Statement by Ascory Bank (Varengold Bank) on media reports in connection with the ruling by the Bonn Regional Court

Ascory Bank (currently still operating under the name Varengold Bank) was kept informed about the proceedings at the Bonn Regional Court on an ongoing basis, so the ruling that has now been handed down does not come as a surprise to the bank. The current reporting is viewed in this context and placed in the context of the review of historical facts that has been ongoing for years.

In the proceedings concluded yesterday, the court imposed a suspended sentence on Mr. D. and issued a confiscation order against Varengold Bank in the amount of € 2,549,000. The bank is currently carefully reviewing the judgment, in particular the legal basis for the confiscation order and the option of appealing. A final decision on this has not yet been made. Regardless of this, it should be noted that the amount in question has already been fully provisioned in the 2024 annual financial statements. The judgment therefore has no additional impact on the bank's balance sheet or liquidity.

With regard to possible further investigations in this context, there are currently no new findings regarding completed or specific new investigations. The bank has been working constructively and transparently with the relevant law enforcement and supervisory authorities for years in order to fully resolve issues from the past. This applies in particular to issues that date back to a time long before the current management and business orientation of the bank.

The risks arising from the relevant issues that are apparent from today's perspective have been fully reflected in the Bank's balance sheet based on the results of the special audit completed in October 2025 in accordance with Section 44 of the German Banking Act (KWG).