Finnvera Oyj
Interim Management Statement 1 January – 31 March 2023

5.5.2023 12:03:17 EEST | Finnvera Oyj | Interim Management statement

Finnvera Group, Stock Exchange Release 5 May 2023

Interim Management Statement 1 January – 31 March 2023

Domestic and export financing remains on a high level – Finnvera Group’s result in January–March showed a loss of EUR 39 million

Finnvera Group, summary Q1/2023 (vs. Q1/2022 or 31 December 2022)

• Result -39 MEUR (-58) – a single large export credit guarantee compensation that realised during the period under review had no effect on the result due to the reversing of previously made loss provisions – the result showed a loss due to the increased level of other loss provisions in the outstanding export credit guarantees.
• Result by segment: result of the parent company Finnvera plc’s SME and midcap business stood at 15 MEUR (9) and that of Large Corporates business at -61 MEUR (-77). The subsidiary’s impact on the Group’s profit was 7 MEUR (10).
• The parent company Finnvera plc’s result for domestic operations was 7 MEUR (11). The separate result for the parent company’s export credit guarantee and special guarantee operations was -52 MEUR (-79).
• Total exposure of the parent company Finnvera plc increased by 7% to EUR 28.6 billion (26.6).
• Balance sheet total EUR 12.3 bn (12.6) – change -3%.
• Contingent liabilities stood at EUR 18.7 bn (16.6), increasing by 13%.
• Non-restricted equity and the State Guarantee Fund, that is, the buffer reserves for covering potential future losses, totalled EUR 1.4 bn (1.4) – change -3%.
• The expected credit losses based on the balance sheet items, standing at EUR 1.5 bn (1.5), remained unchanged.
• Equity ratio decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 7.1% (7.2%).
• Expense-income ratio deteriorated by 3.7 percentage points to 21.2% (17.6%).
• The NPS index (net promoter score) measuring customer satisfaction was 26 (80) – the NPS scores for Locally operating small companies and Large Corporates decreased the average.

 CEO Pauli Heikkilä:

“In January-March, the outlook for businesses continued to be characterised by uncertainty in the world economy, changes in geopolitics and operating environment, inflation and increase in interest rates. Finnvera granted more domestic financing than in the previous year. However, as the share of investments kept on decreasing, the focus shifted more clearly to working capital financing. The impacts of the economic situation on enterprises vary by sector, and even within each sector. Demand for financing is particularly high in sectors providing solutions for the energy transformation and the green transition.

The granting of export credit guarantees and special guarantees increased in January–March by 162 per cent from the previous year, the focus being on telecommunications, pulp and paper and mining sectors. The structure of Finnish industry is very post-cyclical, and long-planned export projects are being promoted regardless of the outlook in the world economy. The sizes of individual export projects have also grown. In uncertain times, the role of export credit agencies in financing typically grows, and banks are more willing to share the risk than before. The annual volume of export financing provided by Finnvera is always influenced by the timing of individual major export transactions.

The Finnvera Group’s result in January–March showed a loss of EUR 39 million (-58). The result was impacted by the changes in the loss provisions for export credit guarantees and special guarantees during the period under review. By the end of March 2023, Finnvera’s exposure for export credit guarantees in Russia had decreased by almost 70% due to the arrangements necessitated by the war and sanctions. Even though the exposure in Russia has been successfully reduced and signs of positive development can still be seen in the cruise shipping sector, the total amount of loss provisions for export credit guarantee and special guarantee operations was kept unchanged in the period under review. In February, compensation of approximately EUR 100 million were paid for the deliveries of Finnish companies due to the liquidation of the MV Werften shipyard, and, at the same time, the loss provisions made for the liabilities were dissolved. However, correspondingly, it was estimated that the need for other loss provisions for exposure for export credit guarantees had increased, which contributed to the loss made. The risk level of exposures and the need for loss provisions are actively evaluated, and the changes made in the loss provisions during the end of the year may have a significant impact on the result.

In accordance with its strategy, Finnvera will continue the diversification of its financing offering and steady export promotion by means of financing. In June, taking advantage of the InvestEU programme, we will collaborate with the European Investment Fund to introduce a digitalisation and innovation loan, and a climate and environment loan for financing the dual transition of SMEs. SMEs and Large Corporates negotiating smaller export transactions seem to have found the direct export credit, the new financing instrument launched in February; the first financing applications are currently being processed. With respect to export credit guarantees, it seems that the year 2023 will be very good in terms of euros. Demand for export credit financing, on the other hand, has remained low as banks are financing projects using export credit guarantees granted by Finnvera.”

 Finnvera Group, financing granted and exposure

Q1/2023 (vs. Q1/2022)

• Domestic loans and guarantees granted: 485 MEUR (247), change 96%.
• Export credit guarantees and special guarantees granted, incl. SME and midcap export credit guarantees: EUR 2.7 bn (1.0), change 162%.
• Export credits granted: 8 MEUR (120), change -93%.
  • The credit risk for Finnish Export Credit Ltd’s export credits is covered by the parent company Finnvera plc’s export credit guarantee.
  • The fluctuation in the amount of export credit guarantees and export credits is influenced by the timing of individual major export transactions.

31 March 2023 (vs. 31 December 2022)

• Exposure, drawn domestic loans and guarantees: EUR 2.9 bn (2.7), change 7%.
• Exposure, export credit guarantees and special guarantees, incl. SME and midcap export credit guarantees: EUR 25.7 bn (23.9), change 7%.
  • Drawn exposure: EUR 14.3 bn (14.1), change 1%, of which Large Corporates’ cruise shipping exposure EUR 6.6 bn (6.6)
  • Undrawn exposure: EUR 7.0 bn (7.9) and binding offers EUR 4.3 bn (1.9), in total EUR 11.3 bn (9.8), change 16%, of which Large Corporates’ cruise shipping exposure in total EUR 6.8 bn (6.1 bn).
• Exposure, export credits drawn: EUR 7.1 bn (7.5), change -5%.

Financial performance

The Finnvera Group’s result in January–March 2023 showed a loss of EUR 39 million (-58). The changes in the amount of loss provisions for exposure arising from export credit guarantee and special guarantee operations contributed to the loss. Since the beginning of 2022, total exposure in Russia has decreased by almost 70%, from EUR 977 million to EUR 332 million by 31 March, as a result of the arrangements and early repayments made. During the period under review, the exposures in Russia were reduced by EUR 89 million, and signs of positive development can still be seen in the cruise shipping sector. In spite of this, the credit risk of the exposure or need for loss provisions is not estimated to have decreased. During the period under review, one single large loss realised due to the liquidation of MV Werften shipyard, but it did not have impact on the result due to previously made loss provisions. In January–March, the Finnvera Group’s realised credit losses totalled EUR 96 million (8) and the change to loss provisions totalled EUR 3 million (-209).

The parent company Finnvera plc’s separate result for export credit guarantee and special guarantee operations showed a loss of EUR 52 million (-79) and domestic operations showed a profit of EUR 7 million (11).

The Group’s net interest income totalled EUR 25 million (17) and its net fee and commission income was EUR 45 million (57). The higher net interest income than in the comparison period was in particular due to the rise in market interest rate. Correspondingly, the net fee and commission income decreased by EUR 12 million compared to the previous year, which was due to rearrangements made in financing agreements and recognition of guarantee premiums received in advance from early repayments of liabilities.

Taking into account the January–March result, as per 31 March, the parent company’s reserves for domestic operations and export credit guarantee and special guarantee operations for covering potential future losses amounted to a total of EUR 1,217 million (1,261). The credit risk for the subsidiary’s export credits is covered by the parent company’s export credit guarantee. The reserves consisted of the reserve for domestic financing of EUR 381 million (375), the reserve for export credit and special guarantee financing as well as assets in the State Guarantee Fund for covering a loss-making result totalling EUR 836 million (886). The State Guarantee Fund is a fund not included in the state budget, the funds of which have been accumulated in the activities of Finnvera’s predecessor organisations. Under the Act on the State Guarantee Fund, the Fund covers the result showing a loss in the export credit guarantee and special guarantee operations if the reserve funds in the company’s balance sheet are not sufficient.

Risk position of financing

At the end of March, the exposure for drawn domestic loans and guarantees amounted to EUR 2,409 million (2,335), increasing by EUR 74 million during the period under review.

The distribution of the domestic financing credit portfolio met the targets during the period under review. Risks pertaining to individual clients and the amounts of non-performing credits and arrears remained at a reasonable level, although some rise in the amount of arrears in terms of euros can be detected compared to the turn of the year. Of the exposures, 77 per cent fall within the intermediate credit risk categories B- – BB+.

At the end of March, the total exposure arising from export credit guarantees and special guarantees was EUR 25,665 million (23,928). Approximately 70 per cent of the outstanding export credit guarantees and special guarantees totalling EUR 21,315 million (21,485) and binding offers totalling EUR 4,350 million (1,897) were associated with transactions in EU Member States and OECD countries. Altogether, 32 per cent of the exposure was in investment risk category BBB- or in better risk categories.

There were no significant changes in the risk distribution of export credit guarantees compared to the turn of 2022. The biggest risks were still related to the cruise shipping and shipyard sectors and exposures in Russia.

Outlook for 2023

The business outlook of cruise shipping companies has improved and the exposure in Russia has been reduced. However, Finnvera Group’s credit risk level remains very high due to the unstable geopolitical situation and uncertain economic outlook. In particular, the risks are associated with cruise shipping and exposures in Russia, resulting in significant uncertainty about the Finnvera Group’s profit development in 2023. The Group’s profit or loss will be determined by how final credit losses and changes in loss provision amounts are realised.

Further information:

Pauli Heikkilä, CEO, tel. +358 (0)29 460 2400

Ulla Hagman, CFO, tel. +358 (0)29 460 2458

This stock exchange release is a summary of Finnvera Group’s interim management report of January–March 2023 and contains the relevant information from the report. The interim management report in its entirety is attached to this bulletin as a PDF file and is available on the company’s website at www.finnvera.fi.

Interim Management Statement 1 January–31 March 2023 (PDF)

Distribution:

NASDAQ Helsinki Ltd, London Stock Exchange, the principal media, www.finnvera.fi

The report is available in Finnish and English at www.finnvera.fi/financial_reports

About Finnvera Oyj

Finnvera provides financing for the start, growth and internationalisation of enterprises and guarantees against risks arising from exports. Finnvera strengthens the operating potential and competitiveness of Finnish enterprises by offering loans, guarantees and other services associated with the financing of exports. The risks included in financing are shared between Finnvera and other providers of financing. Finnvera is a specialised financing company owned by the State of Finland and it is the official Export Credit Agency (ECA) of Finland. www.finnvera.fi/eng 

Attachments

• Interim_management_report_1_January_31_March_2023.pdf