DNBNOR - DNB NOR: SOUND PROFITS IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2005
DNBNOR - DNB NOR: SOUND PROFITS IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2005
Results in accordance with new international accounting principles (IFRS): · Ordinary operating profits rose 18 per cent to NOK 2 752 million (2 334 in first quarter of 2004) · Profits after taxes rose to NOK 1 974 million (1 867) · Earnings per share were NOK 1.48 (1.43) · Return on equity came to 15.3 per cent (16.4) · The cost/income ratio was reduced to 53.8 per cent (59.8) Attachment on www.newsweb.no Results in accordance with new international accounting principles (IFRS): · Ordinary operating profits rose 18 per cent to NOK 2 752 million (2 334 in first quarter of 2004) · Profits after taxes rose to NOK 1 974 million (1 867) · Earnings per share were NOK 1.48 (1.43) · Return on equity came to 15.3 per cent (16.4) · The cost/income ratio was reduced to 53.8 per cent (59.8) · The core capital ratio at end-March rose to 7.6 per cent (7.1) Results in accordance with previous Norwegian accounting principles: · Pre-tax ordinary operating profits before losses and goodwill amortisation were NOK 2 698 million (2 222) · Profits after taxes came to NOK 1 782 million (1 458) · Earnings per share excluding goodwill amortisation came to NOK 1.45 (1.23) · Return on equity excluding goodwill amortisation was 16.2 per cent (15.0) · The cost/income ratio excluding goodwill amortisation was 51.7 per cent (58.5) The transition to IFRS had no impact on the formal core capital ratio. (Profits from discontinued operations are not included in the figures for the first quarter of 2004.) Comments by group chief executive Svein Aaser: 'These are good quarterly figures. Income is growing, costs decreasing and losses are low. Increasing ordinary operating profits by 18 per cent from the first quarter last year and bringing down costs relative to income reflect the sound and systematic effort in all parts of the DnB NOR Group.' 'Market activity is high in all business areas. DnB NOR Markets has achieved record-high profits; our position has been strengthened in key customer segments in the corporate market; in the retail market we have shown a healthy profit trend and experienced a positive response to our new branch offices; and sales figures are good within life insurance and asset management. DnB NOR has enhanced its position,' says Aaser. 'I am also pleased with the process of integrating the two groups following the merger almost a year and a half ago. Synergies have been realised ahead of target figures and we have long since created what we aimed for, a Norwegian financial services group with the resources to meet the growing competition from international players. The terms imposed by the authorities in connection with the merger have now been fulfilled. What remains to be done is to conclude the practical work and complete the realisation of synergies as planned. We are, in other words, on schedule,' says group chief executive Svein Aaser. The first quarter report, including tables, can be downloaded from www.dnbnor.com Press release, first quarter report, presentation and Supplementary Information for Investors and Analysts can be found on www.newsweb.no
DNBNOR - DNB NOR IN FINAL ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH NORWAY POST
DNBNOR - DNB NOR IN FINAL ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH NORWAY POST
DnB NOR ASA and Norway Post (Posten Norge AS) are in the final round of negotiations on the distribution of Postbanken's services, following Norway Post's decision to put banking services out to tender in November of last year. Norway Post is now negotiating exclusively with DnB NOR, aiming to reach an agreement during the first half of the year. The current agreement expires on 31 December 2005. A new contract will mean that Postbanken will continue to distribute financial services through Norway Post's sales network from 2006.
DNBNOR - BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN DNB NOR ASA
DNBNOR - BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN DNB NOR ASA
At a meeting of the Supervisory Board on 14 June 2005, DnB NOR ASA reelected the following members of the Board of Directors: Olav Hytta, Berit Kjøll, Jørn O. Kvilhaug and Anne Carine Tanum. Nina Britt Husebø and Heidi M. Petersen were elected new board members, while Tor Nordvold was reelected as a deputy and Sverre Finstad was elected as a new deputy. Olav Hytta was reelected board chairman and Bjørn Sund was reelected vice-chairman. The term of office is up to two years. At a meeting of the Supervisory Board on 14 June 2005, DnB NOR ASA reelected the following members of the Board of Directors: Olav Hytta, Berit Kjøll, Jørn O. Kvilhaug and Anne Carine Tanum. Nina Britt Husebø and Heidi M. Petersen were elected new board members, while Tor Nordvold was reelected as a deputy and Sverre Finstad was elected as a new deputy. Olav Hytta was reelected board chairman and Bjørn Sund was reelected vice-chairman. The term of office is up to two years. The Board of Directors now consists of the following members: Helge Leiro Baastad, Vollen Per Hoffmann, Oslo (employee) Nina Britt Husebø, Bergen (employee) Olav Hytta, Oslo (chairman) Berit Kjøll, Oslo Jørn O. Kvilhaug, Hokksund (employee) Heidi M. Petersen, Sandefjord Ingjerd Skjeldrum, Drammen (employee) Bjørn Sund, Bekkestua (vice-chairman) Bent Pedersen, Danmark Anne Carine Tanum, Sandvika Per Terje Vold, Hosle and the following deputies elected by employees: Bjørn Davidsen, Oslo Sverre Finstad, Moelv Tor Nordvold, Skedsmo Janne C. Sundby, Stavern
DNBNOR - BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN DNB NOR BANK ASA
DNBNOR - BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN DNB NOR BANK ASA
At a meeting of the Supervisory Board on 14 June 2005, DnB NOR Bank ASA reelected the following members of the Board of Directors: Per Hoffmann, Olav Hytta, Sten Sture Larre and Torill Rambjør. Heidi M. Petersen was elected new board member, while Bjørn Davidsen was reelected as a deputy. Olav Hytta was reelected board chairman and Bent Pedersen was reelected vice-chairman. The term of office is up to two years. At a meeting of the Supervisory Board on 14 June 2005, DnB NOR Bank ASA reelected the following members of the Board of Directors: Per Hoffmann, Olav Hytta, Sten Sture Larre and Torill Rambjør. Heidi M. Petersen was elected new board member, while Bjørn Davidsen was reelected as a deputy. Olav Hytta was reelected board chairman and Bent Pedersen was reelected vice-chairman. The term of office is up to two years. The Board of Directors now consists of the following members: Per Hoffmann, Oslo (employee) Olav Hytta, Oslo (chairman) Sten Sture Larre, Oslo Bent Pedersen, Danmark (vice-chairman) Heidi M. Petersen, Sandefjord Torill Rambjør, Tjøme Ingjerd Skjeldrum, Drammen (employee) Marit Wiig, Oslo Svein Aaser, Drøbak and the following deputies elected by employees: Bjørn Davidsen, Oslo Sverre Finstad, Moelv
DNBNOR - BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN DNB NOR ASA
DNBNOR - BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN DNB NOR ASA
At a meeting of the Supervisory Board on 14 June 2005, DnB NOR ASA reelected the following members of the Board of Directors: Olav Hytta, Berit Kjøll, Jørn O. Kvilhaug and Anne Carine Tanum. Nina Britt Husebø and Heidi M. Petersen were elected new board members, while Tor Nordvold was reelected as a deputy and Sverre Finstad was elected as a new deputy. Olav Hytta was reelected board chairman and Bjørn Sund was reelected vice-chairman. The term of office is up to two years. At a meeting of the Supervisory Board on 14 June 2005, DnB NOR ASA reelected the following members of the Board of Directors: Olav Hytta, Berit Kjøll, Jørn O. Kvilhaug and Anne Carine Tanum. Nina Britt Husebø and Heidi M. Petersen were elected new board members, while Tor Nordvold was reelected as a deputy and Sverre Finstad was elected as a new deputy. Olav Hytta was reelected board chairman and Bjørn Sund was reelected vice-chairman. The term of office is up to two years. The Board of Directors now consists of the following members: Helge Leiro Baastad, Vollen Per Hoffmann, Oslo (employee) Nina Britt Husebø, Bergen (employee) Olav Hytta, Oslo (chairman) Berit Kjøll, Oslo Jørn O. Kvilhaug, Hokksund (employee) Heidi M. Petersen, Sandefjord Ingjerd Skjeldrum, Drammen (employee) Bjørn Sund, Bekkestua (vice-chairman) Bent Pedersen, Danmark Anne Carine Tanum, Sandvika Per Terje Vold, Hosle and the following deputies elected by employees: Bjørn Davidsen, Oslo Sverre Finstad, Moelv Tor Nordvold, Skedsmo Janne C. Sundby, Stavern http://www.newsweb.no/index.asp?melding_ID=109549
DNBNOR - BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN DNB NOR BANK ASA
DNBNOR - BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN DNB NOR BANK ASA
At a meeting of the Supervisory Board on 14 June 2005, DnB NOR Bank ASA reelected the following members of the Board of Directors: Per Hoffmann, Olav Hytta, Sten Sture Larre and Torill Rambjør. Heidi M. Petersen was elected new board member, while Bjørn Davidsen was reelected as a deputy. Olav Hytta was reelected board chairman and Bent Pedersen was reelected vice-chairman. The term of office is up to two years. At a meeting of the Supervisory Board on 14 June 2005, DnB NOR Bank ASA reelected the following members of the Board of Directors: Per Hoffmann, Olav Hytta, Sten Sture Larre and Torill Rambjør. Heidi M. Petersen was elected new board member, while Bjørn Davidsen was reelected as a deputy. Olav Hytta was reelected board chairman and Bent Pedersen was reelected vice-chairman. The term of office is up to two years. The Board of Directors now consists of the following members: Per Hoffmann, Oslo (employee) Olav Hytta, Oslo (chairman) Sten Sture Larre, Oslo Bent Pedersen, Danmark (vice-chairman) Heidi M. Petersen, Sandefjord Torill Rambjør, Tjøme Ingjerd Skjeldrum, Drammen (employee) Marit Wiig, Oslo Svein Aaser, Drøbak and the following deputies elected by employees: Bjørn Davidsen, Oslo Sverre Finstad, Moelv http://www.newsweb.no/index.asp?melding_ID=109550
DNBNOR - ENTERS BALTIC REGION IN COOPERATION WITH NORD/LB
DNBNOR - ENTERS BALTIC REGION IN COOPERATION WITH NORD/LB
DnB NOR will establish operations in the Baltic region by opening a bank as a joint venture with Norddeutsche Landesbank (NORD/LB), serving the Danish, Finnish, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish markets. The new bank will be named DnB NORD and be owned 51 per cent by DnB NOR and 49 per cent by NORD/LB. NORD/LB's current presence in the region will form the basis for DnB NORD's operations. DnB NOR will establish operations in the Baltic region by opening a bank as a joint venture with Norddeutsche Landesbank (NORD/LB), serving the Danish, Finnish, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish markets. The new bank will be named DnB NORD and be owned 51 per cent by DnB NOR and 49 per cent by NORD/LB. NORD/LB's current presence in the region will form the basis for DnB NORD's operations. At the same time, DnB NOR will take over NORD/LB's operations in Sweden. 'The establishment of DnB NORD is an important strategic move for us which could be of great significance for DnB NOR's market position as well as for our Nordic customers operating in these rapidly expanding markets. This is consistent with DnB NOR's announced international strategy,' says group chief executive Svein Aaser in DnB NOR. 'We see a great potential for growth and development in one of Europe's most dynamic regions. The countries around the Baltic Sea have a total population of 82 million. The new bank is scheduled to become operative as from January 2006. DnB NORD will have a sound position in the Baltic Sea region from the first day, with 1,450 employees, 111 branch offices, more than 550,000 customers and total assets of EUR 2.7 billion, corresponding to around NOK 21 billion. In Lithuania, the bank is the third largest bank with a 12 per cent market share. The NORD/LB operations in Sweden to be taken over by DnB NOR had extended credits totalling NOK 1,349 million as at 31 December 2004, corresponding to NOK 10.6 billion. DnB NOR will pay EUR 157.5 million, or close to NOK 1,240 million, for 51 per cent of the shares in NORD/LB. 'I am convinced that DnB NORD, backed by the expertise and strength of the two parent banks, can become one of the most attractive providers of financial services to households and businesses throughout the region,' says Svein Aaser. Group chief executive of DnB NOR, Svein Aaser, emphasises that DnB NORD will offer customers a full range of financial products. 'The establishment will complement DnB NOR's network in the Nordic region and will be of major significance with respect to serving current customers and attracting new customers in all the Nordic countries as well as in the Baltic region and in Poland and Germany,' he says. 'NORD/LB has a firm foothold in the various markets in Northeastern Europe and has built a strong infrastructure, while DnB NOR will provide capital and expertise on the product and process side, e.g. within cash management, corporate finance and investment banking. Thus, the two parties supplement each other with few overlapping functions. DnB NORD's chances of succeeding could hardly have been better,' say group chief executives Svein Aaser of DnB NOR and Dr. Hannes Rehm of NORD/LB. Besides the joint venture agreement, NORD/LB and DnB NOR will strengthen their co-operation in their respective home markets. The agreement does not include shipping and financial institutions. The JV agreement regarding the establishment of DnB NORD was signed in Oslo and Hanover today. According to plan, DnB NORD will start up business as from January 2006, conditional on approval by the authorities in the respective countries. Sven Herlyn from NORD/LB will be managing director of DnB NORD and DnB NOR group chief executive Svein Aaser will be chairman of the board. JPMorgan and Citigroup have been financial advisors for DnB NOR and NORD/LB respectively. ---- About NORD/LB Norddeutsche Landesbank NORD/LB Norddeutsche Landesbank is the leading universal bank in Northern Germany with group assets of around EUR 202 billion. As an international commercial bank, NORD/LB maintains a presence in all the major financial and trading centres, such as New York, London and Singapore. Since 1998, Northeastern Europe has become a part of the bank's business strategy. NORD/LB has established a dense network including subsidiaries, branches and representative offices in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Norddeutsche Landesbank provides expertise in special financing transactions, especially for ships and aircraft, as well as in corporate and investment banking. In co-operation with the savings banks in Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, NORD/LB holds a leading position in retail banking and in corporate banking for SMEs in its home market. http://www.newsweb.no/index.asp?melding_ID=109827
DNBNOR - INVITATION TO PRESENTATION OF NEW INITIATIVE
DNBNOR - INVITATION TO PRESENTATION OF NEW INITIATIVE
DnB NOR hereby invites journalists, analysts and investors to a joint presentation of the Group's new initiative, which includes the Baltic region today, Tuesday, 21 June 2005 at 11:00 am (CET) at DnB NOR's head office, Stranden 21, Aker Brygge, Oslo. Representatives from group management in Norddeutsche Landesbank (NORD/LB) and DnB NOR will present the new initiative and answer questions. A conference call for international analysts and investors will be held at 2:00 pm (CET) today. Telephone numbers for participation: Norway: 800 80119, outside Norway: +47 230 00400. Ask for 'DnB NOR presentation'. State your name and firm. For questions, press * followed by 1. The link to the webcast can be found on www.dnbnor.com. http://www.newsweb.no/index.asp?melding_ID=109833
DNBNOR - CORRECTION IN ENGLISH PRESS RELEASE AS OF 0900 AM
DNBNOR - CORRECTION IN ENGLISH PRESS RELEASE AS OF 0900 AM
Correction of company name in fourth paragraph. Correct text: 'DnB NOR will pay EUR 157.5 million, or close to NOK 1,240 million, for 51 per cent of the shares in DnB NORD.'