Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) announces that on January 11, 2016, the Board of Governors approved the admission of Erste Group Bank as a participant at the BVB trading system, on the regulated market. Erste Group Bank started trading on the regulated market on January 15, 2016.

"We are satisfied that the Romanian capital market will since now have a direct outpost in Vienna's reputable market and we hope that it will also become a new window of the Bucharest Stock Exchange to the world of international investors. We will consequently develop the local environment, as suitable and safe for our global partners", said Ludwik Sobolewski, CEO of Bucharest Stock Exchange, in a statement.

Erste Group Bank is acting as Classical Market Maker for the shares issued by Erste Group Bank and Fondul Proprietatea starting with January 18, 2016.

Banca Comerciala Romana will stop acting as Classical Market Maker for Erste Group Bank AG and Fondul Proprietatea shares.

“It is part of Erste Group strategy to support the development of the capital markets in CEE and this is a concrete step we make in this direction. Furthermore, with the direct participation in the BVB trading system, Erste Group can benefit from the fully fledged operation also in the local market making activities”, said Stefan Dörfler, Head of Group Markets of Erste Group.

Erste Group is the leading financial services provider in the Eastern part of the EU. Around 46,600 employees serve 15.8 million clients in 2,500 branches in 7 countries (Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia). As of Q3 2015 Erste Group posts a net profit of EUR 764.2 million and total assets of EUR 201.2 billion.