July 12 (SeeNews) - Bulgarian lender Investbank said on Thursday it has completed the acquisition of 100% of Victoria Bank from bankrupt Corporate Commercial Bank (Corpbank) for an undisclosed price.
The next stage in Investbank's strategy is to absorb Victoria Bank, Investbank said in a statement.
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Last week, Investbank received approval from the competition regulator for the deal. The combined market share of the two lenders does not exceed 15% on any segment, the regulator said at the time.
Last month, Investbank's shareholders approved an increase of the lender's capital to 131.67 million levs ($78.7 million/67.3 million euro) from 121.67 million levs via a new share issue. All shares will be subscribed for by local company Festa Holding. Festa Holding held a 51.69% stake in Investbank at the end of 2017, according to latest available data.
Investbank received preliminary approval for the acquisition of Victoria Bank from the central bank in March.
Investbank's strategy envisages absorbing Victoria Bank within six months after the acquisition is complete, the central bank said at the time.
In November, Corpbank said that the Bulgarian American Credit Bank and Investbank have submitted binding offers for 100% of Victoria Bank.
The previous procedure for the bank’s sale failed after Bulgaria's central bank refused to grant preliminary approval to a request of Sofia-based D Commerce Bank to acquire 100% of Victoria.
The strategy for the acquisition and business development of Victoria proposed by D Commerce Bank pose considerable risks, the central bank said at the time.
Victoria Bank recorded a net loss of 5.6 million levs in 2016, compared to a loss of 9.3 million levs a year earlier. Its total assets stood at 128.5 million levs at end-2016.
(1 euro = 1.95583 levs)
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