Romania

BEST BANK
BRD – Groupe Société Générale

BEST DEBT HOUSE
Bank Austria/HVB

BEST M&A HOUSE
Ernst & Young

BRD – Groupe Société Générale had a very good year in 2004, with net income up 55%, and a return on equity of 30%, one of the highest in the region. As with its Czech subsidiary Kommercni, Société Générale has concentrated on the fast-growing consumer lending market, setting up a specialist consumer finance company in Romania, called BRD Finance Credite de Consum.

It also established 42 new branches in 2004, 39 of which were under its new retail banking brand, BRD Express.