DNB's profit for the fourth quarter of 2020 was NOK 5 274 million, which is NOK 671 million lower than the corresponding period in 2019. However, high levels of activity and growth in the personal customer market and SME corporate customer market - as well as in the savings and capital markets - contributed to DNB emerging strengthened from the highly unusual year.

Despite the fact that the economic climate is still affected by uncertainty relating to the coronavirus pandemic, the Norwegian economy has begun a gradual recovery that is expected to speed up as the vaccination programme progresses.

"2020 was a challenging year for Norway and for DNB, but the Norwegian economy has fared relatively well during the pandemic. Unlike many other European banks, DNB is emerging strengthened from the pandemic, with healthy growth, good results and a record-high level of customer satisfaction. DNB enters 2021 as one of the world's best capitalised banks," says CEO Kjerstin Braathen.

DNB's capitalisation is at an all-time high, with a common equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio of 18.7 per cent. DNB is following the recommendations from the Ministry of Finance concerning the payment of dividends for 2019. The Board of Directors has therefore decided to pay a dividend per share of NOK 8.40 for 2019, with payment to take place in March.

The Board of Directors will ask the Annual General Meeting for an authorisation to pay up to NOK 9.00 per share in dividends for 2020, applicable from September 2021 until the Annual General Meeting next year.

High earnings and lending growth

The annual result was NOK 19 840 million, which is NOK 5 881 million lower than in 2019, mainly due to higher impairment provisions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the fall in oil prices.

The low interest rate affects DNB's income, in the same way as it does for other banks. Net interest income in the fourth quarter was NOK 9 479 million, which is NOK 868 million, or 8.4 per cent, lower than in the corresponding quarter last year. However, lending growth and increased customer deposits contributed to a 1.9 per cent increase in net interest income from the third quarter to the fourth quarter. Total income in the fourth quarter was NOK 13 326 million, which is NOK 127 million, or 1 per cent, more than in the corresponding quarter last year.

"The level of customer activity has remained high despite the year being a challenging one for many people. Zero interest rates along with government support schemes have given personal customers increased purchasing power, while private consumption has shifted towards increased investment in homes and increased mortgage lending. This increased purchasing power has also created positive ripple effects for many of our small and medium-sized corporate customers. The growth in loans to personal customers and small and medium-sized enterprises has been particularly strong in 2020 - 2.8 per cent and 8.3 per cent, respectively," says Kjerstin Braathen.

At the same time, there has been pronounced growth in deposits for the year, with an increase of 19.5 and 8.1 per cent for corporate and personal customers, respectively.

"It is particularly pleasing to see that our personal customers have really embraced long-term saving, and increased their savings in both shares and mutual funds. DNB is taking market shares within mutual fund savings, and 97 per cent of all new savings agreements were sold through our digital solutions, which means that we are well positioned in the market for long-term savings and pensions in the time ahead," says Braathen.

Net commission and fee income increased by NOK 122 million, or 5.1 per cent, from the third quarter. This shows that we have, together with our customers, maintained a high level of activity throughout the quarter. Activity has been particularly high in areas such as capital raising, initial public offerings (IPOs) and real estate broking in the quarter.

Limited impairment provisions and strong capitalisation

DNB's impairment provisions in the quarter amounted to NOK 1 250 million, which was NOK 1 072 million higher than in the corresponding quarter last year.

The situation is still demanding in the offshore sector. To a large extent, the impairment provisions associated with this sector accounted for the total net impairment provisions in the quarter. These impairment provisions were partly offset by reversals in most other industry segments, and NOK 139 million in reversals for personal customers. 


Financial key figures for the fourth quarter of 2020 (figures for corresponding quarter in 2019):

• Pre-tax operating profit before impairment amounted to NOK 6.8 billion (7.1)

• Profit for the quarter was NOK 5.3 billion (5.9)
• Earnings per share were NOK 3.28 (3.57)
• Return on equity was 8.9 per cent (10.4)
• Cost/income ratio was 48.8 per cent (46.3)
• Common equity Tier 1 (CET 1) capital ratio was 18.7 per cent (18.6)
   

Financial key figures for 2020 (corresponding figures for 2019):

• Pre-tax operating profit before impairment amounted to NOK 33 billion (31.7)

• Profit for the year was NOK 19.8 billion (25.7)
• Earnings per share were NOK 12.04 (15.54)
• Return on equity was 8.4 per cent (11.7)
• Cost/income ratio was 41.5 per cent (42.2)

DNB's long-term financial ambitions for 2021-2023 remain unchanged: return on equity (ROE) of more than 12 per cent, cost/income ratio (C/I) of less than 40 per cent and a CET1 capital ratio of more than 17.1 per cent.

The expected tax rate for 2021 and 2022 is 22 per cent, down from 23 per cent.

Details concerning DNB's results can be found on ir.dnb.no. 

For further information:

Rune Helland, Head of Investor Relations, tel.: (+47) 23 26 84 00 / 97 71 32 50

Thomas Midteide, Group Executive Vice President of Communications & Sustainability, tel.: (+47) 96 23 20 17

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Securities Trading Act.

In reference to the extraordinary general meeting on 30 November 2020 and the authorisation given to the Board of Directors to decide on the distribution of a 2019 dividend per share of up to NOK 9.00, the Board of Directors has decided to pay a dividend per share of NOK 8.40 for 2019.  

Today, 11 February 2021, a total of 18,584 shares in DNB ASA were acquired on behalf of certain senior executives in DNB. The share purchase was executed collectively at an average price per share of NOK 167.6149.

The shares were purchased in accordance with the share programme that was approved by the Annual General Meeting on 30 June 2020. Shares that are acquired through the programme have a holding period which lasts for as long as the person holding the shares is part of the Group Management team. Upon leaving the Group Management team, the shares are released in stages over a period of three years.

A list of primary insiders of DNB ASA who have increased their shareholding is attached.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

On 28 November 2019, Økokrim (the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime) announced that it had initiated an investigation of DNB. The reason for the investigation was the customer relationship between DNB and the Icelandic fisheries company linked by the media to alleged cases of corruption in Namibia.

DNB has been informed that the investigation has not generated any information that gives grounds for criminal prosecution of individuals. Further, the public prosecutor is not of the view that a corporate penalty is applicable in this case. The case has therefore been dismissed.

"We have had constructive cooperation with Økokrim all along, and we have shared all relevant information in our possession. We take note of the announcement that DNB will not be subject to criminal prosecution," says Thomas Midteide, Group Executive Vice President of Communications & Sustainability.

For further information:
Rune Helland, Head of Investor relations: + 47 977 13 250
Thomas Midteide, GEVP Communications & Sustainability: +47 962 32 017

The shares in DNB ASA will be quoted ex-dividend on 24 February 2021. A dividend of NOK 8.40 per share will be distributed as from 4 March 2021 to registered shareholders as at 23 February 2021.

Rune Helland, head of Investor Relations, tel: +47 977 13 250
Thomas Midteide, group executive vice president, Communication & Sustainability, tel.: + 47 962 32 017

The DNB Group's Annual Report, including Sustainability report and Pillar 3 report for 2020, are published today, 11 March 2020, on DNB's website ir.dnb.no.

Shareholders in DNB ASA are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday 27 April 2021 at 15:00. Due to the corona situation the Annual General Meeting will be held digitally using electronic voting.

Agenda: Approval of the 2020 annual accounts and directors' report, authorisation to the Board of Directors for distribution of dividends and repurchase of shares, election of members of the Board of Directors, item proposed by shareholder on the design of a rule in the Articles of Association regarding the number of shareholder-elected members of the Board of Directors after the merger, as well as the approval of remuneration rates for members of the Board of Directors and the Election Committee. The notice of the Annual General Meeting is attached.

Company information

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements according to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. 

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In the first quarter of 2021, the DNB Group will recognise a negative effect of NOK 345 million from basis swaps connected to funding. Furthermore, a positive effect of NOK 29 million from the USD Additional Tier 1 capital will also be recognised.