Economic report 2020
Global economy and world trade: The significant economic context for AKA includes the trends within the global economy, which, together with country-specific factors, influence the vital eurozone and Germany as well as the relevant emerging markets. The trends in global trade are equally important.
Earning position 2020
AKA recorded a new business volume to the tune of EUR 1,701 million in 2020. Compared to 2019, this is an increase of 2.8 %. In terms of net income from its loan business – a relevant performance indicator – AKA achieved an increase of 13.8 % over the previous year, to EUR 50.4 million. The interest income in this financial year was EUR 45.8 million, an increase of 18.6 % above the level of the previous year (2019: EUR 38.6 million). This positive growth in earnings in the area of interest income was primarily attributable to growth in the volume of credit lending.
Risk management
AKA manages and monitors its risks with the goals of creating an optimum risk and earnings profile and ensuring the necessary risk-bearing capacity at all times. With its coherent risk management structures, AKA is well equipped for future challenges. The risks arising from the loan business were also fully covered in the annual accounts in 2020. Overall, allocations to loan loss provisions of EUR 18.5 million were offset by reversals of provisions of EUR 10.7 million.
SmaTiX as a key piece of the digital strategy: Performance indicators and current trends
2020 was the first full year of live operation with our online portal SmaTiX (Small Ticket Express) for ECA-covered buyer credits. 113 digitally submitted small ticket loan requests were achieved with a request volume of EUR 318.75 million. This represents an increase of 82 % in enquiries and 55 % in volume compared to 2019. Current developments include the connection of Swiss Export Risk Insurance (SERV) and two cooperation agreements with shareholders to use their own portal access.
Outlook
Good opportunities for future development, even if the market environment 2021 stays challenging given the continuing corona pandemic and its impact. Beyond the circle of shareholders, AKA plans to further expand its partner network and thus take advantage of specific opportunities on both the business and refinancing sides. AKA's wide-ranging activities with regard to automation and digitalisation will be continued in 2021 and contribute to AKA's performance on its chosen growth path. In the area of small-scale Hermes-covered financing, SmaTiX, the connection of the digital platform to the sales channels of the shareholder banks can provide additional growth impetus.