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Independent Auditor’s Report¹

To Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, Frankfurt am Main/Germany

Report on the audit of the Annual Financial Statements and of the Management Report

Audit Opinions

We have audited the annual financial statements of Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, Frankfurt am Main/Germany, which comprise the balance sheet as at 31 December 2024, and the statement of profit and loss, the cash flow statement and the statement of changes in equity for the financial year from 1 January to 31 December 2024, and the notes to the financial statements, including the presentation of the recognition and measurement policies. In addition, we have audited the management report of Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, Frankfurt am Main/Germany, for the financial year from 1 January to 31 December 2024. In accordance with the German legal requirements, we have not audited the content of the declaration of compliance of the executive board and the supervisory board concerning the Public Corporate Governance Code of the German Federal Government referred to in section 1.4 “Public Corporate Governance Code” of the management report.

In our opinion, on the basis of the knowledge obtained in the audit,

  • the accompanying annual financial statements comply, in all material respects, with the requirements of German commercial law and give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities and financial position of the Company as at 31 December 2024 and of its financial performance for the financial year from 1 January to 31 December 2024 in compliance with German Legally Required Accounting Principles, and
  • the accompanying management report as a whole provides an appropriate view of the Company’s position. In all material respects, this management report is consistent with the annual financial statements, complies with German legal requirements and appropriately presents the opportunities and risks of future development. Our audit opinion on the management report does not cover the content of the declaration of compliance of the executive board and the supervisory board concerning the Public Corporate Governance Code of the German Federal Government referred to in section 1.4 “Public Corporate Governance Code” of the management report.

Pursuant to Section 322 (3) sentence 1 German Commercial Code (HGB), we declare that our audit has not led to any reservations relating to the legal compliance of the annual financial statements and of the management report.

Basis for the Audit Opinions

We conducted our audit of the annual financial statements and of the management report in accordance with Section 317 HGB and the EU Audit Regulation (No. 537/2014; referred to subsequently as “EU Audit Regulation”) and in compliance with German Generally Accepted Standards for Financial Statement Audits promulgated by the Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer (IDW). Our responsibilities under those requirements and principles are further described in the “Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Annual Financial Statements and of the Management Report” section of our auditor’s report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the requirements of European law and German commercial and professional law, and we have fulfilled our other German professional responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. In addition, in accordance with Article 10 (2) point (f) of the EU Audit Regulation, we declare that we have not provided non-audit services prohibited under Article 5 (1) of the EU Audit Regulation. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinions on the annual financial statements and on the management report.

Key Audit Matters in the Audit of the Annual Financial Statements

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the annual financial statements for the financial year from 1 January to 31 December 2024. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the annual financial statements as a whole and in forming our audit opinion thereon; we do not provide a separate audit opinion on these matters.

In the following, we present the issue of identification and measurement of provisions for credit losses, which we have determined to be a key audit matter in the course of our audit.

Our presentation of this key audit matter has been structured as follows:

a) description (including reference to corresponding information in the annual financial statements and the management report)

b) auditor’s response

Identification and measurement of provisions for credit losses

a) In its annual financial statements for the financial year ended 31 December 2024, Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank discloses loans and advances to credit institutions, loans and advances to customers, securities and contingent liabilities as well as irrevocable loan commitments totalling bEUR 90.4 arising from its lending business. In light of the relative significance of credit transactions in the balance sheet of Rentenbank, given a balance sheet total of bEUR 95.0, we considered the provisions for credit losses to be a key audit matter. The provisions for credit losses as at 31 December 2024 are as follows:

Rentenbank has set up general allowances of mEUR 3 and general provisions of kEUR 4 to provide for inherent credit risks in the lending business for the above balance sheet items. As in the prior year, no specific allowances and/or provisions for individual loans for imminent credit losses are recognised in the annual financial statements.

For the purpose of determining general allowances for inherent credit risks, loans and advances to credit institutions, loans and advances to customers, securities, contingent liabilities and irrevocable loan commitments without any identifiable imminent credit losses are allocated to rating levels on the basis of quantitative and qualitative criteria. They are calculated using an expected loss approach as provided for in Accounting Statement of the Banking Committee of the Institute of Public Auditors in Germany IDW RS BFA 7. For this purpose, the Bank uses the simplified valuation method permitted under IDW RS BFA 7 and determines the one-year expected credit loss based on annual probabilities of default in accordance with the respective internal rating levels. The probabilities of default are derived from data published by rating agencies using regression analyses. The loss given default is determined individually for each business line.

For determining potential specific allowances and/or provisions for imminent credit losses, the loans and advances, securities, contingent liabilities and irrevocable loan commitments for which a sustainable debt servicing capacity is not expected are identified in a first step. Subsequently, the specific allowances and/or provisions are determined on a case-by-case basis based on estimated future cash flows, taking into account expected cash inflows from the sale of collateral, if applicable.

The loss given default is the key value-determining parameter for determining the general allowances. In addition, in light of the credit volume, we consider the identification of any need for specific allowances to be significant as, in the scope of credit monitoring, this identification requires appropriate assumptions to be made concerning the solvency of the borrowers and, if applicable, the recoverability of collateral and as, in this respect, these estimations and/or assumptions are subject to the judgement of the executive directors of Rentenbank.

Concerning an explanation of the system for risk provisioning, we refer to section 3 “Provision for loan losses” of the notes to the financial statements of Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank as well as to section 4.7 “Credit risks” of the management report.

b) In the scope of our audit, we relied, based on our risk assessment, on control-based and substantive procedures. We performed the following audit procedures, among others:

First, we obtained an understanding of the development and composition of the credit portfolio, the associated credit risks and internal control with regard to the identification, management, monitoring and valuation of provisions for credit losses and assured ourselves of the appropriateness and effectiveness of the relevant accounting-related internal control.

With regard to Rentenbank’s recognition and measurement policies, we assessed whether the method for measuring the general allowances and provisions complies with legally required accounting principles. As part of our audit of the risk management, we assessed and reviewed the methodological appropriateness of the parametrisation of default probabilities and loss given default. Moreover, we audited the correctness of the calculations for determining the general allowances and/or provisions. In addition, we audited the implementation and effectiveness of controls regarding the up-to-dateness and correctness of borrower ratings used by Rentenbank as well as for identifying defaulted borrowers and/or issuers. By means of a sample, we audited whether specific allowances for imminent credit losses were necessary using documentation supplied for proving creditworthiness and, if applicable, collateral.

Other Information

The executive directors and/or the supervisory board are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises

  • the report of the supervisory board,
  • the declaration of compliance of the executive board and the supervisory board concerning the Public Corporate Governance Code of the German Federal Government referred to in section 1.4 “Public Corporate Governance Code” of the management report,
  • the executive directors’ confirmations regarding the annual financial statements and the management report pursuant to Section 264 (2) sentence 3 and Section 289 (1) sentence 5 HGB, respectively, and
  • all other parts of the annual report including the integrated sustainability reporting,
  • but not the annual financial statements, not the audited content of the disclosures in the management report and not our auditor’s report thereon.

The supervisory board is responsible for the report of the supervisory board. The executive directors and the supervisory board are responsible for the declaration of compliance concerning the Public Corporate Governance Code of the German Federal Government. Otherwise the executive directors are responsible for the other information.

Our audit opinions on the annual financial statements and on the management report do not cover the other information, and consequently we do not express an audit opinion or any other form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit, our responsibility is to read the other information identified above and, in doing so, to consider whether the other information

  • is materially inconsistent with the annual financial statements, with the audited content of the disclosures in the management report or our knowledge obtained in the audit, or
  • otherwise appears to be materially misstated.

Responsibilities of the Executive Directors and the Supervisory Board for the Annual Financial Statements and the Management Report

The executive directors are responsible for the preparation of the annual financial statements that comply, in all material respects, with the requirements of German commercial law, and that the annual financial statements give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and financial performance of the Company in compliance with German Legally Required Accounting Principles. In addition, the executive directors are responsible for such internal control as they, in accordance with German Legally Required Accounting Principles, have determined necessary to enable the preparation of annual financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud (i.e. fraudulent financial reporting and misappropriation of assets) or error.

In preparing the annual financial statements, the executive directors are responsible for assessing the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. They also have the responsibility for disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern. In addition, they are responsible for financial reporting based on the going concern basis of accounting, provided no actual or legal circumstances conflict therewith.

Furthermore, the executive directors are responsible for the preparation of the management report that as a whole provides an appropriate view of the Company’s position and is, in all material respects, consistent with the annual financial statements, complies with German legal requirements, and appropriately presents the opportunities and risks of future development. In addition, the executive directors are responsible for such arrangements and measures (systems) as they have considered necessary to enable the preparation of a management report that is in accordance with the applicable German legal requirements, and to be able to provide sufficient appropriate evidence for the assertions in the management report.

The supervisory board is responsible for overseeing the Company’s financial reporting process for the preparation of the annual financial statements and of the management report.

Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Annual Financial Statements and of the Management Report

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the annual financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and whether the management report as a whole provides an appropriate view of the Company’s position and, in all material respects, is consistent with the annual financial statements and the knowledge obtained in the audit, complies with the German legal requirements and appropriately presents the opportunities and risks of future development, as well as to issue an auditor’s report that includes our audit opinions on the annual financial statements and on the management report.

Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with Section 317 HGB and the EU Audit Regulation and in compliance with German Generally Accepted Standards for Financial Statement Audits promulgated by the Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer (IDW) will always detect a material misstatement. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these annual financial statements and this management report.

We exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also

  • identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the annual financial statements and of the management report, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinions. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
  • obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit of the annual financial statements and of arrangements and measures relevant to the audit of the management report in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an audit opinion on the effectiveness of internal control or these arrangements and measures of the Company.
  • evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used by the executive directors and the reasonableness of estimates made by the executive directors and related disclosures.
  • conclude on the appropriateness of the executive directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in the auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the annual financial statements and in the management report or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our respective audit opinions. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to be able to continue as a going concern.
  • evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the annual financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the annual financial statements present the underlying transactions and events in a manner that the annual financial statements give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and financial performance of the Company in compliance with German Legally Required Accounting Principles.
  • evaluate the consistency of the management report with the annual financial statements, its conformity with German law, and the view of the Company’s position it provides.

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

We provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with the relevant independence requirements, and communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, the actions taken or safeguards applied to eliminate independence threats.

From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the annual financial statements for the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in the auditor’s report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter.

Other legal and regulatory Requirements

Report on the Audit of the Electronic Reproductions of the Annual Financial Statements and of the Management Report Prepared for Publication Pursuant to Section 317 (3a) HGB

Audit Opinion

We have performed an audit in accordance with Section 317 (3a) HGB to obtain reasonable assurance whether the electronic reproductions of the annual financial statements and of the management report (hereinafter referred to as “ESEF documents”) prepared for publication, contained in the file, which has the SHA-256 value 62c896f5a5e49fdea0836b6fb7d12019f8c53091d516f5446dd0e108c50c4759, meet, in all material respects, the requirements for the electronic reporting format pursuant to Section 328 (1) HGB (“ESEF format”). In accordance with the German legal requirements, this audit only covers the conversion of the information contained in the annual financial statements and the management report into the ESEF format, and therefore covers neither the information contained in these electronic reproductions nor any other information contained in the file identified above.

In our opinion, the electronic reproductions of the annual financial statements and of the management report prepared for publication contained in the file identified above meet, in all material respects, the requirements for the electronic reporting format pursuant to Section 328 (1) HGB. Beyond this audit opinion and our audit opinions on the accompanying annual financial statements and on the accompanying management report for the financial year from 1 January to 31 December 2024 contained in the “Report on the Audit of the Annual Financial Statements and of the Management Report” above, we do not express any assurance opinion on the information contained within these electronic reproductions or on any other information contained in the file identified above.

Basis for the Audit Opinion

We conducted our audit of the electronic reproductions of the annual financial statements and of the management report contained in the file identified above in accordance with Section 317 (3a) HGB and on the basis of the IDW Auditing Standard: Audit of the Electronic Reproductions of Financial Statements and Management Reports Prepared for Publication Purposes Pursuant to Section 317 (3a) HGB (IDW AuS 410 (06.2022)). Our responsibilities in this context are further described in the “Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the ESEF Documents” section. Our audit firm has applied the requirements of the IDW Quality Management Standards.

Responsibilities of the Executive Directors and the Supervisory Board for the ESEF Documents

The executive directors of the Company are responsible for the preparation of the ESEF documents based on the electronic files of the annual financial statements and of the management report according to Section 328 (1) sentence 4 no. 1 HGB.

In addition, the executive directors of the Company are responsible for such internal control that they have considered necessary to enable the preparation of ESEF documents that are free from material intentional or unintentional non-compliance with the requirements for the electronic reporting format pursuant to Section 328 (1) HGB.

The supervisory board is responsible for overseeing the process for preparing the ESEF documents as part of the financial reporting process.

Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the ESEF Documents

Our objective is to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the ESEF documents are free from material intentional or unintentional non-compliance with the requirements of Section 328 (1) HGB. We exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also

  • identify and assess the risks of material intentional or unintentional non-compliance with the requirements of Section 328 (1) HGB, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
  • obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit on the ESEF documents in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an assurance opinion on the effectiveness of these controls.
  • evaluate the technical validity of the ESEF documents, i.e. whether the file containing the ESEF documents meets the requirements of the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/815, in the version in force at the balance sheet date, on the technical specification for this electronic file.
  • evaluate whether the ESEF documents enable an XHTML reproduction with content equivalent to the audited annual financial statements and to the audited management report.

Further Information Pursuant to Article 10 of the EU Audit Regulation

We were elected as auditor by resolution of the supervisory board on 20 March 2024. We were engaged by the supervisory board on 3 July 2024. We have been the auditor of Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, Frankfurt am Main/Germany, without interruption since the financial year 2019.

We declare that the audit opinions expressed in this auditor’s report are consistent with the additional report to the audit committee pursuant to Article 11 of the EU Audit Regulation (longform audit report).

In addition to the financial statement audit, we have provided to the audited Company or its controlled entities the following services that are not disclosed in the annual financial statements or in the management report:

  • project-based audit of the project “DWH-BAIS-Anbindung” (DWH-BAIS connection),
  • issuance of comfort letters and other related assurance services,
  • audit related to the utilisation of credit claims as eligible collateral in the Eurosystem (MACCs),
  • confirmation of the questionnaire for contributions to the deposit guarantee fund of the Association of German Public Sector Banks (Bundesverband Öffentlicher Banken Deutschlands e.V.),
  • training courses for committee members and executive employees, and
  • voluntary audit of subsidiaries as well as audit of annual accounts of the Federal Republic’s Special Purpose Fund which is administered by Rentenbank.

Other Matter - use of the Auditor’s Report

Our auditor’s report must always be read together with the audited annual financial statements and the audited management report as well as with the audited ESEF documents. The annual financial statements and the management report converted into the ESEF format – including the versions to be submitted for inclusion in the Company Register – are merely electronic reproductions of the audited annual financial statements and the audited management report and do not take their place. In particular, the ESEF report and our audit opinion contained therein are to be used solely together with the audited ESEF documents made available in electronic form.

German Public Auditor responsible for the engagement

The German Public Auditor responsible for the engagement is Martina Mietzner.


Frankfurt am Main/Germany, 6 March 2025

 

Deloitte GmbH
Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft

 

Martina Mietzner                              Martin Maurer
Wirtschaftsprüferin                            Wirtschaftsprüfer

  1. Translation of the independent auditor’s report issued in German language on the financial statements and the management report prepared in German language by the executive board of Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, Frankfurt am Main. The German language statements are decisive.

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