National Bank of Greece

Qatar National Bank (SAQ) agreed to buy National Bank of Greece SA’s (NBG) stake in its Turkish subsidiary, Finansbank AS, for 2.7 billion euros ($2.95 billion). The deal to buy NBG’s 99.8% holding needs to be approved before it can close in the first half of 2016.

Qatar National Bank (QNB), the Gulf Arab region's largest bank, has agreed to buy Turkey's Finansbank from the National Bank of Greece (NBG) for 2.7 billion euros ($2.95 billion), as it steps up its search for larger markets overseas. With the latest acquisition, Qatari companies have strengthened their hands in the Turkish market. 

Qatar National Bank SAQ , the Gulf Arab region's largest bank, reached an agreement with National Bank of Greece to acquire the latter's entire 99.81 percent stake in Turkey's Finansbank for 2.7 billion euros ($2.95 billion), the two banks said on Dec. 22.

The Commission concluded that the measures already implemented as part of the bank’s existing restructuring plan of July 2014, in addition to those envisaged in the amended plan, will enable National Bank of Greece to ensure lending to the Greek economy in line with EU state aid rules, in particular the “2013 Banking Communication”, and the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive.

Greek banker Omiros Millas, a former National Bank of Greece executive, said he was harassed for warning that his firm risked breaching regulations on valuations, confidentiality and money laundering.

Greece’s National Bank of Greece (NBG) announced on Tuesday that it plans to sell its entire equity participation in its subsidiary in Turkey, Finansbank, that has been a gold mine for the Greek bank in the past.

The Frankfurt-based European Central Bank announced the results of the Greek bank stress tests. The capital needs of the country’s four main banks were calculated to be at 14.4 bln euros:

– Eurobank 2.12 bln euros

– Alpha Bank 2.74 bln euros

– National Bank of Greece 4.6 bln euros

– Bank of Piraeus 4.93 bln euros

A number of local and global lenders have expressed interest in buying a majority stake in Turkey's Finansbank, which is now owned by Greece's leading lender, the National Bank of Greece (NBG). 

According to market sources National Bank of Greece (NBG) is planning to sell 100% of its stake in Turkish bank ‘Finansbank’. The same sources says the goal is to sell the shares of the Turkish bank at least double its ‘book value’, which corresponds to 3.8bln Euros. The pending ‘stress tests’ on the Greek banking system lead the management of the Greek bank to reevaluate its business plan.

Greece?s biggest bank National Bank is considering options to meet any potential capital shortfall after a stress test later this year but has not finalized plans, which include options for majority-owned Finansbank in Turkey, a source at the bank told Reuters on Sept. 28.