OLB successfully completes first synthetic risk transfer

• Important milestone for sustainably efficient balance sheet management and further growth
• Successful completion of the transaction underlines OLB’s solidity and stability
• Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio (CET 1 ratio) improved by around 40 basis points

Oldenburgische Landesbank AG (OLB) successfully completed its first synthetic risk transfer. Under the transaction, potential default risks were transferred to investors, but the actual contractual relationship between OLB and its borrowers remained unaffected.

As a result, the Bank has hedged a portfolio of loans with corporate clients through the transaction and reduced its risk-weighted assets by up to € 450 million initially. The Bank’s Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio (CET 1 ratio) was improved by around 40 basis points. OLB plans to further expand this instrument and to use the capital released by the transaction for continued organic and inorganic growth, including the financing of the agreed transaction to acquire Degussa Bank.

"With our first synthetic risk transfer, we have strengthened our balance sheet and will be able to manage it even more efficiently in the future," says Dr Rainer Polster, Chief Financial Officer of OLB. "We have been working towards the securitisation transaction for twelve months as part of our strategic balance sheet efficiency initiatives. The fact that we succeeded in closing the deal now as targeted, against the backdrop of the recent market turbulence, underlines OLB’s solidity and stability."

OLB was advised by Clifford Chance, Iconicchain, UniCredit and SKS Group regarding the transaction.

Disclaimer

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements, estimates, opinions and projections regarding OLB’s future business, results of operations and earnings ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "estimate," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "will," or "should," as well as their negation and similar variations or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. Forwardlooking statements are based on the current opinions, forecasts and assumptions of OLB’s Board of Managing Directors and involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which is why actual results, performance and events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein should not be taken as guarantees of future performance or results and are not necessarily reliable indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date of this release. We do not intend or assume any obligation to update any information, forward-looking statements or conclusions contained in this release to reflect subsequent events or circumstances or to correct any inaccuracies that may arise after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. We do not assume any responsibility whatsoever that the forward-looking statements or assumptions contained herein will occur.