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Greece's Alpha Bank and Eurobank are to merge | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Greece's second and third biggest banks, Eurobank and Alpha, are merging. | |
In a statement, the banks said that their merger would, "play a vital role in the economic recovery of Greece". | |
The Greek government has been trying to encourage banks to pool resources to help them cope with the country's debt crisis. | |
Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), which is already an Alpha shareholder, is expected to take a bigger stake in the new bank. | |
Shares in Greek banks have fallen by more than 50% this year, but they rallied in early trading on Monday. | |
QIA holds 5% of Alpha and is expected to take 15% of the merged entity. | QIA holds 5% of Alpha and is expected to take 15% of the merged entity. |
It has been reported that the new bank will be called Alpha Eurobank and will be the biggest bank in southeastern Europe, with assets of 150bn euros ($218bn; £133bn), 80bn euros in deposits and 2,000 branches. | It has been reported that the new bank will be called Alpha Eurobank and will be the biggest bank in southeastern Europe, with assets of 150bn euros ($218bn; £133bn), 80bn euros in deposits and 2,000 branches. |
Eurobank has recently sold its Polish subsidiary and promised to raise its capital further after failing EU-wide bank stress tests. | Eurobank has recently sold its Polish subsidiary and promised to raise its capital further after failing EU-wide bank stress tests. |
As major debtors of the Greek government, Greek banks have fared particularly badly in the sovereign debt crisis, surviving only with the assistance of the European Central Bank. | As major debtors of the Greek government, Greek banks have fared particularly badly in the sovereign debt crisis, surviving only with the assistance of the European Central Bank. |
The second bailout for Greece will involve its banks having to accept lower interest payments on their holdings of Greek government bonds, albeit over a longer period. | The second bailout for Greece will involve its banks having to accept lower interest payments on their holdings of Greek government bonds, albeit over a longer period. |
Alpha Bank rejected a merger offer from the country's biggest lender, National Bank, in February. | Alpha Bank rejected a merger offer from the country's biggest lender, National Bank, in February. |
The planned merger between Eurobank and Alpha Bank comes as rare good news for the Greek government, which has been calling on the country's banks to pool their resources. | |
The government goes into key talks with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund this week about the second bailout, having just increased its forecast for the contraction of its economy this year from 3.5% to 4.5%. | The government goes into key talks with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund this week about the second bailout, having just increased its forecast for the contraction of its economy this year from 3.5% to 4.5%. |