Swedish gov't takes control of Carnegie Investment Bank

STOCKHOLM, Nov. 10 (Chinese media) -- The Swedish government

announced Monday that Stockholm-based Carnegie Investment Bank was taken over by

the Swedish National Debt Office.

The decision has been taken in order to protect the

financial stability and to preserve the value of the collateral, the Swedish

National Debt Office said in a statement.

The Debt Office added that its intention is to be a

responsible owner of Carnegie, but it does not have the ambition to remain as

owner for an extended period of time. It will sell the bank on commercial terms

to buyers that obtain the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority's approval.

Earlier on Monday, the Swedish Financial Supervisory

Authority revoked the banking license of Carnegie due to what it said was

illegal trading activities. After the Debt Office took the control it returned

the license to the bank.

Carnegie, found in 1803, is engaged in stock-broking,

equity analysis, equity trading, asset management and advice on corporate

acquisitions in the Nordic region, and has some 1,100 employees.

Its shares lost more than half of their value at the

end of October after the bank reported disappointing third-quarter earnings and

was forced to seek 5 billion kronor (about 633 million U.S. dollars) in

financial assistance from the Swedish central bank.