The Hypo Group Alpe Adria Leasing maintained its successful development in 2006 and once again achieved record results. Thus the Group continued its dynamic growth and at the same time was able to achieve double- digit increases in all its main financial indicators and thus further consolidate its profitability.
      On the balance sheet date of December 31, total assets amounted to EUR 4,581.2 million, which was 38.8 % higher than the 2005 figure.
      During the same period, the operating result went up from EUR 81 million to EUR 85.9 million. In particular, this rise can be traced to the positive development of the companies in Slovenia and Austria, as well as those in the new national markets. The profit on ordinary activities improved from EUR 57.3 million to EUR 70.3 million, which represented an increase of 22.7 % and the Hypo Group Alpe Adria Leasing contributed 38.3 % to the consolidated result of the Hypo Group Alpe Adria. With 735 highly qualified employees (35.4 % more than in 2005) at 62 locations, in 2006 the Hypo Group Alpe Adria Leasing raised its new financing volume by over 37 % to EUR 1.9 billion. The breakdown of this amount among the business segments showed the following structure (vehicles: 32.9 %, equipment: 29.9 %, real estate: 34.5 %, miscellaneous: 2.7 %).
      In line with the targeted realisation of its growth strategy, during the past year the Hypo Group Alpe Adria Leasing tightened up its branch network with thirteen additional locations. After market entry in Montenegro and Hungary during 2005, 2006 saw the addition of Bulgaria. Customer numbers also rose sharply, over 70,000 private and business customers already placing their trust in the services of the Hypo Group Alpe Adria Leasing. This represented an increase of 22.8 % over the preceding year (57,000). 44.4 % of customers come from the south-eastern European region and 53.6 % from the European Union.