China Development Bank Interested In Greek Shipping Bank
Following Cosco and Huawei negotiations for the acquisition of Intracom Telecom, another Chinese group is interesting in expanding its activities in Greece.
Chinese Giant China Development Bank, with assets of €500b, is in advanced talks with Greek Aegean Baltic Bank, which operates in shipping finance, focusing on the acquisition of a 48% stake, currently owned by General Electric Capital, market sources told Capital.gr.
Sources also note that this investment fund substantially operates on behalf of two bank’s shareholders, shipowners Nikos Tsakos and Yannis Koustas, while relationship between GE and China Development Banks is old and strong.
No final agreement is reached so far, sources stressed, adding that “it is a long way to the final signing”, due to Chinese bureaucracy.
According to Lloyd’s List, this partnership could contribute to “unlocking” the $5b + $5b financing to Greek shipping industry, showing China’s great interest in Greek shipping and private investment.
A 52% stake of Aegean Baltic Bank belongs to a Greek management under Theodoros Afthonidis, an experienced banker in shipping funding. The bank deals primarily with the financing of Greek shipping companies as an organizer, lender and manager of syndicated loans, and as an individual lender of selective shipping loans.
(capital.gr)
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