"Obtaining authorisation to act as a credit institution means a positive evaluation of the Baltic Investment Group's (BIG) trustworthiness," said BIG Chairman Targo Raus at a press briefing held today.

Raus says that with previous issuances of debt instruments and being listed on the Tallinn Stock Exchange, BIG has been acting in accordance with the rules and conditions of the regulated market for many years, and therefore that continuing its activities as a credit institution will not mean big changes for the company.

"As a credit institution our chances of attracting money are significantly increased. The speed with which BIG has developed has brought with it the need to seek out new financial sources to satisfy our clients' needs, and credit institution authorisation creates the perfect conditions for that," Raus said.

"BIG considers it strategically very important to start organising open issuances of debt instruments and attracting fixed-term deposits," he added.

"BIG has no plans to start competing on the universal bank market, and will instead concentrate as before on those services we've gained sufficient experience - and market share - in during our 10 years of operation."

AS Balti Investeeringute Grupp (BIG) is the Baltic States' largest private credit institution after universal banks and leasing companies. Its loan portfolio exceeds 300 million EEK and it has more than 8000 clients in Estonia. At the end of August the company's assets totalled 354 million EEK. BIG's objective is to offer both private and business clients swift, attentive and flexible financing. The company currently has 11 branches throughout Estonia and more than 80 employees. It was founded in Tartu in 1992 and its owners are in equal part Parvel Pruunsild and Vahur Voll.

Additional information:
Targo Raus
Chairman of the Board
Phone: 6309 938
Email: targo.raus@big.ee