Shareholders’ structure

Information on majority shareholder

Československá obchodní banka, a.s. ("ČSOB") conducts its activities on two national markets: the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is the largest bank in Central Europe, measured by the value of total assets, and a leading advisory bank focused on asset management in the Czech Republic. ČSOB provides banking and insurance services "under one roof" through its affiliated companies, with the bancassurance concept starting to play a major role. Moreover, ČSOB is becoming a "first choice bank" for more and more SMEs and corporate clients. Poštovní spořitelna, the second retail brand of ČSOB is a key player on the mass retail market. It uses a distribution network of approximately 3,350 post offices and serves more than 2 million clients from ČSOB's 3.2 million clients in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In addition, the clients were serviced in 218 branches in the Czech Republic, 99 branches in Slovakia, and through various direct banking channels.

ČSOB was established by the state in 1964 as the only bank in the former Czechoslovakia that provided services in the area of financing foreign trade and transactions in freely convertible currencies. After 1989, the Bank extended its activities to include services for newly established business entities and individuals. An important milestone in the history of ČSOB was its privatization in June 1999, when Belgian KBC Bank, which is a member of KBC Group, became a majority owner of ČSOB. Another milestone in the history of ČSOB was the acquisition of Investiční a Poštovní banka, a.s. in June 2000. Both long-term and short-term Moody's and Capital Intelligence's rating of ČSOB is in the top position achievable in the Czech Republic; the long-term rating of Fitch is one point lower. The renowned international agency Moody's changed the outlook in November 2005 related to financial strength of ČSOB (rating that does not reflect the support of the majority owner) from stable to positive level. This change is based primarily on an increase in business activities related to the acquisition of new clients in the retail and SMEs segments. The rating reflects traditionally conservative risk management approach of ČSOB, which subsequently results in one of the top asset quality profiles in the Czech Republic. The high rating of ČSOB is also strengthened by support of the parent KBC Bank, good financial indicators, and its position as one of the banking market leaders.

With the value of assets of CZK 603 billion under its management, ČSOB Group is the largest financial group in the Czech Republic. Through its affiliate companies, ČSOB Group provides its clients financial services in the following areas: construction savings, mortgage loans, asset management, collective investing, private banking, pension insurance, leasing, factoring, and life and non-life insurance distribution. The companies of the Group hold significant market positions in their respective areas, both in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. ČSOB Group is number one in the area of housing financing, as it offers both mortgage loans and construction saving loans.

KBC Group is a well capitalized (EUR 29 billion) bank-insurance group with a strong market position in Belgium. During the last nine years, KBC successfully expanded its geographic reach into the Central Europe region; it is currently present in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and Slovenia. The Group is lately focusing more and more on private banking. KBC Group is also active in commercial banking and on capital markets. Please visit www.csob.cz for annual reports of ČSOB, as well as the financial calendar, general presentations and actual ratings.