After reporting a bumper 2007 in the Baltic markets, Hansa Leasing, the subsidiary of Hansabank and part of Swedbank AB, is
bracing for a slowdown in growth as financial markets adjust to the effects of the global liquidity crisis.

“The changes in global financial markets have had a strong impact on small countries like the Baltics,” head of Hansa Leasing
in Estonia, Mart Mägi, told Leasing Life. ”We expect a slowdown of financing growth due to the high [cost] of funding.”

With the strong backing of its Swedish parent, Hansa Leasing has managed to secure dominant positions in Estonia, Lithuania and
Latvia providing leasing services for consumer goods and equipment for small- and medium-size companies. In Estonia, Hansa estimates a
market share of 47 per cent and in Latvia and Lithuania it has shares in excess of 40 per cent.