SEB has acquired another 6 per cent of the shares in the Polish bank Bank Ochrony Srodowiska, BOS. After the additional acquisition, SEB's ownership has increased to 38 per cent of the shares and votes in BOS.
SEB's investment in Poland is in line with its strategy to grow in Europe. The other big shareholder, National Fund for Environmental Protection, and SEB will continue to co-operate in developing BOS' future business. It will enable BOS to consolidate and expand its leading position in financing ecological investment, and, through access to SEB's international network, to achieve a leading position in serving Scandinavian customers operating in Poland.
BOS is a medium-sized bank with a market capitalisation of PLN 1 billion (approx. SEK 2.3 billion), active in both the corporate and private segments, with its head office in Warsaw. As of 31 of December 2000, the bank had total assets of PLN 4.85 billion (approx. SEK 11,3 billion), 1,680 employees and 52 branches.