Danske Bank A/S (Bank) is a Denmark-based financial institution. It is the parent company within the Danske Bank Group. The Bank’s principal services comprise payment services, trading in securities, investment and placement of surplus liquidity, as well as the provision of short-term and long-term financing. It also handles information technology (IT) operations and development, human resources (HR) administration, logistics, marketing and other administrative activities for its subsidiaries. The business activities of the subsidiaries are divided into such areas as Banking Activities, Danske Markets, Danske Capital, Danica Pension, and Other Activities, including unallocated cost of capital and expenses for the group’s support functions, as well as real property activities. As of December 31, 2008, the Bank was represented in 14 countries through 804 branches. Its main markets include Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Northern Ireland, Ireland and the Baltic countries.