Banco BEST (‘BEST’), in which ESFG owns 9.0%, is the pioneer of interactive financial simulators based on Web technology. According to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), BEST secured its lead in the distribution of foreign investment funds. It increased its market share by 2.6% to 29.1% in 2008. Customer assets under management reached EUR 1.17 billion, a rise of 4.0% year-on-year while net income totalled EUR 2.4 million or a rise of 25.4% when compared to the previous year. Despite difficult market conditions BEST reported client growth of 11.0%, with deposit growth up by 42.3% at year end.

ESFG  owns just under of 5.0% of the share capital of Saxo Bank S/A, a Danish internet banking firm, establishing a partnership between Banco BEST and Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank is a global investment bank specialising in online trading and investment across the international financial markets. Saxo Bank enables private investors and institutional clients to trade FX, CFDs, ETFs, Stocks, Futures, Options and other derivatives via multi-award winning online trading platforms, as well as offering professional portfolio and fund management.”