Summary of Commerzbank Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Commerzbank - **CFO**: Carsten Key Points Strategic Focus - Commerzbank is fully focused and unified in its strategy, which was announced at the beginning of the year, targeting growth and transformation by 2028 [2][3] Economic Outlook - The bank anticipates a **1.2% GDP growth** in Germany for the next year, with **0.8%** of this growth expected to be fueled by the government stimulus package [4][5] Net Interest Income (NII) - Guidance for NII has been increased to **EUR 8.4 billion** for 2026, up from an initial target of **EUR 7.7 billion** at the start of the year [6][9] - The bank expects **EUR 8.2 billion** for the current year, indicating a stable and upward trajectory for NII [9][11] Lending Growth - Corporate lending has shown strong growth at **13% year-on-year**, while mortgage growth is recovering from a depressed market [14][16] - The bank expects continued strong loan growth, particularly in the corporate segment, as stimulus packages take effect [17][19] Deposit Growth - Commerzbank has successfully attracted deposits, collecting **EUR 8 billion** through promotional offers [26] - The bank is guiding for a **43% beta** in Q4, with an average of around **40%** for the year [28] Asset Quality - The bank maintains a stable credit book with no significant concerns, expecting a risk guidance of **25 basis points** by 2028 [52][54] Capital Management - Commerzbank's capital ratio is strong at **14.7%**, with a target of **100% payout ratio** by 2028 [56][57] Fee Income - The bank is targeting a **7% annual growth** in commission income, already running at **7%** this year [38][41] Structural Hedge - The structural hedge is currently at **EUR 147 billion**, with potential to increase based on deposit growth [35] Competition and Market Dynamics - The bank acknowledges a competitive environment for deposits but has a strong depositor base and effective channels for attracting funds [62][63] Future Outlook - Commerzbank is optimistic about the impact of government stimulus on economic activity and its own business growth, particularly in lending and fee income [44][54] Additional Insights - The bank is transforming its branch setup, reducing the number of branches significantly while focusing on advisory services [50] - There is a growing trend in Germany for retail deposit collection to be price-led, but Commerzbank has managed to maintain a relatively high level of customer retention even after promotional rates expire [62][63]

Core Viewpoint - Jefferies Financial Group Inc. and its trade finance arm Point Bonita Capital are under investigation for potential securities fraud related to their significant exposure to First Brands Group, which recently filed for bankruptcy [1][3][5]. Group 1: Company Overview - Jefferies Financial Group Inc. is an investment banking and capital markets firm, with Point Bonita Capital serving as its trade finance division [3]. - Point Bonita Capital had approximately $715 million in exposure to First Brands' receivables, accounting for about 25% of its trade finance portfolio [4]. Group 2: Financial Impact - Following the announcement of the exposure to First Brands, Jefferies' stock price dropped by $4.66, or approximately 8%, from $59.10 on October 7, 2025, to $54.44 on October 8, 2025 [4]. Group 3: Legal Investigation - Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is investigating whether Jefferies and Point Bonita made materially false and misleading statements to investors regarding their exposure to First Brands [5].