Lands­bank­inn issu­es green bonds in euros

S&P Global Ratings has today announced that Landsbankinn’s covered bond rating has been raised. The rating uplift is one notch and the rating is therefore A with stable outlook.

Landsbankinn’s net profit in the first three months of 2022 was ISK 3.2 billion. Return on equity (ROE) was 4.7%. Net fee and commission income increased by 28.5% YoY, mainly from growing activity in asset management and capital markets. Net interest income grew by 19%, mainly driven by a larger balance sheet and better returns on liquid assets. Market share in the retail market measured 39% at the end of the quarter, slightly higher than in the same quarter last year. The cost/income ratio was 54.9% and costs remain stable. Operating expenses as a ratio of average total assets were 1.4%. Growth in mortgage lending has declined while lending to corporates increased by ISK 20.7 billion, not having regard for exchange rate impact. Around 90% of new housing mortgages in the first quarter were non-indexed and 58% of the mortgages carry fixed rates, in most cases for a 3-year period. Landsbankinn became a Visa principal member, increasing operational efficiency and making it easier for the Bank to offer new services linked to payment cards, among other things. Mortgage papers were registered electronically for the first time in February, with Landsbankinn becoming the first Icelandic bank to offer this service. The transaction volume in Landsbréf’s mutual funds has grown by 30% between years.

The Annual General Meeting of Landsbankinn, held on 23 March 2022, agreed to pay a dividend amounting to ISK 14,409 million to shareholders. The dividend is equivalent to 50% of 2021 profits. The AGM also approved a special dividend in the amount of ISK 6,141 million. In total, the Bank pays ISK 20,550 million in dividends to its owners this year. Dividend payments from the Bank in 2013-2022 total ISK 166.7 billion.

The Annual General Meeting of Landsbankinn hf. will be held remotely on 23 March 2022, at 16:00.

On 4 February 2022, Landsbankinn announced that the Bank would offer to purchase shares from shareholders under the terms of a buyback programme during the period 7 February 2022 to 21 February 2022. During the period, Landsbankinn acquired a total of 156,396 own shares at a share price of 11.9658, for the total amount of ISK 1,871,403.

Landsbankinn's Board of Directors has decided to exercise an authorisation to purchase the Bank's own shares, which was approved at the Bank's AGM on 24 March this year. The buyback programme allows for the maximum purchase of 57 million shares, or 0.24% of issued shares. Landsbankinn has previously offered shareholders the chance to sell their shares in the Bank, most recently in November 2021.

The Report provides accessible insight into the Bank’s services and operation and details about the great strides made in sustainability in 2021.

Landsbankinn's net profit in 2021 was ISK 28.9 billion. After-tax return on equity (ROE) was 10.8% in 2021. The Bank’s long-term ROE target is 10% at a minimum.

Landsbankinn hf. has today concluded the sale of floating rate bonds with a maturity of 3 years in the amount of SEK 850m and NOK 500m. The bonds were priced at a spread of 80bp over 3-month STIBOR and 79bp over 3-month NIBOR. In addition, the bank sold bonds with a maturity of 2 years in the amount of SEK 850m at a spread of 65bp over 3-month STIBOR. The bonds are expected to be rated BBB by S&P Global Ratings.

On 29 October 2021, Landsbankinn announced that the Bank would offer to purchase shares from shareholders under the terms of a buyback programme during the period 1 November 2021 to 15 November 2021. During the period, Landsbankinn acquired a total of 1,678,416 own shares at a share price of 11.6558, for the total amount of ISK 19,563,283.