A.2. Income Statement Analysis (continued)

A.2.2 Total expenses

€ mn

1Q2021

1Q2020

4Q2020

(1q vs 4q) +%

yoy +%

Staff costs

(50)

(49)

(50)

1%

2%

Other operating expenses

(32)

(35)

(41)

-21%

-6%

Total operating expenses

(82)

(84)

(91)

-9%

-1%

Special levy and contributions to Single Resolution Fund (SRF) and Deposit Guarantee Fund (DGF)

(9)

(9)

(6)

48%

-1%

Total expenses

(91)

(93)

(97)

-5%

-1%

Cost to income ratio1

67%

64%

69%

-2 p.p.

+3 p.p.

Cost to income ratio excluding special levy and contributions to SRF and DGF1

60%

58%

64%

-4 p.p.

+2 p.p.

 

1. Including the NPE portfolios classified as "Non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale".

p.p. = percentage points, bps = basis points, 100 basis points (bps) = 1 percentage point

 

 

Total expenses for 1Q2021 were €91 mn (compared to €97 mn for 4Q2020 and €93 mn for 1Q2020, down by 5% qoq and down by 1% yoy), 55% of which related to staff costs (€50 mn), 35% to other operating expenses (€32 mn) and 10% (€9 mn) to special levy and contributions to Single Resolution Fund (SRF) and Deposit Guarantee Fund (DGF). The yoy decrease is driven by lower other operating expenses, reflecting the on-going efforts for cost containment. The qoq decrease is driven by lower other operating expenses, due to seasonality. More information on these is provided further below.

 

Total operating expenses for 1Q2021 were €82 mn, compared to €91 mn for 4Q2020 (down by 9% qoq) and to €84 mn for 1Q2020 (down by 1% yoy).

 

Staff costs of €50 mn for 1Q2021 broadly flat qoq and yoy. The Group employed 3,557 persons as at 31 March 2021 (compared to 3,573 as at 31 December 2020).

 

In December 2020, the Group completed a targeted voluntary staff exit plan (VEP) with a total cost of €6 mn, recorded in the consolidated income statement in 4Q2020 (as a non-recurring item in the underlying basis). The gross annual savings are estimated at c.€2 mn or c.1% of staff costs. The renewal of the collective agreement for 2021 remains under discussion.

 

Other operating expenses for 1Q2021 were €32 mn, compared to €41 mn for 4Q2020 (down by 21% qoq), mainly due to seasonally lower marketing, consultancy and professional fees, and compared to €35 mn for 1Q2020 (down by 6% yoy) .

 

Special levy and contributions to Single Resolution Fund (SRF) and Deposit Guarantee Fund (DGF) for 1Q2021 were €9 mn, compared to €6 mn in 4Q2020 (up by 48% qoq) and €9 mn in 1Q2020 (broadly flat yoy). The increase of €3 mn qoq is driven by the contribution of the Bank to the Deposit Guarantee Fund (DGF) which relates to 1H2021 and is recorded in 1Q2021, in line with IFRSs.

 

As from 1 January 2020 and until 3 July 2024 the Bank is subject to contribution to the Deposit Guarantee Fund (DGF) on a semi-annual basis. The contributions are calculated based on the Risk Based Methodology (RBM) as approved by the management committee of the Deposit Guarantee and Resolution of Credit and Other Institutions Schemes (DGS) and is publicly available on the CBC's website. In line with the RBM, the contributions are broadly calculated on the covered deposits of all authorised institutions and the target level is to reach at 0.8% of these deposits by 3 July 2024.

 

The cost to income ratio excluding special levy and contributions to Single Resolution Fund (SRF) and Deposit Guarantee Fund (DGF) for 1Q2021 was 60%, compared to 64% for 4Q2020 and 58% for 1Q2020. The improvement of 4 p.p. qoq is driven by the reduction in total operating expenses. Pro forma for Helix 2, the cost to income ratio excluding special levy and contributions to Single Resolution Fund (SRF) and Deposit Guarantee Fund (DGF) for 1Q2021 was 64%. The cost to income ratio excluding special levy and contributions to Single Resolution Fund (SRF) and Deposit Guarantee Fund (DGF) is expected to rise in the near term as revenues remain under pressure and operating expenses increase due to higher IT/digitisation investment costs, whilst it is expected to decrease to mid-50% in the medium term.

 

 



 

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

A.2. Income Statement Analysis (continued)

A.2.3 Profit/(loss) before tax and non-recurring items

€ mn

1Q2021

1Q2020

4Q2020

(1q vs 4q) +%

yoy +%

Operating profit

45

52

45

1%

-15%

Loan credit losses

(20)

(64)

(31)

-35%

-68%

Impairments of other financial and non-financial assets

(5)

(4)

(6)

-15%

19%

Provisions for litigation, claims, regulatory and other matters

(1)

(2)

(3)

-71%

-60%

Total loan credit losses, impairments and provisions

(26)

(70)

(40)

-34%

-63%

Profit/(loss) before tax and non-recurring items

19

(18)

5

-

-

Cost of risk1

0.66%

2.00%

0.99%

-33 bps

-134 bps

 

1. Including the NPE portfolios classified as "Non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale".

p.p. = percentage points, bps = basis points, 100 basis points (bps) = 1 percentage point

 

 

Operating profit for 1Q2021 was €45 mn, broadly flat qoq and compared to €52 mn for 1Q2020, down by 15% yoy. 

 

The loan credit losses for 1Q2021 totalled €20 mn, compared to €31 mn in 4Q2020 and €64 mn in 1Q2020. Regarding the economic effects of COVID-19, the impact of IFRS 9 Forward Looking Information (FLI), driven by the update of the macroeconomic assumptions, resulted in an €9 mn charge (29 bps) included in 1Q2021 loan credit losses, compared to a charge of €11 mn (37 bps) included in 4Q2020 loan credit losses. Further details on the loan moratorium are provided in Section A.1.5 'Loan portfolio quality'.

 

The annualised loan credit losses charge (cost of risk) for 1Q2021 accounted for 0.66% of gross loans, of which 29 bps reflect the update of the macroeconomic assumptions in 1Q2021 (compared to a loan credit losses charge of 0.99% for 4Q2020, of which 37 bps reflect the update of the macroeconomic assumptions in 4Q2020).

 

At 31 March 2021, the allowance for expected loan credit losses, including residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition and credit losses on off-balance sheet exposures totalled €1,869 mn (compared to €1,902 mn at 31 December 2020) and accounted for 15.2% of gross loans including portfolios held for sale (compared to 15.5% at 31 December 2020).  The decrease in the allowance for expected loan credit losses in 1Q2021 amounted to €33 mn (compared to a decrease of €31 mn in 4Q2020).

 

Impairments of other financial and non-financial assets for 1Q2021 amounted to €5 mn, compared to €6 mn for 4Q2020 (down by 15% qoq) and €4 mn for 1Q2020 (up by 19% yoy).

 

Provisions for litigation, claims, regulatory and other matters for 1Q2021 totalled €1 mn, compared to €3 mn for 4Q2020 and €2 mn for 1Q2020.

 

 

 

 



 

A. Group Financial Results - Underlying Basis (continued)

A.2. Income Statement Analysis (continued)

A.2. 4 Profit/(loss) after tax (attributable to the owners of the Company)

€ mn

1Q2021

1Q2020

4Q2020

(1q vs 4q) +%

yoy +%

Profit/(loss) before tax and non-recurring items

19

(18)

5

-

-

Tax

(2)

(2)

(1)

18%

9%

Loss/(profit) attributable to non-controlling interests

0

(0)

(1)

-

-

Profit/(loss) after tax and before non-recurring items (attributable to the owners of the Company)

17

(20)

3

-

-

Advisory and other restructuring costs - organic

(3)

(3)

(1)

-

-14%

Profit/(loss) after tax - organic (attributable to the owners of the Company)

14

(23)

2

-

-

Provisions/net loss relating to NPE sales, including restructuring expenses1

(6)

(3)

(42)

-86%

99%

Restructuring costs - Voluntary Staff Exit Plan (VEP)

-

-

(6)

-

-

(DTC levy)/reversal of impairment of DTA and impairment of other tax receivables

-

-

(3)

-

-

Profit/(loss) after tax (attributable to the owners of the Company)

8

(26)

(49)

-

-

 

1. 'Provisions/net (loss)/profit relating to NPE sales, including restructuring expenses' refer to the net loss on transactions completed during each year/period, net loan credit losses on transactions under consideration, as well as the restructuring costs relating to these trades. For further details please see below. p.p. = percentage points, bps = basis points, 100 basis points (bps) = 1 percentage point

 

 

The tax charge for 1Q2021 is €2 mn, compared to €1 mn for 4Q2020 and €2 mn for 1Q2020.

 

Profit after tax and before non-recurring items (attributable to the owners of the Company) for 1Q2021 was €17 mn, compared to €3 mn for 4Q2020 and to a loss of €20 mn for 1Q2020.

 

Advisory and other restructuring costs - organic for 1Q2021 amounted to €3 mn, compared to €1 mn for 4Q2020 and to €3 mn for 1Q2020.

 

Profit after tax arising from the organic operations (attributable to the owners of the Company) for 1Q2021 amounted to €14 mn, compared to €2 mn for 4Q2020 and to a loss of €23 mn for 1Q2020.

 

Provisions/net loss relating to NPE sales, including restructuring expenses for 1Q2021 was €6 mn (compared to €42 mn for 4Q2020 and €3 mn for 1Q2020), of which restructuring costs relating to NPE sales amounted to €4 mn for 1Q2021 (compared to c.€1.5 for 4Q2020 and €3 mn for 1Q2020).

 

Restructuring costs relating to the Voluntary Staff Exit Plan (VEP) amounted to €6 mn for 4Q2020. For further details please refer to Section A.2.2 'Total expenses'.

 

The DTC levy   was €3 mn for 4Q2020 and relates to a levy in the form of a guarantee fee relating to the revised Income Tax legislation. For further information please refer to 'Legislative amendments for the conversion of DTA to DTC' within Section A.1.1. 'Capital base'.

 

Profit after tax attributable to the owners of the Company for 1Q2021 was €8 mn (compared to a loss of €49 mn for 4Q2020 and a loss of €26 mn for 1Q2020), representing a Return on Tangible Equity (ROTE) of 2.0%.

 

 



 

B. Operating Environment

Real GDP contracted by 1.6% in the first quarter of 2021, year-on-year, seasonally adjusted, following a drop of 5.1% overall in 2020 as a whole. The contraction in the first quarter, according to the Cyprus Statistical Service, was driven mainly by contractions in tourist activity, manufacturing, retail trade and other tourist related services that were more affected by the continuation of lockdown measures.

The outlook for the year remains uncertain as it is still largely unknown how the recovery in the tourist sector will unfold. There is positive news in terms of improvements in the epidemiological condition in Cyprus and its main markets, particularly the United Kingdom. The vaccination programme in Cyprus has picked up. As at 21 May 2021, 48% of the adult population in Cyprus have been vaccinated with the first dose, on track with the target of reaching 65% by the end of June (Ministry of Health). Also, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Cyprus ranks 4th in the EU in COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100 people.

 

The European Commission (EC), in its spring forecast (May 2021), predicts EU real GDP to expand by 4.2% in 2021, up from its previous forecast of a 3.7% growth in the year. For Cyprus, the EC predicts a growth of 3.1% in 2021 and 3.8% in 2022 compared with 3.0% and 3.2% respectively in the winter forecasts. The revised forecasts of the EC are in line with the revised forecasts of the IMF from a month earlier. According to the IMF, Cyprus' GDP will increase by 3.0% in 2021 and 3.9% in 2022. The Cypriot Ministry of Finance predicts growth of 3.6% and 3.8% respectively as published in the Stability Programme Update 2021-2024.

 

Early indicators into 2021 are in line with expectations: a declining economy in the first quarter with a brisk upsurge in the second quarter and beyond, depending on the recovery of the tourist sector. Tourist arrivals dropped by 92.8% in the first quarter of the year and receipts dropped by 91.3% in the first two months. The first quarter, however, is seasonally low with less than 10% of yearly arrivals in a normal year and thus not deterministic for the yearly outcome. Elsewhere in production activity, indicators of construction and industrial activity dropped in the first two months.

 

On the demand side, the volume of retail sales excluding vehicles dropped 4.9% in the first two months. Total vehicle registrations continued to decline down by 2.8% in the first quarter, but surged in April 2021. In housing, sales surged by 27.6% in the first quarter in the residents' segment. Sales to non-residents declined by 30.6% in the first quarter and surged in April 2021 also. A similar pattern was observed in economic sentiment, a sharp decline by 25% in the first quarter of the year, followed by a 20% rise in April alone, from a year earlier.

 

Consumer prices continued to decline in the first quarter of the year down by 1.4% on average. Consumer prices spiked by 1.6% in April alone driven by higher energy prices that were reflected in higher prices in housing and transport goods and services. 

 

The contraction by 5.1% in Cyprus' GDP in 2020 was less than initially anticipated and compares favourable both against the Euro Area average of a 6.6% drop in the year; and against all southern economies, all contracting between 8% and 11%. This relative outperformance had two main sources: the substantial fiscal expansion undertaken to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and the structure of the supply side of the economy. On the latter, Cyprus features a larger share of its gross value-added consisting of growth sectors not affected by the pandemic, and a much smaller share of the manufacturing sector, which was more steeply affected, in comparison with its southern peers.

 

In 2020, the Government injected significant fiscal support in the economy. According to the Stability Programme Update for 2021-2024, released in late April 2021 by the Ministry of Finance, support measures with a fiscal impact amounted to €766 mn or 3.6% of GDP.

 

These measures included support for the health sector; income support for households; wage subsidies for businesses to retain workers; support for the tourism sector specifically; and grants to small firms and the self-employed. There were also measures aiding liquidity in the market including a two-month deferral of value-added tax (VAT) payments for small businesses; a temporary VAT cut for the tourism and hospitality sector; a three-month suspension of a planned increase in the contribution to the national healthcare system; and a debt moratorium for interest and principal repayments on loans for individuals and firms that has been extended into 2021 (payment deferrals are offered to the end of June 2021, however, the total months under loan moratorium, including the loan moratorium offered in 2020, cannot exceed a total of nine months). The authorities also approved additional state financing and loan guarantees. In 2021, a range of support measures continue to apply. Their fiscal impact according to the Stability Programme Update will be 3.4% of GDP or €750 mn.

 

The budget turned into a deficit of €1.2 bn or 5.7% of GDP in 2020, from a surplus of €0.3 bn or 1.5% of GDP in 2019. Total expenditures increased by 9.8%, whilst revenues declined by 7.1%. The budget position was aided by a decline in debt interest payments despite an increase in debt levels, as a result of the ECB's ultra-accommodative monetary policy. The budget deficit is expected to narrow in 2021 as the economy recovers, but will remain sizeable as the government continues its support measures for the pandemic.

 

 

 



 

B. Operating Environment (continued)

The debt to GDP ratio reached 118.2% at the end of 2020 from 94% the year before, exhibiting an increase of about 24 percentage points of GDP. According to the latest projections from the Ministry of Finance, the debt to GDP ratio is expected to follow a downward trend and fall to 92.9% by the end of 2024, on the assumption that debt servicing costs will remain low.

 

The ECB's monetary policy is expected to remain highly accommodative at least until the end of 2023. Policy rates are at their effective lower bounds and monetary policy relies on quantitative easing.

 

Real economic activity in the medium term is expected to be supported by the recovery in tourism and to be aided by higher investment activity linked with Next Generation EU grants. The main risk concerns the epidemiological outlook. Cyprus is set to receive €1.2 bn or 5% of its GDP in 2021-2026. The effectiveness of the funds will depend on the implementation of structural reforms, mainly to improve the efficiency of the judiciary and of the public and local administration. Effectiveness will also be determined by the effectiveness of the productive investments and activities that will be taking place.

 

In the banking sector, total non-performing exposures at the end of December 2020 were €5.1 bn or 17.7% of gross loans compared with 28% at the end of 2019. The non-performing exposures ratio in the non-financial companies' segment was 14.6% at the end of December 2020 and that for households stood at 24.8%. The coverage ratio was 49.8% at the end of December.

 

Sovereign ratings

 

The sovereign risk ratings of the Cyprus Government improved considerably in recent years reflecting improvements in economic resilience and consistent fiscal outperformance. Cyprus demonstrated policy commitment to correcting fiscal imbalances through reform and restructuring of its banking system.

 

S&P Global Ratings maintains an investment grade rating of BBB- with a stable outlook since September 2018. The rating and the outlook were affirmed in March and September 2020, and in March 2021. In March 2021, S&P Global Ratings affirmed its rating and outlook, balancing the risks from the pandemic's protracted adverse impact on growth, fiscal, and banking sector performance against benefits of the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) transfers, as well as further improvement in the government's debt profile.

 

Fitch Ratings maintains a Long-Term Issuer Default rating of investment grade at BBB- since November 2018, affirmed in April and October 2020, and in March 2021. Its outlook was upgraded to positive in October 2019 and revised to stable in April 2020, reflecting the significant impact the global COVID-19 pandemic might have on the Cyprus economy and fiscal position. The stable outlook was affirmed in March 2021.

 

Moody's Investors Service maintains a long-term credit rating of Ba2 since July 2018 and a positive outlook since September 2019. In January 2021, Moody's issued a revised credit opinion on the Cyprus Sovereign, maintaining the positive rating outlook. This was driven by the substantial reduction of non-performing exposures and a favourable outlook on public debt reduction expected to resume after the COVID-19 crisis. The large increase in debt related to the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to be transitory in part because of Cyprus' large fiscal surplus going into the pandemic.

 

In May 2021, DBRS Ratings confirmed Cyprus' Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Ratings at BBB (low) with a stable trend reflecting a balanced view on the risks despite the deterioration in public finances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the ratings firm, Cyprus' ratings are supported by a prudent public debt management framework, a good track record in fiscal deficit reduction, Eurozone membership fostering sustainable macroeconomic policies, and openness to investment encouraging a favourable business environment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

C. Business Overview

Credit ratings

The Group's financial performance is highly correlated to the economic and operating conditions in Cyprus. In January 2021, Fitch Ratings affirmed their long-term issuer default rating of B- (negative outlook). In April 2020, Fitch Ratings revised their outlook to negative, reflecting the significant impact the outbreak of COVID-19 might have on the Cypriot economy and consequently on the Bank. In November 2020, Moody's Investors Service affirmed the Bank's long-term deposit rating of B3 (positive outlook). In July 2020, Standard and Poor's affirmed their long-term issuer credit rating on the Bank of 'B+' (stable outlook).

COVID-19 impact

The Group continues to closely monitor developments in, and the effects of COVID-19 on both the global and Cypriot economy. The first quarter of the year continued to be characterised by on-going pandemic-related disruption. Despite the significant progress made both within Cyprus and globally with the vaccine roll-out programme, the day-to-day operating environment continues to be challenging, and the first quarter saw restrictions remaining in place. As such, the Group's priority during the period has continued to be focused on providing support to customers, colleagues and community.

The Group continued to support the country's economy return to growth, that temporarily slowed in the first quarter as result of the restrictive measures. The Group's lending performance in the first quarter, allied to the recent relaxation of restrictions and the progress of the vaccination programmes both in Cyprus and abroad support the confidence in the economic recovery gathering pace.

 

Statistics are encouraging as Cyprus ranks 4th in the EU in COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100 people (ECDC). As at 21 May 2021, 48% of the adult population in Cyprus have been vaccinated with the first dose, on track with the target of reaching 65% by the end of June 2021 (Ministry of Health).

Upon the outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020, the Pandemic Incident Management Plan of the Group was invoked and a dedicated team (Pandemic Incident Management Team) has been monitoring the situation domestically and globally and providing guidance on health and safety measures, travel advice and business continuity for the Group. Local government guidelines are being followed in response to the virus.

In accordance with the Pandemic Plan, the Group adopted a set of measures to ensure minimum disruption to its operations. The Pandemic Incident Management Team and the Crisis Management Committee continue to closely monitor the dynamic COVID-19 pandemic developments and status. The measures comprise rules for quarantine for vulnerable employees due to health conditions and for those returning from epicentres of the infection. The Group replaced face-to-face meetings with telecommunications, adjusting the customary etiquette of personal contact, including those with customers. Staff of critical functions have been split into separate locations. In addition, to ensure continuity of business, a number of employees have been working from home and the remote access capability has been upgraded significantly, whilst at the same time maintaining relevant control procedures to ensure authorisation in line with the Group's governance structure. Additionally, the Group follows strict rules of hygiene, increased intensity of cleaning and disinfection of spaces, and other measures to protect the health and safety of staff and customers.

Following the recent relaxation of restrictive measures by the Government, in combination with the positive development and present recession of the pandemic in the community, along with the national vaccination programme which is in progress, the Group initiated a Back To Normal (BTN) plan for a smooth transition to normal operations status ensuring at all times the business continuity resilience of the Bank. The BTN plan is deployed in different phases and closely monitored by the Pandemic Incident Management Team, aiming to gradually reduce the number of employees working from home and subsequently proceed with the remaining Pandemic Business Continuity arrangements, depending on the pandemic status in the organisation and community.

The potential economic implications for the sectors in which the Group is active have been assessed and possible mitigating actions for supporting the economy have been identified, such as supporting viable affected businesses and households with new lending to cover liquidity, working capital, capital expenditure and investments related to the activity of the borrower.

The package of policy measures announced by the ECB and the European Commission, as well as the unprecedented fiscal and other measures of the Cyprus Government, have helped and should continue to help reduce the negative impact and support the recovery of the Cypriot economy.

As part of the measures to support borrowers affected by COVID-19 and the wider Cypriot economy, the Cyprus Parliament voted for the suspension of loan repayments for interest and principal (loan moratorium) for the period to the end of the year 2020, for all eligible borrowers with no arrears for more than 30 days as at the end of February 2020. The payment holiday for all these loans expired on 31 December 2020. P erforming loans as at 31 March 2021 under expired payment deferrals amounted to €5.1 bn   (compared to €5.3 bn as at 31 December 2020), of which €4.2 bn or 82% had an instalment due by 14 May 2021 with a strong performance; 95% present no arrears (of which €0.26 bn have been restructured) and 5% are in arrears.

C. Business Overview (continued)

COVID-19 impact (continued)

Further details are provided in Section A.1.5 'Loan portfolio quality'. Close monitoring of the credit quality of these loans continues and customers with early arrears are offered solutions. The Bank has a strong track record in dealing with restructurings. Targeted restructuring solutions are offered to alleviate pandemic-related short-term cash flow burden, following rigorous assessment of repayment ability.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the sectors most adversely affected are tourism being the sector with the highest impact, and trade, transport, manufacturing and construction with medium impact. The Group has a well - diversified performing loan portfolio.

As at 31 March 2021, the Group's non-legacy loan book exposure to tourism was limited to €1.15 bn (out of a total non-legacy loan book of €9.3 bn), of which c.€1.0 bn of performing loans as at 31 March 2021 were under expired payment deferrals. 60% of those had an instalment due by 14 May 2021 and of those, 99% present no arrears (of which c.€190 mn have been restructured) and 1% present arrears.

A recovery in tourism activity is expected from 2H2021 and the reduction in international tourist arrivals in 2021 compared to 2019 is expected to be partly offset by domestic tourism. It is important to note, that the majority of 'accommodation' customers entered the crisis with significant liquidity, following strong performance in recent years and that 98% of the tourism portfolio is secured by property. Close monitoring of developments continues.

Respectively, as at 31 March 2021 the Group's non-legacy loan book exposure to trade was €0.9 bn, of which €0.33 bn of performing loans as at 31 March 2021 were under expired payment deferrals. 90% of those had an instalment due by 14 May 2021 and of those, 96% present no arrears (of which €6 mn have been restructured) and 4% present arrears. It is important to note that c.30% of the exposure to trade relates to lower-risk essential retail services, not materially impacted by COVID-19.

Strategic priorities for the medium term

The Bank's medium-term strategic priorities remain clear, with a sustained focus on strengthening its balance sheet, and improving asset quality and efficiency, whilst maintaining a good capital position, in order to continue to play a vital role in supporting the recovery of the Cypriot economy. The Group continues to explore opportunities to grow revenues in a more capital efficient way and to improve efficiency through its digital transformation programme in order to provide products and services while reducing operating costs. In addition, the Bank is looking to enhance its organisational resilience and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) agenda by building a forward-looking organisation with a clear strategy supported by effective corporate governance aligned with ESG agenda priorities.

Completing balance sheet de-risking

 

Tackling the Bank's loan portfolio quality is of utmost importance for the Group. Despite the challenging market conditions resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19, the Group signed an agreement for the sale of a portfolio of loans with gross book value of c.€898 mn (of which €886 mn related to non-performing exposures) as at 30 June 2020, known as Project Helix 2 Portfolio A and also, in January 2021, the Group amended and restated the agreement to incorporate the sale of an additional portfolio of loans with gross book value of c.€545 mn (of which €529 mn related to non-performing exposures) as at 30 September 2020, known as Project Helix 2 Portfolio B. 

 

Project Helix 2 represents a further milestone in the delivery of one of the Group's strategic priorities of improving asset quality through the reduction of NPEs. Project Helix 2 (Portfolios A and B) reduces the NPE ratio by 9 p.p. to 16% pro forma and on the basis of 31 March 2021 figures. Overall, since the peak in 2014, the stock of NPEs has been reduced by €13.3 bn or 89% and the NPE ratio by 47 percentage points, from 63% to 16%, on the same basis.

 

Project Helix 2 marks further progress against delivering on the Group's strategic objectives of becoming a stronger, safer and more efficient institution. The Group is now better positioned to manage the challenges resulting from the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, and to support the recovery of the Cypriot economy.

 

The Group remains committed to further de-risking its balance sheet and will continue to seek solutions to achieve this. The Group continues to work with its advisors towards the sale of portfolios of NPEs in the future, assessing the potential to accelerate the decrease in NPEs on the balance sheet through additional sales of NPEs. At the same time, following the outbreak of COVID-19 and the expiration of the 2020 loan moratorium at the end of year 2020, the Group remains focused on arresting any potential asset quality deterioration and early managing arrears.

 

 



 

C. Business Overview (continued)

Strategic priorities for the medium term (continued)

Completing balance sheet de-risking (continued)

 

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, all foreclosures were suspended between March - August 2020, and then between January - March 2021 but only for specific categories including primary residences with open market value up to €350 thousand. In early May 2021, further legislation was enacted by the Cyprus Parliament by which foreclosures are suspended until the end of July 2021, for primary residences with open market value up to €500 thousand, premises of very small businesses (with annual turnover up to €2 mn and less than 10 employees), and agricultural fields with open market value up to €250k.

Growing revenues in a more capital efficient way

 

The accelerated de-risking of the balance sheet increases pressure on revenues in the near term. There are multiple initiatives underway to increase net interest income and less capital-intensive non-interest income, with a focus on fees, insurance and non-banking business.

The Group continues to provide high quality new loans via prudent underwriting standards. Growth in new lending in Cyprus has been focused on selected industries more in line with the Bank's target risk profile, and following the outbreak of COVID-19, the focus remains to support the Cypriot economy in order to overcome the crisis. During the quarter ended 31 March 2021, new lending amounted to €487 mn, increased by 30% qoq, as demand for new loans is picking up, driven m ainly by corporate (up by 34% qoq), as economic activity continues to improve. At the same time, the demand for retail housing loans remains above pre-COVID levels, supported by the Government interest rate subsidy scheme. The pipeline for new housing loans remains strong at over €100 mn as at mid-May 2021, whilst new housing loans of €117 mn have been approved by the Bank since the beginning of the scheme.

Aiming at supporting investments by SMEs and mid-caps to boost the Cypriot economy, and create new jobs for young people, the Bank continues to provide joint financed schemes. To this end, the Bank continues its partnership with the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Investment Fund (EIF) and the Cyprus Government.

In common with other European banks, the prolonged low interest rate environment also continues to present a challenge to the Group's profitability. There are efforts underway to improve credit spreads, despite competition pressures. Over the medium-term, the Group aims to grow its performing book by c.10%, as well as to grow shipping and international corporate lending with prudency.

At the same time, in order to further optimise its funding structure, the Bank continues to focus on the shape and cost of deposit franchise, taking advantage of the increased customer confidence towards the Bank. The cost of deposits has been reduced by 72 bps to 4 bps over the last 39 months. Moreover, liquidity fees for specific customer groups were introduced in March 2020. The introduction of liquidity fees to a broader group of corporate clients, that was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was implemented as of 1 February 2021. Separately, a new price list for charges and fees was also implemented as of 1 February 2021, with the positive impact from both initiatives to be estimated at c.€13 mn per annum. Transactional fee volumes are expected to recover to pre-COVID-19 levels, as the Cypriot economy recovers.

In the medium-term, the Group aims to increase the average product holding through cross selling to the under-penetrated customer base, as well as to introduce the Digital Economy Platform to generate new revenue sources, through leveraging the Bank's market position, knowledge and digital infrastructure.

Management is placing emphasis on diversifying income streams by optimising fee income from international transaction services, wealth management and insurance. The Group's insurance companies, EuroLife Ltd and General Insurance of Cyprus Ltd (GIC) operating in the sectors of life and general insurance respectively, are leading players in the insurance business in Cyprus, and have been providing a stable, recurring fee income, further diversifying the Group's income streams. The insurance income net of claims and commissions for 1Q2021 amounted to €13 mn (up 15% yoy), contributing to 22% of non-interest income. Furthermore, there are initiatives underway to enhance revenues from the insurance business in the medium-term, in order to deliver sustainable profitability and shareholder returns. Specifically, EuroLife Ltd is aiming to improve total regular income mainly by extending its customer base and using a new distribution philosophy; whereas GIC is aiming to increase its gross written premiums mainly by leveraging on the Bank's customer base through revamping its bancassurance channel, and by focusing on high margin products. Efficiencies through enhancing digital capabilities are also expected in the medium-term.

In March 2021, the Bank participated in TLTRO III by borrowing an additional amount of €1.7 bn, increasing its participation to €2.7 bn, despite its comfortable liquidity position, given the favourable borrowing rate, in combination with the relaxation of collateral terms. Based on current ECB rates, the Bank estimates the NII benefit from its TLTRO III borrowing for the period from June 2020 to June 2021 at c.€7 mn. The potential NII benefit for the period from June 2021 to June 2022 amounts to c.€13.5 mn, based on current ECB rates and provided the Bank meets the lending thresholds.

 



 

C. Business Overview (continued)

Strategic priorities for the medium term (continued)

Growing revenues in a more capital efficient way (continued)

 

In April 2021, the Company issued €300 mn unsecured and subordinated Tier 2 Capital Notes (the 'New Notes'), with a coupon of 6.625%, to refinance its outstanding €250 mn Tier 2 Capital Notes, with a coupon of 9.25%, issued in 2017 (the 'Existing Notes'). At the same time, the Bank invited the holders of the 'Existing Notes' to tender them for purchase by the Bank at a price of 105.50%. The Bank accepted tenders of €207 mn in aggregate nominal amount, after which €43 mn in aggregate nominal amount of the Existing Notes remain outstanding.

 

The issuance of the New Notes is expected to increase the Group's Total Capital ratio pro forma for Helix 2 by 123 bps to 19.5%, on the basis of 31 March 2021 figures, including 28 bps relating to the outstanding Existing Notes. The Existing Notes are redeemable at the option of the Bank (subject to applicable regulatory consents) in January 2022.

 

The refinancing represents a major milestone for the Group, and has helped to diversify the Group's investor base, re-rate the Group's pricing in the international credit markets and demonstrate the Group's proactive capital management. Also, t he highly successful Tier 2 capital refinancing will allow the Group to focus on evaluating opportunities for an MREL issuance in terms of debt capital markets activity.

 

Improving operating efficiencies

 

The Digital Transformation Programme that started in 2017 has begun to deliver an improved customer experience, whilst the branch footprint rationalisation to date, has further improved the Bank's operating model. The branch network is now less than half the size it was in 2013.

 

Management remains focused on further improvement in efficiency, through further branch footprint rationalisation, further exit solutions to release full time employees, containment of restructuring costs following the completion of balance sheet de-risking, enhancement of procurement control, as well as reduction of total operating expenses by c.10% compared to FY2019 over the medium term despite inflation, facilitated by the Digital Transformation Programme.

 

The Group continues to work towards becoming a more customer centric organisation. A Transformation Office has been established at the beginning of the year further reinforcing the commitment to the Bank's modernisation agenda. The transformation programme will enable the implementation of the strategy with key shifts focusing on a leaner and more efficient operating model, capital profitability and optimisation of the client service and distribution models with an emphasis on the customer.

 

Digital Transformation

 

As part of its vision to be the leading financial hub in Cyprus, the Bank continues its Digital Transformation Programme, which focuses on three strategic pillars: developing digital services and products that enhance the customer experience, streamlining internal processes, and introducing new ways of working to improve the workplace environment.

 

In the last few months, a number of new features promoting self-service functionalities have been made available to subscribers through the Bank's mobile banking app. Users now have the option of viewing the data held about them by the Bank and updating it in case of changes (KYC review). In many cases, updates are performed in real time without a staff member having to review them, thus contributing in operational savings as well. Additionally, card holders can now view their card PINs instantly and securely using biometric authentication. This has proved a popular feature with the customer base, but its benefits are not limited to the improved user experience. It has also contributed in cost savings with card PINs no longer being printed and mailed by default. Instead, cards are mailed to the customer's home and the customer can instantly retrieve their first PIN through the app without going to the branch. Finally, verification of online card transactions has been made more secure with the replacement of the SMS One Time Password sent to date with secure push notifications. These notifications are sent through a secure channel and use biometric or password authentication to verify the identity of the customer quickly and easily.

 

The adoption of digital products and services continued to grow and gained momentum in the first quarter of 2021. As at the end of March 2021, 85.1% of the number of transactions involving deposits, cash withdrawals and internal/external transfers were performed through digital channels (up by c.21 p.p. from 64.6% in September 2017 when the digital transformation programme was initiated). In addition, 75.4% of individual customers were digitally engaged (up by c.16 p.p. from 59.6% in September 2017), choosing digital channels over branches to perform their transactions. As at 31 March 2021, active mobile banking users and active QuickPay users have grown by 20% and 73% respectively yoy. The highest number of QuickPay users to date was recorded in April 2021 with 99 thousand active users. Likewise, the highest number of QuickPay payments was recorded in April 2021 with 257 thousand transactions.



 

C. Business Overview (continued)

Strategic priorities for the medium term (continued)

Improving operating efficiencies (continued)

 

Digital Transformation (continued)

 

Furthermore, as part of the Digital Transformation Programme, major changes are underway in relation to enabling a modern and more efficient workplace. New technologies and tools have been introduced that will drastically change the employee experience, improving collaboration and knowledge sharing across the organisation. For instance, the rollout of Microsoft Surface portable devices has been initiated to the employees whose role demands high mobility, allowing them to work seamlessly wherever they are. Further enhancements will be implemented in 2021 and the full impact will be seen over the coming months.

 

Enhancing organisational resilience and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) agenda

 

The Bank aims to enhance its organisational resilience and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) agenda by building a forward-looking organisation with a clear strategy supported by effective corporate governance aligned with ESG agenda priorities.

 

As part of its responsibility to a wider group of stakeholders, the Group is working to build a forward-looking organisation with a clear strategy supported by effective corporate governance aligned with ESG priorities. Earlier this year a dedicated executive committee, the Sustainability Committee, was set up, that will oversee the ESG agenda of the Group, review the evolution of the Group's ESG strategy, monitor the development and implementation of the Group's ESG objectives and the embedding of ESG priorities in the Group's business targets.

 

In order to further strengthen the Bank's corporate responsibility regarding the protection of the environment the Bank is proceeding with the launch of 'environmentally friendly' loan products to promote investment in energy saving and environmentally friendly products and services.

 

In 2020, the Bank received a rating of A (on a scale of AAA-CCC) in the MSCI ESG Ratings assessment.

 



 

D. Strategy and Outlook

The strategic objectives for the Group are to become a stronger, safer and a more efficient institution capable of supporting the recovery of the Cypriot economy and delivering appropriate shareholder returns in the medium term.

 

The key pillars of the Group's strategy are to:

 

· Complete balance sheet de-risking

· Grow revenues in a more capital efficient way; by enhancing revenue generation via growth in performing book

and less capital-intensive banking and financial services operations (Insurance and Digital economy)

· Improve operating efficiency; by achieving leaner operations through digitisation and automation

· Enhance organisational resilience and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) agenda; by building a forward-looking organisation with a clear strategy supported by effective corporate governance aligned with ESG agenda priorities

 

 

KEY STRATEGIC PILLARS

ACTION TAKEN IN 1Q2021 and to date

PLAN OF ACTION

Complete balance sheet de-risking

 

 

 

• Agreement for the sale of an additional NPE portfolio with gross book value of €0.5 bn as at 30 Sept 2020 reached in January 2021 (Project Helix 2 Portfolio B).

Combined with Project Helix 2 Portfolio A, the NPE ratio is reduced by 9 p.p. to 16% pro forma and on the basis of 31 March 2021 figures

 

For further information, please refer to Section A.1.5 'Loan portfolio quality' and Section C 'Business Overview'

 

• Gross NPE reduction in 2021, through both organic and inorganic actions, expected to more than offset NPE inflows

 

• Continue to work with advisors towards the sale of portfolios of NPEs in the future, assessing the potential to accelerate NPE reduction through additional NPE sales

 

Grow revenues in a more capital efficient way; by enhancing revenue generation via growth in performing book, and less capital-intensive banking and financial services operations (Insurance and Digital economy)

 

 

 

 

 

Liquidity fees to corporate clients, that was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was implemented as of 1 February 2021

 

New price list for charges and fees was implemented as of 1 February 2021

 

For further information, please refer to Section C 'Business Overview'

 

 

Mitigating actions against NII challenges put in place, e.g. growing performing book and pricing away/price correctly deposits

 

Enhance fee and commission income, e.g. on-going review of price list for charges and fees, increase average product holding through cross selling, new sources of revenue through introduction of Digital Economy Platform

 

Profitable insurance business with further opportunities to grow, e.g. focus on high margin products, leverage on Bank's strong franchise and customer base for more targeted cross selling enabled by DT

 

 



 

D. Strategy and Outlook (continued)

KEY STRATEGIC PILLARS

ACTION TAKEN IN 1Q2021 and to date

PLAN OF ACTION

Improve operating efficiency; by achieving leaner operations through digitisation and automation

 

 

• Reduced total operating expenses in 1Q2021 by 9% qoq

 

• Further developments in the Digital Transformation Programme

 

For further information, please refer to Section C 'Business Overview'

 

Offer exit solutions to release full time employees

Achieve further branch footprint rationalisation 

Contain restructuring costs following completion of balance sheet de-risking

Enhance procurement control

Reduce total operating expenses by c.10% over the medium term despite inflation

 

 

Enhance organisational resilience and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) agenda; by building a forward-looking organisation with a clear strategy supported by effective corporate governance aligned with ESG agenda priorities

 

For further information, please refer to Section C 'Business Overview'

Please refer to slide 32 in the 1Q2021 Group Financial Results Investors Presentation

Enhanced structure and corporate governance

Focus on our people

Priority on ESG agenda , e.g. introduction of 'environmentally friendly' loan products

 

Although there remains uncertainty in the broader economic environment as a result of the pandemic, the Management remains confident in delivering on the strategic objectives for the Group.

 

The Group's near-term priorities include completing the balance sheet de-risking, whilst managing the post-pandemic NPE inflow; positioning the Bank on the path for sustainable profitability; ensuring the cost base remains appropriate, whilst further investing in the digital transformation programme in the near term in order to modernise the Bank's franchise (in fact, the cost to income ratio is expected to rise in the near term as revenues remain under pressure and operating expenses increase due to higher digitisation investment costs, and to reduce to mid-50s% in the medium term); addressing the challenges from low rates and surplus liquidity; and focusing on evaluating opportunities for an MREL issuance in terms of debt capital markets activity, following the highly successful Tier 2 capital refinancing.

 

The medium-term priorities include delivering sustainable profitability and shareholder returns, enhancing revenues by capitalising on the Group's market leading position; enhancing operating efficiency; and optimising capital management.

 



 

D. Strategy and Outlook (continued)

The Group's medium-term strategic targets are set out below 

 

Key Metrics

Strategic Targets for

 

2022

 

Medium-Term

Profitability

Return on Tangible Equity (ROTE)1


~ 7%

Total operating expenses2


<€350 mn

Asset Quality

NPE ratio

<10%

~ 5%

Cost of risk


70-80 bps

Capital

Supported by CET1 ratio of

At least 13%

 

1.  Return on Tangible Equity (ROTE) is calculated as Profit after Tax (annualised) divided by Shareholders' equity minus intangibles assets.

 

2.  Total operating expenses comprise staff costs and other operating expenses. Total operating expenses do not include the special levy or contributions to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF) or Deposit Guarantee Fund (DGF) and do not include any advisory or other restructuring costs.

 

 

Maintaining a strong capital base has been a key priority for management over the past few years and this remains equally important for the Group going forward. The business plan is based on maintaining a CET1 ratio of at least 13% over the entire period of the plan. The Group's capital is to be supported by organic capital generation and by focus on less capital-intensive businesses, the further reduction of high intensity risk weighted assets and the Helix 2 risk weighted asset benefit upon full repayment of deferred consideration. At the same time, factors that could potentially have a negative impact on the Group's capital ratios in addition to IFRS 9 phasing-in, include any potential regulatory impacts, as well as one-off cost optimisation charges. Until the completion of the de-risking and the restructuring of the business, there may be volatility in the capital ratios due to the timing of potential future impacts from regulatory changes and one-off restructuring costs.

The Group has a clear strategy in place, leveraging on its strong customer base, its renewed customer trust, its market leadership position, and further developing digital knowledge and infrastructure, in order to complete the turnaround of its business and set the Bank on a path for profitability and delivering value for shareholders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E .   Financial Results - Statutory Basis

Unaudited Interim Consolidated Income Statement


Three months ended

31 March

2021

2020

€000

€000

Turnover

189,420

207,575

Interest income

88,602

101,673

Income similar to interest income

10,629

12,487

Interest expense

(13,229)

(17,217)

Expense similar to interest expense

(9,646)

(12,017)

Net interest income

76,356

84,926

Fee and commission income

40,412

40,107

Fee and commission expense

(1,865)

(2,063)

Net foreign exchange gains

3,63 0

8,662

Net losses on financial instrument transactions and disposal/dissolution of subsidiaries and associates

(647)

(3,812)

Insurance income net of claims and commissions

13,159

11,404

Net losses from revaluation and disposal of investment properties

(857)

(284)

Net gains on disposal of stock of property

3,111

1,103

Other income

3,606

4,465


136,90 5

144,508

Staff costs

(50,049)

(49,051)

Special levy on deposits and other levies/ contributions

(9,104)

(9,195)

Other operating expenses

(39,740)

(42,593)


38,01 2

43,669

Net gains on derecognition of financial assets measured at amortised cost

1,465

954

Credit losses to cover credit risk on loans and advances to customers

(24,128)

(63,802)

Credit losses of other financial instruments

(280)

(662)

Impairment net of reversals of non-financial assets

(5,015)

(3,803)

Profit/(loss) before share of profit/(loss) from associates

10,05 4

(23,644)

Share of profit/( loss ) from associates

137

(438)

Profit/(loss) before tax

10,19 1

(24,082)

Income tax

(1,878)

(1,726)

Profit/(loss) after tax for the period

8,313

(25,808)

Attributable to:



Owners of the Company

8,153

(25,912)

Non-controlling interests

160

104

Profit/(loss) for the period

8,313

(25,808)

Basic and diluted profit/(loss) per share attributable to the owners of the Company (€ cent)

1.8

(5.8)

 

 



 

E .   Financial Results - Statutory Basis (continued)

Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income


Three months ended

31 March

2021

2020

€000

€000

Profit/(loss) for the period

8,313

(25,808)

Other comprehensive income (OCI)



OCI that may be reclassified in the consolidated income statement in subsequent periods



Fair value reserve (debt instruments)



Net gains/(losses) on investments in debt instruments measured at fair value through OCI (FVOCI)

858

(25,643)

Transfer to the consolidated income statement on disposal

-

(1,971)


858

(27,614)

Foreign currency translation reserve



(Loss)/profit on translation of net investment in foreign branches and subsidiaries

(3,204)

19,766

Profit/(loss) on hedging of net investments in foreign branches and subsidiaries

2,160

(19,087)

Transfer to the consolidated income statement on dissolution of foreign subsidiary

(26)

105


(1,070)

784

Total OCI that may be reclassified in the consolidated income statement in subsequent periods

(212)

(26,830)

OCI not to be reclassified in the consolidated income statement in subsequent periods



Fair value reserve (equity instruments)



Net gains on investments in equity instruments designated at FVOCI

27

94




Property revaluation reserve



Deferred tax

(40)

(901)




Actuarial gains/(losses) on the defined benefit plans



Remeasurement gains/(losses) on defined benefit plans

4,945

(126)

Total OCI not to be reclassified in the consolidated income statement in subsequent periods

4,932

(933)

Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the period net of taxation

4,720

(27,763)

Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the period

13,03 3

(53,571)




Attributable to:



Owners of the Company

12,8 8 8

(53,429)

Non-controlling interests

145

(142)

Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the period

13,0 3 3

(53,571)



 

E .   Financial Results - Statutory Basis (continued)

Unaudited Interim Consolidated Balance Sheet


31 March 2021

31 December 2020

Assets

€000

€000

Cash and balances with central banks

6,926,347

5,653,315

Loans and advances to banks

420,593

402,784

Derivative financial assets

12,001

24,627

Investments

1,057,749

1,876,009

Investments pledged as collateral

1,055,694

37,105

Loans and advances to customers

9,959,849

9,886,047

Life insurance business assets attributable to policyholders

500,028

474,187

Prepayments, accrued income and other assets

275,572

249,877

Stock of property

1,328,028

1,349,609

Deferred tax assets

303,390

341,360

Investment properties

126,006

128,088

Property and equipment

268,554

272,474

Intangible assets

184,236

185,256

Investments in associates and joint venture

-

2,462

Non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale

625,545

630,931

Total assets

23,043,592

21,514,131

Liabilities



Deposits by banks

411,742

391,949

Funding from central banks

2,691,817

994,694

Derivative financial liabilities

36,408

45,978

Customer deposits

16,331,722

16,533,212

Insurance liabilities

692,223

671,603

Accruals, deferred income, other liabilities and other provisions

372,921

359,892

Pending litigation, claims, regulatory and other matters

118,015

123,615

Subordinated loan stock

254,450

272,152

Deferred tax liabilities

46,207

45,982

Total liabilities

20,955,505

19,439,077

Equity



Share capital

44,620

44,620

Share premium

594,358

594,358

Revaluation and other reserves

210,593

209,153

Retained earnings

993,961

982,513

Equity attributable to the owners of the Company

1,843,532

1,830,644

Other equity instruments

220,000

220,000

Total equity excluding non‑controlling interests

2,063,532

2,050,644

Non‑controlling interests

24,55 5

24,410

Total equity

2,088,08 7

2,075,054

Total liabilities and equity

23,043,59 2

21,514,131

 

 

 

 


E .   Financial Results - Statutory Basis (continued)

Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity


Attributable to the shareholders of the Company

Other equity instruments

Non- controlling interests

Total

 equity

Share

capital

Share

premium

Treasury shares

Retained earnings

Property revaluation reserve

Financial instruments fair value reserve

Life insurance

 in-force

business

reserve

Foreign currency translation reserve

Total

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

1 January 2021

44,620

594,358

(21,463)

982,513

79,515

22,894

110,401

17,806

1,830,644

220,000

24,410

2,075,054

Profit for the period

-

-

-

8,153

-

-

-

-

8,153

-

160

8,313

Other comprehensive income/ (loss) after tax for the period

-

-

-

4,945

(30)

890

-

(1,070)

4,7 3 5

-

(15)

4,7 2 0

Total comprehensive income/(loss) after tax for the period

-

-

-

13,098

(30)

890

-

(1,070)

12,8 8 8

-

145

13,0 3 3

Increase in value of in-force life insurance business

-

-

-

(1,828)

-

-

1,828

-

-

-

-

-

Tax on increase in value of in-force life insurance business

-

-

-

228

-

-

(228)

-

-

-

-

-

Transfer of OCI reserve upon disposal of investments in equity instruments designated as at FVOCI

-

-

-

(50)

-

50

-

-

-

-

-

-

31 March 2021

44,620

594,358

(21,463)

993,961

79,485

23,8 3 4

112,001

16,736

1,843,532

220,000

24,555

2,088,08 7

 



 

E .   Financial Results - Statutory Basis (continued)

Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (continued)


Attributable to the shareholders of the Company

Other equity instruments

Non- controlling interests

Total

 equity

Share

capital

Share

premium

Treasury shares

Retained earnings

Property revaluation reserve

Financial instruments fair value reserve

Life insurance in-force business reserve

Foreign currency translation reserve

Total

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

1 January 2020

44,620

1,294,358

(21,463)

490,286

79,286

33,900

102,051

16,927

2,039,965

220,000

28,662

2,288,627

(Loss)/profit for the period

-

-

-

(25,912)

-

-

-

-

(25,912)

-

104

(25,808)

Other comprehensive (loss)/income after tax for the period

-

-

-

(126)

(676)

(27,499)

-

784

(27,517)

-

(246)

(27,763)

Total comprehensive (loss)/ income after tax for the period

-

-

-

(26,038)

(676)

(27,499)

-

784

(53,429)

-

(142)

(53,571)

Decrease in value of in-force life insurance business

-

-

-

2,457

-

-

(2,457)

-

-

-

-

-

Tax on decrease in value of in-force life insurance business

-

-

-

(307)

-

-

307

-

-

-

-

-

Change in the holding of Undertakings for Collective Investments in Transferable Securities (UCITS) Fund

-

-

-

5

-

-

-

-

5

-

-

5

31 March 2020

44,620

1,294,358

(21,463)

466,403

78,610

6,401

99,901

17,711

1,986,541

220,000

28,520

2,235,061

 

 


F.   Notes

F.1   Reconciliation of income statement between statutory and underlying basis

€ million

Underlying basis

NPE

Sales

Other

Statutory
basis

Net interest income

76

-

-

76

Net fee and commission income

39

-

-

39

Net foreign exchange gains and net losses on financial instrument transactions and disposal/dissolution of subsidiaries and associates

2

-

1

3

Insurance income net of claims and commissions

13

-

-

13

Net gains from revaluation and disposal of investment properties and on disposal of stock of properties

2

-

-

2

Other income

4

-

-

4

Total income

136

-

1

13 7

Total expenses

(91)

( 4 )

( 4 )

(9 9 )

Operating profit

45

( 4 )

( 3 )

38

Loan credit losses

(20)

(2)

(1)

(2 3 )

Impairments of other financial and non-financial assets

( 5 )

-

-

( 5 )

Provisions for litigation, claims, regulatory and other matters

(1)

-

1

-

Profit before tax and non-recurring items

19

(6)

(3)

10

Tax

(2)

-

-

(2)

Profit after tax and before non-recurring items (attributable to the owners of the Company)

17

(6)

(3)

8

Advisory and other restructuring costs-organic

(3)

-

3

-

Profit after tax - organic* (attributable to the owners of the Company)

14

(6)

-

8

Provisions/net loss relating to NPE sales, including restructuring expenses

(6)

6

-

-

Profit after tax (attributable to the owners of the Company)

8

-

-

8

 

*This is the profit after tax (attributable to the owners of the Company), before the provisions/net loss relating to NPE sales, including restructuring expenses.

 

The reclassification differences between the statutory basis and the underlying basis mainly relate to the impact from 'non-recurring items' and are explained as follows:

 

NPE sales

· Total expenses include restructuring costs of €4 million relating to the agreements for the sale of portfolios of NPEs and are presented within 'Provisions/net loss relating to NPE sales, including restructuring expenses' under the underlying basis.

· Loan credit losses under the statutory basis include the loan credit losses relating to Project Helix 2 of €2 million and are disclosed under non-recurring items within 'Provisions/net loss relating to NPE sales, including restructuring expenses' under the underlying basis.

 

Other reclassifications

· Advisory and other restructuring costs of approximately €3 million included in 'Other operating expenses' under the statutory basis are separately presented under the underlying basis since they represent one off items.

· Provisions for litigation, claims, regulatory and other matters amounting to €1 million included in 'Other operating expenses' under the statutory basis, are separately presented under the underlying basis, since they mainly relate to cases that arose outside the normal activities of the Group.

· Net gains on loans and advances to customers at FVPL of approximately €0.5 million included in 'Loan credit losses' under the underlying basis are included in 'Net losses on financial instrument transactions and disposal/dissolution of subsidiaries and associates' under the statutory basis. Their classification under the underlying basis is done in order to align their presentation with the loan credit losses on loans and advances to customers at amortised cost.




 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.2   Customer deposits

The analysis of customer deposits is presented below:


31 March

 2021

31 December 2020

By type of deposit

€000

€000

Demand

8,077,543

8,149,688

Savings

2,080,244

1,970,975

Time or notice

6,173,935

6,412,549


16,331,722

16,533,212

By geographical area



Cyprus

16,331,722

16,533,212

 

Deposits by geographical area are based on the originator country of the deposit.

 


31 March

2021

31 December 2020

By currency

€000

€000

Euro

14,665,471

14,929,662

US Dollar

1,238,590

1,199,069

British Pound

318,209

288,102

Russian Rouble

27,998

28,618

Swiss Franc

8,898

9,901

Other currencies

72,556

77,860


16,331,722

16,533,212

By customer sector



Corporate

1,031,642

1,037,430

Global corporate

492,696

607,467

SMEs

828,848

832,576

Retail

10,514,459

10,525,819

Restructuring



- Corporate

23,210

27,889

- SMEs

17,739

16,688

- Retail other

8,330

10,561

Recoveries



- Corporate

2,780

3,251

International banking services

3,144,681

3,180,061

Wealth management

267,337

291,470


16,331,722

16,533,212

 

F.3  Loans and advances to customers


31 March

2021

31 December 2020


€000

€000

Gross loans and advances to customers at amortised cost

10,467,098

10,400,603

Allowance for ECL for impairment of loans and advances to customers

(800,693)

(804,417)


9,666,405

9,596,186

Loans and advances to customers measured at FVPL

293,444

289,861


9,959,849

9,886,047

 



 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.4   Credit risk concentration of loans and advances to customers

The credit risk concentration, which is based on industry (economic activity) and by business line concentrations, as well as geographical concentration, is presented in the tables below. The geographical concentration, for credit risk concentration purposes, is based on the Group's Country Risk Policy which is followed for monitoring the Group's exposures, in accordance with which exposures are analysed by country of risk based on the country of residency for individuals and the country of registration for companies.

31 March 2021

Cyprus

Greece

United Kingdom

Romania

Russia

Other countries

Gross loans at amortised cost

By economic activity

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

Trade

1,015,075

674

142

3,832

3,340

114

1,023,177

Manufacturing

345,169

335

181

715

1,123

32,391

379,914

Hotels and catering

894,251

35,979

36,737

515

-

40,099

1,007,581

Construction

634,728

8,755

116

2,555

614

230

646,998

Real estate

867,838

126,549

2,004

33,818

-

43,225

1,073,434

Private individuals

4,699,890

7,999

153,462

1,190

43,544

82,841

4,988,926

Professional and other services

653,381

445

5,594

4,050

23,599

39,262

726,331

Other sectors

445,736

12

217

849

8

173,915

620,737


9,556,068

180,748

198,453

47,524

72,228

412,077

10,467,098

 

31 March 2021








By business line








Corporate

1,969,555

8,992

93

479

14,754

2,633

1,996,506

Global corporate

1,366,462

162,361

43,339

35,923

9,364

310,806

1,928,255

SMEs

1,080,228

697

2,574

2,283

4,526

2,534

1,092,842

Retail








- housing

2,891,329

3,240

56,624

615

5,475

24,959

2,982,242

- consumer, credit cards and other

878,217

1,260

1,354

191

223

1,888

883,133

Restructuring








- corporate

143,531

-

532

-

-

5,107

149,170

- SMEs

98,849

-

497

-

76

237

99,659

- retail housing

119,250

116

3,484

129

363

1,052

124,394

- retail other

72,509

200

750

-

57

253

73,769

Recoveries








- corporate

38,227

-

10

5,047

1

288

43,573

- SMEs

61,105

10

2,859

2,685

6,466

3,728

76,853

- retail housing

386,478

335

61,664

161

10,664

26,012

485,314

- retail other

347,553

35

6,087

4

333

1,893

355,905

International banking services

68,724

2,741

18,030

5

19,926

24,827

134,253

Wealth management

34,051

761

556

2

-

5,860

41,230


9,556,068

180,748

198,453

47,524

72,228

412,077

10,467,098

 



 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.4   Credit risk concentration of loans and advances to customers (continued)

31 December 20 20

Cyprus

Greece

United Kingdom

Romania

Russia

Other countries

Gross loans at amortised cost

By economic activity

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

Trade

1,014,445

717

252

3,767

7,291

112

1,026,584

Manufacturing

350,403

389

177

704

1,399

31,717

384,789

Hotels and catering

875,572

35,989

34,736

504

-

40,185

986,986

Construction

613,895

8,689

123

2,786

741

234

626,468

Real estate

867,601

127,342

1,899

33,484

-

41,223

1,071,549

Private individuals

4,670,357

8,024

163,613

1,202

48,361

84,830

4,976,387

Professional and other services

652,928

407

5,711

3,968

23,074

39,933

726,021

Other sectors

432,569

13

219

838

5

168,175

601,819


9,477,770

181,570

206,730

47,253

80,871

406,409

10,400,603

 

31 December 2020 ( restated*)








By business line








Corporate

1,922,810

8,949

94

605

18,913

2,760

1,954,131

Global corporate

1,344,983

163,153

41,334

35,546

9,308

302,734

1,897,058

SMEs

1,081,773

708

2,881

2,393

4,361

2,337

1,094,453

Retail








- housing

2,862,802

3,052

57,627

623

6,051

25,622

2,955,777

- consumer, credit cards and other

884,151

1,286

1,507

196

256

2,061

889,457

Restructuring








- corporate

165,161

-

532

-

-

5,324

171,017

- SMEs

98,931

-

883

-

97

240

100,151

- retail housing

143,540

182

3,600

130

377

1,591

149,420

- retail other

79,6 17

202

118

1

8

18

79,96 4

Recoveries








- corporate

30,963

-

9

4,948

1

256

36,177

- SMEs

57,559

9

3,154

2,643

8,079

3,770

75,214

- retail housing

374,056

326

70,621

160

11,947

27,952

485,062

- retail other

337, 500

34

6,108

4

304

1,890

345,8 40

International banking services

68,923

2,905

18,262

4

21,169

24,075

135,338

Wealth management

25,001

764

-

-

-

5,779

31,544


9,477,770

181,570

206,730

47,253

80,871

406,409

10,400,603

 

*Following a reorganisation of the RRD portfolio and mainly of the terminated exposures, certain loans were reclassified within the 'Restructuring' and 'Recoveries' business lines. As a result comparative information has been restated to present information on a consistent basis.   The table below presents the gross loans and advances to customers for 'Restructuring' and 'Recoveries' business lines as previously presented in the 2020 Annual Financial Report.

 

 



 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.4   Credit risk concentration of loans and advances to customers (continued)

31 December 2020

Cyprus

Greece

United Kingdom

Romania

Russia

Other countries

Gross loans at amortised cost

By business line

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

Restructuring








- corporate

175,386

-

524

-

-

5,324

181,234

- SMEs

86,644

189

1,633

-

263

133

88,862

- retail housing

130,661

182

2,849

130

219

1,703

135,744

- retail other

94,560

13

127

-

-

12

94,712

Recoveries








- corporate

20,388

-

-

7,592

-

23

28,003

- SMEs

87,276

9

275

-

1,465

1,728

90,753

- retail housing

364,775

326

73,460

160

18,511

30,042

487,274

- retail other

327,637

34

6,157

4

355

2,076

336,263


1,287,327

753

85,025

7,886

20,813

41,041

1,442,845

 

The loans and advances to customers include lending exposures in Cyprus with collaterals in Greece with a carrying value of €91,276 thousand (31 December 2020: €85,424 thousand).

 

Loans and advances to customers classified as held for sale

Industry (economic activity), business line and geographical concentrations of the Group's gross loans and advances to customers at amortised cost classified as held for sale are presented in the tables below:

31 March 2021

Cyprus

Greece

United Kingdom

Russia

Other countries

Gross loans at amortised cost

By economic activity

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

Trade

134,46 4

-

-

-

-

134,464

Manufacturing

45,765

85

323

-

568

46,741

Hotels and catering

30,226

-

513

-

29

30,768

Construction

147,355

-

6

26

78

147,465

Real estate

65,793

-

-

-

317

66,110

Private individuals

682,435

1,446

16,487

10,083

15,136

725,587

Professional and other services

83,693

204

70

1,159

213

85,339

Other sectors

57,921

-

-

-

-

57,921


1,247,652

1,735

17,399

11,268

16,341

1,294,395

 

31 March 2021







By business line







Retail







- housing

184

-

-

-

-

184

Restructuring







- corporate

61,237

-

-

-

-

61,237

- SMEs

76,837

-

165

-

234

77,236

- retail housing

61,409

-

1,900

164

347

63,820

- retail other

28,528

-

324

-

-

28,852

Recoveries







- corporate

67,640

-

-

468

78

68,186

- SMEs

362,107

150

2,478

919

1,937

367,591

- retail housing

310,340

1,322

10,592

7,659

10,307

340,220

- retail other

279,370

263

1,940

2,058

3,438

287,069


1,247,652

1,735

17,399

11,268

16,341

1,294,395



 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.4   Credit risk concentration of loans and advances to customers (continued)

Loans and advances to customers classified as held for sale (continued)

31 December 2020

Cyprus

Greece

United Kingdom

Russia

Other countries

Gross loans at amortised cost

By economic activity

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

Trade

137,088

-

-

-

-

137,088

Manufacturing

49,724

84

305

-

560

50,673

Hotels and catering

30,266

-

496

-

29

30,791

Construction

151,907

-

8

26

76

152,017

Real estate

68,685

-

-

-

314

68,999

Private individuals

712,742

1,423

16,225

10,004

14,969

755,363

Professional and other services

85,933

199

62

1,093

192

87,479

Other sectors

58,845

-

-

-

-

58,845


1,295,190

1,706

17,096

11,123

16,140

1,341,255

 

31 December 2020 (restated*)







By business line







SMEs

3

-

-

-

-

3

Retail







- housing

40

-

-

-

-

40

- consumer, credit cards and other

23

-

-

-

-

23

Restructuring







- corporate

64,957

-

-

-

-

64,957

- SMEs

84,811

-

257

-

254

85,322

- retail housing

66,250

-

1,689

163

350

68,452

- retail other

29,052

1

327

-

-

29,380

Recoveries







- corporate

85,548

-

-

462

103

86,113

- SMEs

371,625

149

2,407

919

1,844

376,944

- retail housing

312,890

1,305

10,547

7,649

10,227

342,618

- retail other

279,991

251

1,869

1,930

3,362

287,403


1,295,190

1,706

17,096

11,123

16,140

1,341,255

 

*Following a reorganisation of the RRD portfolio and mainly of the terminated exposures, certain loans were reclassified within the 'Restructuring' and 'Recoveries' business lines. As a result comparative information has been restated to present information on a consistent basis. The table below presents the   gross loans and advances to customers classified as held for sale for 'Restructuring' and 'Recoveries' business lines as previously presented in the 2020 Annual Financial Report.

 

 

 



 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.4   Credit risk concentration of loans and advances to customers (continued)

Loans and advances to customers classified as held for sale (continued)

31 December 2020

Cyprus

Greece

United Kingdom

Russia

Other countries

Gross loans at amortised cost

By business line

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

Restructuring







- corporate

65,947

-

-

-

-

65,947

- SMEs

117,541

1

1,734

163

368

119,807

- retail housing

21,584

-

402

-

76

22,062

- retail other

39,998

-

137

-

160

40,295

Recoveries







- corporate

132,494

-

1,164

3,552

2,918

140,128

- SMEs

365,829

149

2,993

842

1,842

371,655

- retail housing

298,136

1,305

9,019

5,705

7,492

321,657

- retail other

253,595

251

1,647

861

3,284

259,638


1,295,124

1,706

17,096

11,123

16,140

1,341,189

 

F.5   Analysis of loans and advances to customers by stage

The following tables present the Group's gross loans and advances at amortised cost before residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition and at amortised cost, by stage.

31 March 2021

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

POCI

Total

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

Gross loans at amortised  cost before residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition

7,009,774

1,921,503

1,359,528

321,960

10,612,765

Residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition

(76,091)

(21,211)

(10,326)

(38,039)

(145,667)

Gross loans at amortised cost

6,933,683

1,900,292

1,349,202

283,921

10,467,098

 

31 December 2020

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

POCI

Total

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

Gross loans at amortised cost before residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition

6,681,481

2,148,946

1,380,926

335,852

10,547,205

Residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition

(72,591)

(25,815)

(9,376)

(38,820)

(146,602)

Gross loans at amortised cost

6,608,890

2,123,131

1,371,550

297,032

10,400,603

 

Loans and advances to customers classified as held for sale

31 March 2021

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

POCI

Total

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

Gross loans at amortised  cost before residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition

9,963

16,763

1,101,453

210,444

1,338,623

Residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition

(235)

310

(6,933)

(37,370)

(44,228)

Gross loans at amortised cost

9,728

17,073

1,094,520

173,074

1,294,395

 

31 December 2020

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

POCI

Total

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

Gross loans at amortised  cost before residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition

6,177

21,801

1,138,587

221,365

1,387,930

Residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition

(41)

397

(7,650)

(39,381)

(46,675)

Gross loans at amortised cost

6,136

22,198

1,130,937

181,984

1,341,255

 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.5   Analysis of loans and advances to customers by stage (continued)

The following tables present the Group's gross loans and advances to customers at amortised cost by stage and by business line concentration:

31 March 2021

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

POCI

Total

By business line

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

Corporate

1,550,26 6

390,558

29,70 8

25,974

1,996,506

Global corporate

1,367,143

422,365

104,548

34,199

1,928,255

SMEs

779,627

284,192

17,857

11,166

1,092,842

Retail






- housing

2,452,566

453,978

64,178

11,520

2,982,242

- consumer, credit cards and other

618,835

217,800

30,506

15,992

883,133

Restructuring






- corporate

23,656

50,689

61,572

13,253

149,170

- SMEs

15,533

19,912

56,157

8,057

99,659

- retail housing

5,183

11,904

102,443

4,864

124,394

- retail other

1,510

4,006

65,495

2,758

73,769

Recoveries






- corporate

-

-

36,540

7,033

43,573

- SMEs

-

-

66,718

10,135

76,853

- retail housing

-

-

404,967

80,347

485,314

- retail other

122

1

298,322

57,460

355,905

International banking services

82,707

41,340

10,008

198

134,253

Wealth management

36,535

3,547

183

965

41,230


6,933,68 3

1,900,292

1,349,20 2

283,921

10,467,098

 

31 December 2020 (restated*)

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

POCI

Total

By business line

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

Corporate

1,519,663

362,199

37,635

34,634

1,954,131

Global corporate

1,393,025

367,147

102,881

34,005

1,897,058

SMEs

740,305

325,412

17,731

11,005

1,094,453

Retail






- housing

2,223,620

651,980

68,644

11,533

2,955,777

- consumer, credit cards and other

588,339

251,022

33,095

17,001

889,457

Restructuring






- corporate

29,108

64,706

60,719

16,484

171,017

- SMEs

13,263

25,167

54,003

7,718

100,151

- retail housing

2,475

13,599

127,558

5,788

149,420

- retail other

943

4,047

71,910

3,064

79,964

Recoveries






- corporate

-

-

29,431

6,746

36,177

- SMEs

-

-

65,287

9,927

75,214

- retail housing

-

-

404,337

80,725

485,062

- retail other

221

13

288,374

57,232

345,840

International banking services

76,160

49,222

9,767

189

135,338

Wealth management

21,768

8,617

178

981

31,544


6,608,890

2,123,131

1,371,550

297,032

10,400,603

 

*Following a reorganisation of the RRD portfolio and mainly of the terminated exposures, certain loans were reclassified within the 'Restructuring' and 'Recoveries' business lines, as explained in F.4 'Credit risk concentration of loans and advances to customers'.

 



F.   Notes (continued)

F.5  Analysis of loans and advances to customers by stage (continued)

Loans and advances to customers classified as held for sale

The following tables present the Group's gross loans and advances to customers at amortised cost classified as held for sale by stage and by business line concentration.

31 March 2021

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

POCI

Total

By business line

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

Retail






- housing

-

-

184

-

184

Restructuring






- corporate

-

912

59,625

700

61,237

- SMEs

5,144

7,713

60,501

3,878

77,236

- retail housing

3,789

7,433

49,780

2,818

63,820

- retail other

795

1,015

26,117

925

28,852

Recoveries






- corporate

-

-

58,994

9,192

68,186

- SMEs

-

-

317,203

50,388

367,591

- retail housing

-

-

295,687

44,533

340,220

- retail other

-

-

226,42 9

60,64 0

287,06 9


9,728

17,073

1,094,5 20

173,07 4

1,294,39 5

 

31 December 2020 (restated*)

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

POCI

Total

By b usiness line

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

SMEs

-

-

-

3

3

Retail






- housing

-

40

-

-

40

- consumer, credit cards and other

-

2

21

-

23

Restructuring






- corporate

-

975

62,946

1,036

64,957

- SMEs

3,442

9,882

67,664

4,334

85,322

- retail housing

2,414

9,882

53,327

2,829

68,452

- retail other

280

1,417

26,665

1,018

29,380

Recoveries






- corporate

-

-

73,449

12,664

86,113

- SMEs

-

-

325,082

51,862

376,944

- retail housing

-

-

296,934

45,684

342,618

- retail other

-

-

224,849

62,554

287,403


6,136

22,198

1,130,937

181,984

1,341,255

 

* Following a reorganisation of the RRD portfolio and mainly of the terminated exposures, certain loans were reclassified within the 'Restructuring' and 'Recoveries' business lines, as explained in F.4 'Credit risk concentration of loans and advances to customers'.



 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.6   Credit losses to cover credit risk on loans and advances to customers


Three months ended

31 March

2021

2020


€000

€000

Impairment loss net of reversals on loans and advances to customers

23,327

65,569

Recoveries of loans and advances to customers previously written off

(2,370)

(7,536)

Changes in expected cash flows

2,787

6,691

Financial guarantees and commitments

384

(922)


24,128

63,802

 

The movement in ECL of loans and advances to customers, including the loans and advances to customers held for sale, and the analysis of the balance by stage is as follows:


Three months ended

31 March

2021

2020


€000

€000

1 January

1,652,635

1,803,550

Foreign exchange and other adjustments

58

(1,453)

Write offs

(73,554)

(51,477)

Interest (provided) not recognised in the income statement

20,994

20,257

Charge for the period

23,327

65,569

31 March

1,623,460

1,836,446

Stage 1

25,954

25,422

Stage 2

38,097

44,392

Stage 3

1,357,549

1,556,089

POCI

201,860

210,543

31 March

1,623,460

1,836,446

 

The charge on loans and advances to customers , including the loans and advances to customers held for sale, by stage for the period is presented in the table below:


Three months ended

31 March

2021

2020


€000

€000

Stage 1

(2,777)

11,812

Stage 2

(5,247)

10,220

Stage 3

31,351

43,537


23,327

65,569

 

During the three months ended 31 March 2021 the total non‑contractual write‑offs recorded by the Group amounted to €51,219 thousand ( three months ended 31 March 2020: €52,124 thousand). The contractual amount outstanding on financial assets that were written off during the three months ended 31 March 2021 and that are still subject to enforcement activity is €216,909 thousand (31 December 2020: €1,062,224 thousand).

 

Assumptions have been made about the future changes in property values, as well as the timing for the realisation of collateral, taxes and expenses on the repossession and subsequent sale of the collateral as well as any other applicable haircuts. Indexation has been used as the basis to estimate updated market values of properties supplemented by management judgement where necessary given the difficulty in differentiating between short term impacts and long term structural changes and the shortage of market evidence for comparison purposes, while assumptions were made on the basis of a macroeconomic scenario for future changes in property prices, and are capped accordingly in case of any future projected increase, whereas any future projected decrease is taken into consideration.

 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.6   Credit losses to cover credit risk on loans and advances to customers (continued)

At 31 March 2021 the weighted average haircut (including liquidity haircut and selling expenses) used in the collectively assessed provision calculation for loans and advances to customers excluding those classified as held for sale is approximately 32% under the baseline scenario (31 December 2020: approximately 32%).

 

The timing of recovery from real estate collaterals used in the collectively assessed provision calculation for loans and advances to customers, excluding those classified as held for sale, has been estimated to be on average seven years under the baseline scenario (31 December 2020: average seven years).

 

For the calculation of individually assessed allowances for ECL, the timing of recovery of collaterals as well as the haircuts used are based on the specific facts and circumstances of each case.

 

For the calculation of expected credit losses three scenarios were used; base, adverse and favourable with 50%, 30% and 20% probability respectively. The tables below indicate the most significant macroeconomic variables as well as the scenarios used by the Group as at 31 March 2021 and 31 December 2020.

 

31 March 2021

  Year 

  Scenario 

Weight
%

Real GDP
(% change)

Unemployment rate (% of labour force)

Consumer Price Index (average  % change)

RICS House Price Index (average  % change)

2021 

Adverse 

30.0

9.3

-0.2

-2.2

Baseline 

50.0

9.0

1.0

3.0

Favourable 

20.0

8.3

1.7

3.4

2022 

Adverse 

30.0

8.6

0.9

-2.5

Baseline 

50.0

8.1

1.5

3.2

Favourable 

20.0

6.8

1.9

4.4

2023 

Adverse 

30.0

8.0

1.8

-0.2

Baseline 

50.0

7.2

1.7

3.5

Favourable 

20.0

6.1

1.7

4.0

2024 

Adverse 

30.0

7.7

1.6

3.8

Baseline 

50.0

6.7

1.6

3.6

Favourable 

20.0

6.0

1.6

4.7

2025 

Adverse 

30.0

7.7

1.9

4.2

Baseline 

50.0

6.5

1.9

3.5

Favourable 

20.0

6.0

1.9

3.9

 

31 December 2020

Year

Scenario

Weight
%

Real GDP
(% change)

Unemployment rate (% of

labour force)

Consumer Price Index (average  % change)

RICS House Price Index (average  % change)

2021 

Adverse 

30.0

9.6

‑2.2

‑4.0

Baseline 

50.0

7.4

‑0.8

‑2.3

Favourable 

20.0

6.4

‑0.1

‑0.8

2022 

Adverse 

30.0

8.7

‑1.1

‑2.3

Baseline 

50.0

6.2

0.8

0.3

Favourable 

20.0

5.8

1.4

2.4

2023 

Adverse 

30.0

7.4

0.3

2.5

Baseline 

50.0

5.7

1.4

4.1

Favourable 

20.0

5.6

1.4

5.2

2024 

Adverse 

30.0

6.7

0.8

5.3

Baseline 

50.0

5.7

1.6

5.3

Favourable 

20.0

5.6

1.6

5.9

2025 

Adverse 

30.0

6.6

1.5

5.8

Baseline 

50.0

5.7

1.9

5.5

Favourable 

20.0

5.5

2.0

6.1

 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.6   Credit losses to cover credit risk on loans and advances to customers (continued)

For Stage 3 customers, the base scenario focuses on the following variables, which are based on the specific facts and circumstances of each customer: the operational cash flows, the timing of recovery of collaterals and the haircuts from the realisation of collateral. The base scenario is used to derive additional more favourable or more adverse scenarios. Under the adverse scenario operational cash flows are decreased by 50%, applied haircuts on real estate collateral are increased by 50% and the timing of recovery of collaterals is increased by 1 year with reference to the baseline scenario. Under the favourable scenario, applied haircuts are decreased by 5%, with no change in the recovery period with reference to the baseline scenario. Assumptions used in estimating expected future cash flows (including cash flows that may result from the realisation of collateral) reflect current and expected future economic conditions and are generally consistent with those used in the Stage 3 collectively assessed exposures. In the case of loans held for sale the Group has taken into consideration the timing of the expected sale and the estimated sale proceeds in determining the ECL. Amounts previously written off which are expected to be recovered through sale are included in 'Recoveries of loans and advances to customers previously written off'.

 

The above assumptions are also influenced by the ongoing regulatory dialogue BOC PCL maintains with its lead regulator, the ECB, and other regulatory guidance and interpretations issued by various regulatory and industry bodies such as the ECB and the EBA, which provide guidance and expectations as to relevant definitions and the treatment/classification of certain parameters/assumptions used in the estimation of allowance for ECL.

 

Any changes in these assumptions or differences between assumptions made and actual results could result in significant changes in the estimated amount of expected credit losses of loans and advances to customers.

 

Overlays in the context of COVID‑19

Following the COVID‑19 pandemic, the Group considered the complexities of governmental support programmes and regulatory guidance on treatment of customer payment breaks by the ECL models.  In this context, management has considered the data and measurement limitations arising from the extraordinary impact of COVID‑19 and addressed them through management overlays in relation to the significant credit risk deterioration, behavioural ratings and PD. As a result of the overlays described below for the three months ended 31 March 2021 (some of which were also applied in the year end 31 December 2020 financial results), the total net impact on the ECL (no reversal of ECL) was approximately €13.7 million.

 

SICR adjustment

The initial granting of customer relief does not automatically trigger a migration to Stage 2 or Stage 3 for the customers that have applied for the moratorium. Following an assessment performed for SICR for these customers as at 31 March 2021, a management overlay was applied, in order to capture any bias introduced in the customer's credit ratings by defining collective rules that can assess Stage 1 and Stage 2 misclassified customers, due to unrepresentative outlook of the idiosyncratic risk. Additionally stricter customer's credit ratings thresholds have been applied for customers in the hotel and catering industry sector. A staging overlay was then applied on these customers in order to classify them accordingly to Stage 2.

 

Exposures under the expired moratorium with no SICR were allowed to be transferred to Stage 1 only if they were classified in Stage 1 by the models and met certain additional criteria developed as a result of the moratorium exposures.

 

Additionally, customers that were identified as having experienced a SICR and migrated from Stage 1 to Stage 2 during 2020 and not addressed by the exercises described above were not allowed to migrate back to Stage 1 during the three months ended 31 March 2021.

 

Finally, given the three month data available since the moratorium end, any customers that repaid two or more capital instalments were not subject to the above overlays and their initial stage classification was retained.

 

Probability of default and behavioural rating adjustment

A PD overlay was applied in order to avoid extreme values in the model predictions whilst ensuring that the moratorium will not cause a timeline misalignment between the model projected and observed 2021 defaults.

 

The second PD overlay related to the rating of Corporate customers and specifically customers that fall under high-risk sectors, namely tourism, trade and manufacturing. The overlay applied practically maps all of these customers into high-risk credit rating grades.

 

The purpose of these overlays is to minimise potential cliff effects which might stem from the combination of uncertain volatile parameters such as possible lockdown, government support and behaviour of moratorium customers. 

 



 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.6   Credit losses to cover credit risk on loans and advances to customers (continued)

Portfolio segmentation

The individual assessment is performed not only for individually significant assets but also for other exposures meeting specific criteria determined by management. The selection criteria for the individually assessed exposures are based on management judgement and are reviewed on a quarterly basis by the Risk Management Division and are adjusted or enhanced, if deemed necessary. During 2020, in response to the COVID‑19 pandemic, the selection criteria were expanded to include the assessment of significant Stage 1 exposures within highly impacted sectors with respect to potential increase in credit risk and the assessment of significant exposures which transitioned from Stage 1 to Stage 2 with respect to potential indications for unlikeliness to pay. These expanded selection criteria were also applied in the three months ended 31 March 2021.

 

In addition to individually assessed assets the Group also assesses assets collectively. The collectively assessed portfolio includes all loans which are not individually assessed. The Group categorises the exposures into sufficiently granular portfolio segments with shared risk characteristics. The granularity for the IFRS 9 segments is aligned with the Internal Rating Based (IRB) segmentation.

 

F.7   Rescheduled loans and advances to customers

The below table presents the Group's rescheduled loans and advances to customers by stage, excluding those classified as held for sale.


31 March 2021

31 December 2020

€000

€000

Stage 1

167,303

199,193

Stage 2

292,159

242,493

Stage 3

670,368

686,944

POCI

88,582

98,400


1,218,412

1,227,030

 

F.8   Additional Credit risk disclosures

As per the European Banking Authorities (EBA) standards and European Central Bank's (ECB) Guidance to Banks on Non‑Performing Loans (which was published in March 2017), NPEs are defined as those exposures that satisfy one of the following conditions: 

(i)  The borrower is assessed as unlikely to pay its credit obligations in full without the realisation of the collateral, regardless of the existence of any past due amount or of the number of days past due.

(ii)  Defaulted or impaired exposures as per the approach provided in the Capital Requirement Regulation (CRR), which would also trigger a default under specific credit adjustment, diminished financial obligation and obligor bankruptcy.

(iii)  Material exposures as set by the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC), which are more than 90 days past due.

(iv)  Performing forborne exposures under probation for which additional forbearance measures are extended.

(v)  Performing forborne exposures previously classified as NPEs that present more than 30 days past due.

 

From 1 January 2021 two regulatory guidelines came into force that affect NPE classification and Days-Past-Due calculation. More specifically, these are the RTS on the Materiality Threshold of Credit Obligations Past-Due (EBA/RTS/2016/06), and the Guideline on the Application of the Definition of Default under article 178 (EBA/RTS/2016/07).

 

The Days-Past-Due (DPD) counter begin counting DPD as soon as the arrears or excesses of an exposure reach the materiality threshold (rather than as of the first day of presenting any amount of arrears or excesses). Similarly, the counter will be set to zero when the arrears or excesses drop below the materiality threshold. Payments towards the exposure that do not reduce the arrears/excesses below the materiality threshold, will not impact the counter.

 



 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.8   Additional Credit risk disclosures (continued)

For retail debtors, when a specific part of the exposures of a customer that fulfils the NPE criteria set out above is greater than 20% of the gross carrying amount of all on balance sheet exposures of that customer, then the total customer exposure is classified as non‑performing; otherwise only the specific part of the exposure is classified as non‑performing.

 

For non‑retail debtors, when an exposure fulfils the NPE criteria set out above, then the total customer exposure is classified as non‑performing.

 

Material arrears/excesses are defined as follows:

-   Retail exposures: Total arrears/excesses amount greater than €100

-  Exposures other than retail: Total arrears/excesses are greater than €500 and the amount in arrears/excess in relation to the customer's total exposure is at least 1%.

 

Non performing forborne exposures cease to be considered as NPEs and in such case are transferred out of Stage 3, only when all of the following conditions are met:

(i)  The extension of forbearance measures does not lead to the recognition of impairment or default.

(ii)  A period of one year has passed since the latest of the following events:

a)  The restructuring date

b)  The date the exposure was classified as non-performing

c)  The end of the grace period included in the restructuring arrangements

(iii)  Following the forbearance measures and according to the post-forbearance conditions, there is no past due amount or concerns regarding the full repayment of the exposure.

(iv)  No unlikely-to-pay criteria exist for the debtor.

(v)  The debtor has made post-forbearance payments of a non-insignificant amount of capital (different capital thresholds exist according to the facility type).

 

Non‑performing non‑forborne exposures cease to be considered as NPEs only when all of the following conditions are met:

i.  At least three months have passed since the moment that the conditions for which the exposure was classified as non-performing, cease to be met and no trigger of default continues to apply

ii.  During the three month period, the behaviour of the obligor should be taken into account

iii.  During the three month period, the financial situation of the obligor should be taken into account

iv.  No Unlikely‑to‑Pay criteria exist for the debtor

The definitions of credit‑impaired and default are aligned so that stage 3 represents all loans which are considered defaulted or otherwise credit‑impaired.

 

When an account exits Stage 3, it is transferred to Stage 2 for a probationary period of 6 months. At the end of this period, the significant increase in credit risk (SICR) trigger is activated and the loan is either transferred to Stage 1 or remains in Stage 2. The reversal of previous unrecognised interest on loans and advances to customers that no longer meet Stage 3 criteria is presented in 'Credit losses to cover credit risk on loans and advances to customers'.




F.   Notes (continued)

F.8   Additional Credit risk disclosures (continued)

The tables below present the analysis of loans and advances to customers in accordance with the EBA standards.

31 March 2021

Gross loans and advances to customers

Accumulated impairment, accumulated negative changes in  fair value due to credit risk and provisions

Group gross customer

 loans and advances1,2

Of which NPEs

Of which exposures with forbearance measures

Accumulated impairment, accumulated negative changes in  fair value due to credit risk and provisions

Of which NPEs

Of which exposures with forbearance measures

Total exposures with forbearance measures

Of which NPEs

Total exposures with forbearance measures

Of which on NPEs

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

Loans and advances to customers









General governments

49,555

1

-

-

1,900

-

-

-

Other financial corporations

121,113

9,677

16,657

3,995

6,401

4,984

1,875

1,299

Non-financial corporations

5,416,927

569,743

630,763

295,272

278,087

251,149

103,267

99,985

Of which: Small and Medium sized Enterprises 3 (SMEs)

3,801,459

388,260

360,665

191,587

237,848

218,379

91,458

88,323

Of which: Commercial real estate 3

4,060,661

295,489

498,189

180,804

149,560

135,873

64,350

61,926

Non-financial corporations by sector









Construction

634,490

77,064



46,374




Wholesale and retail trade

993,930

131,739



82,324




Accommodation and food service activities

1,144,264

20,685



13,777




Real estate activities

1,135,553

142,958



31,001




Manufacturing

371,099

44,202



29,846




Other sectors

1,137,591

153,095



74,765




Households

5,173,975

1,035,666

799,733

531,077

515,333

494,568

225,296

217,281

Of which: Residential mortgage loans 3

4,067,825

854,442

672,956

453,869

383,841

373,393

180,582

174,539

Of which: Credit for consumption 3

618,881

134,238

90,636

67,076

85,010

78,827

33,317

32,432


10,761,570

1,615,087

1,447,153

830,344

801,721

750,701

330,438

318,565

Loans and advances to customers classified  as held for sale

1,294,39 5

1,266,705

736,410

714,281

822,76 7

807,260

440,164

427,307

Total on-balance sheet

12,055,96 5

2,881,792

2,183,563

1,544,625

1,624,48 8

1,557,961

770,602

745,872

 

 

1 Excluding loans and advances to central banks and credit institutions.

2 The residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition (which relates mainly to loans acquired from Laiki Bank and is calculated as the difference between the outstanding contractual amount and the fair value of loans acquired and bears a negative balance) is considered as part of the gross loans, therefore decreases the gross balance of loans and advances to customers.

3 The analysis shown in lines 'non-financial corporations' and 'households' is non-additive across categories as certain customers could be in both categories.

 

 



 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.8   Additional Credit risk disclosures (continued)

 

31 December 2020

Gross loans and advances to customers

Accumulated impairment, accumulated negative changes in  fair value due to credit risk and provisions

Group gross customer

 loans and advances 4,5

Of which NPEs

Of which exposures with forbearance measures

Accumulated impairment, accumulated negative changes in  fair value due to credit risk and provisions

Of which NPEs

Of which exposures with forbearance measures

Total exposures with forbearance measures

Of which NPEs

Total exposures with forbearance measures

Of which on NPEs


€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

Loans and advances to customers









General governments

50,771

1

-

-

1,949

-

-

-

Other financial corporations

115,668

10,494

17,303

4,568

7,232

5,545

2,604

1,907

Non-financial corporations

5,364,716

574,205

499,948

304,406

272,331

245,647

106,238

101,989

Of which: Small and Medium sized Enterprises 6

3,797,095

387,568

327,344

193,938

230,595

210,511

91,092

87,496

Of which: Commercial real estate 6

4,042,172

346,607

367,083

193,959

154,807

139,915

77,104

74,009

Non-financial corporations by sector









Construction

614,135

75,550



42,791




Wholesale and retail trade

997,904

134,135



80,885




Accommodation and food service activities

1,123,380

19,836



12,766




Real estate activities

1,129,066

140,532



30,355




Manufacturing

376,551

45,142



28,185




Other sectors

1,123,680

159,010



77,349




Households

5,160,342

1,055,706

821,614

544,408

523,938

495,784

231,313

221,722

Of which: Residential mortgage loans 6

4,059,939

882,336

690,514

465,939

396,275

382,063

185,648

178,570

Of which: Credit for consumption 6

622,102

133,351

89,725

68,763

82,951

74,473

33,363

32,285


10,691,497

1,640,406

1,338,865

853,382

805,450

746,976

340,155

325,618

Loans and advances to customers classified as held for sale

1,341,255

1,312,166

754,795

731,624

848,218

832,419

447,731

434,657

Total on-balance sheet

12,032,752

2,952,572

2,093,660

1,585,006

1,653,668

1,579,395

787,886

760,275

 

 

4 The analysis shown in lines 'non-financial corporations' and 'households' is non-additive across categories as certain customers could be in both categories.

5 The residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition (which relates mainly to loans acquired from Laiki Bank and is calculated as the difference between the outstanding contractual amount and the fair value of loans acquired and bears a negative balance) is considered as part of the gross loans, therefore decreases the gross balance of loans and advances to customers.

6 The analysis shown in lines 'non-financial corporations' and 'households' is non-additive across categories as certain customers could be in both categories.

 

 


F.   Notes (continued)

F.9   Pending litigation, claims, regulatory and other matters

The Group, in the ordinary course of business, is subject to enquiries and examinations, requests for information, audits, investigations, legal and other proceedings by regulators, governmental and other public bodies, actual and threatened, relating to the suitability and adequacy of advice given to clients or the absence of advice, lending and pricing practices, selling and disclosure requirements, record keeping, filings and a variety of other matters. In addition, as a result of the deterioration of the Cypriot economy and banking sector in 2012 and the subsequent restructuring of BOC PCL in 2013 as a result of the bail-in Decrees, BOC PCL is subject to a large number of proceedings and investigations that either precede, or result from the events that occurred during the period of the bail-in Decrees. Most ongoing investigations and proceedings of significance relate to matters arising during the period prior to the issue of the bail-in Decrees.

 

Provisions have been recognised for those cases where the Group is able to estimate probable losses. Any provision recognised does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing or legal liability. While the outcome of these matters is inherently uncertain, management believes that, based on the information available to it, appropriate provisions have been made in respect of legal proceedings and regulatory and other matters.

 

There are three applications pending before the court which relate to unfair contract terms which have allegedly been included in BOC PCL's consumer contracts. Two of the said applications have been filed by the Consumer Protection Service and one of them by the Cyprus Consumers Association. They are seeking for the issuance of court orders prohibiting the use of a number of contractual terms included in BOC PCL's consumer contracts and the amendment of any such contracts (present and future) so as to remove such unfair terms. The new Law on Consumer Protection brings under one umbrella the existing legislation on unfair contract terms and practices with some enhanced powers vested in the Consumer Protection Service i.e. power to impose increased fines which are immediately payable. The new Law has a retrospective effect in that it also applies to all contracts/practices entered into and/or terminated prior to the Law coming into effect as opposed to contracts/practices which are only entered into/adopted as from the date of publication of the Law. The applications mentioned above are at an early stage and the outcome is still uncertain.

 

F.10   Liquidity regulation

The Group has to comply with provisions on the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) under CRD IV/CRR (as supplemented by Delegated Regulations (EU) 2015/61) with the limit set at 100%. The Group also monitors its position against the Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) as proposed under Basel III and expected to be enforced as a regulatory indicator under Capital Requirements Regulation II (CRR II) in June 2021 with the limit set at 100%.

 

The LCR is designed to promote short-term resilience of a Group's liquidity risk profile by ensuring that it has sufficient high quality liquid resources to survive an acute stress scenario lasting for 30 days. The NSFR has been developed to promote a sustainable maturity structure of assets and liabilities.

 

As at 31 March 2021 the Group was in compliance with all regulatory liquidity requirements. As at 31 March 2021, the LCR stood at 284% for the Group (compared to 254% at 31 December 2020) and was in compliance with the minimum regulatory requirement of 100%. As at 31 March 2021 the Group's NSFR, on the basis of the Basel Ι standards, was 140% (compared to 139% at 31 December 2020).

 

F.11   Liquidity reserves

The below table sets out the Group's liquidity reserves:

Composition of the liquidity reserves

31 March 2021

31 December 2020

Internal

Liquidity reserves

Liquidity reserves as per LCR Delegated Reg (EU)

2015/61 LCR eligible

Internal

Liquidity reserves

Liquidity reserves as per LCR Delegated Reg (EU)

2015/61 LCR eligible

Level 1

Level 2A

Level 1

Level 2A

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

Cash and balances with central banks

6,851,214

6,851,214

-

5,568,431

5,568,431

-

Placements with banks

207,047

-

-

248,839

-

-

Liquid investments

627,876

522,018

146,705

1,409,850

1,240,773

133,073

Available ECB Buffer

61,195

-

-

762,001

-

-

Total

7,747,332

7,373,232

146,705

7,989,121

6,809,204

133,073

 

Internal Liquidity Reserves present the total liquid assets as defined in BOC PCL's Liquidity Policy. Liquidity reserves as per LCR Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/61 present the liquid assets as per the definition of the aforementioned regulation i.e. High Quality Liquid Assets (HQLA).



F.   Notes (continued)

F.11   Liquidity reserves (continued)

Under Liquidity reserves as per LCR, Nostro and placements with banks are not included, as they are not considered HQLA (they are part of the LCR Inflows). 

 

Liquid investments under the Liquidity reserves as per LCR are shown at market values reduced by standard weights as prescribed by the LCR regulation. Liquid investments under Internal Liquidity reserves include all LCR and/or ECB eligible investments and are shown at market values net of haircut based on ECB haircuts and methodology. 

 

Finally, current available ECB buffer is not part of the Liquidity reserves as per LCR, since the ECB collateral pool includes assets that are not LCR eligible but only eligible as collateral for Eurosystem credit operations.

 

The Liquidity Reserves are managed by Treasury.

 

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the ECB has adopted a broad set of policy measures to mitigate the economic impact of the crisis and to ensure that its directly supervised banks can continue to fulfil their role in funding the real economy. A high-level description of the main measures which have a direct or indirect impact on the liquidity position of banks is set out below. 

 

ECB announced that it will allow banks to operate below the defined level of 100% of the LCR until at least end-2021. The set of collateral easing measures adopted, resulted in increasing BOC PCL's borrowing capacity from the ECB operations and  improving the liquidity buffers due to the lower haircuts applied to the ECB eligible collateral the bank holds, that comprises of bonds and Additional Credit Claims (ACC). The collateral easing packages are designed as temporary measures (with the exception of part of the haircut reduction on ACCs which is permanent) that will remain in place until June 2022 and will be reassessed before then. Furthermore, the ECB enlarged the scope of the ACC framework, increasing the universe of eligible loans. In relation to existing collateral, the ECB announced changes in collateral rules, temporarily accepting collaterals with a rating below investment grade, setting, however a minimum acceptable rating level.

 

Additionally, the package contains measures that provide liquidity support to the euro area financial system, such as significant favourable amendments in the terms and characteristics of TLTRO III. Furthermore, a new series of additional longer-term refinancing operations, called Pandemic Emergency Longer-Term Refinancing Operations (PELTROs), has been introduced.

 

F.12   Capital management  

The primary objective of the Group's capital management is to ensure compliance with the relevant regulatory capital requirements and to maintain strong credit ratings and healthy capital adequacy ratios in order to support its business and maximise shareholders' value.

 

The capital adequacy framework, as in force, was incorporated through the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR) and Capital Requirements Directive IV (CRD IV) and came into effect on 1 January 2014 with certain specified provisions implemented gradually. The CRR and CRD IV transposed the new capital, liquidity and leverage standards of Basel III into the European Union's legal framework. CRR establishes the prudential requirements for capital, liquidity and leverage for credit institutions and investment firms. It is directly applicable in all EU member states. CRD IV governs access to deposit-taking activities and internal governance arrangements including remuneration, board composition and transparency. Unlike the CRR, member states were required to transpose the CRD IV into national law and national regulators were allowed to impose additional capital buffer requirements.

 

On 27 June 2019, the revised rules on capital and liquidity (CRR II and CRD V) came into force. As an amending regulation, the existing provisions of CRR apply, unless they are amended by CRR II. Member states are required to transpose the CRD V into national law. Certain provisions took immediate effect (primarily relating to Minimum Requirement for Own Funds and Eligible Liabilities (MREL)), but most changes will start to apply as of mid-2021. Certain aspects of CRR II are dependent on final technical standards to be issued by the EBA and adopted by the European Commission. The key changes introduced consist of, among others, changes to qualifying criteria for Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1), Additional Tier 1 ( AT1) and Tier 2 (T2) instruments, introduction of requirements for MREL and a binding Leverage Ratio requirement and a Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR).

 

In addition, Regulation (EU) 2016/445 of the ECB on the exercise of options and discretions available in Union law (ECB/2016/4) provides certain transitional arrangements which supersede the national discretions unless they are stricter than the EU Regulation 2016/445.



 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.12   Capital management (continued)

Moreover, in June 2020 Regulation (EU) 2020/873 came into force which provides for certain amendments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing forward some of the capital relieving measures that were due to come into force at a later stage and introducing modifications as part of the wider efforts of competent authorities to provide the support necessary to the institutions. The main amendments with an impact on the Group's capital ratio relate to the acceleration of the implementation of the new SME discount factor under CRR II introduced in June 2020 instead of June 2021 (lower RWAs), extending the IFRS 9 transitional arrangements and introducing further relief measures to CET1 allowing to fully add back to CET1 any increase in ECL recognised in 2020 and 2021 for non-credit impaired financial assets and phasing in this starting from 2022 and advancing the application of the prudential treatment of software assets as amended by CRR II (which came into force in December 2020).

 

In addition, the amendments, introduced a temporary treatment of unrealized gains and losses on exposures to central governments, to regional governments or to local authorities measured at fair value through other comprehensive income, which the Group elected to apply and implemented in the third quarter of 2020. Overall the Group's CET1 ratio benefited by approximately 80 bps in 2020 as a result of the above amendments.

 

The CET1 ratio of the Group as at 31 March 2021 stands at 14.4% and the total capital ratio at 18.0% on a transitional basis. The ratios as at 31 March 2021 include unaudited/un-reviewed profits for the three months ended 31 March 2021.

 

The minimum Pillar I total capital requirement is 8.0% and may be met, in addition to the 4.5% CET1 requirement, with up to 1.5% by AT1 capital and with up to 2.0% by T2 capital.

 

The Group is also subject to additional capital requirements for risks which are not covered by the Pillar I capital requirements (Pillar II add-ons).

 

The Group's minimum phased in CET1 capital ratio and Total Capital Ratio remained unchanged for 2021 compared to 2020.

 

Following the annual Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP) performed by the ECB in 2019, which became effective as of 1 January 2020, the Group's phased-in CET1 capital ratio was set at 11.0%, comprising of 4.5% Pillar I requirement, 3.0% Pillar II requirement (P2R), the Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB) of 2.5% (fully phased-in as of 1 January 2019) and the O-SII buffer of 1.0%.

 

The Group's Total Capital requirement was set at 14.5%, comprising of 8.0% Pillar I requirement (of which up to 1.50% could be in the form of AT1 capital and up to 2.0% in the form of T2 capital), 3.0% P2R, the CCB of 2.5% and the O-SII buffer of 1.0%. The ECB has also provided non-public guidance for an additional Pillar II CET1 buffer.

 

In April 2020, and following ECB and EBA announcements on 12 March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, BOC PCL received an amending SREP decision from the ECB amending the composition of the Pillar II additional own funds requirement, allowing to use AT1 capital and T2 capital to meet P2R and not meet P2R only by CET1, compared to the 2019 final SREP decision received in December 2019 which required P2R to be met in full by CET1. This decision is effective from 12 March 2020. This brought forward a measure that was scheduled to come into force in January 2021 with CRD V. As a result,  the minimum CET1 requirement of the Group decreased to 9.7%, comprising a 4.5% Pillar I requirement, a 1.7% P2R, the CCB of 2.5% (fully phased in as of 1 January 2019) and the O-SII buffer of 1.0%. There was no change on the Total Capital requirement.

 

Moreover, on 12 March 2020, the ECB and the EBA also announced that banks are temporarily allowed to operate below the level of capital defined by P2G, the CCB and the CCyb. In July 2020, the ECB committed to allow banks to operate below P2G and the combined buffer requirement  until at least the end of 2022, without automatically triggering supervisory actions.

 

In addition, the EBA final guidelines on SREP and supervisory stress testing and the Single Supervisory Mechanism's (SSM) 2018 SREP methodology provide that own funds held for the purposes of Pillar II Guidance (P2G) cannot be used to meet any other capital requirements (Pillar I, Pillar II requirements or the combined buffer requirement), and therefore cannot be used twice. In line with the final 2019 SREP decision, these provisions became effective as of 1 January 2020.

 

In November 2020, the Group received communication from the ECB according to which no SREP decision would be issued for the 2020 SREP cycle and the 2019 SREP decision will remain in force, hence leaving the Group's capital requirements unchanged as well as other requirements established by the 2019 SREP decision (as amended).

 

The above minimum ratios apply for both BOC PCL and the Group.



 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.12   Capital management (continued)

The capital position of the Group and BOC PCL as at 31 March 2021 exceeds both their Pillar I and their Pillar II add-on capital requirements. However, the Pillar II add-on capital requirements are a point-in-time assessment and therefore are subject to change over time.

 

The CBC, in accordance with the Macroprudential Oversight of Institutions Law of 2015, sets, on a quarterly basis, the Countercyclical Capital Buffer (CCyB) level in accordance with the methodology described in this law. The CBC has set the level of the CCyB for Cyprus at 0% for the year 2020 and the six months up to June 2021.

 

In accordance with the provisions of this law, the CBC is also the responsible authority for the designation of banks that are Other Systemically Important Institutions (O-SIIs) and for the setting of the O-SII buffer requirement for these systemically important banks. BOC PCL has been designated as an O-SII and the CBC set the O-SII buffer for BOC PCL and the Group at 2.0%.

 

This buffer is being phased in gradually, having started from 1 January 2019 at 0.5% and increasing by 0.5% every year thereafter, until being fully implemented (2.0%). In April 2020, the CBC decided to delay the phasing in (0.5%) of the O-SII buffer on 1 January 2021 and 1 January 2022 by 12 months. Consequently, the O-SII buffer will be fully phased in on 1 January 2023, instead of 1 January 2022 as originally set.

 

The insurance subsidiaries of the Group comply with the requirements of the Superintendent of Insurance including the minimum solvency ratio as at 31 March 2021 and 31 December 2020. The regulated UCITS management company of the Group, BOC Asset Management Ltd, complies with the regulatory capital requirements of the CySEC laws and regulations as at 31 March 2021 and 31 December 2020. The regulated investment firm (CIF) of the Group, The Cyprus Investment and Securities Corporation Ltd (CISCO), complies with the minimum capital adequacy ratio requirements as at 31 March 2021 and 31 December 2020.

 

F.12.1   Capital position

The capital position of the Group and BOC PCL as at the reporting date (after applying the transitional arrangements) is presented below:

Regulatory capital 

Group

BOC PCL

 31 March

 20217

31 December 20208

  31 March

 2021 7

31 December 20208

€000

€000

€000

€000

Transitional Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1 )9

1,668,355

1,722,751

1,643,425

1,688,296

Transitional Additional Tier 1 capital (AT1)

220,000

220,000

220,000

220,000

Tier 2 capital (T2)

195,631

192,248

250,000

250,000

Transitional total regulatory capital

2,083,986

2,134,999

2,113,425

2,158,296

Risk weighted assets - credit risk10

10,414,706

10,504,937

10,445,483

10,516,023

Risk weighted assets - market risk

-

-

-

-

Risk weighted assets - operational risk

1,131,438

1,131,438

1,078,575

1,078,575

Total risk weighted assets

11,546,144

11,636,375

11,524,058

11,594,598







%

  %

%

  %

Transitional Common Equity Tier 1 ratio

14.45

14.80

14.26

14.56

Transitional total capital ratio

18.05

18.35

18.34

18.61

 

7 Includes unaudited/un-reviewed profits for the three months ended 31 March 2021.

8 Includes unaudited/un-reviewed profits for the three months ended 31 March 2021.

9 CET1 includes regulatory deductions, comprising, amongst others, intangible assets amounting to €27,018 thousand for the Group and €24,147 thousand for BOC PCL as at 31 March 2021 (31 December 2020: €27,171 thousand for the Group and €24,269 thousand for BOC PCL). As a result of newly introduced amendments, at 31 March 2021 an amount of €19,849 thousand is considered prudently valued for CRR purposes and it is not deducted from CET1 (31 December 2020:€21,985 thousand).

10 Includes Credit Valuation Adjustments (CVA).



 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.12   Capital management (continued)

F.12.1   Capital position (continued)

The capital ratios of the Group and BOC PCL as at the reporting date on a fully loaded basis are presented below:

Fully loaded

Group

BOC PCL

31 March

 202111,12

31 December 202011

31 March

 202111,12

31 December 202011

%

%

%

%

Common Equity Tier 1 ratio

13.08

12.94

12.89

12.69

Total capital ratio

16.87

16.74

17.03

16.83

 

During the period ended 31 March 2021 CET1 was negatively affected mainly by the phasing-in of IFRS 9 transitional adjustments on 1 January 2021 and ECL charges, and was positively affected by pre-provision income and the decrease in risk-weighted assets . As a result, the CET1 ratio has decreased by 35 bps during the three months ended 31 March 2021.

 

The Group has elected in prior years to apply the static-dynamic approach in relation to the transitional arrangements for the initial application of IFRS 9, where the impact on the impairment amount from the initial application of IFRS 9 on the capital ratios is phased in gradually, pursuant to EU Regulation 2017/2395 and it therefore applies paragraph 4 of Article 473(a) of the CRR. The 'static-dynamic' approach allows for recalculation of the transitional adjustment periodically on Stage 1 and Stage 2 loans, so as to reflect the increase of the ECL provisions within the transition period. The Stage 3 ECL remains static over the transition period as per the impact upon initial recognition.

 

The amount added each year for the 'static component' decreases based on a weighting factor until the impact of IFRS 9 is fully absorbed back to CET1 at the end of the five years. The impact on the capital position for year 2018 was 5% of the impact on the impairment amounts from the initial application of IFRS 9, increasing to 15% (cumulative) for year 2019, to 30% (cumulative) for year 2020 and 50% (cumulative) for year 2021. This will increase to 75% (cumulative) for year 2022 and will be fully phased in (100%) by 1 January 2023.

 

Following the June 2020 amendments to the CRR, the Group applied the amendments in relation to the IFRS 9 transitional arrangements for Stage 1 and Stage 2 loans (i.e. the 'dynamic component') which provide for the extension of the transitional period for the 'dynamic component'. A 100% add back of IFRS 9 provisions is allowed for the years 2020 and 2021 reducing to 75% in 2022, to 50% in 2023 and to 25% in 2024. The calculation at each reporting period is to be made against Stage 1 and Stage 2 provisions as at 1 January 2020, instead of 1 January 2018. The calculation of the 'static component' has not been amended.

 

In relation to the temporary treatment of unrealized gains and losses for certain exposures measured at fair value through other comprehensive income, Regulation EU 2020/873 allows institutions to remove from their CET1 the amount of unrealized gains and losses accumulated since 31 December 2019, excluding those of financial assets that are credit-impaired. The relevant amount is removed at a scaling factor of 100% from January to December 2020, reduced to 70% from January to December 2021 and to 40% from January to December 2022. The Group applies the temporary treatment from the third quarter of 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11 IFRS 9 and application of the temporary treatment of certain FVOCI instruments in accordance with Article 468 of CRR fully loaded.

12 Includes unaudited/un-reviewed profits for the three months ended 31 March 2021.

F.   Notes (continued)

F.12   Capital management (continued)

F.12.1   Capital position (continued)

Template IFRS 9/Article 468-FL: Comparison of institution's own funds and capital and leverage ratios with and without the application of transitional arrangements for IFRS 9 or analogous ECLs, and with and without the application of the temporary treatment in accordance with Article 468 of the CRR



31 March

2021*

31 December

 2020

30 September

 2020

30 June

2020

31 March

2020

€000

€000

€000

€000

€000

1

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital

1,665,226

1,722,751

1,734,560

1,707,010

1,806,926

2

CET1 capital as if IFRS 9 or analogous ECLs transitional arrangements had not been applied

1,488,834

1,476,910

1,502,062

1,479,450

1,590,786

2a

CET1 capital as if the temporary treatment of unrealised gains and losses measured at fair value through OCI (other comprehensive income) in accordance with Article 468 of the CRR had not been applied**

1,660,897

1,719,976

1,726,264

1,707,010

1,806,926

3

Tier 1 capital

1,885,226

1,942,751

1,954,560

1,927,010

2,026,926

4

Tier 1 capital as if IFRS 9 or analogous ECLs transitional arrangements had not been applied

1,708,834

1,696,910

1,722,062

1,699,450

1,810,786

4a

Tier 1 capital as if the temporary treatment of unrealised gains and losses measured at fair value through OCI in accordance with Article 468 of the CRR had not been applied**

1,880,897

1,939,976

1,946,264

1,927,010

2,026,926

5

Total capital

2,081,119

2,134,999

2,149,940

2,126,084

2,227,575

6

Total capital as if IFRS 9 or analogous ECLs transitional arrangements had not been applied

1,919,565

1,909,157

1,937,107

1,917,532

2,028,428

6a

Total capital as if the temporary treatment of unrealised gains and losses measured at fair value through OCI in accordance with Article 468 of the CRR had not been applied**

2,076,790

2,132,224

2,141,644

2,126,084

2,227,575


Risk-weighted assets

7

Total risk-weighted assets

11,546,144

11,636,375

11,887,795

11,960,184

12,598,792

8

Total risk-weighted assets as if IFRS 9 or analogous ECLs transitional arrangements had not been applied

11,369,752

11,390,534

11,655,297

11,732,624

12,368,530

 

*  Amounts and ratios exclude interim profits.

** The temporary treatment was first applied by the Group in the third quarter of 2020 and does not impact prior periods presented.



 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.12   Capital management (continued)

F.12.1   Capital position (continued)



31 March

2021*

31 December

 2020

30 September

 2020

30 June

2020

31 March

2020


Capital ratios

9

Capital Ratios

CET1 (as a percentage of risk exposure amount)

14.42%

14.80%

14.59%

14.27%

14.34%

10

CET1 (as a percentage of risk exposure amount) as if IFRS 9 or analogous ECLs transitional arrangements had not been applied

13.09%

12.97%

12.89%

12.61%

12.86%

10a

CET1 (as a percentage of risk exposure amount) as if the temporary treatment of unrealised gains and losses measured at fair value through OCI in accordance with Article 468 of the CRR had not been applied**

14.39%

14.78%

14.52%

14.27%

14.34%

11

Tier 1 (as a percentage of risk exposure amount)

16.33%

16.70%

16.44%

16.11%

16.09%

12

Tier 1 (as a percentage of risk exposure amount) as if IFRS 9 or analogous ECLs transitional arrangements had not been applied

15.03%

14.90%

14.77%

14.48%

14.64%

12a

Tier 1 (as a percentage of risk exposure amount) as if the temporary treatment of unrealised gains and losses measured at fair value through OCI in accordance with Article 468 of the CRR had not been applied**

16.29%

16.67%

16.37%

16.11%

16.09%

13

Total capital (as a percentage of risk exposure amount)

18.02%

18.35%

18.09%

17.78%

17.68%

14

Total capital (as a percentage of risk exposure amount) as if IFRS 9 or analogous ECLs transitional arrangements had not been applied

16.88%

16.76%

16.62%

16.34%

16.40%

14a

Total capital (as a percentage of risk exposure amount) as if the temporary treatment of unrealised gains and losses measured at fair value through OCI in accordance with Article 468 of the CRR had not been applied**

17.99%

18.32%

18.02%

17.78%

17.68%


Leverage ratio

15

Leverage ratio total exposure measure (€000)

22,853,266

21,406,146

21,377,843

21,219,766

20,316,602

16

Leverage ratio

8.25%

9.08%

9.14%

9.08%

9.98%

17

Leverage ratio as if IFRS 9 or analogous ECLs transitional arrangements had not been applied

7.54%

8.02%

8.11%

8.06%

8.97%

17a

Leverage ratio as if the temporary treatment of unrealised gains and losses measured at fair value through OCI in accordance with Article 468 of the CRR had not been applied**

8.23%

9.06%

9.07%

9.08%

9.98%

 

*  Amounts and ratios exclude interim profits.

** The temporary treatment was first applied by the Group in the third quarter of 2020 and does not impact prior periods presented.



 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.12   Capital management (continued)

F.12.1   Capital position (continued)

The decrease in RWAs is mainly driven by the decrease in the Credit risk RWA, which is analysed in in sections F.12.2 and F.12.3 below.

 

The increase in the leverage ratio total exposure measure from 31 December 2020 to 31 March 2021 follows the movements in the Group's balance sheet assets.

 

The decrease in the leverage ratio from 31 December 2020 to 31 March 2021 is driven by the decrease in the Capital measure (Tier 1) and increase in total exposure measure.

 

F.12.2   Overview of RWA


RWAs

Minimum capital requirements




31 March

2021

31 December

 2020

31 March

2021



€000

€000

€000

1

Credit risk(excluding counterparty credit risk (CCR))

10 , 316 , 428

10,382,775

825 , 314

2

Of which: the Standardised Approach

10 , 316 , 428

10,382,775

825 , 314

6

CCR

7 , 014

5,786

561

7

Of which: markto market

4 , 038

3,299

323

12

Of which: Credit Valuation Adjustment (CVA)

2 , 976

2,487

238

14

Securitisation exposures in the banking book (after the cap)

34 , 256

37,128

2 , 740

18

Of which: Standardised Approach

34 , 256

37,128

2 , 740

23

Operational risk

1 , 131 , 438

1,131,438

90 , 515

25

Of which: Standardised Approach

1 , 131 , 438

1,131,438

90 , 515

27

Amounts belowthe thresholds for deduction (subject to 250% risk weight)

57 , 008

79,248

4 , 561

29

Total

11 , 546 , 144

11,636,375

923 , 691

 

The decrease in RWAs is mainly driven by the decrease in the Credit risk RWA observed in the first line of the table above, which is analysed in section F.12.3 below.

 

There were no large exposures for institutions that exceeded the relevant limits.



 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.12   Capital management (continued)

F.12.3   Standardised approach - Credit risk exposure and Credit Risk Mitigation (CRM) effects

The table below illustrates the analysis of RWA and RWA density of all exposure classes that comprise the RWA reported in lines 1 and 27 of the table in section F.12.2 above.

Exposure classes

31 March 2021

31 December 2020

RWAs and RWA density

RWAs and RWA density

RWAs

RWA density

RWAs

RWA density


€000

%

€000

%

Centralgovernmentsor centralbanks

323 , 978

3 . 9

348,916

5.0

Re gionalgovernmentorlocalauthorities

396

0 . 5

444

0.8

P u blicsectorentities

-

-

3

-

Institutions

174,460

24 . 9

152,387

23.3

Corporates

3,040,169

89.9

3,010,070

89.9

Retail

913,673

71.1

921,101

71.2

Securedbymortgagesonimmovableproperty

1,301,817

36.5

1,277,838

36.4

Exposuresindefault

1,168,147

103.6

1,216,347

103.6

H igher-riskcategories

1,187,569

150.0

1,182,923

150.0

Coveredbonds

15,145

10.0

14,970

10.0

Collectiveinvestmentundertakings (CIUs)

2,346

66.3

2,457

65.5

Equity

78,233

177.7

100,046

190.6

Otheritems

2,167,503

100.2

2,234,521

100.5

Total

10,373,436

47.3

10,462,023

51.1

 

The main drivers behind the overall decrease in the RWAs relate to (a) the improvement in the RWA density in customer advances from increased provision coverage on higher risk weight (RW) categories and lower risk new lending; and (b) the conversion of Deferred Tax Credit risk weighted at 100% to tax receivable at 0% RW included within 'Other items' exposure class. The overall decrease in the RWA density was mainly driven by the material increase in the Group's total assets from an increase in Balances with central banks.



 

F.   Notes (continued)

F.13  Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP), Internal Liquidity Assessment Process (ILAAP), Pillar II and Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP)

The Group prepares the ICAAP and ILAAP reports annually. Both reports for 2020 have been completed and submitted to the ECB at the end of April 2021 following approval by the Board of Directors.

 

The Group undertakes quarterly reviews of its ICAAP results, considering the latest actual and forecasted information. During the quarterly review, the Group's risk profile and risk management policies and processes are reviewed and any changes since the annual ICAAP exercise are taken into consideration. The Group has prepared a review of its ICAAP with reference date 31 March 2020, 30 June 2020 and 30 September 2020, which indicated that the Group has sufficient capital and available mitigants to support its risk profile and its business and to enable it to meet its regulatory requirements, both in a base case and in stress conditions.

 

The Group also undertakes a quarterly review for the ILAAP through quarterly stress tests submitted to the ALCO and the Risk Committee of the Board of Directors. Any material changes since the year-end are assessed in terms of liquidity. The quarterly review identifies whether the Group has an adequate liquidity buffer to cover the stress outflows. The Group's ILAAP analysis demonstrates that the volume and capacity of liquidity resources available to the Group are adequate.

 

The ECB, as part of its supervisory role, has been conducting the SREP and onsite inspections on the Group. SREP is a holistic assessment of, amongst other things, the Group's business model, internal governance and institution-wide control arrangements, risks to capital and adequacy of capital to cover these risks and risks to liquidity and adequacy of liquidity resources to cover these risks. The objective of the SREP is for the ECB to form an up-to-date supervisory view of the Group's risks and viability and to form the basis for supervisory measures and dialogue with the Group. Additional capital and other requirements could be imposed on the Group as a result of these supervisory processes, including a revision of the level of Pillar II add-ons as the Pillar II add-ons capital requirements are a point-in-time assessment and therefore subject to change over time.

 

The Group participates in the ECB SREP stress test of 2021. The EU-wide stress test is primarily focused on the assessment of the impact of risk drivers on the solvency of banks. Banks are required to stress a common set of risks (credit risk, market risk, operational risk - including conduct risk). The EU - Stress Test is a biannual exercise. While the exercise is coordinated by the EBA, it is carried out in cooperation with the ECB, the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB), the European Commission and the National Competent Authorities (NCAs) from all relevant national jurisdictions.  

 

The exercise was initiated on 29 January 2021 with the announcement of the macro assumptions of the stress tests. The baseline scenario for EU countries is based on the projections from the national central banks on December 2020. The adverse scenario assumes the materialisation of the main financial stability risks that have been identified by the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) and which the EU banking sector is exposed to and reflects recent risk assessments by the EBA.

 

The results of the exercise should be published by the end of July 2021. The outcome may provide valuable input to make informed decisions on possible exit strategies from the flexibility measures granted to banks due to the Covid-19 crisis, or on the need for additional measures, should the economic conditions deteriorate further.

 

The process is at the stage where banks have completed the second submission of projections on 11 May 2021, while the third and final submission is expected to take place on 18 June 2021.



 

G.   Definitions & Explanations

Reconciliations of Alternative Performance Measures

Reconciliations between the calculations of non-IFRS performance measures and the most directly comparable IFRS measures which allow for the comparability of the underlying basis to statutory information are disclosed below:

1.  (a) Reconciliation of Gross loans and advances to customers


31 March

2021

31 December 2020

€000

€000

12,280,760

12,261,40 4



(145,667)

(146,60 2 )

(1,294,395)

(1,341,255)

(44,228)

(46,675)

(293,444)

(289,861)

(35,928)

(36,408)

10,467,098

10,400,603

 

1.  (b) Reconciliation of Loans and advances to customers classified as held for sale


31 March

2021

31 December 2020

€000

€000

1,338,623

1,387,930



(44,228)

(46,675)

1,294,395

1,341,255

 



 

G.   Definitions & Explanations (continued)

Reconciliations of Alternative Performance Measures (continued)

2.  (a) Reconciliation of Allowance for expected credit losses on loans and advances to customers (ECL)


31 March

2021

31 December 2020

€000

€000

Allowance for expected credit losses on loans and advances to customers (ECL) as per the underlying basis (as defined below)

1,869,180

1,901,97 8

Reconciling items:



Residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition (Note 1 below)

(145,667)

(146,60 2 )

Aggregate fair value adjustment on loans and advances to customers measured at fair value through profit or loss

(35,928)

(36,408)

Allowance for expected credit losses on loans and advances to customers classified as held for sale (Section F.6)

(822,767)

(848,218)

Residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition on loans and advances to customers classified as held for sale (Note 1 below)

(44,228)

(46,675)

Provisions for financial guarantees and commitments

(19,897)

(19,658)

Allowance for ECL for impairment of loans and advances to customers as per Section F.3

800,693

804,417

 

2.  (b) Reconciliation of Allowance for expected credit losses on loans and advances to customers classified as held for sale (ECL)


31 March

2021

31 December 2020

€000

€000

Allowance for expected credit losses on loans and advances to customers (ECL) classified as held for sale as per the underlying basis

866,995

894,893

Reconciling items:



Residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition on loans and advances to customers classified as held for sale (Note 1 below)

(44,228)

(46,675)

Allowance for ECL for impairment of loans and advances to customers classified as held for sale as per Section F.6

822,767

848,218

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

G.   Definitions & Explanations (continued)

Reconciliations of Alternative Performance Measures (continued)

3.  Reconciliation of NPEs


31 March

2021

31 December 2020

€000

€000

NPEs (as defined below and as per Section F.8)

3,011,900

3,085,646

Reconciling items:



Loans and advances to customers (NPEs) classified as held for sale (Note 2 below)

(1,266,705)

(1,312,16 5 )

Residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition on loans and advances to customers (NPEs) classified as held for sale (Note 3 below)

(44,281)

(47,01 1 )

Loans and advances to customers measured at fair value through profit or loss (NPEs)

(119,766)

(118,479)

POCI (NPEs) (Note 4 below)

(221,620)

(227,065)

Residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition on loans and advances to customers (NPEs) classified as Stage 3

(10,326)

(9,37 6 )

Stage 3 gross loans and advances to customers at amortised cost as per Section F.5

1,349,202

1,371,550

NPE ratio





NPEs (as per table above) (€000)

3,011,900

3,085,646

Gross loans and advances to customers (as per table above) (€000)

12,280,760

12,261,40 4

Ratio of NPE/Gross loans (%)

24.5%

25.2%

 

Note 1: Residual fair value adjustment

The residual fair value adjustment mainly relates to the loans and advances to customers acquired as part of the acquisition of certain operations of Laiki Bank in 2013. In accordance with the provisions of IFRS 3, this adjustment decreased the gross balance of loans and advances to customers. The residual fair value adjustment is included within the gross balances of loans and advances to customers as at each balance sheet date. However, for credit risk monitoring, the residual fair value adjustment as at each balance sheet date is presented separately from the gross balances of loans and advances to customers .

 

Note 2 : Gross loans at amortised cost after residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition classified as held for sale include an amount of €1,094,520 thousand Stage 3 loans (31 December 2020: €1,130,937 thousand Stage 3 loans) and an amount of €172,185 thousand POCI - Stage 3 loans (out of a total of €173,074 thousand POCI loans) (31 December 2020: €181,228 thousand POCI - Stage 3 loans (out of a total of €181,984 thousand POCI loans)) as disclosed in Section F.5.

 

Note 3 : Residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition of loans and advances to customers classified as held for sale includes an amount of €6,933 thousand for Stage 3 loans (31 December 2020: €7,650 thousand for Stage 3 loans) and an amount of €37,348 thousand for POCI - Stage 3 loans (out of a total of €37,370 thousand POCI loans) (31 December 2020: €39,361 thousand for POCI - Stage 3 loans (out of a total of €39,381 thousand POCI loans)) as disclosed in Section F.5.

 

Note 4 : Gross loans and advances to customers at amortised cost before residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition include an amount of €221,620 thousand POCI - Stage 3 loans (out of a total of €321,960 thousand POCI loans) (31 December 2020: €227,065 thousand POCI - Stage 3 loans (out of a total of €335,852 thousand POCI loans)) as disclosed in Section F.5.

 



 

G.   Definitions & Explanations (continued)

Ratios Information

1.  Net Interest Margin

 


Three months ended

31 March

2021

2020


€000

€000

1.1.  Net interest income (annualised)

309,666

341,57 1

 

1.2.  Interest earning assets

31 March 2021

31 December 2020

€000

€000

Cash and balances with central banks

6,926,347

5, 653,315

Loans and advances to banks

420,593

402,784

Loans and advances to customers

9,959,849

9,886,047

Loans and advances to customers held for sale

471,628

493,037

Cash held for sale

79,373

68,425

Investments



Debt securities

1,923,324

1,708,844

Less: Investments which are not interest bearing

(18,883)

(18,618)

Total interest earning assets

19,762,231

18,1 93 , 834




1.3.  Quarterly average interest earning assets (€000)



as at 31 March 2021

18,978,032


as at 31 March 2020

17,538 , 952


 

2.  Operating profit return on average assets

The various components used in the determination of the operating profit return on average assets are provided below:


31 March 2021

31 December

2020

€000

€000

Total assets used in the computation of the operating profit return on average assets/per the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Balance Sheet

23,043,592

21,514,131

 


31 March 2021

31 March

2020

€000

€000

Annualised operating profit

181,875

211,098

Quarterly average total assets

22,278,861

20,776,807

 

 

 



 

G. Definitions & Explanations (continued)

Advisory and other restructuring costs

Comprise mainly: fees of external advisors in relation to: (i) disposal of operations and non-core assets, and (ii) customer loan restructuring activities.



Allowance for expected loan credit losses (previously 'Accumulated provisions')

Comprises (i) allowance for expected credit losses (ECL) on loans and advances to customers (including allowance for expected credit losses on loans and advances to customers held for sale), (ii) the residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition of loans and advances to customers, (iii) allowance for expected credit losses for off-balance sheet exposures (financial guarantees and commitments) disclosed on the balance sheet within other liabilities, and (iv) the aggregate fair value adjustment on loans and advances to customers classified and measured at FVPL.



AT1

AT1 (Additional Tier 1) is defined in accordance with Articles 51 and 52 of the Capital Requirements Regulation (EU) No 575/2013, as amended by CRR II applicable as at the reporting date.



CET1 capital ratio (transitional basis)

CET1 capital ratio (transitional basis) is defined in accordance with the Capital Requirements Regulation (EU) No 575/2013, as amended by CRR II applicable as at the reporting date.



CET1 fully loaded (FL) ratio

The CET1 fully loaded (FL) ratio is defined in accordance with the Capital Requirements Regulation (EU) No 575/2013, as amended by CRR II applicable as at the reporting date.



Contribution to DGF

Relates to the contribution made to the Deposit Guarantee Fund.



Contribution to SRF

Relates to the contribution made to the Single Resolution Fund.



Cost to Income ratio

 

Cost-to-income ratio comprises total expenses (as defined) divided by total income (as defined).



Data from the Statistical Service

The latest data from the Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus, Cyprus Statistical Service, was published on 18 May 2021.

 

Digital transactions ratio

This is the ratio of the number of digital transactions performed by individuals and legal entity customers to the total number of transactions. Transactions include deposits, withdrawals, internal and external transfers. Digital channels include mobile, browser and ATMs.



Digitally engaged customers ratio

This is the ratio of digitally engaged individual customers to the total number of individual customers. Digitally engaged customers are the individuals who use the digital channels of the Bank (mobile banking app, browser and ATMs) to perform banking transactions, as well as digital enablers such as a bank-issued card to perform online card purchases, based on an internally developed scorecard.

 

ECB

European Central Bank



Gross loans

Gross loans comprise: (i) gross loans and advances to customers measured at amortised cost before the residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition (including loans and advances to customers classified as non-current assets held for sale) and (ii) loans and advances to customers classified and measured at FVPL adjusted for the aggregate fair value adjustment

 

Gross loans are reported before the residual fair value adjustment on initial recognition relating mainly to loans acquired from Laiki Bank (calculated as the difference between the outstanding contractual amount and the fair value of loans acquired) amounting to €226 mn at 31 March 2021 (compared to €230 mn at 31 December 2020).

 

Additionally, gross loans include loans and advances to customers classified and measured at fair value through profit or loss adjusted for the aggregate fair value adjustment of €329 mn at 31 March 2021 (compared to of €326 mn at 31 December 2020).



Group

 

The Group consists ο f Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Limited Company, "BOC Holdings" or the "Company", its subsidiary Bank of Cyprus Public Company Limited, the "Bank" and the Bank's subsidiaries.



Legacy exposures

Legacy exposures are exposures relating to (i) Restructuring and Recoveries Division (RRD), (ii) Real Estate Management Unit (REMU), and (iii) non-core overseas exposures.

 

G. Definitions & Explanations (continued)

 

Leverage ratio

The leverage ratio is the ratio of tangible total equity (including Other equity instruments) to total assets as presented on the balance sheet.



Loan credit losses (PL) (previously 'Provision charge')

Loan credit losses comprise: (i) credit losses to cover credit risk on loans and advances to customers, (ii) net gains on derecognition of financial assets measured at amortised cost and (iii) net gains on loans and advances to customers at FVPL, for the reporting period/year.



Loan credit losses charge (previously 'Provisioning charge') (cost of risk)

Loan credit losses charge (cost of risk) (year to date) is calculated as the annualised 'loan credit losses' (as defined) divided by average gross loans. The average gross loans are calculated as the average of the opening balance and the closing balance, for the reporting period/year.



Market Shares

Both deposit and loan market shares are based on data from the CBC.

 

The Bank is the single largest credit provider in Cyprus with a market share of 42.4% at 31 March 2021, compared to 41.9% at 31 December 2020.



MSCI ESG Rating

The use by the Bank of any MSCI ESG Research LLC or its affiliates ('MSCI') data, and the use of MSCI Logos, trademarks, service marks or index names herein, do not constitute a sponsorship, endorsement, recommendation or promotion of the Bank by MSCI. MSCI Services and data are the property of MSCI or its information providers and are provided "as-is" and without warranty. MSCI Names and logos are trademarks or service marks of MSCI.



Net fee and commission income over total income

Fee and commission income less fee and commission expense divided by total income (as defined).



Net Interest Margin

 

Net interest margin is calculated as the net interest income (annualised) divided by the 'quarterly average interest earning assets' (as defined).



Net loans and advances to customers

Net loans and advances to customers comprise gross loans (as defined) net of allowance for expected loan credit losses (as defined, but excluding allowance for expected credit losses on off-balance sheet exposures disclosed on the balance sheet within other liabilities).



Net loans to deposits ratio

Net loans to deposits ratio is calculated as gross loans (as defined) net of allowance for expected loan credit losses (as defined) divided by customer deposits.



Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR)

The NSFR is calculated as the amount of "available stable funding" (ASF) relative to the amount of "required stable funding" (RSF), on the basis of Basel III standards. Its calculation is a SREP requirement. The EBA NSFR will be enforced as a regulatory ratio under CRR II in June 2021.  



New lending

New lending includes the disbursed amounts of the new and existing non-revolving facilities (excluding forborne or re-negotiated accounts) as well as the average year to date change (if positive) of the current accounts and overdraft facilities between the balance at the beginning of the period and the end of the period. Recoveries are excluded from this calculation since their overdraft movement relates mostly to accrued interest and not to new lending.

 



 

G. Definitions & Explanations (continued)

Non-interest income

Non-interest income comprises Net fee and commission income, Net foreign exchange gains/(losses) and net gains/(losses) on financial instrument transactions and disposal/dissolution of subsidiaries and associates (excluding net gains on loans and advances to customers at FVPL), Insurance income net of claims and commissions, Net gains/(losses) from revaluation and disposal of investment properties and on disposal of stock of properties, and Other income.



Non-performing exposures (NPEs)

A ccording to the EBA standards and ECB's Guidance to Banks on Non-Performing loans, NPEs are defined as those exposures that satisfy one of the following conditions:

(i)  The borrower is assessed as unlikely to pay its credit obligations in full without the realisation of the collateral, regardless of the existence of any past due amount or of the number of days past due.

(ii)  Defaulted or impaired exposures as per the approach provided in the CRR, which would also trigger a default under specific credit adjustment, diminished financial obligation and obligor bankruptcy.

(iii)  Material exposures as set by the CBC, which are more than 90 days past due.

(iv)  Performing forborne exposures under probation for which additional forbearance measures are extended.

(v)  Performing forborne exposures under probation that present more than 30 days past due within the probation period.

 

Exposures include all on and off balance sheet exposures, except those held for trading, and are categorised as such for their entire amount without taking into account the existence of collateral.

 

The following materiality criteria are applied:

· For retail debtors, when a specific part of the exposures of a customer that fulfils the NPE criteria set out above is greater than 20% of the gross carrying amount of all on balance sheet exposures of that customer, then the total customer exposure is classified as non-performing; otherwise only the specific part of the exposure is classified as non-performing.

 

· For non-retail debtors, when an exposure fulfills the NPE criteria set out above, then  the total customer exposure is classified as non-performing.

 

· Material arrears/excesses are defined as follows:

Retail exposures: Total arrears/excesses amount greater than €100

Exposures other than retail: Total arrears/excesses are greater than €500

and the amount in arrears/excess in relation to the customer's total exposure is at least 1%.

 

· If unlikeliness to pay is not identified at an earlier stage, it is deemed to occur when an exposure is 90 days past due, even where regulatory rules permit default to be defined based on 180 days past due.

 

· The definitions of credit impaired and default are aligned so that stage 3 represents all loans which are considered defaulted or otherwise credit impaired.

 

· When a financial asset has been identified as credit impaired, ECLs are measured as the difference between the asset's gross carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at the instrument's original effective interest rate.

 

Non-performing forborne exposures cease to be considered as NPEs and in such case are transferred out of Stage 3, only when all of the following conditions are met:

(i)  The extension of forbearance measures does not lead to the recognition of impairment or default.

(ii)  One year has passed since the forbearance measures were extended.

(iii)  Following the forbearance measures and according to the post-forbearance conditions, there is no past due amount or concerns regarding the full repayment of the exposure.

(iv)  No unlikely-to-pay criteria exist for the debtor.

(v)  The debtor has made post-forbearance payments of a non-insignificant amount of capital (different capital thresholds exist according to the facility type).

G. Definitions & Explanations (continued)



Non-performing exposures (NPEs) (continued/)

Non-performing non-forborne exposures cease to be considered as NPEs and in such case are transferred out of Stage 3, only when all conditions for which the exposures were classified originally as NPEs, cease to apply.

 

When an account exits Stage 3, it is transferred to Stage 2 for a probationary period of 6 months. At the end of this period, the significant increase in credit risk (SICR) trigger is activated and the loan is either transferred to Stage 1 or remains in Stage 2. The reversal of previous unrecognised interest on loans and advances to customers that no longer meet Stage 3 criteria is presented in 'Credit losses to cover credit risk on loans and advances to customers'.

 

New default definition effective from 1 January 2021

 

From 1 January 2021 two regulatory guidelines came into force that affect NPE classification and Days-Past-Due calculation. More specifically, these are the RTS on the Materiality Threshold of Credit Obligations Past Due (EBA/RTS/2016/06), and the Guideline on the Application of the Definition of Default under article 178 (EBA/RTS/2016/07).

 

As a result of the above, the following changes came into effect as from 1 January 2021: 

 

1.  New Days-past-Due (DPD) counter: The new counter will begin counting DPD as soon as the arrears or excesses of an exposure reach the materiality threshold (rather than the first day of presenting any amount of arrears in excesses). Similarly, the counter will be set to zero when the arrears or excesses drop below the materiality threshold. Payments towards the exposure that do not reduce the arrears/excesses below the materiality threshold, will not impact the counter.

 

2.  Additionally to the above criteria for the exit of non-performing exposures the following condition should also be met:

 

A period of one year has passed since the latest of the following events:

a. The restructuring date

b. The date the exposure was classified as non-performing

c. The payment of interest and capital for at least 12 months

 

3.  Non-performing non-forborne exposures cease to be considered as NPEs only when all of the following conditions are met:

(i)  At least three months have passed since the moment that the conditions for which the exposure was classified as non-performing, cease to be met and no trigger of default continues to apply

(ii)  During the three-month period, the behaviour of the obligor should be taken into account

(iii)  During the three-month period, the financial situation of the obligor should be taken into account

(iv)  No Unlikely‑to‑Pay criteria exist for the debtor

4.  As per the new definition of default, the 20% materiality threshold and the 90 days past due counter, will no longer apply for non-retail exposures i.e. any non-performing exposure of the customer, for any reason, will result in a non-performing classification at customer level.



Non-recurring items

Non-recurring items as presented in the 'Unaudited Consolidated Income Statement - Underlying basis' relate to the following items, as applicable: (i) advisory and other restructuring costs - organic, (ii) restructuring costs - Voluntary Staff Exit Plan (VEP), (iii) Provisions/net loss relating to NPE sales, including restructuring expenses, (iv) DTC levy.  



NPE coverage ratio (previously 'NPE Provisioning coverage ratio')

The NPE coverage ratio is calculated as the allowance for expected loan credit losses (as defined) over NPEs (as defined).



NPE ratio

NPEs ratio is calculated as the NPEs as per EBA (as defined) divided by gross loans (as defined).

 

G. Definitions & Explanations (continued)

 

NPE sales

NPE sales refer to sales of NPE portfolios completed in each period and contemplated sale transactions, as well as potential further NPE sales, at each reporting date, irrespective of whether or not they met the held for sale classification criteria at the reporting dates. They include both Project Helix and Project Helix 2, as well as other portfolios.



Operating profit

The operating profit comprises profit before Total loan credit losses, impairments and provisions (as defined), tax, (profit)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests and non-recurring items (as defined).



Operating profit return on average assets

Operating profit return on average assets is calculated as the annualised operating profit (as defined) divided by the quarterly average of total assets for the relevant period.  Average total assets exclude total assets of discontinued operations at each quarter end, if applicable.



Phased-in Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB)

In accordance with the legislation in Cyprus which has been set for all credit institutions, the applicable rate of the CCB is 1.25% for 2017, 1.875% for 2018 and 2.5% for 2019 (fully phased-in).  



Profit/(loss) after tax and before non-recurring items (attributable to the owners of the Company)

This refers to the profit or loss after tax (attributable to the owners of the Company) , excluding any 'non-recurring items' (as defined).



Profit/(loss) after tax - organic (attributable to the owners of the Company)

This refers to the profit or loss after tax (attributable to the owners of the Company) , excluding any 'non-recurring items' (as defined , except for the ' advisory and other restructuring costs - organic') .



Project Helix

Project Helix refers to the sale of a portfolio of loans with a gross book value of €2.8 bn completed in June 2019. For further information please refer to section A.1.5 Loan portfolio quality.


Project Helix 2

Project Helix 2 refers to the portfolio of loans with a gross book value of €898 mn as at 30 June 2020 for which an agreement for sale was reached in August 2020 (Portfolio A) and to the portfolio of loans with a gross book value of €545 mn as at 30 September 2020 for which an agreement for sale was reached in January 2021 (Portfolio B). For further information please refer to section A.1.5 Loan portfolio quality.



Quarterly average interest earning assets

This relates to the average of 'interest earning assets' as at the beginning and end of the relevant quarter. Average interest earning assets exclude interest earning assets of any discontinued operations at each quarter end, if applicable. Interest earning assets include: cash and balances with central banks (including cash and balances with central banks classified as non-current assets held for sale), plus loans and advances to banks, plus net loans and advances to customers (including loans and advances to customers classified as non-current assets held for sale), plus investments (excluding equities and mutual funds).



Qoq

Quarter on quarter change



Special levy

Relates to the special levy on deposits of credit institutions in Cyprus.

 

Total Capital ratio

Total capital ratio is defined in accordance with the Capital Requirements Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 , as amended by CRR II applicable as at the reporting date.



Total expenses

Total expenses comprise staff costs, other operating expenses and the special levy and contributions to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF) and Deposit Guarantee Fund (DGF).

 

It does not include (i) 'advisory and other restructuring costs-organic', or (ii) any restructuring costs relating to NPE sales, or (iii) any restructuring costs relating to the Voluntary Staff Exit Plan, or (iv) the DTC levy. (i) 'Advisory and other restructuring costs-organic' amounted to €3 mn for 1Q2021 (compared to €1 mn for 4Q2020), (ii) Restructuring costs relating to NPE sales amounted to €4 mn for 1Q2021 (compared to c.€1.5 mn for 4Q2020), (iii) Restructuring costs relating to the Voluntary Staff Exit Plan amounted to €6 mn for 4Q2020 and FY2020, (iv) The DTC levy amounted to €3 mn for 4Q2020 and FY2020.



G. Definitions & Explanations (continued)



Total income 

Total income comprises net interest income and non-interest income (as defined).



Total loan credit losses, impairments and provisions

Total loan credit losses, impairments and provisions comprises loan credit losses (as defined), plus impairments of other financial and non-financial assets, plus provisions for litigation, claims, regulatory and other matters.



Underlying basis

This refers to the statutory basis after being adjusted for certain items as explained in the Basis of Presentation.



Write offs

Loans together with the associated loan credit losses are written off when there is no realistic prospect of future recovery. Partial write-offs, including non-contractual write-offs, may occur when it is considered that there is no realistic prospect for the recovery of the contractual cash flows. In addition, write-offs may reflect restructuring activity with customers and are part of the terms of the agreement and subject to satisfactory performance.

 

Yoy

Year on year change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

Basis of Presentation

 

This announcement covers the results of Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Limited Company, "BOC Holdings" or "the Company", its subsidiary Bank of Cyprus Public Company Limited, the "Bank" or "BOC PCL", and together with the Bank's subsidiaries, the "Group", for the quarter ended 31 March 2021.

 

At 31 December 2016, the Bank was listed on the Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) and the Athens Exchange. On 18 January 2017, BOC Holdings, incorporated in Ireland, was introduced in the Group structure as the new holding company of the Bank. On 19 January 2017, the total issued share capital of BOC Holdings was admitted to listing and trading on the LSE and the CSE.

 

Financial information presented in this announcement is being published for the purposes of providing an overview of the Group financial results for the quarter ended 31 March 2021.  

 

The financial information in this announcement does not constitute statutory financial statements of BOC Holdings within the meaning of section 340 of the Companies Act 2014. The Group statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020, upon which the auditors have given an unqualified report, were published on 30 March 2021 and are expected to be delivered to the Registrar of Companies of Ireland within 28 days of 30 September 2021. The Board of Directors approved the Group statutory financial statements for the quarter ended 31 March 2021 on 24 May 2021.  

 

Statutory basis: Audited s tatutory information is set out on pages 34-38. However, a number of factors have had a significant effect on the comparability of the Group's financial position and performance. Accordingly, the results are also presented on an underlying basis.

 

Underlying basis: The financial information presented under the underlying basis provides an overview of the Group financial results for the quarter ended 31 March 2021, which the management believes best fits the true measurement of the financial performance and position of the Group. For further information, please refer to 'Commentary on Underlying Basis' on page 5. The statutory results are adjusted for certain items (as described on page 39) to allow a comparison of the Group's underlying financial position and performance, as set out on pages 4-6.

 

The financial information included in this announcement is neither reviewed nor audited by the Group's external auditors.

 

This announcement and the presentation for the Group Financial Results for the quarter ended 31 March 2021 have been posted on the Group's website www.bankofcyprus.com (Investor Relations/Financial Results).

 

Definitions: The Group uses definitions in the discussion of its business performance and financial position which are set out in section G.

 

The Group Financial Results for the quarter ended 31 March 2021 are presented in Euro (€) and all amounts are rounded as indicated. A comma is used to separate thousands and a dot is used to separate decimals. 

 

 

 

 



 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This document contains certain forward-looking statements which can usually be identified by terms used such as "expect", "should be", "will be" and similar expressions or variations thereof or their negative variations, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the Group's near term, medium term and longer term future capital requirements and ratios, intentions, beliefs or current expectations and projections about the Group's future results of operations, financial condition, expected impairment charges, the level of the Group's assets, liquidity, performance, prospects, anticipated growth, provisions, impairments, business strategies and opportunities. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events, and depend upon circumstances, that will or may occur in the future. Factors that could cause actual business, strategy and/or results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements made by the Group include, but are not limited to: general economic and political conditions in Cyprus and other European Union (EU) Member States, interest rate and foreign exchange fluctuations, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments, information technology, litigation and other operational risks, adverse market conditions, the impact of outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing challenges and uncertainties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic for businesses and governments around the world. Should any one or more of these or other factors materialise, or should any underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, the actual results or events could differ materially from those currently being anticipated as reflected in such forward looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in this document are only applicable as at the date of publication of this document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statement contained in this document to reflect any change in the Group's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

 

 

Contacts

For further information please contact:

Investor Relations

+ 357 22 122239

investors@bankofcyprus.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bank of Cyprus Group   is the leading banking and financial services group in Cyprus, providing a wide range of financial products and services which include retail and commercial banking, finance, factoring, investment banking, brokerage, fund management, private banking, life and general insurance. The Bank of Cyprus Group operates through a total of 91 branches in Cyprus, of which 11 operate as cash offices. Bank of Cyprus also has representative offices in Russia, Ukraine and China. The Bank of Cyprus Group employs 3,557 staff worldwide. At 31 March 2021, the Group's Total Assets amounted to €23.0 bn and Total Equity was €2.1 bn. The Bank of Cyprus Group comprises Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Limited Company, its subsidiary Bank of Cyprus Public Company Limited and its subsidiaries.  

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