| Headline: Regional awards - Emerging Europe Source: Euromoney Date: July 2001 Author: Anja Helk Best bank: Bank Austria Best debt house: Citigroup/Schroder Salomon Smith Barney Best equity house: CA IB Best M&A house: CSFB Best at cash management and payment: Citigroup Best at risk management and treasury: Citigroup Consolidation and privatization of the banks in the region has continued unabated since last year. Even in countries that had taken the slow path of selling their banks to foreigners, such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania, things have moved on quickly. To date the most enthusiastic buyers have been UniCredito, KBC, IntesaBci, Société Générale and Erste Bank. They all have acquired majority stakes in one or more of the biggest local banks. Yet, since good banks do not get sold every day, and are in limited supply, none of these buyers has been able to create a comprehensive regional presence. Both Bank Austria and Raiffeisenbank (RZB) committed themselves to the region 10 years ago and can now look on extensive, efficient networks. Raiffeisenbank owns some of the best and most profitable institutions and wins the awards for best bank in Slovakia and Russia. |