Nova Ljubljanska Banka
Nova Ljubljanska Banka remains the dominant force in Slovenian banking with market share reaching almost 44%. 2003 was marked by key initiatives to strengthen its role as a major regional player in south-east Europe and these moves, as well as steady performance, make it the award winner for the third year running. In 2003, the group – owned 34% by Belgium’s KBC – expanded its geographic presence with the acquisition of subsidiary banks Montenegrobanka in Serbia & Montenegro and Prva Produzetni Banka, subsequently renamed LHB Banka Beograd. West East Bank in Bulgaria joined the NLB Group as an associate bank. Other newly-established companies, including LB InterFinanz Beograd, LB Leasing Serbia and CBS Invest Bosnia, are targeted at increasing forfaiting, leasing and real estate management activities. In the last 12 months, NLB has been upgraded by both Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s and, despite a decline in net profits in 2003, NLB remains Slovenia’s strongest financial group.