Halkbank

The shares of 12 companies held by the Treasury have been transferred to the Türkiye Wealth Fund (TVF), according to a presidential decree published in the Official Gazette on Aug. 20.

Among those companies whose shares were transferred are stock exchange-listed Koza Altın, Koza Anadolu Metal and İpek Doğal Enerji.

State-owned banks Ziraat and Halkbank have each issued statements denying allegations that they incurred losses during the recent period.

Ziraat noted that its finances are regularly disclosed to the public.

The top executives of the three Turkish state lenders - Ziraat, Halkbank and Vakıfbank - have pledged to grant loans to Turkish businesses in a bid to support economic development and increase prosperity.

General managers of Turkey's three state banks met with businesspeople in the northwestern province of Bursa on Feb. 3.

Keeping a close watch on the movement of Turkish-Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab, who was arrested in 2016 for violating the U.S. sanctions on Iran and released on bail in 2018 after being a witness in the case, the U.S. media has revealed the lavish lifestyle of Zarrab in Miami.

Turkey's Halkbank on April 12 urged a U.S. appeals court to dismiss a case over alleged violations of sanctions on Iran.

Arguing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Halkbank lawyer Simon Latcovich said US prosecutors have no jurisdiction over the bank, as it is immune under the U.S.' Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.

A U.S. judge on Feb. 16 agreed to dismiss a case against Turkish state-lender Halkbank filed by victims of attacks by groups linked to Iran, on the condition that the sides reach an agreement to carry on with the case in Turkey.

Max Hoffman is the associate director of National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress and his work is focused on Turkey, Europe and the Middle East.

The acquisition of a 10% share in Turkish stock exchange Borsa Istanbul by the Qatari state Investment Authority was completed on Nov. 30.

According to a statement from the Turkiye Wealth Fund (TWF), the transaction size of $200 million implies a total equity value of $2 billion.