The Group`s interim accounts have been prepared in accordance with adopted International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), approved by the EU as at 31 December 2023. The interim report has been prepared in compliance with IAS 34 Interim Reporting and in accordance with accounting principles and methods applied in the 2022 Financial statements.

The accounts are presented in Norwegian kroner (NOK), which is also the parent bank`s and subsidiaries` functional currency. All amounts are stated in NOK million unless stated otherwise. 

Sparebanken Møre calculates and reports capital adequacy in compliance with the EU’s capital requirements regulation and directive (CRD/CRR). Sparebanken Møre is granted permission from the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway (FSA) to use internal rating methods, IRB Foundation for credit risk. Calculations regarding market risk are performed using the standardised approach and for operational risk the basic indicator approach is used. The use of IRB places extensive demands on the bank’s organisation, expertise, risk models and risk management systems.

On 21 December 2021, Sparebanken Møre applied to the FSA to make changes to the bank’s IRB models and calibration framework. The bank received a response to the application on 22 June 2023 in which the FSA approved the proposed models for the corporate market. The model changes resulted in an improved Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of about 0.7 percentage points. Sparebanken Møre has incorporated the new models in the 4^th quarter of 2023. In a letter dated 18 January 2024, the FSA has rejected the bank’s application of model changes for the retail market, and the bank will send a new application taking into account the feedback from the FSA. 

Sparebanken Møre’s total Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio requirement is 16.15 per cent. The requirement consists of a minimum requirement of 4.5 per cent, a capital conservation buffer of 2.5 per cent, a systemic risk buffer of 4.5 per cent and a countercyclical buffer of 2.5 per cent. The Financial Supervisory Authority conducted a SREP in 2023. The individual Pillar 2 requirement for Sparebanken Møre has been set at 1.6 per cent, and the expected capital adequacy margin has been set at 1.25 per cent. At least 56.25 per cent of the new Pillar 2 requirement that resulted from the aforementioned SREP must be met with Common Equity Tier 1 capital (0.9 per cent), and minimum 75 per cent must be met with Tier 1 capital.

Sparebanken Møre has an internal target for the CET1 ratio to minimum equal the sum of Pillar 1, Pillar 2 and the Pillar 2 Guidance.

On 15 June 2023, the FSA approved an application for the acquisition of equity certificates. The authorisation has been granted on the condition that the buybacks do not reduce Common Equity Tier 1 capital by more than NOK 64.9 million. Sparebanken Møre will deduct Common Equity Tier 1 capital of NOK 64.9 million from the date the authorisation is granted and for the duration of the authorisation.

MREL
One key element of the BRRD II (Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive) is that capital instruments and debt can be written down and/or converted to equity (bail-in). The Financial Institutions Act, therefore, requires the bank to meet a minimum requirement regarding the sum of its own funds and convertible debt at all times (MREL – minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities) such that the bank has sufficient primary capital and convertible debt to cope with a crisis without the use of public funds.

The MREL requirement must be covered by own funds or debt instruments with a lower priority than ordinary, unsecured, non-prioritised debt (senior debt). The subordination requirement (lower priority) must be met in full by no later than 1 January 2024. Until then, senior debt with a remaining term to maturity of more than one year can be used to help meet the subordination requirement. The overall subordination requirement must as a minimum be phased in linearly. From 1 January 2022, the effective subordination requirement is 20 per cent of the adjusted risk-weighted assets.

In its letter dated 10^th November 2023, the FSA set Sparebanken Møre’s effective MREL-requirement as of 01.01.2024 at 35.7 per cent and the minimum subordination requirement at 28.7 per cent.

Methodology for measuring expected credit losses (ECL) according to IFRS 9
For a detailed description of the bank’s loss model, please see note 9 in the annual report for 2022.

Sparebanken Møre has developed an ECL model based on the Group’s IRB parameters and applies a three-stage approach when assessing ECL on loans to customers and financial guarantees 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, including evidence of loss, the commitment is transferred to stage 3 with lifetime ECL measurement. The commitment is considered to be credit-impaired. As opposed to stage 1 and 2, effective interest rate in stage 3 is calculated on net impaired commitment (total commitment less expected credit loss) instead of gross commitment.

Staging is performed at account level and implies that two or more accounts held by the same customer can be placed in different stages. If a customer has one account in stage 3 (risk classes K, M or N), all of the customer’s accounts will migrate to stage 3.

Customers in risk class N have been subject to individual loss assessment with impairment. In connection with individual loss assessment, 3 scenarios based on calculation of the weighted present value of future cash flow after realisation of collateral are prepared. If the weighted present value of cash flow after realisation of collateral is positive, model-based loss provisions according to the ECL model is used.

An increase in credit risk reflects both customer-specific circumstances and development in relevant macro factors for the particular customer segment. The assessment of what is considered to be a significant increase in credit risk is based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative indicators.

Quantitative criteria
A significant increase in credit risk is determined by comparing the PD at the reporting date with PD at initial recognition. If the actual PD is higher than initial PD, an assessment is made of whether the increase is significant.

Significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition is considered to have occurred when either

• PD has increased by 100 per cent or more and the increase in PD is more than 0.5 percentage points, or
• PD has increased by more than 2,0 percentage points
• The customer’s agreed payments are overdue by more than 30 days

 The weighted, macro adjusted PD in year 1 is used for comparison with PD on initial recognition to determine whether the credit risk has increased significantly.

Qualitative criteria
In addition to the quantitative assessment of changes in the PD, a qualitative assessment is made to determine whether there has been a significant increase in credit risk, for example, if the commitment is subject to special monitoring.

Credit risk is always considered to have increased significantly if the customer has been granted forbearance measures, though it is not severe enough to be individually assessed in stage 3.  

Positive migration in credit risk
A customer migrates from stage 2 to stage 1 if:

• The criteria for migration from stage 1 to stage 2 is no longer present, and
• this is satisfied for at least one subsequent month (total 2 months)

A customer migrates from stage 3 to stage 1 or stage 2 if the customer no longer meets the conditions for migration to stage 3:

• The customer migrates to stage 2 if more than 30 days in default.
• Otherwise, the customer migrates to stage 1.

 Accounts that are not subject to the migration rules above are not expected to have significant change in credit risk and retain the stage from the previous month.

Customers who are going through a probation period after default (at least 3 or 12 months), are initially held in stage 3. The customers can be overridden to stage 2 if that is considered to give the best estimate of expected credit loss.

In the quarterly report for the third quarter of 2023, it was informed about improvements in the market for Oil Services/Supply and developments within some commitments placed in stage 3.

According to notice to the Oslo Stock Exchange during the fourth quarter of 2023, the loss provisions on these commitments were reversed. In addition, further loss reversals on other loans and guarantees were recognized in the quarter. Net loan loss reversals in the fourth quarter amounts to MNOK 117.

Scenarios
Three scenarios are developed: Best, Basis and Worst. For each of the scenarios, expected values of different parameters are given, for each of the next five years. The possibility for each of the scenarios to occur is also estimated. After five years, the scenarios are expected to converge to a long-term stable level.

Changes to PD as a result of scenarios, may also affect the staging.

Definition of default, credit-impaired and forbearance
The definition of default is similar to that used in the capital adequacy regulation.

A commitment is defined to be subject to forbearance (payment relief due to payment difficulties) if the bank agrees to changes in the terms and conditions as a result of the debtor having problems meeting payment obligations. Performing forbearance (not in default) is placed in stage 2 whereas non-performing (defaulted) forbearance is placed in stage 3.

Management override
Quarterly review meetings evaluate the basis for the accounting of ECL losses. If there are significant events that will affect an estimated loss which the model has not taken into account, relevant factors in the ECL model will be overridden. An assessment is made of the level of long-term PD and LGD in stage 2 and stage 3 under different scenarios, as well as an assessment of macro factors and weighting of scenarios.

Consequences of increased macroeconomic uncertainty and measurement of expected credit loss (ECL) for loans and guarantees
The bank’s loss provisions reflect expected credit loss (ECL) pursuant to IFRS 9. When assessing ECL, the relevant conditions at the time of reporting and expected economic developments are taken into account.

At its meeting on 13 December 2023, Norges Bank decided to raise the key policy rate from 4.25 to 4.5 per cent. Based on their current assessment of the outlook and risk profile, the key policy rate will probably be kept at this level for some time ahead. Growth in the Norwegian economy is low. After growth slowed in the first half of 2023, mainland Norway GDP was approximately unchanged from the second to the third quarter. Household consumption as a whole has fallen so far this year and has been slightly lower than expected in Norges Bank's March Report. Norges Bank estimates that the average mortgage rate will rise to about 5.7 per cent next year. Higher interest rates and high inflation have curbed demand in the Norwegian economy, and household consumption and housing investments are expected to show weak developments this year and next. On the other hand, the depreciation of the krone has improved cost competitiveness for Norwegian enterprises. This points to increased exports. High activity in petroleum-related industries will boost activity in both 2024 and 2025. Prospects of rising public demand throughout the projection period also point to increased activity. Through 2025 and 2026, Norges Bank expects economic activity to pick up gradually, primarily as a result of higher private consumption. The interest burden is expected to increase slightly further through 2024 before gradually decreasing later in the projection period. The slowdown will occur both as a result of a lower debt burden and a lower key policy rate over time. As a result of weak growth in employment in the next few years, Norges Bank expects unemployment to edge up.

So far, no significant increase in arrears and forbearance has been observed as a result of increased interest costs and higher inflation.

The ECL as of 31.12.2023 is based on a scenario weighting with 70 per cent weight on the baseline scenario (normal development), 20 per cent weight on the worst case scenario and 10 per cent weight on the best-case scenario. The weightings have been kept unchanged from the first quarter of 2022 when the weighting for the worst-case scenario was increased from 10 per cent to 20 per cent while the weighting for the best-case scenario was reduced from 20 per cent to 10 per cent as a result of the war in Ukraine, sharp increase in energy and commodity prices and prospects of persistently higher inflation and interest rates.

The following table lists commission income and expenses covered by IFRS 15 broken down by the largest main items and allocated per segment.

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised in the balance sheet at the date when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. A financial asset is derecognised when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire, or the company transfers the financial asset in such a way that risk and profit potential of the financial asset is substantially transferred. Financial liabilities are derecognised from the date when the rights to the contractual provisions have been extinguished, cancelled or expired.

CLASSIFICATION AND MEASUREMENT
The Group’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 value changes 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 measured 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

All lending and receivables, except fixed interest rate loans, are recorded in the group 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 measured at amortised cost
Debt securities, including debt securities included in fair value hedging, loans and deposits from credit institutions and deposits from customers, are valued at amortised cost based on expected cash flows. The portfolio of own bonds is shown in the accounts as a reduction of the debt.

Financial instruments measured at fair value, any changes in value recognised through the income statement
The Group's portfolio of bonds in the liquidity portfolio is classified at fair value through the income statement. The portfolio is held solely for liquidity management and is traded to optimize returns within current quality requirements for the liquidity portfolio.

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

Fixed interest rate deposits from customers with maturities in excess of one year are classified at fair value and secured by interest rate swaps.

Financial derivatives are contracts signed to mitigate an existing interest rate or currency risk incurred by the Group. Financial derivatives are recognised at fair value through the income statement and recognised gross per contract as an asset or a liability.

The Group’s portfolio of shares is measured at fair value with any value changes through the income statement.

Losses and gains as a result of value changes on assets and liabilities measured 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 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 listed shares, as well as 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 includes derivatives, as well as 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. This category includes loans to customers, as well as shares.

A change in the discount rate of 10 basis points will have an impact of about NOK 8.1 million on loans with fixed interest rate.

The debt securities of the Group consist of covered bonds quoted in Norwegian kroner (NOK) and Euro (EUR) issued by Møre Boligkreditt AS, in addition to certificates and bonds quoted in NOK issued by Sparebanken Møre. The table below provides an overview of the Group’s issued covered bonds.

As at 31.12.2023, Sparebanken Møre held NOK 0 million in covered bonds issued by Møre Boligkreditt AS (NOK 0 million). Møre Boligkreditt AS held no own covered bonds as at 31.12.2023 (NOK 0 million).

The proportion of equity certificates held by foreign nationals was 2.4 per cent at the end of the 4th quarter of 2023.

During the 4th quarter of 2023, Sparebanken Møre has acquired 100,000 of its own ECs.

No events have occurred after the reporting period that will materially affect the figures presented as of 31 December 2023.