NORD/LB Norddeutsche Landesbank has steadily increased its business across the Group with renewable energies. The financing volume for renewable energies has increased in the last three years by around 21 per cent to € 9.3 billion. Wind energy accounts for the majority of the finance with around 76 per cent (€ 7.1 billion), while solar energy accounts for 14 per cent (€ 1.3 billion) and biogas plants for a further 10 per cent (€ 0.9 billion). These figures are revealed by the bank’s latest Sustainability Report, which covers all the relevant economic, social and environmental activities of the Group in the financial year 2015.

NORD/LB, the Lower Saxony Savings Bank Association and the City of Bremen assume joint responsibility for keeping Bremer Landesbank's capital intact at an appropriate level.

NORD/LB Norddeutsche Landesbank closed the first quarter of 2016 with earnings before taxes of minus € 98 million. This was largely due to the situation in the shipping markets deteriorating again and the bank making a significant increase to its risk provisioning of € 435 million as a result. Consolidated profit totalled minus € 84 million. In the first quarter of 2015 the bank had achieved earnings before taxes of € 229 million.

NORD/LB Norddeutsche Landesbank finances the acquisition and operation of a roof-mounted solar power portfolio in France for Danish fund manager OBTON A/S. The overall financing volume amounts to EUR 22 million.

NORD/LB Norddeutsche Landesbank now provides its expertise in the management of foundation assets also in the form a fund solution. The Nordlux Pro – StiftungsPartner A fund combines predictable, regular distributions with the goal of asset maintenance for foundations. Foundation managers benefit from a direct line to the portfolio management team and additional advisory services. Due to its long-term, global investment strategy and low fees, the fund with an asset management character is also suitable for private investors.

In financial year 2015 NORD/LB Norddeutsche Landesbank achieved earnings before taxes of € 653 million, more than doubling the prior year’s result (€ 276 million). The same applies to the consolidated profit, which totalled € 518 million (prior year: € 205 million).

The Supervisory Board of NORD/LB Norddeutsche Landesbank appointed the bank’s current Chief Risk Officer, Thomas S. Bürkle, as the Chairman of the Managing Board with effect of 1 January 2017. Mr. Bürkle will take over from Dr. Gunter Dunkel, who has decided to retire at the end of the year.

NORD/LB Norddeutsche Landesbank has implemented a hybrid project financing transaction for renewable energies for the first time in Europe. This involved a structured bank loan in combination with long-term funds furnished by institutional investors. The financing enabled the acquisition of an operating wind power project in Ireland by leading developer and wind farm operator Gaelectric. Comprised of 16 turbines manufactured by Enercon (based in Aurich) with an overall capacity of 46 MW, the wind farm is located in County Kerry.

Dr. Sandra Reich, until now managing director of the Hamburg Stock Exchange and the Hanover Stock Exchange and member of the Executive Board of BÖAG Börsen AG – the parent company operating the two stock exchanges – is joining the management team at the Singapore branch of NORD/LB. She will be taking over there as head of the German Desk, which has the remit of assisting German companies in their business activities in Asia.

NORD/LB Norddeutsche Landesbank, the Offen Group shipping company and alternative-assets specialists Caplantic GmbH are setting up a joint venture in the sphere of shipping services and restructuring. The aim is make this joint venture under the name Crystal Ocean Advisors GmbH an international service provider for the restructuring and workout of non-performing loans in ship financing. With their respective competencies, the three partners can count on a systematic and very close intermeshing of expertise in the fields of shipping and financing.