Romanian businessmen to buy into ATE Bank Romania - media

The new owners will raise the bank's capital to 60 million euro ($77.8 million) and then further to 200 million euro in 2013 by attracting more investors, news agency Mediafax (www.mediafax.ro) quoted unnamed sources familiar with the deal as saying on Sunday.

"The negotiations with Piraeus are in a very advanced stage. Not only ATE's licence but also part of the bank's assets and liabilities will be acquired," the sources said, adding that the deal could be completed in a few days.

Following the transaction, the bank will focus exclusively on the corporate segment, especially on companies active in agriculture and industry.

Piraeus Bank agreed in July to acquire the healthy assets and liabilities of troubled Greek state-owned lender ATEbank SA, including 93.27% of its Romanian unit, ATE Bank Romania.

ATE Bank Romania was established in 1990.

($ = 0.7712 euro)