Ad hoc announcement

Statement

Raiffeisen International and RZB Examine Merger as a Possible Strategic Option

Ad hoc announcement transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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The managing boards of Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG (RI) and
Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich AG (RZB) are currently taking a closer
look at a possible merger of the two companies as one of several possible
strategic options. However, no official decisions have been made to
implement any of these strategic options. External consultants are also
being involved in the analysis.

RI is part of the RZB affiliated group and currently pools the business in
Central and Eastern Europe, which is conducted by a network of banks and
financial service providers in 17 countries. RZB, which is incorporated
into Raiffeisen Banking Group Austria (RBG), focuses mainly on the Austrian
and multinational customer business. RZB is the majority shareholder of RI,
with the remaining shares in free float held by national and international
institutional and private investors.

A possible concept for the transaction would be that the business of RBG
associated with the function of RZB as the controlling institution would be
hived off from RZB into a new bank holding. As a result, this business area
and the related equity holdings would not be the object of a possible
merger according to this concept.

Regardless of which type of transaction is chosen a stock listing would
remain in place.

For further information please contact:

Susanne Langer
Head of Investor Relations, Spokesperson
Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG
Am Stadtpark 3
A-1030 Vienna
investor.relations@ri.co.at
phone +43-1-71707-2089
http://www.ri.co.at

(c)DGAP 22.02.2010 
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Language:     English
Company:      Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG
              Am Stadtpark 3
              A-1030 Vienna
              Österreich
Phone:        +43-1-71707-2089
Fax:          +43-1-71707-2138
E-mail:       investor.relations@ri.co.at
Internet:     
ISIN:         AT0000606306
WKN:          A0D9SU
Listed:       Freiverkehr in Berlin, München, Stuttgart; Open Market in
              Frankfurt; Foreign Exchange(s) Wien
 
End of News                                     DGAP News-Service
 
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