Raiffeisen International

One of the leading banking groups in Central and Eastern Europe

With its constantly expanding network in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), the RZB Group, headed by Vienna-based Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich AG (RZB) has developed into one of the region's leading banking groups, offering the widest geographical reach. Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG acts as the RZB Group's steering unit for the banking and leasing subsidiaries in CEE.

Raiffeisen International is a fully-consolidated subsidiary of RZB. Following the largest IPO in Austria's history, RZB remains Raiffeisen International's majority shareholder owning 70 per cent of the common stock. The remaining 30 per cent is free-float, the shares are traded on the Vienna Stock Exchange.

Starting already in 1986 by founding what is today Raiffeisen Bank, Hungary, Raiffeisen International has consequently entered growth markets and expanded its local presence, respectively. Recent examples are the acquisitions of banks in Kosovo, Belarus, Albania and Ukraine in 2002 through 2005. In January 2006, Raiffeisen International acquired 100 per cent of Russian Impexbank. In July 2006, it purchased Czech eBanka.

As of 30 September 2006, Raiffeisen International managed subsidiary banks and leasing companies in 16 markets of the region. Nearly 52,100 employees served more than 11.7 million customers in 2,775 business outlets. Consolidated profit for the first three quarters (after minorities) showed a growth of 93 per cent to € 539 million (against the same period of 2005, including a one-off effect resulting from the sale of the minority stake in Kazakh Bank TuranAlem). The Group's balance-sheet total amounted to € 50.3 billion, representing a 24 per cent growth compared with year-end 2005.