ABI, Fibank attempting to buy NBG Albania: SCAN Magazine details negotiations

The Competition Authority announced on Tuesday the approval of the purchase of Veneto Banka by Intesa Sanpaolo, while the sale negotiations in the banking market are more active than ever in recent years.

Scan Magazine in the September issue provides extensive information on the dealership negotiations between banks.

At a more advanced stage is the sale of the subsidiary of NBG Bank in Albania.

The Greek group has taken the decision to leave the region’s markets and strengthen its activity in Greece.

After selling its subsidiary in Romania during the summer, it is believed that the next sale will be the bank in Albania.

The two banks most interested in buying NBG Albania are Fibank and ABI Bank.

Fibank has shown openly the ambition to grow in the Albanian market by buying another bank.

After giving up two years ago the buying Credit Agricole Albania, the Bulgarian banking group has made an offer to buy NBG Bank.

Currently, Fibank in Albania is a growing bank, but with still a modest market share of 1.35%.

If it will be able to buy NBG, Fibank will own about 4.2% of total market assets.

The bank that bought Credit Agricole, ABI Bank, is interested in further expansion in the Albanian market and is also negotiating to buy NBG’s affiliate in Albania.

Currently, ABI Bank owns 2.7% of the market, while with a potential purchase of NBG it would reach about 5.6% and become the sixth largest bank in Albania.

ABI Bank and Fibank have submitted their offers to the Greek banking group, which is expected to make a decision soon.

Other banks that are actively seeking buyers are Tirana Bank and International Commercial Bank.

The Piraeus Group, like NBG, has decided to withdraw from the region’s markets and strengthen its banking activity in Greece.

A decision to withdraw from the banking business has also been taken by the ICB Banking Group, the Malaysian group controlling the International Commercial Bank in Albania.

In 2007, this group owned 15 banks in Africa, Asia and Europe, while currently owns only three banks in Albania, Tanzania and Bangladesh.

The goal is a full exit from the banking business and they are therefore seeking buyers for the remaining banks, including that in Albania.

SCAN

*Material i përgatitur nga portali SCAN. Ripublikimi mund të bëhet vetëm kundrejt citimit të autorësisë dhe burimit origjinal.