CSOB reports loss in Slovakia

CSOB Leasing, the Slovakian lessor owned by Belgian banking
group KBC, reported a consolidated loss of €1.6 million for 2008,
compared to a profit of €8.4 million in 2007.

Last year, CSOB Leasing wrote new business worth €423.3 million,
3.6 percent up on the previous year, with machinery and equipment
leasing up 20 percent to a value of €131 million.

Car leasing, however, was down 7.4 percent at €103 million,
while leasing of other wheeled assets shrank by between 5 and 10
percent.

Abdus Shuman