This week was completed the first subscription round to the share issue of DnB NORD Banka tallying up to 35.2 million shares. As their par value amounts to one lat per share, the Bank's fixed capital as the result of the share issue will be increased up to LVL 134.4 million. The share issue following the respective resolutions of the shareholders' meeting and Financial and Capital Market Commission was launched by DnB NORD Banka this June by offering pre-emption rights to the existing Bank shareholders. The principal shareholder of DnB NORD Banka - Bank DnB NORD A/S in the course of the first round of subscription subscribed to all shares the shareholder currently was entitled to subscribe to, i.e. more than 99.9% of the total number of shares of the new issue. The existing shareholders also have expressed their wish to subscribe to the remaining 21 thousand of shares in the course of the second subscription round that is scheduled to end on 21st August. Along with the share issue DnB NORD Banka in April has attracted subordinated capital in amount of 14 million lats, thus reinforcing the Bank's capital base in compliance with the existing economic situation. The CEO of DnB NORD Banka Andris Ozoliņš says: „Willingness of the shareholders of DnB NORD Banka to subscribe to the new share issue and expand the Bank's capital under the present strained circumstances without any doubt implies sustained strategic commitment to development of the Bank's operational activities in this region and ensuring its stability and reliability in the eyes of the customers.” In H1 2009 operational income of DnB NORD Banka amounted to LVL 17.3 million, which is by 15% over the results for the respective period of the precedent year. In turn, the deposit portfolio of DnB NORD Banka during the course of the first six months of the year has grown by 3.5% as compared to the beginning of the year and currently amounts to 444 million lats. Having assessed the present economic situation in Latvia as well in line with the stringent risk policy imposed by DnB NORD Group, DnB NORD Banka has put particular emphasis on long-term stability and proactively made provisions for doubtful loans. Net amount of the provisions by the end of June 2009 tallied up to 77.2 million lats. During the first half of 2009 number of customers of DnB NORD Banka continuously augmented: number of legal entities over 6 months grew by more than 400 companies, and number of private individuals - by more than 4,200 new customers. DnB NORD Banka is one the leading financial institutions in Latvia, awarded in 2008 as the bank of the year in Latvia by the prestigious international „Euromoney” journal, while in early 2009 one of its indirect shareholders DnB NOR (Norway) was ranked 34th among the safest world banks by „Global Finance” journal.