In 2023, the scale of foreign investment (FDI) in Poland increased to around 3.6 per cent of GDP. Good results will also be seen this year. Strong investor interest has been evident since the pandemic, when broken supply chains were attempted to be sewn together using Polish sub-suppliers to take the place of Asian ones.

Meanwhile, the Polish banking sector is moderately attractive to foreign financial institutions. Due to high regulatory and legal risks, foreign banks are reluctant to invest in Poland, while Polish banks are often priced below value for the same reasons.

VeloBank is the first successful M&A transaction in the sector in many years, preceded by a smooth resolution process, appreciated by the European Commission. A healthy, agile bank, unleashed in organisational and technological transformation, it has an appetite for further development and strong growth.

Will the acquisition of VeloBank by an American fund, part of the growing foreign investment in Poland, together with KPO and the energy transition, be the wheels of the economy? Is Poland opening up to new M&A? Will and how will an acquirer exploit the potential of a modern financial institution in an investment-attractive part of the European Union?

Key issues of the debate:

Is Poland a magnet for foreign investors?
Who invests their money in our country and why – the investor’s perspective.
Further development of the banking sector against the background of the country’s economic outlook.
New brands vs. consolidation in the banking market. Scenarios, opportunities and challenges.
What we have learned from the resolution process and how we can use it in the future.