Report
Research Team

Focus: downgrading O2 Czech Republic to HOLD (transfer of coverage), with new CZK 260 PT; PKO BP’s CFO guides for 2019E ROE of c.11%; Polish banks' CEOs on biggest challenge – regulatory burdens that structurally lower ROEs

HEADLINES:
• O2 Czech Republic: the burden of the (regulatory) crown (downgraded to HOLD - transfer of coverage)
• PKO BP: CFO guides for 2019E ROE of c.11% (up from 10% in 2018) POSITIVE
• Polish banks: banks' CEOs on biggest challenge - regulatory burdens that structurally lower ROEs NEUTRAL
• Alior Bank/Bank Handlowy: meat producer Kania, financed by banks, faces risk of insolvency NEGATIVE
• Bank of Cyprus: sale of 49.9% stake in CNP Cyprus
• Echo Investment: apartment sales up 6% yoy by May NEUTRAL
• OPAP: 1Q19E preview - growth in the quarter to come from VLTs (due out today, after the close)
• Short News (GPW, MOEX)
Underlyings
Alior Bank SA

Alior Bank is a universal lending and deposit-taking bank which renders services to individuals, legal persons and other entities which are Polish and foreign persons. Co.'s core activities include maintaining bank accounts, granting loans and advances, issuing banking securities and purchasing and selling foreign currency. Co. also conducts brokerage activities, consulting and financial agency services and renders other financial services.

Bank Handlowy w Warszawie S.A.

Bank Handlowy W Warszawie is a Polish bank holding company engaged in a wide range of banking services for individuals and corporate customers in the domestic and foreign markets. Additionally Co. operates in brokerage operations, lease services and investment operations. Customers have access to these services at the branches, ATM's, telephone services and electronic banking services.

Bank of Cyprus PCL

Echo Investment

Echo Investment is a real estate investment and development company based in Poland. Co.'s is engaged in operations in the real estate market, the design, construction and development of shopping and entertainment centers, hotels, office buildings, houses, blocks of flats and apartments. Co.'s operations are organized along three operating segments: Shopping and Entertaining Centers, Offices and Hotels and Residential. Co. also offers general contracting services for third party investors. Co. owns properties throughout Poland, including Szczecin, Poznan, Warsaw, Krakow and Kielce, among others, and abroad, including Ukraine, Romania and Hungary.

Greek Organisation of Football Prognostics SA

OPAP is engaged in the operating and management of numerical lottery and sports betting games as well as lottery games. Co. holds concession to operate and manage new sports betting games in Greece as well as a right of first refusal to operate and manage any new lottery games permitted by the Hellenic Republic. Co. operates six numerical lottery games, including Joker, Lotto, Proto, Extra 5, Super 3, and Kino; and three sports betting games consisting of Stihima, Propo, and Propo-goal. Co. is also engaged in designing new lottery games, including Bingo and Super 4. Co. distributes its games through an extensive on-line network of agents.

O2 Czech Republic a.s.

O2 Czech Republic is a provider of voice, data and other telecommunications services in the Czech Republic. Co. provides telephony services to business and residential customers, operates pay phones, provides cellular phone services, euroISDN, leased lines, Internet and data services (including internet online ISDN services which offer digital connection to the internet network), telephone equipment and other services. Co. comprises two main business segments: the Fixed segment which is telephone services using the fixed telephone network and the Mobile segment which is mobile telephone services provided by Telefonica O2 Slovakia.

PKO Bank Polski S.A.

PKO Bank Polski is a universal commercial bank offering services to both domestic and foreign retail, corporate and other clients. Co. is licensed to hold foreign exchange and currencies and sell/buy them, as well as perform a full range of foreign exchange services; open and hold bank accounts abroad and to deposit foreign exchange in these accounts. In addition, Co. conducts activities relating to leasing, factoring, electronic settlements via payment cards, as well as renders other financial services. As of Dec 31 2009, Co. had total assets of Zl156,478,685,000 and total deposit of Zl124,628,562,000. Co. operates in the Republic of Poland, Ukraine and Sweden.

Provider
Wood and Company
Wood and Company

WOOD & Company is the leading investment bank in Emerging Europe. Founded in 1991 and head-quartered in Prague, our footprint spans the region and touches investors around the globe.

A pioneer in Emerging Europe, WOOD executed many of the first CEE equity trades and landmark investment banking transactions. Our electronic trading platform was the first in the region, and remains the best. We are continually expanding our relevance and reach in these ever-evolving markets.

Our equity market share reflects our stature: 7% in Warsaw, 20% in Bucharest, 16% in Hungary, 40% in Prague and 5% in Vienna. Our distribution is unparalleled, with the largest salesforce in the region, servicing a uniquely diverse investor base.

We couple local expertise with a truly international perspective. With offices on the ground in the region, and in key financial hubs such as London and Milano, we are never far from our clients and we remain at the forefront of what’s afoot in the CEE emerging and frontier landscape.

Analysts
Research Team

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