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May 20, 2014

Commerzbank continues along success path in Asia

  • Double-digit growth in Corporate Banking business and further development expected
  • Lead managed first Chinese renminbi bond listed on Frankfurt Stock Exchange

Commerzbank posted double-digit growth in 2013 in its Corporate Banking business in Asia. In the framework of favourable market conditions, revenues increased by 17 percent. The number of clients also grew year-on-year by 13 percent to approximately 1,800 clients. “We were able to reach our main growth targets last year. Following our success we will continue to work on the further development of our business model in the world’s strongest-growing region,” said Edith Weymayr, regional board member Asia for the Corporate Banking business, when speaking to journalists in Beijing on Tuesday. This success is also reflected in the number of Commerzbank employees in Asia, which increased by 4 percent year-on-year. For 2014 the Bank is once again aiming to reach double-digit growth in revenues.

China is one of the most important markets for the corporate banking business ofCommerzbank. The Bank has been represented in Asia for more than 50 years, with the first representative office in China opening 30 years ago. Corporate Banking is present with six branches in Asia: Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tianjin, Singapore, and Tokyo. In addition to the intensification of its business with corporate clients in Germany, Commerzbank is also geared towards international expansion through cooperations with other banks. In 2013, a cooperation with Thailand’s Kasikornbank was signed by Commerzbank. In March of this year further cooperation agreements were achieved with two Indian banks. In addition, since the beginning of the year Commerzbank has opened five new branches in Switzerland and plans to open an office in São Paulo next year. In total Commerzbank is represented in more than 70 locations in over 50 countries and has a network of approximately 5,000 correspondent banks worldwide. 

As well as its Corporate Banking business, Commerzbank is present in Asia with its investment banking arm Corporates & Markets (CM), servicing both corporate clients and financial institutions. For corporate clients CM provides advisory services, access to funding via the capital markets, asset and liability management services across asset classes as well as supporting clients with their international expansion plans. Additionally CM provides mergers & acquisitions (M&A) insights and expertise to clients in Asia.

Commerzbank was active as Joint Bookrunner on Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau’s (KfW) CNY 1 billion 2-year bond listed on the regulated market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. “The successful placement of the first Frankfurt-listed RMB-bond is an important step of Frankfurt as a financial centre. We expect that the evolution of the renminbi market in Frankfurt will strengthen business and economic ties between Germany and China,” said Nick Johnston, head of Commerzbank’s investment banking business in Asia. “We envisage further issuance in renminbi from German corporates as well as international financials using the new hub,” added Johnston.

CM actively participates in China’s financial markets, both onshore and offshore, and has achieved a number of notable successes in 2014: 

  • CNH (offshore renminbi) is now a top 6 currency pair for Commerzbank globally.
  • As a member of Hong Kong Exchange, CM is No. 1 Market Maker by number of ETFs traded, including 10 of the most actively traded CNH-denominated ETFs.
  • Commerzbank was No. 2 for trading rated CNH bonds by executed volume*.
  • Commerzbank was ranked Top 10 dealer for CNH-denominated private placements*.

Commerzbank Asia focuses on accompanying corporate clients with strong economic ties between China and Europe. Given its product, industry and local market know-how Corporate Banking, together with Corporates & Markets, also supports Chinese companies who have business activities in Europe. 

 

Contact
Martin Halusa:              +49 69 136-85331
Claire Tappenden:         +44 20 74755161

 

* 2013 data based on Rated Bonds. Source Bloomberg.           

About Commerzbank
Commerzbank is a leading bank in Germany and Poland. It is also present worldwide in all markets for its customers as a partner to the business world. With the business areas Private Customers, Mittelstandsbank, Corporates & Markets and Central & Eastern Europe, it offers its private and corporate customers as well as institutional investors the banking and capital market services they need. With approximately 1,200 branches Commerzbank has one of the densest branch networks among German private banks and is on its way to become a modern multichannel bank. In total, Commerzbank boasts approximately 15 million private customers, as well as 1 million business and corporate customers. In 2013, it generated revenues of more than EUR 9 billion with approximately 54,000 employees on average

  

Disclaimer
This release contains statements concerning the expected future business of Commerzbank, efficiency gains and expected synergies, expected growth prospects and other opportunities for an increase in value of the company as well as expected future net income per share, restructuring costs and other financial developments and information. These forward-looking statements are based on the management’s current expectations, estimates and projections. They are subject to a number of assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from any future results and developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Commerzbank has no obligation to periodically update or release any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

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