Profile

Komerční banka, a.s. (hereinafter also "KB" or the "Bank") is the parent company of KB Group (hereinafter also the "Group"), which consists of nine companies. KB is also a member of the Société Générale Group and ranks among the leading banking institutions in the Czech Republic and Central and Eastern Europe. KB is a universal bank providing a wide range of services in retail, corporate and investment banking. Member companies of Komerční banka Group provide additional specialised financial services - such as pension fund and building society schemes, factoring, consumer lending and insurance - accessible through KB's branch network, its direct banking channels, and the subsidiaries' own sales networks.

Komerční banka and KB Group in 2009

The Bank's almost 1.62 million clients can access its banking services through 398 branches and using 685 ATMs across the Czech Republic, as well as via internet, telephone and mobile phone banking channels. The Bank's branch network includes 20 specialised business centres designed for medium enterprises and municipalities, as well as 4 centres dedicated to large corporations.

Modrá pyramida stavební spořitelna, a.s. (hereinafter "Modrá pyramida") served almost 720,000 clients, while Penzijní fond KB had more than 498,000 participants registered in its pension schemes. The number of active clients at the consumer finance company ESSOX rose to 312,000. Through Komerční banka Bratislava, the Group is also active on the Slovak banking market.

The average number of employees in KB Group was 8,815 in 2009.

Komerční banka's credit rating reflects the Bank's capital strength, excellent liquidity and healthy management. As of the end of 2009, KB's long-term ratings stood at A1 in both foreign and domestic currency terms from Moody's Investors Service, A from Standard & Poor's, and A from Fitch Ratings. Penzijní fond KB held a national-scale rating of Aa1.cz from Moody's Investors Service, which is the highest possible rating for a pension fund in the Czech Republic.

History

Komerční banka was established in 1990 as a state institution, and in 1992 it was transformed into a joint-stock company. KB's shares have been listed on the Prague Stock Exchange, as well as in the RM-System, since its inception. Global depository receipts (GDRs) representing KB shares have been traded on the London Stock Exchange since 1995. In 2001, the state's 60% holding in Komerční banka was purchased by Société Générale. Following privatisation, KB began to develop its activities for individual customers and entrepreneurs significantly, in addition to building on its traditionally strong position in the enterprises and municipalities market. Part of the development of retail activities was its purchase of the remaining 60% of shares in Modrá pyramida in 2006. Thereby, Komerční banka attained full control over the Czech Republic's third largest building society.

Société Générale Group

Komerční banka has been a part of Société Générale Group since October 2001. Société Générale Group is one of the largest financial services groups in the euro zone. The Group employs 157,000 people worldwide in three key businesses:

Société Générale is included in the socially responsible investment indices FTSE4Good and ASPI.

Komerční banka represents an important part of Société Générale Group’s retail banking business.