SEB reached 97.9 per cent in Vilniaus Bankas
SEB reached 97.9 per cent in Vilniaus Bankas Upon the implementation of the offer SEB will own 97.9 per cent of shares in Vilniaus Bankas. The full inclusion of Vilniaus Bankas into the SEB Group will give bank customers in Lithuania access to the services of an international banking group. Vilniaus Bankas can, through SEB, better support cross-border business in the Nordic countries, Germany and the rest of Europe. SEB intends to retain the management and local profile of Vilniaus Bankas in order to utilise the bank's strong standing in a growing market. Settlement for shares tendered during the acceptance period is scheduled to take place on 22 November 2000. At the same day the final result of the implementation of the offer will be ready. SEB is a major shareholder in three Baltic banks; Esti Ühispank with 384,900 customers, 66,000 e-bank customers and 65 branch offices in Estonia, Latvijas Unibanka with 318,600 customers, 20,000 e-bank customers and 70 branch offices in Latvia and Vilniaus Bankas with 244,500 customers, 2,000 e-bank customers and 60 branch offices in Lithuania. SEB is a financial group focused on e-banking, savings and growth companies. The Group has approximately 20,000 employees and is represented in some 20 countries around the world. SEB has today approximately 630 retail and private banking branches, mainly in Sweden, Germany and the Baltic region and 700.000 e-banking customers in seven countries. During the current year SEB will start e-banking in England. Read more about SEB: www.seb.net For further information, please contact Mats Kjaer, President SEB Baltic Holding +46 40 667 6101 Gunilla Åkerblom, Head of Communication SEB Baltic Holding +468 639 2607, 4670 547 0735 Lotta Treschow, Head of Investor Relations SEB +46 8 763 9559 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/11/17/20001117BIT01010/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/11/17/20001117BIT01010/bit0002.pdf