Saxo Bank increased its business in the CEE region by 212% in 2008 compared to 2007 and intends to grow its client and partner base by offering a more extensive local service and a wider range of investment products.

The Prague office will be headed by Karol Piovarcsy, who says: "Sustainable success is driven by customer focus and the new office, the first in the Central Eastern European region, will enable us to have greater access to clients and partners in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. While clients will continue to benefit from Saxo Bank's aggregated Tier-1 liquidity and technology, the new office will enable us to enhance education both through our own products and through increased partnerships with institutional partners."

Founded in 1992 by joint CEOs, Kim Fournais and Lars Seier Christensen, 2008 was another record year in terms of income and profit for Saxo Bank. Operating income ended at EUR 338 million, an increase of 61% year-on-year. Reaching EUR 85 million in 2008, EBITDA grew 43% over 2007 while net profit increased 23% to EUR 45.5 million.

In a joint statement Kim Fournais and Lars Seier Christensen says: "Opening an office in Prague is the next step in our European expansion and international growth strategy. Since 1992, when Saxo Bank was founded, we have watched the Central Eastern European countries grow with remarkable speed and determination. Saxo Bank has since had great success in this region and the new office will enable us to provide a more comprehensive on-the-ground service to clients and potential clients in the region."