Møre Boligkreditt AS’ interim accounts have been prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adopted by the EU as of 30 June 2021. The interim report has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting. The accounts are prepared using the same principles and with the same methodology as the annual accounts for 2020.

All amounts are stated in NOK million unless stated otherwise.

The interim financial statements are not audited.

Møre Boligkreditt AS’ business mainly comprises operations within the retail banking market. Møre Boligkreditt AS has only one operating segment. 

Møre Boligkreditt AS applies a three-stage approach when assessing ECL on loans to customers in accordance with IFRS 9. 

• Stage 1: At initial recognition and if there’s no significant increase in credit risk, the commitment is classified in stage 1 with 12-months ECL.
• Stage 2: If a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition is identified, but without evidence of loss, the commitment is transferred to stage 2 with lifetime ECL measurement.
• Stage 3: If the credit risk increases further and there’s evidence of loss, the commitment is transferred to stage 3.
  
  

Staging is performed at account level and implies that two or more accounts held by the same customer can be placed in different stages.

CLASSIFICATION AND MEASUREMENT
The company’s portfolio of financial instruments is at initial recognition classified in accordance with IFRS 9. Financial assets are classified in one of the following categories: 

• Amortised cost

• Fair value with any changes in value through the income statement

The classification of the financial assets depends on two factors: 

• The purpose of the acquisition of the financial instrument

• The contractual cash flows from the financial assets

 
Financial assets assessed at amortised cost
The classification of the financial assets assumes that the following requirements are met: 

• The asset is acquired to receive contractual cash flows

• The contractual cash flows consist solely of principal and interest

With the exception of fixed rate loans, all lending and receivables are recorded in the accounts at amortised cost, based on expected cash flows. The difference between the issue cost and the settlement amount at maturity, is amortised over the lifetime of the loan.

Financial liabilities assessed at amortised cost
Debt securities, including debt securities included in fair value hedging and loans and deposits from credit institutions, are assessed at amortised cost based on expected cash flows.

Financial instruments assessed at fair value, any changes in value recognised through the income statement
The company's portfolio of bonds in the liquidity portfolio is classified at fair value with any value changes through the income statement, based on the business model of the company.

The portfolio of fixed interest rate loans is assessed at fair value to avoid accounting mismatch in relation to the underlying interest rate swaps.

Financial derivatives are instruments used to mitigate any interest- or currency risk incurred by the company. Financial derivatives are recorded at fair value, with any changes in value through the income statement, and recognised gross per contract, as either asset or debt.

Changes in basis swaps effects for swaps included in fair value hedging are recognised in OCI.

Losses and gains as a result of value changes on assets and liabilities assessed at fair value with any value changes being recognised in the income statement, are included in the accounts during the period in which they occur.

LEVELS IN THE VALUATION HIERARCHY
Financial instruments at fair value are classified into different levels based on the quality of market data for each type of instrument.

Level 1 – Valuation based on prices in an active market
Level 1 comprises financial instruments valued by using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. This category includes bonds and certificates in LCR-level 1, traded in active markets.

Level 2 – Valuation based on observable market data
Level 2 comprises financial instruments valued by using information which is not quoted prices, but where prices are directly or indirectly observable for assets or liabilities, including quoted prices in inactive markets for identical assets or liabilities. This category mainly includes derivatives and bonds which are not included in level 1.

Level 3 – Valuation based on other than observable market data
Level 3 comprises financial instruments which cannot be valued based on directly or indirectly observable prices. Loans to customers are included in this category.

A change of 10 basis points in the discount rate will have an effect of approximately NOK 7 million on the valuation of the fixed rate loans as at 30.06.2021.

Securities issued at floating interest rates are measured at amortised cost. Fair value hedge accounting is used for the company's securities issued at fixed rate terms, and changes in fair value (due to the hedged risk) are recognized in profit and loss. 

Møre Boligkreditt AS purchases services from Sparebanken Møre. There are also transactions between the parties related to the acquisition of loan portfolio and the fact that Sparebanken Møre provides loans and credits to the mortgage company.

Loans from Sparebanken Møre are transferred at market value. If the purchased mortgage loans have fixed interest rates, the purchase price is adjusted according to the value above/below par. Sparebanken Møre is responsible for ensuring that the loans to be transferred to Møre Boligkreditt AS are properly established and in accordance with the requirements specified in the agreement between the mortgage company and the Parent Bank. In case of a violation of these requirements, the Parent Bank will be liable for any losses that the mortgage company would experience as a result of the error. Sparebanken Møre and Møre Boligkreditt AS have formalised the settlement of interest for transaction days from date of transfer of loan portfolio to date of settlement of the consideration.

If Møre Boligkreditt AS should have difficulties obtaining financing, a revolving guarantee from Sparebanken Møre is established with the purpose of ensuring timely payments to owners of bonds and derivative counterparties.

The pricing of the services provided by Sparebanken Møre to Møre Boligkreditt AS distinguishes between fixed and variable costs for the mortgage company. Fixed costs are defined as costs the mortgage company must bear regardless of the activity related to the issuance of covered bonds, the acquisition of portfolio, etc. Variable costs are defined as costs related to the size of the portfolio acquired from Sparebanken Møre and the work that must be exercised by the Bank's employees to deliver satisfactory services given the number of customers in the portfolio.

Møre Boligkreditt AS is billed for costs related to the lease of premises at Sparebanken Møre. It is assumed that regardless of operations, a certain area of the bank attributable to the mortgage company is utilised during the year. Regardless of the extent of the activity and the loan portfolio acquired by Møre Boligkreditt AS, charges related to accounting, financial reporting, risk management, cash management, financing, governance and general legal services will incur.

Sparebanken Møre bills the mortgage company based on actual salary costs, including social security contribution, pension costs and other social costs. Parts of the mortgage company's expenses related to services provided by Sparebanken Møre relates to the size of the portfolio acquired from Sparebanken Møre. Management fee is calculated and billed monthly, in which the month's average portfolio size forms the basis of billing.

The interest rate of the mortgage company's deposit and credit limit in Sparebanken Møre is based on 3 months NIBOR + a premium.

No events of material significance for the financial statements for Q2-2021 have occurred after the reporting date. The company is not involved in any legal proceedings. 

A capital reduction of up to NOK 500,000,000 was approved by the Norwegian FSA 11 June 2021. The Norwegian register of business enterprises was notified 15 June 2021, triggering a six week creditor notice period. The six week creditor notice period ended 27 July 2021 without any creditors objecting. The approved capital reduction of up to NOK 500,000,000 will be completed in the third quarter of 2021. The calculated effect on CET1 of the capital reduction is 6.3 per cent.