Awards for Excellence 2008: Sweden

Nordea remains the market leader in Sweden, with assets not far off those of second- and third-placed SEB and Handelsbanken combined. But SEB had the better year, with assets increasing by 21.2%, operating profit up by 9%, net profit 8% higher and return on equity of 19.3%. Moreover, despite a poor share performance in 2007 – in line with almost all banks globally – compound five-year growth in total shareholders’ equity is 10.76%: higher than Nordea’s 7.58%.