HANDELSBANKEN, Sweden's largest bank, has paid SEK 7.1 bn for two branches of the Swedish insurance company SPP; these are SPP LIVFOERSAEKRING (life-insurance; SEK 7.5 bn turnover in 1999) and SPP FONDER (pension funds; SEK 3.5 bn turnover in 1999). Through these acquisitions, HANDELSBANKEN will control 35% of the Swedish pension funds market, with 610,000, customers and 16% of the life-insurance market. The assets that the bank manages will climb to SEK 250 bn, against the current 160 bn.