Commerzbank affirms commitment to Bank Forum

Wilhelm Nüse, Commerzbank Group Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe and a member of Bank Forum’s (FORM) supervisory council, told Interfax yesterday that the German bank’s strategy with regard to Ukraine has not changed. Nüse said Commerzbank plans to increase Bank Forum’s capitalization in order to strengthen its position on the market. He said that in 2009, Commerzbank intended to boost Forum’s equity by no less than UAH 500 mln. Commerzbank acquired a 60%+1 stake in Bank Forum in March 2008. Bank Forum is Ukraine’s #12 largest bank by assets, according to National Bank of Ukraine statistics as of Jan. 1, 2009.