The financial information reported in this document is based on the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 and on the audited annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended October 31, 2017 and is prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), unless otherwise indicated. IFRS represent Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). All amounts are presented in Canadian dollars.

MONTREAL, Dec. 1, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - For the fourth quarter of 2017, National Bank is reporting net income of $525 million compared to $307 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Diluted earnings per share stood at $1.39 in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $0.78 in the same quarter last year.

Net income excluding specified items totalled $531 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, up 15% from $463 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Diluted earnings per share excluding specified items stood at $1.40 for the quarter ended October 31, 2017 compared to $1.24 in the same quarter of 2016. The specified items are described on page 2.

For fiscal 2017, the Bank posted record net income of $2,024 million compared to $1,256 million in fiscal 2016, and the 2017 diluted earnings per share stood at $5.38 versus $3.29 in 2016. These increases were driven by net income growth across all of the Bank's business segments as well as by the year-over-year effects of several specified items recorded in fiscal 2016, in particular the sectoral provision, the Bank's write-off of its equity interest in associate Maple Financial Group Inc., and the restructuring charge. For the year ended October 31, 2017, net income excluding specified items was $2,049 million, a 27% increase from $1,613 million in fiscal 2016, and the 2017 diluted earnings per share excluding specified items stood at $5.45 compared to $4.35 in 2016.

"The fourth quarter concludes a record year for the Bank in which its net income exceeded $2 billion for the first time," said Louis Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of National Bank. "This excellent performance was driven by revenue growth across all of the Bank's business segments and by an effective management of operating costs."

 

 

 

FINANCIAL REPORTING METHOD                                  

The presentation of segment disclosures is consistent with the presentation adopted by the Bank for the fiscal year beginning November 1, 2016. This presentation reflects the fact that the activities of subsidiary Credigy Ltd. (Credigy), which had previously been presented in the Financial Markets segment, and that the activities of subsidiary Advanced Bank of Asia Limited (ABA Bank) and of other international investments, which had previously been presented in the Other heading, are now presented in the U.S. Specialty Finance and International (USSF&I) segment. The Bank made this change to better align the monitoring of its activities with its management structure.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Bank uses a number of financial measures when assessing its results and measuring Bank-wide performance. Some of these financial measures are not calculated in accordance with GAAP, which are based on IFRS. Presenting non-GAAP financial measures helps readers to better understand how management analyzes results, shows the impacts of specified items on the results of the reported periods, and allows readers to assess results without the specified items if they consider such items not to be reflective of the underlying performance of the Bank's operations. Securities regulators require companies to caution readers that non-GAAP measures do not have a standardized meaning under GAAP and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

This press release should be read in conjunction with the 2017 Annual Report (which includes the audited annual consolidated financial statements and MD&A) available on the Bank's website at nbc.ca. Additional information about the Bank, including the Annual Information Form, can be obtained from the Bank's website at nbc.ca and SEDAR's website at sedar.com.

Consolidated Results

On November 1, 2016, the Bank had reclassified certain amounts in the Consolidated Statement of Income to better reflect the nature of the income reported in the Personal and Commercial segment. Accordingly, for the quarter ended October 31, 2016, an amount of $9 million reported in Non-interest income – Credit fees was reclassified to Interest income – Loans ($36 million for the year ended October 31, 2016). This reclassification had no impact on Net income.

Total Revenues 
For the fourth quarter of 2017, the Bank's total revenues amounted to $1,704 million, up $135 million or 9% from the same quarter of 2016. Its fourth-quarter net interest income was up year over year, mainly because of growth in the loans and deposits of the Personal and Commercial segment; the net interest income growth at Wealth Management attributable in part to improved margins; the net interest income growth at Credigy; and the revenues generated by the ABA Bank subsidiary. These increases were partly offset by a decrease in the net interest income generated by the Financial Markets segment. Fourth-quarter non-interest income was also up, posting year-over-year growth of 9% owing to increases in trading revenues and gains on available-for-sale securities, which rose by $51 million and $27 million, respectively. Furthermore, there were year-over-year increases in mutual fund revenues, trust service revenues, revenues from credit fees, card revenues, revenues from deposit and payment service charges, and the share in the net income of associates and joint ventures. These increases were somewhat tempered by year-over-year decreases in fourth-quarter revenues from underwriting and advisory fees, revenues from securities brokerage commissions, insurance revenues, and the other revenues item, in particular the portion of Credigy revenues included in non-interest income. Total revenues on a taxable equivalent basis and excluding specified items amounted to $1,760 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, up 8% from $1,632 million in the fourth quarter of 2016.

For the year ended October 31, 2017, total revenues amounted to $6,609 million compared to $5,840 million in fiscal 2016, a 13% year-over-year increase that was driven, in part, by 8% growth in net interest income that was essentially attributable to the same reasons provided above for the quarter. The 2017 non-interest income was up 19% year over year, mainly due to increases in trading revenues, gains on available-for-sale securities, Wealth Management revenues, revenues from credit fees, card revenues, revenues from deposit and payment service charges, and insurance revenues. The Bank's share in the net income of associates and joint ventures also increased year-over-year, partly due to an $18 million amount representing the Bank's share in the goodwill and intangible asset impairment losses arising from its interest in TMX that had been recorded in fiscal 2016. The increase in other income is attributable to the $164 million write-off of the equity interest in associate Maple that had been recorded in fiscal 2016, tempered by a non-taxable gain of $41 million recorded in 2016 (following the revaluation of the previously held equity interest in ABA Bank), and by a decrease in Credigy revenues included in non-interest income in 2017. However, these increases were tempered by lower revenues from underwriting and advisory fees and from securities brokerage commissions, while other-than-trading foreign exchange revenues were unchanged. Total revenues on a taxable equivalent basis and excluding specified items amounted to $6,864 million for year ended October 31, 2017 compared to $6,279 million in fiscal 2016.

Provisions for Credit Losses 
For the fourth quarter of 2017, the Bank recorded $70 million in provisions for credit losses compared to $59 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. This increase stems mainly from higher credit loss provisions recorded for the U.S. Specialty Finance and International segment and essentially attributable to the Credigy subsidiary, partly offset by lower credit loss provisions recorded for Commercial Banking loans. 

For the year ended October 31, 2017, the Bank recorded $244 million in provisions for credit losses, $240 million less than in fiscal 2016. This decrease is related mainly to the sectoral provision on non-impaired loans recorded for the oil and gas producer and service company loan portfolio, which was reversed by $40 million in fiscal 2017 compared to the $250 million recording of this provision in fiscal 2016, as well as to a decrease in the provisions for credit losses on Commercial Banking loans. These lower credit loss provisions were partly offset by a $40 million increase in the collective allowance for credit risk on non-impaired loans recorded to reflect growth in the Bank's overall credit portfolio as well as by higher credit loss provisions recorded for loans in the U.S. Specialty Finance and International segment that are essentially attributable to the Credigy subsidiary.

As at October 31, 2017, gross impaired loans stood at $380 million, declining $112 million since October 31, 2016, mainly due to decreases in impaired loans in the personal and commercial loan portfolios. Impaired loans represented 4.3% of the tangible capital adjusted for allowances as at October 31, 2017, down 2.0 percentage points from 6.3% as at October 31, 2016. As at October 31, 2017, allowances for credit losses exceeded gross impaired loans by $339 million versus $289 million as at October 31, 2016.

Non-Interest Expenses
For the fourth quarter of 2017, non-interest expenses stood at $976 million, a 16% year-over-year decrease that was essentially due to a $131 million restructuring charge, consisting mainly of severance pay, that had been recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016. The fourth quarter of 2016 had also included intangible asset impairment losses of $44 million reported in Technology expenses and litigation charges of $25 million reported in Other expenses. In addition, the 2017 fourth-quarter professional fees were down year over year due to servicing fees related to the activities of the Credigy subsidiary. These decreases were partly offset by increases in compensation and employee benefits (in particular the variable compensation associated with revenue growth and the cost of pension plans) and in technology investment expenses. Non-interest expenses excluding specified items stood at $971 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $954 million in the fourth quarter of 2016.

For the year ended October 31, 2017, non-interest expenses were down $18 million year over year, the reasons for which are the same as those provided above for the fourth quarter. This decrease in non-interest expenses was partly offset by an increase in all of the non-interest expenses of the ABA Bank subsidiary, which have been consolidated into the Bank's results since the third quarter of 2016. Non-interest expenses excluding specified items stood at $3,838 million for the year ended October 31, 2017, up 5% from $3,653 million in fiscal 2016.

Income Taxes 
For the fourth quarter of 2017, income taxes stood at $133 million compared to $44 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, and the 2017 fourth-quarter effective income tax rate was 20% versus 13% in the same quarter of 2016. This change in the effective income tax rate stems from the tax impact of the restructuring charge recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016.

For the year ended October 31, 2017, the effective income tax rate stood at 19% compared to 15% in fiscal 2016. This change in the effective income tax rate stems mainly from the impact of several specified items that were recorded in fiscal 2016, in particular the sectoral provision on non-impaired loans for the oil and gas producer and service company loan portfolio, the restructuring charge, the gain realized following the revaluation of the previously held equity interest in ABA Bank, and the write-off of the equity interest in associate Maple. Also during fiscal 2016, a tax provision had been recorded to reflect the impact of changes to tax measures.

Results by Segment

The Bank carries out its activities in four business segments. For presentation purposes, other operating activities and Corporate Treasury activities are grouped in the Other heading. Each reportable segment is distinguished by services offered, type of clientele and marketing strategy.

 

 

 

In the Personal and Commercial segment, net income totalled $239 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $191 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. The segment's fourth-quarter total revenues increased by $48 million year over year owing to growth in net interest income, which rose $36 million, and to a $12 million increase in non-interest income. The increase in net interest income came from growth in personal and commercial loan and deposit volumes and from a higher net interest margin (2.30% in the fourth quarter of 2017 versus 2.25% in the fourth quarter of 2016) that was driven mainly by deposit margins.

Personal Banking's fourth-quarter total revenues rose $22 million year over year. Net interest income was up, owing to growth in loan and deposit volumes and wider deposit margins, and non-interest income was also up, owing mainly to increases in revenues from deposit and payment service charges, card revenues, and internal commission revenues generated by the distribution of Wealth Management products. These increases were tempered somewhat by a decrease in insurance revenues. Commercial Banking's total revenues rose $26 million year over year, mainly due to an increase in net interest income as a result of growth in loan and deposit volumes and improved margins on loans. Also contributing to Commercial Banking's revenue growth were revenues from credit fees, revenues from derivative financial instruments, and foreign exchange revenues.

For the fourth quarter of 2017, the segment's non-interest expenses were down $12 million year over year, mainly due to the compensation and employee benefits related to the transformation plan adopted by the Bank to improve operational efficiency and due to operations support charges. The fourth-quarter efficiency ratio was 52.2%, improving 5.0 percentage points from fourth quarter 2016. The segment recorded $50 million in provisions for credit losses in the fourth quarter of 2017, $4 million less than in the same quarter last year as a result of lower credit loss provisions on commercial loans.

For the year ended October 31, 2017, the Personal and Commercial segment posted net income of $925 million, up from $557 million in fiscal 2016. This change is mainly related to the sectoral provision on non-impaired loans for the oil and gas producer and service company loan portfolio, which was reversed by $29 million, net of income taxes, in the second quarter of 2017 compared to the $183 million, net of income taxes, recording of this provision in the second quarter of 2016. Net income excluding the impact of the sectoral provision was $896 million, for a $156 million or 21% year-over-year increase, and the segment's fiscal 2017 total revenues grew 6% year over year. At Personal Banking, the 2017 total revenues grew year over year, mainly due to the same reasons provided for the quarter, except for insurance revenues, which were up in large part due to the gain realized in the first quarter of 2017 following a change to the distribution model for property and casualty insurance. At Commercial Banking, the 2017 total revenues were also up year over year owing to growth in loan and deposit volumes, a higher net interest margin, and increases in revenues from credit fees and foreign exchange activities. These increases were partly offset by a decrease in revenues from bankers' acceptances related essentially to business activities with companies in the oil and gas sector. For the year ended October 31, 2017, the segment's non-interest expenses were down $16 million year over year, mainly due to decreases in compensation and employee benefits (related to the transformation plan adopted by the Bank to improve operational efficiency), communications expenses and operations support charges. These decreases were partly offset by an increase in technology expenses related to business development. The segment's 2017 contribution increased $177 million or 14% year over year. Its provisions for credit losses were $322 million less than those recorded in fiscal 2016, essentially related to the impact of the sectoral provision, which was reversed by $40 million in the second quarter of 2017 compared to the $250 million recording of this provision in the second quarter of 2016. Furthermore, there was a year-over-year decrease in the credit loss provisions recorded for commercial loans. At 53.8% for the year ended October 31, 2017, the efficiency ratio improved by 3.5 percentage points versus fiscal 2016.

 

 

 

In the Wealth Management segment, net income totalled $110 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, a 29% increase from $85 million in the same quarter of 2016. At $116 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, the segment's net income excluding specified items (with the specified items including the acquisition-related items of recent years) rose 26% from $92 million in the same quarter of 2016. The segment's fourth-quarter total revenues amounted to $411 million compared to $371 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, an 11% year-over-year increase that was mainly driven by growth in net interest income, attributable to improved margins, and by fee-based revenues given net inflows across all solutions and a steady rise in stock market performance during the fourth quarter of 2017.

The segment's fourth-quarter non-interest expenses stood at $260 million, a 2% year-over-year increase attributable to the higher variable compensation associated with the revenue growth arising from greater business volume. The efficiency ratio excluding specified items was 61.7% for the fourth quarter of 2017, an improvement of 5.0 percentage points from the same quarter of 2016.

For the year ended October 31, 2017, the Wealth Management segment's net income totalled $416 million, up 30% from $321 million in fiscal 2016, while its net income excluding specified items totalled $439 million, a year-over-year increase of $92 million or 27%. The segment's total revenues amounted to $1,604 million in fiscal 2017 versus $1,441 million in fiscal 2016, a year-over-year increase driven by net interest income growth as a result of deposit growth and improved margins as well as by an increase in fee-based revenues due to the same reasons provided for the quarter. The segment's 2017 non-interest expenses stood at $1,036 million compared to $999 million in 2016, a year-over-year increase due to the higher variable compensation and external management fees associated with higher revenues and produced by greater business volume, operations support charges, and the costs incurred to develop affluent client services in Western Canada. As for the efficiency ratio, it improved to 63.1% for fiscal 2017 compared to 67.3% for fiscal 2016.

Assets under administration and under management increased by $80.0 billion or 20% from a year ago due to net inflows in various solutions and to a steady rise in stock market performance.

 

 

 

In the Financial Markets segment, net income totalled $186 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $176 million in the same quarter of 2016, and fourth-quarter total revenues on a taxable equivalent basis amounted to $415 million compared to $401 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Fourth-quarter trading activity revenues were up 2% year over year, mainly due to an increase in revenues from equity securities, which rose 11%, whereas revenues from fixed-income securities were down 5% and commodity and foreign exchange revenues were down 17%. As for financial market fees, they were down 12% year over year, while revenues from banking services rose 1%. Both gains on available-for-sale securities and other revenues posted higher results in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to the fourth quarter of 2016.

At $161 million, the segment's fourth-quarter non-interest expenses remained stable compared to the fourth quarter of 2016. At 38.8%, the fourth-quarter efficiency ratio on a taxable equivalent basis and excluding specified items improved by 1.1 percentage points compared to fourth quarter 2016. This segment's provisions for credit losses were nil in the fourth quarters of both 2017 and 2016.

For the year ended October 31, 2017, the segment's net income totalled $712 million, up $227 million from fiscal 2016. Its total revenues on a taxable equivalent basis amounted to $1,630 million compared to $1,313 million in fiscal 2016, a $317 million year-over-year increase driven by all revenue categories, in particular the Other revenue category, which in 2016 had included the $164 million write-off of the Bank's equity interest in associate Maple. In addition, given favourable market conditions, trading activity revenues were up 11%, driven mainly by year-over-year increases in revenues from equity securities and from fixed-income securities, which rose 13% and 16%, respectively. As for revenues from financial market fees and revenues from banking services, they increased by 6% and 5%, respectively. Furthermore, the 2017 gains on available-for-sale securities were higher than those recorded in 2016.

The 2017 non-interest expenses were up 7% year over year, mainly due to an increase in the variable compensation associated with revenue growth and to higher operations support charges. At 40.4%, the 2017 efficiency ratio on a taxable equivalent basis and excluding specified items improved by 1.2 percentage points from 2016. The segment did not record any provisions for credit losses for the years ended October 31, 2017 and 2016.

Excluding the write-off of the Bank's equity interest in associate Maple recorded in 2016, the segment's 2017 net income excluding specified items rose 13% when compared to fiscal 2016.

 

 

 

In the U.S. Specialty Finance and International segment, net income totalled $55 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $21 million in the same quarter of 2016. The segment's fourth-quarter total revenues amounted to $154 million compared to $102 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, a 51% year-over-year increase driven by higher net interest income, both at the Credigy subsidiary, owing to growth in loan volume, and at the ABA Bank subsidiary, owing to growth in loan and deposit volumes. As for fourth-quarter non-interest income, it was down $18 million year over year, mainly because of a decrease in Credigy revenues included in non-interest income in fourth quarter 2017 than in fourth quarter 2016.

The segment's 2017 fourth-quarter non-interest expenses stood at $56 million, a $10 million year-over-year decrease that was mainly due to a decrease in the servicing fees related to the Credigy subsidiary. The segment recorded $19 million in provisions for credit losses in the fourth quarter of 2017, $15 million more than in the same quarter last year and essentially due to the provisions taken for the Credigy subsidiary.

For the year ended October 31, 2017, the segment generated net income of $184 million compared to $147 million in fiscal 2016. Its 2017 total revenues amounted to $541 million compared to $411 million in 2016, growth that was driven in part by a 26% increase in Credigy's revenues, owing to growth in loan volume, and in part by the revenues of the ABA Bank subsidiary, which have been consolidated into the Bank's results since the third quarter of 2016 and that are experiencing sustained growth owing to higher loan and deposit volumes. These revenue increases more than offset the $41 million non-taxable gain on the revaluation of the previously held equity interest in ABA Bank that had been recorded in the third quarter of 2016.

The segment's 2017 non-interest expenses stood at $225 million, an $18 million year-over-year increase attributable essentially to all of ABA Bank's non-interest expenses, which have been consolidated into the Bank's results since the third quarter of 2016. As for the non-interest expenses of the Credigy subsidiary, they were down 10% year over year and primarily due to lower servicing fees. For fiscal 2017, the segment's provisions for credit losses stood at $48 million and were mainly due to the provisions recorded for Credigy as a result of business growth.

 

 

 

For the Other heading of segment results, there was a net loss of $65 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to a net loss of $166 million in the same quarter of 2016. This change stems mainly from the specified items that had been recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016. The 2016 specified items, net of income taxes, had consisted of a $96 million restructuring charge, $32 million in intangible asset impairment losses, and $18 million in litigation charges. Excluding the specified items for the fourth quarter of 2016, non-interest expenses were up due to an increase in compensation and employee benefits, in particular the cost of pension plans and variable compensation, and to an increase in technology expenses resulting from the Bank's transformation plan. As for the net loss excluding specified items, it stood at $65 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $17 million in the same quarter of 2016.

For the year ended October 31, 2017, there was a net loss of $213 million compared to a net loss of $254 million in fiscal 2016, a change that can be attributed to the same reasons provided for the quarter. The change can also be explained by an increase of $40 million ($29 million net of income taxes) in the collective allowance on non-impaired loans for credit risk, which was recorded to reflect growth in the Bank's overall credit portfolio during 2017. Furthermore, the net loss for the year ended October 31, 2016 had included the Bank's share in the charges related to its equity interest in TMX, particularly goodwill and intangible asset impairment losses of $13 million, net of income taxes, as well as an $18 million tax provision reflecting the impact of changes to tax measures. As for the net loss excluding specified items, it was $211 million for the year ended October 31, 2017 versus $68 million in fiscal 2016.

Consolidated Balance Sheet

The Bank changed the classification of certain amounts reported in the Deposits item and the Due to clients, dealers and brokers item of the Consolidated Balance Sheet to better reflect the nature of the balances presented. As a result, as at October 31, 2016, an amount of $2.2 billion was reclassified from the Due to clients, dealers and brokers item to the Deposits item.

 

 

 

Assets
As at October 31, 2017, the Bank had total assets of $245.8 billion, a 6% or $13.6 billion increase from $232.2 billion as at October 31, 2016. Cash and deposits with financial institutions, totalling $8.8 billion as at October 31, 2017, rose $0.6 billion, mainly due to deposits with financial institutions, while securities rose $0.8 billion since October 31, 2016. Available-for-sale securities were down $6.0 billion, essentially due to a decrease in securities issued or guaranteed by the Canadian federal, provincial and municipal governments. This decrease was partly offset by a $5.3 billion increase in held-to-maturity securities and a $1.5 billion increase in securities at fair value through profit or loss, mainly due to securities issued or guaranteed by the Canadian government and equity securities. Securities purchased under reverse repurchase agreements and securities borrowed rose $6.9 billion resulting mainly from the activities of the Financial Markets segment.

As at October 31, 2017, loans and acceptances, net of allowances for credit losses, increased by $8.2 billion since October 31, 2016 owing to sustained growth in mortgage lending, to growth in the lending activities of the Credigy and ABA Bank subsidiaries, and to the performance of Commercial Banking operations. The following table provides a breakdown of the main loan and acceptance portfolios.

 

 

Consumer loans increased by 9% since October 31, 2016, mainly due to growth at the Credigy and ABA Bank subsidiaries and to Personal Banking operations. At $50.5 billion, residential mortgage loans rose $1.6 billion since October 31, 2016, with this growth being attributable to sustained demand in mortgage lending. Loans and acceptances to business and government rose $3.6 billion since October 31, 2016 due to business growth at Credigy and at Commercial Banking.

Liabilities

As at October 31, 2017, the Bank had total liabilities of $232.3 billion compared to $220.1 billion as at October 31, 2016.

 

 

 

The Bank's total deposit-liability was $156.7 billion at year-end 2017 versus $142.1 billion at year-end 2016, rising $14.6 billion or 10%. At $53.7 billion as at October 31, 2017, personal deposits increased by $1.2 billion since October 31, 2016 essentially as a result of the Bank's initiatives to raise this type of deposit. As at October 31, 2017, total personal savings amounted to $210.5 billion, rising 6% from $199.0 billion since October 31, 2016. Overall, off-balance-sheet personal savings stood at $156.8 billion, rising $10.3 billion or 7% since year-end 2016 and driven by excellent net inflows to mutual funds and by a stock market recovery.

At $97.6 billion, business and government deposits rose $13.7 billion since October 31, 2016. This increase came mainly from growth in banking and governmental activities and in term deposits. At $75.6 billion, other liabilities decreased $1.4 billion since October 31, 2016 due to a $0.8 billion decrease in obligations related to securities sold under repurchase agreements and securities loaned and a $1.1 billion decrease in derivative financial instruments, partly offset by a $1.2 billion increase in obligations related to securities sold short. Subordinated debt decreased by $1.0 billion since October 31, 2016 as the result of an early redemption, in April 2017, of medium-term notes maturing on April 11, 2022.

Equity
As at October 31, 2017, the equity attributable to the Bank's shareholders amounted to $12.8 billion, up $1.5 billion since October 31, 2016. This increase was essentially driven by retained earnings growth, attributable to net income net of dividends, and by common share issuances under the stock option plan, partly offset by common share repurchases for cancellation and by the $400 million issuance of Series 38 preferred shares.

As at November 24, 2017, there were 340,190,181 common shares outstanding and 14,526,844 stock options outstanding. For additional information on share capital, see Note 19 to the audited annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended October 31, 2017.

Event After the Consolidated Balance Sheet Date

Redemption of Preferred Shares
On November 15, 2017, the Bank redeemed all the issued and outstanding Non-Cumulative 5-Year Rate-Reset Series 28 First Preferred Shares. Pursuant to the share conditions, the redemption price was $25.00 per share plus the periodic dividend declared and unpaid. The Bank redeemed 8,000,000 Series 28 preferred shares for a total amount of $200 million, which will reduce Preferred share capital.

Income Taxes

In March 2017, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) issued a proposed reassessment to the Bank for the 2011 and 2012 taxation years. In May 2017, the CRA reassessed the Bank for the 2012 taxation year. The transactions to which the proposed reassessment and the actual reassessment relate are similar to those prospectively addressed by the synthetic equity arrangement rules introduced in the 2015 Canadian federal budget. The proposed reassessment and the actual reassessment (including estimated provincial income taxes and interest) total approximately $173 million. The CRA may issue reassessments to the Bank in respect of similar activities for fiscal years subsequent to 2012. The Bank is confident that its tax position was appropriate and intends to vigorously defend its position. As a result, no amount has been recognized in the consolidated financial statements as at October 31, 2017.

Contingent Liabilities

Litigation
In the normal course of business, the Bank and its subsidiaries are involved in various claims relating, among other matters, to loan portfolios, investment portfolios and supplier agreements, including court proceedings, investigations or claims of a regulatory nature, class actions or other legal remedies of varied natures. The recent developments in the main legal proceeding involving the Bank are as follows:

Watson 
In 2011, a class action was filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia against Visa Corporation Canada (Visa), MasterCard International Incorporated (MasterCard) as well as National Bank and a number of other financial institutions. The plaintiff is alleging that the credit card networks and financial institutions engaged in a price-fixing system to increase or maintain the fees paid by merchants on Visa and MasterCard transactions. In so doing, they would have been in breach of the Competition Act. An unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages is being claimed. During the year ended October 31, 2017, the Bank entered into an agreement-in-principle with the plaintiffs in order to settle this dispute in the five jurisdictions where the class action was filed. This agreement is subject to the approval of the Court in each of those jurisdictions.

It is impossible to determine the outcome of the claims instituted or which may be instituted against the Bank and its subsidiaries. The Bank estimates, based on the information at its disposal, that while the amount of contingent liabilities pertaining to these claims, taken individually or in the aggregate, could have a material impact on the Bank's consolidated operating income for a particular period, it would not have a material adverse impact on the Bank's consolidated financial position.

Capital Management

Regulatory Capital Ratios
As at October 31, 2017, the Bank's CET1, Tier 1 and Total capital ratios were, respectively, 11.2%, 14.9% and 15.1%, i.e., above the regulatory requirements, compared to ratios of, respectively, 10.1%, 13.5% and 15.3% a year earlier. The increase in the CET1 capital ratio stems essentially from net income net of dividends, common share issuances under the Stock Option Plan, remeasurements of pension plans and other post-employment benefit plans, and low growth in risk-weighted assets, partly offset by common share repurchases during the year ended October 31, 2017. The increase in the Tier 1 capital ratio stems essentially from the same items as well as from the June 13, 2017 issuance of preferred shares for $400 million, partly offset by a $200 million redemption of preferred shares on November 15, 2017, which is already excluded from capital ratio calculations as at October 31, 2017. The decrease in the Total capital ratio is due to the April 11, 2017 redemption of $1.0 billion in medium-term notes maturing on April 11, 2022. The leverage ratio as at October 31, 2017 was 4.0% compared to 3.7% as at October 31, 2016.

 

 

 

Dividends
On November 30, 2017, the Board of Directors declared regular dividends on the various series of first preferred shares and a dividend of 60 cents per common share, up 2 cents or 3%, payable on February 1, 2018 to shareholders of record on December 27, 2017.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEGMENT DISCLOSURES

(unaudited) (millions of Canadian dollars)

The presentation of segment disclosures is consistent with the presentation adopted by the Bank for the fiscal year beginning November 1, 2016. This presentation reflects the fact that the activities of subsidiary Credigy Ltd. (Credigy), which had previously been presented in the Financial Markets segment, and that the activities of subsidiary Advanced Bank of Asia Limited (ABA Bank) and of other international investments, which had previously been presented in the Other heading, are now presented in the U.S. Specialty Finance and International (USSF&I) segment. The Bank made this change to better align the monitoring of its activities with its management structure.

Personal and Commercial 
The Personal and Commercial segment encompasses the banking, financing, and investing services offered to individuals and businesses as well as insurance operations.

Wealth Management
The Wealth Management segment comprises investment solutions, trust services, banking services, lending services and other wealth management solutions offered through internal and third-party distribution networks.

Financial Markets
The Financial Markets segment encompasses banking services, investment banking services and financial solutions for large and mid-size corporations, public sector organizations, and institutional investors. The segment is also active in proprietary trading and investment activities for the Bank.

U.S. Specialty Finance and International (USSF&I)
The USSF&I segment encompasses the specialty finance expertise provided by subsidiary Credigy; the activities of subsidiary ABA Bank, which offers financial products and services to individuals and businesses in Cambodia; and the activities of targeted investments in certain emerging markets.

Other
This heading encompasses Treasury activities, including the Bank's asset and liability management, liquidity management and funding operations, certain non-recurring items and the unallocated portion of corporate services.  

 

 

 

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATMENTS

From time to time, the Bank makes written and oral forward-looking statements, such as those contained in the Outlook for National Bank and the Major Economic Trends sections of the 2017 Annual Report, in other filings with Canadian securities regulators, and in other communications, for the purpose of describing the economic environment in which the Bank will operate during fiscal 2018 and the objectives it hopes to achieve for that period. These forward-looking statements are made in accordance with current securities legislation in Canada and the United States. They include, among others, statements with respect to the economy—particularly the Canadian and U.S. economies—market changes, observations regarding the Bank's objectives and its strategies for achieving them, Bank-projected financial returns and certain risks faced by the Bank. These forward-looking statements are typically identified by future or conditional verbs or words such as "outlook," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "expect," "intend," "plan," and similar terms and expressions.

By their very nature, such forward-looking statements require assumptions to be made and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific. Assumptions about the performance of the Canadian and U.S. economies in 2018 and how that will affect the Bank's business are among the main factors considered in setting the Bank's strategic priorities and objectives and in determining its financial targets, including provisions for credit losses. In determining its expectations for economic growth, both broadly and in the financial services sector in particular, the Bank primarily considers historical economic data provided by the Canadian and U.S. governments and their agencies.

There is a strong possibility that express or implied projections contained in these forward-looking statements will not materialize or will not be accurate. The Bank recommends that readers not place undue reliance on these statements, as a number of factors, many of which are beyond the Bank's control, could cause actual future results, conditions, actions or events to differ significantly from the targets, expectations, estimates or intentions expressed in the forward-looking statements. These factors include credit risk, market risk, liquidity and funding risk, operational risk, regulatory compliance risk, reputation risk, strategic risk and environmental risk, all of which are described in more detail in the Risk Management section beginning on page 51 of the 2017 Annual Report, general economic environment and financial market conditions in Canada, the United States and certain other countries in which the Bank conducts business, including regulatory changes affecting the Bank's business, capital and liquidity; changes in the accounting policies the Bank uses to report its financial condition, including uncertainties associated with assumptions and critical accounting estimates; tax laws in the countries in which the Bank operates, primarily Canada and the United States (including the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act  (FATCA)); changes to capital and liquidity guidelines and to the manner in which they are to be presented and interpreted; changes to the credit ratings assigned to the Bank; and potential disruptions to the Bank's information technology systems, including evolving cyber attack risk.

The foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Additional information about these factors can be found in the Risk Management section of the 2017 Annual Report. Investors and others who rely on the Bank's forward-looking statements should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Except as required by law, the Bank does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, by it or on its behalf.

The forward-looking information contained in this document is presented for the purpose of interpreting the information contained herein and may not be appropriate for other purposes.

INFORMATION FOR SHAREHOLDERS AND INVESTORS

Disclosure of Fourth Quarter 2017 Results

Conference Call

• A conference call for analysts and institutional investors will be held on Friday, December 1, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. EST.
• Access by telephone in listen-only mode: 1-866-862-3930 or 416-695-7806. The access code is 6531436#.
• A recording of the conference call can be heard until December 30, 2017 by dialing 1-800-408-3053 or 905-694-9451. The access code is 5720923#.

 

Webcast

• The conference call will be webcast live at nbc.ca/investorrelations.
• A recording of the webcast will also be available on National Bank's website after the call.

 

Financial Documents

• The Press Release (which includes the quarterly consolidated financial statements) is available at all times on National Bank's website at nbc.ca/investorrelations.
• The Press Release, the Supplementary Financial Information, the Supplementary Regulatory Capital Disclosure, and a slide presentation will be available on the Investor Relations page of National Bank's website shortly before the start of the conference call.
• The 2017 Annual Report (which includes the audited annual consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis) will also be available on National Bank's website.
• The Report to Shareholders for the first quarter ended January 31, 2018 will be available on February 28, 2018 (subject to approval by the Bank's Board of Directors).

 

SOURCE National Bank of Canada

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