ABGSC – Q1 2021 Interim Report

Highlights:

• Strong performance in Q1, with revenues up 181%, to NOK 738m (263m)
• All-time high LTM revenues of NOK 2,401m
• Q1 diluted EPS of NOK 0.39 (0.05)
• Solid pipeline going into Q2

CEO comment:

The high level of activity in the second half of 2020 continued through the first quarter of 2021, and markets show no sign of cooling off. Even though Q1 is usually a seasonally weak quarter, Q1 2021 turned out to very strong, with solid contribution from all business areas and total revenues amounting to NOK 738m, up 181% y-o-y. The increase is partly driven by favourable markets, but there is also clear evidence that ABGSC continues to gain ground relative to peers.

Given the strong equity market sentiment, many companies in the Nordics are seizing the opportunity to raise capital. What distinguishes Q1 2021 from 2020 is the broader range of companies conducting capital markets activities. While tech companies dominated 2020, we are experiencing solid activity across many sectors this year.

We have over years steadily improved our position in the Swedish market. Our strategy is to further improve our position in Sweden by capitalising on being an integrated Nordic investment bank with a strong focus on collaboration across teams and across countries. Therefore, I am especially pleased to note that we are growing revenues and improving market share within Swedish ECM, while at the same time our business in Norway continues to be market leaders and performing very well.

Research quality is a key priority and ABGSC continues to invest in its research operation. During the quarter, we reached a couple of important milestones as we now cover a total of 400 Nordic companies and signed our sponsored research contract number 100.

ABGSC has a very strong pipeline of transactions going into the second quarter, and we see no sign of this trend fading in the near term. At the same time, we are aware that market trends and investors’ appetite for risk can change quickly, and hence continue to focus also on costs and efficiency.

Jonas Ström, CEO

For further information:
Jonas Ström, CEO                     +46 8 566 294 68
Geir B. Olsen, CFO                   +47 22 01 60 35

Please find attached the Q1 2021 Interim Report. A presentation will be held as a webcast at 09.00 CET and can be accessed through a weblink or call-in details presented on our corporate website www.abgsc.com.