OREANDA-NEWS. May 16, 2011. The Board of Directors of UniCredit approved the consolidated results for first quarter 2011 which show the Group’s portion of net profit at ˆ810 million, increasing both QoQ (plus152.5%) and YoY (plus55.7%) and reaching the highest level since the second quarter of 2008, thanks mainly to the good trend of operating income and to a strong decline in net write-downs of loans.

In first quarter 2011 operating income rises 7% QoQ to ˆ6,928 million, with all the main components posting a solid performance. With respect to the same quarter of 2010 there is also an increase of 2.7% YoY.

Net interest amounts to ˆ3,884 million in first quarter 2011, a drop QoQ compared to the ˆ3,982 million recorded in fourth quarter 2010, and is basically unchanged with respect to the ˆ3,890 million recorded in first quarter 2010. The decline of 2.5% versus the previous quarter is entirely attributable to a shorter quarter (of two days) and the significant non-recurring items posted in fourth quarter 2010. Net of these items, net interest remains substantially stable QoQ, with wholesale funding costs under control and the positive trend of commercial spreads offsetting lower trading related interest.

Net commissions continue to strengthen gradually in first quarter 2011, rising both QoQ (plus0.6%) and YoY (plus1.5%) to ˆ2,168 million. Commissions from both financing and investment services record an increase QoQ (plus3.7% and plus1.8% respectively), while commissions from transaction services show a decline, linked to seasonality, of 2.9% QoQ.

Net trading, hedging and fair value income amounts to ˆ700 million in first quarter 2011, a significant increase with respect to the ˆ53 million reported in fourth quarter 2010 and to the ˆ560 million reported in the same period of the prior year. The excellent quarterly performance is attributable to strong growth in the revenues from Fixed Income and Currencies in the Markets business, particularly weak in fourth quarter 2010.

Other net income amounts to ˆ59 million, compared to ˆ139 million in fourth quarter 2010 and ˆ99 million in the same period of the prior year.

Operating costs in first quarter 2011 amount to ˆ3,858 million versus ˆ3,720 million in fourth quarter 2010 and ˆ3,842 million in first quarter 2010. The increase of plus3.7% QoQ reaches plus1% net of non-recurring items which were particularly high in fourth quarter 2010

In first quarter 2011 payroll costs amount to ˆ2,333 million compared to ˆ2,196 million in the prior quarter and to ˆ2,322 million in the same period of 2010. The quarterly trend, plus6.2% QoQ, is largely explained by non-recurring and variable components, net of which the rise QoQ is marginal.

Other administrative expenses, net of recovery of expenses, in first quarter 2011 are basically stable (-0.1% QoQ) coming in at ˆ1,241 million (compared to ˆ1,243 million in fourth quarter 2010 and ˆ1,240 million in first quarter 2010). Net of non-recurring items, however, there is a marked decline (-5.2% QoQ).

Amortization, depreciation and impairment losses on intangible and tangible assets amount to ˆ284 million in first quarter 2011, compared to ˆ282 million in fourth quarter 2010 and ˆ281 million in first quarter 2010.

The cost/income ratio drops both QoQ (-1.8 p.p.) and YoY (-1.3 p.p.) in first quarter 2011, coming in at 55.7%.

Net write-downs of loans and provisions for guarantees and commitments amount to ˆ1,504 million in first quarter 2011, -14.1% QoQ and -16.0% y/y, with the improvement coming mainly from Italy and CEE. The cost of risk comes in at 108 bp, a drop of 18 bp QoQ and 19 bp YoY.

Gross impaired loans at the end of March 2011 total ˆ69 billion, showing a moderate increase, of 1.1% QoQ. Gross NPLs rise by 2.1% QoQ, while lower risk categories are substantially stable (-0.1% QoQ).

The coverage ratio of total gross impaired loans at March 2011 is 44.7% (an increase with respect to the 43.9% recorded at December 2010) which reflects a 58.8% coverage of the NPLs (57.5% at December 2010) and a 25.9% coverage of the other impaired loans (26.3% at December 2010).

Net operating profit in the first quarter of 2011 amounts to ˆ1,566 million, a decided increase with respect to both fourth quarter 2010 (plus56.2%) and first quarter 2010 (plus40.8%) thanks above all to the positive trend in operating income and net write-downs of loans.

The provisions for risks and charges total ˆ161 million, in line with the ˆ156 million recorded in first quarter 2010.

Integration costs amount to ˆ3 million in first quarter 2011, compared to ˆ254 million in the previous quarter (related to the One4C plan) and ˆ6 million in the same period in 2010.

Net investment income turned positive in first quarter 2011 (at ˆ84 million).

Income tax for the period amounts to ˆ555 million in first quarter 2011, compared to a positive tax effect in the prior quarter of ˆ509 million (linked to the recognition of a sizeable amount of deferred tax assets) and to ˆ393 million in the same period of the prior year. The tax rate in first quarter 2011 is 37.3%, compared with 38.5% in the same period of the prior year.

Minorities total ˆ107 million in first quarter 2011, up with respect to both the prior quarter and the ˆ63 million reported in first quarter 2010.

The impact of the Purchase Price Allocation continues its gradual decline, coming in at -ˆ15 million, compared to -ˆ30 million in fourth quarter 2010 and -ˆ44 million in first quarter 2010.

In first quarter 2011 the Group’s portion of net profit amounts to ˆ810 million, a significant increase both QoQ (plus152.5% with respect to the ˆ321 million recorded in fourth quarter 2010) and YoY (plus55.7% with respect to the ˆ520 million recorded in first quarter 2010).

The Group’s customer loans reach ˆ559 billion in first quarter 2011, plus0.6% QoQ, with the Corporate Centre posting growth (stemming from the business with Cassa di Compensazione e Garanzia), along with the commercial business in Italy. The Group’s customer deposits are stable QoQ (-0.1%) at ˆ402 billion, as growth in Western Europe is offset by a reduction in CEE, driven by the expiration of a few large short-term positions in fourth quarter 2010.

Securities issued is also stable with respect to December 2010 (-ˆ0.5 billion QoQ to ˆ180 billion). The net negative interbank position in March 2011 rises from the ˆ42 billion recorded in December 2010 to ˆ46 billion. Financial assets held for trading amount to ˆ106 billion in March 2011, less than the ˆ123 billion recorded in December 2010, due primarily to a strong decline in derivatives.

Total assets amount to ˆ911.0 billion at March 2011 (ˆ925.5 billion at December 2010), -2% QoQ but substantially stable net of the mark-to-market valuation of derivatives. The Group’s leverage ratio[2] shows further improvement in first quarter 2011, reaching 20.7 (-0.8 with respect to the 21.5 recorded on 31 December 2010), a level which is more than adequate to support renewed growth in the Group’s core markets.

The Core Tier 1 ratio reaches 9.06% in March 2011, up by 49 bp versus the 8.58% recorded in December 2010, with a positive contribution from the profit generated in the period, net of accrued dividends, and from the decrease of risk weighted assets. The risk weighted assets return to show a decline (-2.4% QoQ to ˆ443.7 billion), due primarily to a reduction of credit risk weighted assets. Market risk weighted assets and operational risk weighted assets also show a decline QoQ.

At the end of March 2011 the Group’s structure consists of a staff of 160,679[3], a further reduction of 1,330 compared to December 2010 and of 1,700 compared to March 2010. The decrease in the quarter is primarily attributable to a decrease in Western Europe (-1.5% QoQ) and in the Group’s centralised functions (-778), while the CEE Region results stable.

The Group’s network at the end of March 2011 consists of 9,607 branches (9,617 at December 2010 and 9,637 at March 2010).