HVB - HYPOVEREINSBANK and BANK AUSTRIA, controlled by the German group, have merged their Polish subsidiaries BPH - BANK PRZEMYSLOWO HANLOWY (HVB) and PBK - POWSZECHNY BANK KREDITOWY (BANK AUSTRIA), giving rise to an new Polish entity with 600 branches, with over 2 million customers, 14,000 staff and a market share of 10%. Its total balance sheet will amount to over 11 bn euro. In addition, HVB is to sell its 75% stake in WESTHYP - WESTFALISCHEN HYPOTHKENBANK (total balance sheet of 36.8 bn euro end-2000 with 280 staff). 50.1% will be purchased by WGZ BANK and 24.9% by the insurer SIGNAL INDUNA.