OREANDA-NEWS. August 09, 2007. Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG, which is part of the Raiffeisen Zentralbank Osterreich AG (RZB) Group, continued its growth during the first half of 2007 and achieved once again the best quarterly result since the Group's inception – excluding last year's one-off effects, reported the press-centre of Raiffeisen.

Consolidated profit (after tax and minorities) rose by 38,8 per cent to 401,4 million euros (first half 2006: 289,2 million euros). Profit before tax for the first half of 2007 went up by 44,1 per cent to 606,6 million euros (first half 2006: 421,0 million euros), while profit after tax for the first six months of 2007 grew by 43,0 per cent to 477,0 million euros (first half 2006: 333,5 million euros). Earnings per share rose from 2,03 euros for the first half of 2006 to 2,82 euros. (All figures are based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).)

Raiffeisen International's business year in 2006 was influenced by two one-off effects – arising from the sales of Raiffeisenbank Ukraine and the stake in Bank TuranAlem – with a total positive impact on the full year consolidated profit of 588 million euros. To facilitate comparison of the first half of 2007 with last year, these one-off effects are not included in the comparison figures for 2006.

Furthermore, changes in the scope of consolidation – the acquisitions of Impexbank in the second quarter of 2006 and eBanka in the fourth quarter of 2006 and the disposal of Raiffeisenbank Ukraine in the fourth quarter of 2006 – had an impact on earnings components. At the beginning of 2007, three asset management companies in Croatia, Slovakia, and Hungary were also included in the scope of consolidation for the first time because of materiality.

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