Financial services provider BISE looking for an investor

Bank Inicjatyw Spoleczno-Ekonomicznych (BISE), a bank providing financial services primarily to small and medium-sized companies, local authorities and foundations, is conducting talks to gain a strong financial investor, according to Arkadiusz Krezel, president of the Industrial Development Agency (ARP), one of the bank’s largest shareholders, owning 31.8% in BISE. Neither Krezel nor BISE representatives would disclose details about the potential entrant to the bank, with Krezel saying only that the company would own an amount similar to that which the biggest shareholders have at present, and that it would be named by the end of the first quarter. French Credit Cooperatif in close tandem with fund EFSIN have the second largest stake at about 32%, with remaining stakes owned predominantly by companies in the energy sector. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B3) M.M.