Annual Report 2002 Annual Report 2002 EFG Eurobank EFG Ergasias Eurobank S.A. EFG Eurobank Ergasias S.A. EFG Eurobank Ergasias CONTENTS THE YEAR IN REVIEW 5 Financial Highlights 6 Letter to Shareholders 10 Members of the Executive Committee 14 Financial Review 22 The EFG Eurobank Ergasias Share BUSINESS REVIEW 27 Retail Banking 34 Corporate Banking 38 Investment Banking 41 Capital Markets 43 Treasury 45 Private Banking 47 Asset Management 50 Other activities of the Group 52 International Expansion 57 Technology and Services SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT & CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 61 Introduction 63 Corporate Governance 69 Risk Management 75 Stakeholders 75 ñ Employees 78 ñ Shareholders 80 ñ Customers 82 ñ Suppliers 83 Our Contribution to Society APPENDICES 89 EFG Bank Group & EFG Eurobank Ergasias 95 Report & Accounts for the year 2002 (under IAS) 131 Consolidated Balance Sheet and Income Statement under Greek GAAP for the year 2002 ANNUAL REPORT 2002 3 International & Local Recognition Bank of the Year 2002, 2001 The Banker Best Equity House 2001 Award of Excellence-2001 Best Equity Euromoney House in Greece Best e-banking website 2002, 2001 PC Magazine RAM Magazine ¡Ô1 Custodian in Greece 2002 in Settlement, Reporting, Corporate Actions and Technology Top 10 Best Performing Agent Bank in All Markets in 2002 Global Custodian Magazine Social Contribution Award 2001 Greek Advertisers Association EFG Eurobank Ergasias THE YEAR IN REVIEW FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Key Consolidated Figures (in accordance with International Accounting Standards) 2002 2001 Change (Amounts in million Euro) Balance Sheet Loans and Advances to Customers 1 13,341 10,953 21.8% Deposits 1 16,948 15,287 10.9% Total Shareholders’ Equity 1,899 2,010 (5.5%) Total Assets 1 24,723 19,199 28.8% Profit and Loans Net Interest Income 721 614 17.4% Net Fee and Commission Income 250 247 1.2% Core Operating Income 2 972 862 12.8% Total Operating Income 1,005 944 6.5% Operating Expenses 611 548 11.5% Provision on Loans & Advances 98 68 44.1% Core Operating Profit 3 263 246 6.9% Profit before Tax Attributable to Shareholders 276 322 (14.3%) Net Profit after Tax & Minorities 184 206 (10.7%) 1. Excluding settlement balances. 2. Net Interest Income + Net Fee and Commission Income. 3. Core Operating Income - Operating Expenses - Provisions. 2002 2001 Key Financial Ratios Return on Assets (pre tax) 1.2% 1.8% Return on Assets (after tax) 0.8% 1.2% Return on Equity (pre tax) 14.1% 16.6% Return on Equity (after tax & minorities) 9.4% 10.6% Net Interest Margin 3.2% 3.3% Core Operating Income to Total Income 96.7% 91.3% Cost to Income Ratio 60.8% 58.1% Cost to Average Assets Ratio 2.7% 3.0% Risk Asset Ratio 11.7% 15.2% Non Performing Loans to Total Loans 3.6% 3.8% Data Per Share Earnings per Share 0.61 0.71 Dividend per Share 0.47 0.53 Dividend Yield 4.2% 3.4% (price as of year end) Ratings Long-Term Financial Strength Short-Term Moody’s A3 C P-1 Standard & Poors’ BBB+ - A-2 FITCH IBCA A- B/C-2 F2 ANNUAL REPORT 2002 5 LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS Dear Shareholders, The year 2002 was characterized by a slowdown in global economic growth, increased uncertainty and particularly adverse stock market conditions. These conditions had a decisive effect on the profitability of financial organizations globally. In Greece, banking sector profits decreased substantially, mainly because of reduced or negative financial results. However, this was a productive and successful year for EFG Eurobank Ergasias, as the Bank continued to grow dynamically, increasing its overall market shares in loans and deposits by approximately 1%. Particularly important in 2002 was the expansion of the market shares of the Group in crucial sectors, such as in consumer credit, credit cards, mutual funds, investment banking and the brokerage business. In 2002 therefore, EFG Eurobank Ergasias further enhanced its position in the Greek market. The adverse economic environment acted as a catalyst for the emergence of the true capabilities of each banking group. EFG Eurobank Ergasias stood out, managing to increase its organic profits by 7% to ˇ 263 million. This success was based on the growth rates we achieve, which are steadily among the highest in our banking system as well as on an international basis. It is indicative that customer loans of EFG Eurobank Ergasias exceeded ˇ 13 billion, growing 22% compared to an increase of 17% for the Greek market as a whole. Retail and small business lending expanded 34% and wholesale lending 15%. At the same time, the quality of the loan portfolio was safeguarded, with organic non-performing loans (NPLs) remaining below 3% of the total loan book. Furthermore, these are by 84% covered by provisions. The Group, taking into account international developments, increased provision charges in 2002 by ˇ 30 million, a fact that combined with the high asset quality of the loan portfolio, further safeguards the Bank. Customer Deposits, contrary to market trends, increased 11% y.o.y and amounted to ˇ 16.9 billion, whereas deposits excluding repos increased 16.6%, reaching ˇ 14.9 billion. Total Customer Funds, including customer deposits, repos, mutual funds and other investment products, rose by 8% to ˇ 23 billion at current prices, despite a drop in equity portfolios due to negative valuation effects. Core Income, comprising net interest and net fee income, achieved a rise of 13% in 2002, reaching ˇ 972 million. At the same time, the growth of operating expenses decelerated to 5% on a comparable basis against 2001. Nevertheless, the substantial fall of equities affected our total income and did not allow net income after tax to increase, thus receding 10% to ˇ 184 million. Shareholders’ Equity at the end of 2002 stood at ˇ1.9 billion and remains among the strongest in the sector. The Capital Adequacy Ratio stands at 11.7%, comprising almost solely Tier 1 6 EFG Eurobank Ergasias capital and confirming EFG Eurobank Ergasias’ ability to maintain its dynamic growth without having to raise additional capital from its shareholders in the foreseeable future. The strong capital base of EFG Eurobank Ergasias combined with the high quality of its profitability allow for the distribution of a dividend of ˇ 0.47 per share, which corresponds to a dividend yield of around 5% (on the average share price of March 2003). The steady organic growth together with our strong capital base constitute the best prerequisites for a sustainable and healthy profitability in the future. The reliability of this picture is also enhanced by the fact that the results of the Group are published according to International Accounting Standards. This ensures that our shareholders are protected from any negative surprises that could arise from the obligatory implementation of these standards. The recognition by the market of our Group’s strong advantages contributed to a higher resilience of the EFG Eurobank Ergasias share compared to other Greek banking stocks. Again the share was less affected by the adverse stock market conditions. In 2002 the Athens Composite Index dropped for a third successive year, falling by 33%, while the Banking Sector Index receded by 44% and the blue chip representative FTSE/ASE-20 Index lost 40%. In this extremely adverse environment, the EFG Eurobank Ergasias share retreated 28%, almost in line with the DJ Euro Stoxx Banks Index. It is worth noting that this fall in the share price was disproportionate to the drop in our profitability, which was 10%, and as a consequence it should be attributed to the very negative climate existing in the market. The result of maintaining our profitability at satisfactory levels and the higher resilience of our share was the rise of EFG Eurobank Ergasias into the first position among all banking stocks in the Athens Stock Exchange in terms of market capitalization, a fact that increases our responsibility not only to our shareholders but also to the wider Greek investment community. The success of EFG Eurobank Ergasias in the year 2002 is also confirmed by the important distinctions that it received from prominent international institutions such as Moody’s Investors Service. The international ratings agency upgraded the outlook for the Bank to "Positive" from "Stable". It is worth noting that EFG Eurobank Ergasias is the only Greek bank that receives this positive rating. According to Moody’s, this action reflects the dominant position of EFG Eurobank Ergasias in the high margin sectors, its positive franchise dynamics in the domestic market and the good financial fundamentals. Furthermore, EFG Eurobank Ergasias was chosen for a second consecutive year as "Bank of the Year" for Greece by the respected international magazine ‘The Banker’, in terms of the annual contest for the selection of the most successful and efficient banking group in every country. In addition, the Bank was ranked No 1 custodian in Greece in settlement, reporting, corporate actions and technology in 2002, as well as among the top ten best performing agent banks in all markets by the Global Custodian magazine. Last but not least, for a second year ANNUAL REPORT 2002 7 LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS the web site www.eurobank.gr received an award by the RAM and PC magazines. These distinctions constitute a reward for our efforts and serve as an additional motive for harder and more qualitative work. In 2002, the Bank took a series of important actions aiming at improving its efficiency, increasing its profitability and its long-term prospects. An achievement of high importance and significance was the finalization of the installation and operation of the new client-oriented Altamira system, which took place in September 2002.