Statement of the board

SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt’s purpose

Cover pool and outstanding covered bonds ³

SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt’s cover pool consists of residential mortgages and liquid, highly rated assets as well as derivatives hedging liabilities in a foreign currency and/or at fixed rates.  The chart below illustrates the balances as of June 30, 2023. The balances are based on a nominal principle where bonds (covered bonds issued as well as bonds held within liquid assets) are presented at par.  This means that derivatives hedging these instruments, tailored at the time of issuance to exactly transform a bond’s fixed annual coupon to a NOK 3-month floating rate basis over the whole tenor of a bond, are effectively incorporated within the nominal values of the bonds in the illustration. 

[3] The source is the cover pool asset liability test for overcollateralization as of June 30, 2023 (note to the financial statements). 

The amount of liquid assets varies over time, and the variation is solely a result of the Issuer’s liquidity risk management (and regulatory requirements), whereby upcoming redemptions are refinanced prior to the maturity of outstanding bonds (minimum 180 days) with bond proceeds invested as liquid assets. Liquid assets are covered bonds with a triple-A rating, SSA or government bonds with a triple-A rating, or short-term cash deposits and repos (please see the cover pool statistical reports on spabol.no for details on the composition of liquid assets).

The table below provides an overview of the residential mortgages in the cover pool, as well as the overcollateralization.

Residential mortgages key figures

Key developments in the first half 2023

The domestic NOK covered bond market was receptive in 2023 and SpaBol has issued a total of NOK 16.45 billion, of which approximately 1/3 was in longer dated fixed rate covered bonds, and the remainder in FRN format.  In addition, one EUR covered bond benchmark was placed, a green, 7-year, EUR 750 million in May 2023.

The Norwegian authorities presented the Near Zero Emissions Buildings Standard (NZEB) in early 2023.  This definition is a requirement in the Energy Performance Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU and is a baseline for the green buildings definition under the EU Taxonomy, for buildings constructed after 2020.  SpaBol is preparing an update to its green bond framework to incorporate the new definition. 

A new Board member, Allan Troelsen, has replaced Knut Oscar Fleten.  Mr. Troelsen is the CEO in SpareBank 1 Nordmøre.  A presentation of the whole Boligkreditt board of directors is found here: https://spabol.sparebank1.no/about

Accounts as per 30.06.2023

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the International Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the EU.

The Board views the accounts as presented to be a true representation of SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt’s operations and financial position as of the end of the first six months of 2023.  Numbers in brackets refer to the corresponding period last year for comparison. 

The total balance sheet as at June 30, 2023 amounted to 306 (279) billion kroner. The main reason behind this increase is the growth in the financed volume of mortgages of NOK 266 billion vs. NOK 237 billion a year earlier.  The pre-tax result of 351 (negative 34) million is driven by the following[4]:

• The Company had in the first six months net interest income of NOK 834 (967) million, which includes both mortgage interest and interest income from liquid assets. The decrease, despite a higher volume of mortgages on the balance sheet, is mainly due to a reduced mortgage net lending margin. This happens because the 3-month NIBOR rate, which is the funding basis for covered bonds, has increased faster and by more than the variable mortgage rate charged to customers.  Effective from 2023, mortgage rate increases must by law be delayed by 8 weeks after announcement before becoming effective. All of the Company’s mortgages are at a variable rate, and Boligkreditt has the right to set and change the variable rate on its mortgage loans. However, for the interest rate decisions, Boligkreditt in practice defers to the SpareBank 1 bank which originated the loan. Banks set and change their variable mortgage rates in competition with other banks and are often guided by changes in the central bank policy rate when doing so.
• Commission expense to SpareBank 1 banks were 543 (781) million, which are the payments of the mortgages net interest margin to the Issuer’s loan originating owner banks. Most of the difference between the Company’s net interest income and the commissions to SpareBank 1 banks is interest income on the Company’s liquidity portfolio, which has increased in 2023 compared to 2022 due to higher market rates.
• The net gain from liquid assets was NOK 82 (-200) million, most of which come from valuation increases which is a reversal of previous losses on issued debt hedged by swaps. The previous year’s loss mainly resulted from losses on the Company’s bond portfolio (liquid assets) as both credit spreads and interest rates increased.
• The cost of operations for the first six months of 2023 was NOK 24 (19) million. The majority of operating costs are for expenses related to the Company’s bond issuances, IT operations as well as personnel related expense. Costs of operations were higher in the current period after a pension related one-off expense. 
• IFRS 9 loan loss provisions increased by NOK 1.3 million (decreased by 1.1) to NOK 30,1 million. No actual loan losses have occurred. 

[4] The result exclude interest paid on the Company’s AT1 bonds of NOK 900 million in total. This interest is accounted for as an equity distribution.  The result also does not take into account the changes in basis swap spreads and valuation thereof for currency swaps, which only effect other comprehensive income and equity. 

Risk Aspects

SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt, as a licensed and regulated covered bond issuer, is subject to strict rules regarding its exposure to credit, market, and liquidity risks. This fact, and the aim of the maintenance of the Moody’s Aaa rating, means that the Company is subject to low levels of risk and places strong emphasis on risk control.

Credit Risk is defined as the risk that losses can occur as a consequence of that customers and others not having the ability or willingness to meet their obligations to SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt. Because the Company buys residential mortgages within 75% of the value of the objects on which the mortgages are secured, the Board of Directors concludes that the credit risk is lower than for Norwegian banks in general[5].

Market risk is defined as the risk of losses due to changes in market rates, ie. interest rates, exchange rates and the prices of financial instruments. SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt issues a materially larger share of covered bonds in currencies other than its operational currency NOK. However, all borrowing and investments in a foreign currency, as well as such with a fixed rate, have been hedged by financial currency- and/or interest rate swap agreements. Some natural hedging may occur with EUR assets matching EUR liabilities. The collective cash flow therefore matches borrowing in Norwegian kroner with floating rate conditions (NIBOR 3 months).  The Company receives cash collateral from its counterparties in derivative agreements. 

The bonds held in the Company’s liquidity portfolio are mainly Nordic covered bonds and German supra sovereign and agencies (agencies guaranteed by the German government) with a triple-A rating from Fitch, Moody’s or S&P.  These bonds are held on a 3-month basis either as FRNs or as swapped fixed rate bonds. Deposits are placed in banks with a minimum rating of A/A2.  Cash is also placed in reverse repos with approved counterparty banks, with AAA rated securities as collateral.

The Company had as of June 30, 2023 only moderate interest rate risk, and small amounts of currency risk.

Liquidity risk is defined as the risk that the Company is not able to meet its obligations at maturity or to finance the purchase of loans at normal terms and conditions. Liquidity risk is managed based upon a liquidity strategy approved by the Board of Directors. According to the strategy, SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt AS shall maintain a liquidity reserve with a minimum size equal to or more than all debt maturities within the next 6 months. The Board of Directors views SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt AS’s liquidity situation as good.

Operational risk is defined as risk of loss due to error or neglect in transaction execution, weakness in the internal control, or information technology systems breakdowns or malfunction. Reputational, legal, ethical and competency risks are also elements of operational risk. The risk is assessed by the Board of Directors to be moderate.

The Company spends much time identifying, measuring, managing, and following up on central areas of risk in such a way that this contributes to meeting its strategic goals. The notes 24 through 28 in the 2022 annual accounts provide further information. 

[5] The EU harmonized covered bond regulations, implemented in Norway, allow for LTV of up to 80 per cent, for mortgages in the cover pool.  The Company has chosen to continue with a 75 per cent LTV maximum.

Macroeconomic development and outlook ⁶

There is an expectation of lower, but not negative, Norwegian GDP growth in 2023 and 2024.  A driving force for this is lower household consumption and investments in housing, after interest rate increases.  The Norwegian central bank policy rate is now 3.75 per cent and is expected to increase further. 

Norway’s current account surplus to GDP as an energy exporter is particularly high, at a record 30 per cent in 2022, but projected at half that level in 2023 and 2024 on lower energy prices. Oil and gas investments are expected to increase onwards, and this is a key driver of GDP growth, counterbalancing low or negative (housing) investment change elsewhere. 
 
The variable mortgage interest rate, which most mortgage holders pay, is expected around 5 per cent or higher, later in 2023.  The housing market price index appreciated by 6.4 per cent June year-to-date, but is 0.7 per cent lower on a last twelve month basis at the end of June 2023. In the month of June, the monthly decline for the index, a first in 2023, was 1.2 per cent. There is an expectation that prices will continue to decline in the second half of the year, but counter balancing forces exist, such as low investments in housing coupled with strong population growth and housing demand pressures in some cities.  

Summarized for a few macroeconomic indicators, the recent data and forecast for the next period are as follows:

[6] Macroeconomic projections have been sourced from Statistics Norway as of June 9, 2023.

Future Prospects of the Company

The Company has a portfolio of residential mortgage loans with an average loan to value (LTV) around 50 per cent, and no loans are in default.  

SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt’s residential mortgage portfolio is well diversified, albeit weighted towards the eastern, central, and northern regions in Norway. Mortgage loans in the cover pool are very granular (average size of NOK 1.7 million). The banks in the SpareBank 1 Alliance are required to keep reserves of eligible (i.e. cover pool pre-qualified) mortgages in order to provide replacement assets should this become necessary (i.e. if residential price declines increase LTVs above the eligibility limit for mortgages in the pool). Such reserves in the banks are tested regularly to verify that a broad and general 30 per cent decline in real estate prices leaves each member bank with sufficient qualifying reserves for replenishing the cover pool.
 
The Board of Directors views Boligkreditt as well capitalized with a capital coverage ratio of 20.3 per cent against a total requirement, including all buffers, of 18.2 per cent.  Total equity Tier 1 capital is 18.2 per cent against a requirement, including buffers, of 16.2 per cent. 

It is the Company’s policy to maintain capital ratios slightly above the regulatory requirements (a management buffer). When required, additional common equity is paid in by the owner banks in the regular course of business, usually in connection with increases in transferred mortgage volume. Additional Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital is raised in the Norwegian domestic capital market.   

The Board of Directors views prospects for the Company to continue to be good and stable, despite the changed macroeconomic forecasts towards lower growth and more uncertainty ahead.  This is based on several elements: a strict qualifying process for loans to become part of the cover pool (bank lending practices, mortgage lending regulations and cover pool qualification requirements), a high degree of diversification and granularity of the mortgages in the pool, as well as the robustness and financial position of the Norwegian economy.  The Board also bases this conclusion on the low average LTV of the mortgage portfolio, no defaults or loans in arrears, and a strong history and institutional framework in Norway for mortgage loan performance.

* * *

The Board of Directors affirms its conviction that the financial accounts present a correct and complete picture of the Company’s operations and financial position at the end of June 2023. The financial accounts including notes are produced under the assumption of a going concern.

Stavanger, August 9, 2023
The Board of Directors of SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt AS

- Statement of the members of the board and the chief executive officer

The Board and the chief executive officer have today reviewed and approved the financial accounts as of June 30, 2023 for SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt AS.  The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), as adopted by the EU. 

To the best knowledge of the Board and the chief executive officer the accounts have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards and give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Company taken as a whole as of June 30, 2023.

The Board of Directors and the chief executive officer declare to the best of their knowledge that the quarterly report gives a true and fair view of the development and performance of the business of the Company, as well as a description of the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Company. 

Stavanger, August 9, 2023