SEB becomes principal partner in Volvo Ocean Race project

SEB becomes principal partner in Volvo Ocean Race project Press conference scheduled today (Monday, May 29) at 11:00 a.m. SEB has become the principal partner in a project for The Volvo Ocean Race 2001-2002, organized by Global Team AB. As the principal partner, SEB has the right to name both the project and the boat and will take advantage of all opportunities offered by the project for two-and-a-half years. A Swedish boat, with Gurra Krantz as the skipper, will thus be on the starting line for The Volvo Ocean Race. "Our strategy is to grow in Europe in the Asset Management and in e- banking," says Lars H Thunell, president and CEO of SEB. "We have decided to operate under a single brand name, SEB, in Europe. It is therefore important to create greater awareness of SEB. "Participation in The Volvo Ocean Race with our 'own boat' will create interest on the part of present and prospective customers and will also involve and bring together all sectors of SEB and all of its employees. The fact that the race this time has stop-overs in four European ports and that it will probably include a large number of syndicates from other European countries has further increased our interest." The Volvo Ocean Race, formerly known as the Whitbread, is the world's most challenging sailing competition and most demanding team sport. The Volvo Ocean Race 2001-2002 will start from Southampton on June 23, 2001. The race comprises nine sections and eight stopovers: In Cape Town, Sydney (with the start of the Sydney-Hobbart Race and a so-called "pit stop" in Hobbart), Auckland, Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Baltimore/Annapolis, La Rochelle and Göteborg. The race will end in Kiel on June 8, 2002. The project is based on a partnership and is being conducted in cooperation with the more than 20 companies that will constitute the commercial partners, and a syndicate company whose representatives are Gunnar "Gurra" Krantz, the noted sailor; Lars Åhren, a corporate and information consultant; Hans Liljeblad, a lawyer; and Raymond Emtemark, a media/Internet entrepreneur. The syndicate company is coordinating the project and project-related promotional activities, and is also organizing and implementing the sports program. The press conference will be held in the Conference Center of Nacka Strand Futurum, Augustendalsvägen 6. A boat or a bus will leave from the Grand Hotel at 10:30 for those who wish to use this form of transportation. Please meet outside the entrance to the hotel at 10:25. Welcome! For additional information, please call: Gunilla Wikman, SEB Group Information Manager, Tel.: 08-763 81 25, 070-763 81 25 Boo Ehlin, SEB Press Relations Manager, Tel.; 08-763-85 77 / 070.763 85 77 Gurra Krantz, Global Team AB, Tel: 08-727 03 85 / 070-797 98 02 Lars Åhrén, Global Team AB. Tel.: 08-748 04 70 / 070-797 98 08 ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/05/29/20000529BIT00030/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/05/29/20000529BIT00030/bit0002.pdf