Poland’s biggest bank PKO BP and a consortium of insurer PZU and its subsidiary Pekao are expected to file initial bids for Commerzbank’s Polish arm, mBank by mid-January, three sources told Reuters.
Among the other institutions expected to make first-round offers for the stake in mBank are Austria’s Erste and Credit Agricole, the sources said on Tuesday, adding that bids from further contenders could not be ruled out.
Commerzbank, Germany’s second-largest lender behind Deutsche Bank, aims to sell its 69.3% stake in mBank, Poland’s fourth-largest lender by assets, by the end of next year.
Based on mBank’s market capitalization, Commerzbank’s stake is worth $2.8 billion, but the transaction price may differ, as Polish financial regulator KNF will require it to retain a portfolio of foreign currency denominated mortgages.
PKO, PZU/Pekao, Erste and Credit Agricole have all hired investments banks to advise them, the sources added.
ING’s Polish unit and Santander Bank Polska had initially also said they may take part and the local arm of BNP Paribas had not ruled out making a bid.
But the fact that the Polish government has expressed its interest in a Polish lender buying mBank may deter some foreign banks, several bank executives, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.
Of the two Polish contenders PZU/Pekao have an edge over Pekao, one of the people close to the auction said.
“When it comes to state-run investors PZU/Pekao could generate more synergies from a Pekao/mBank merger than PKO BP merging with mBank,” the source added.
mBank’s foreign currency denominated mortgages are seen as one of the biggest problems for the sector, as the European top court ruled in October in favor of Polish consumers which took out such loans and ran into trouble when the Swiss Franc appreciated against the Polish zloty.
Commerzbank’s CFO Stephen Engels said in September that ING Bank Slaski, which has only a tiny portfolio of foreign currency denominated mortgages, would be a good valuation comparison.
Slaski trades at 1.65 times its book value, while mBank trades at 0.97 times.
Commerzbank, PZU, Pekao, PKO, Erste, Santander, BNP and ING declined to comment, while Credit Agricole was not immediately available for comment.
Source: Reuters.com