AFX News Limited Swedbank acquires Russian corporate finance business ,

STOCKHOLM (Thomson Financial) - Swedbank AB said it is acquiring ZAO OKO Capital Vostok, a Russian company active in corporate finance, from Finland’s OKO Bank. The transaction is expected to be closed during the first quarter of 2008. ZAO OKO Capital Vostok has seven employees and mainly focuses on advice on acquisitions and divestitures of companies in Russia.

‘This acquisition is an excellent next step in the establishment of our corporate finance business in the bank’s markets,’ said Magnus Geeber, head of Swedbank Corporate Finance. Swedbank said it has also agreed with OKO Bank subsidiary OKO Corporate Finance Ltd on cooperation in corporate finance operations in Russia, the Baltic countries and the Nordic countries. gustav.sandstrom@thomson.com gs/am COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

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