Three key issues dominated the global banking sector in the past year – business recovery after the slump during the financial crisis, preparations for the most extensive legal and regulatory reforms in decades, as well as the growing risks associated with high sovereign debt in many industrial countries.
In operating terms, banks made good progress overall, albeit from a low base. In traditional lending business, loan loss provisions reduced significantly, though the absolute burden was still high. At the same time, 2010 saw a stabilization in loan volumes, which had contracted the year before, thanks to a slight rise in demand. This was at least in part attributable to central banks’ continuing expansionary monetary policies.
Capital markets business produced mixed results compared with the very good performance of 2009. The volume of corporate and sovereign bond issues fell slightly over the high prior year figure, though high-yield paper issuance volumes rose. Equity issuance stayed robust, with growth especially strong in initial public offerings. The M&A business gained traction, but remained weak. Overall, investment banking saw a return of market participants who had cut back their activities during the financial crisis. This led to more intense compe- tition and narrower margins.
In asset management, banks benefited from rising valuations in most asset classes and from higher inflows. In transaction business they profited from the economic recovery and a dynamic rebound in world trade, nearly to pre-crisis levels.
Despite this growth, the banking industry continued to be only moderately profitable overall, recording single digit returns on equity for the most part. Almost all major European and U.S. banks reported net profits, while the share of unprofitable, smaller banks decreased significantly.
Alongside operating performance, 2010 was shaped primarily by far-reaching regulatory measures planned by legislators and supervisory authorities. The Basel III reform of capital requirements will probably prove to be the most significant change in the long term. The final details have been largely agreed so that the new standards are now set to be implemented in nearly all of the world’s major financial markets. It is still uncertain, though, whether implementation of the rules will actually be harmonized throughout each country and what concrete effects the new framework will have on banks’ business.
Together with the forthcoming regulatory changes, the banking environment in 2010 was also greatly impacted by the European sovereign debt crisis and fears of a weak recovery or even a relapse of some major economies into recession. While the robust recovery of the global economy over the last few months has brightened the prospects for banks’ business, the public debt problems encountered especially by several euro-area countries, and their lack of competitiveness, continued to weigh on market sentiment. These concerns spilled over into the banking sector at times – causing the funding markets for financial institutions in severely affected coun- tries to dry up, and attracting criticism of the extensive cross-border activities of particular European banks as well as generally giving rise to significant financial market volatility.
Deutsche Bank
In this environment, we generated a net income of € 2.3 billion in 2010, compared to € 5.0 billion in 2009, a solid result considering the impact of several significant factors. These factors include, firstly, certain valuation- and integration-related charges from the acquisitions of the commercial banking activities from ABN AMRO in the Netherlands, of Sal. Oppenheim/BHF-BANK and of Postbank, the latter including a charge of € 2.3 billion in the third quarter 2010. Secondly, during the year we invested in the integration of our CIB businesses, in our IT platform and in other business growth initiatives. Thirdly, deferred compensation expenses were significantly higher in 2010 reflecting changes in compensation structures implemented in 2009. Additionally, the afore- mentioned acquisitions increased our revenue and expenses run rates, as well as our balance sheet, risk weighted assets and invested assets. Moreover, a shift in foreign exchange rates, in particular between the U.S. dollar and the euro, contributed to an increase in our reported euro revenues and expenses, with an overall positive impact on net income.
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Financial Report 2010 Operating and Financial Review
Net revenues of € 28.6 billion in 2010 were among the highest ever generated by us and increased by € 615 million from € 28.0 billion in 2009. CIB’s net revenues increased from € 18.8 billion in 2009 to € 20.9 billion in 2010. Overall Sales & Trading net revenues for 2010 were € 12.8 billion, compared with € 12.2 billion in 2009. This primarily reflects lower mark-downs from legacy positions, lower trading losses in Equity Derivatives as well as increased client activity across flow products and structured solutions in Credit Trading. This was partly offset by the normalization of bid-offer spreads and subdued client activity in Money Markets and Rates. Origination and Advisory revenues increased to € 2.5 billion in 2010 (2009: € 2.2 billion). PCAM’s net revenues were € 10.0 billion in 2010, an increase of € 1.8 billion compared to 2009. This development was mainly attributable to the first time consolidation of Postbank as well as the acquisition of Sal. Oppenheim/BHF-BANK. In addition, higher deposits revenues in PBC were driven by improved margins. In AWM, the non-recurrence of impairment charges recognized in 2009 related to RREEF investments, as well as higher fee income in a more favorable market environment, also contributed to the increase. In CI, net revenues in the full year 2010 were negative € 2.0 billion, versus positive € 1.0 billion in 2009. Revenues in both years were materially impacted by our investment in Postbank, including the aforementioned charge in the third quarter 2010 and several positive effects in 2009.
In 2010, provision for credit losses was € 1.3 billion, versus € 2.6 billion in 2009, primarily driven by significantly decreased provisions for assets reclassified in accordance with IAS 39.
Our noninterest expenses were € 23.3 billion in 2010, versus € 20.1 billion in 2009. Half of the increase was attributable to the aforementioned acquisitions in 2010. In addition, compensation expenses in 2010 reflected higher amortization expenses for deferred compensation following the aforementioned change in compensation structures, including the impact of accelerated amortization for employees eligible for career retirement. The remainder of the increase was due to the aforementioned investments in the integration of our CIB businesses, in our IT platform and in other business growth initiatives.
We recorded income before income taxes of € 4.0 billion in 2010, including the aforementioned € 2.3 billion charge taken in the third quarter 2010 related to the Postbank acquisition, compared with € 5.2 billion for 2009. Our pre-tax return on average active equity was 9.6% in 2010, versus 15.1% in 2009. Our pre-tax return on average shareholders’ equity was 9.5% in 2010 and 15.3% in 2009. Diluted earnings per share were € 2.92 in 2010 and € 6.94 in 2009.
The aforementioned shifts in currencies led to an increase in our assets, liabilities and invested assets compared to December 31, 2009. After the successfully completed capital increase, our Tier 1 capital ratio was 12.3% and our Core Tier 1 capital ratio was 8.7% as of December 31, 2010. Risk-weighted assets at year-end 2010 were € 346 billion, versus € 273 billion at year-end 2009, largely as a result of € 60 billion attributable to the first time consolidation of Postbank.
The following table presents our condensed consolidated statement of income for 2010 and 2009.
in € m.
(unless stated otherwise) 2010 2009
2010 increase (decrease) from 2009
in € m. in %
Net interest income 15,583 12,459 3,124 25
Provision for credit losses 1,274 2,630 (1,356) (52)
Net interest income after provision for credit losses 14,309 9,829 4,480 46
Commissions and fee income 10,669 8,911 1,758 20
Net gains (losses) on financial assets/liabilities
at fair value through profit or loss 3,354 7,109 (3,755) (53)
Net gains (losses) on financial assets available for sale 201 (403) 604 N/M Net income (loss) from equity method investments (2,004) 59 (2,063) N/M
Other income (loss) 764 (183) 947 N/M
Total noninterest income 12,984 15,493 (2,509) (16)
Total net revenues 27,293 25,322 1,971 8
Compensation and benefits 12,671 11,310 1,361 12
General and administrative expenses 10,133 8,402 1,731 21
Policyholder benefits and claims 485 542 (57) (11)
Impairment of intangible assets 29 (134) 163 N/M
Restructuring activities – – – N/M
Total noninterest expenses 23,318 20,120 3,198 16
Income (loss) before income taxes 3,975 5,202 (1,227) (24)
Income tax expense (benefit) 1,645 244 1,401 N/M
Net income (loss) 2,330 4,958 (2,628) (53)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests 20 (15) 35 N/M Net income (loss) attributable to Deutsche Bank shareholders 2,310 4,973 (2,663) (54)
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Financial Report 2010 Operating and Financial Review