UPDATE 2-AIB to choose bidder for Zachodni next week-report
Thu Sep 2, 2010 4:57am EDT
* Needs to raise 7.4 billion euros capital this year
* PKO Bank Polski, Santander and BNP Paribas expected to bid
(Adds 'no comment' from AIB)
DUBLIN, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Allied Irish Banks (
ALBK.I) was expected to select a preferred bidder for its 70 percent stake in Polish lender Bank Zachodni WBK (
BZWB.WA) early next week, The Irish Times newspaper reported on Thursday.
Final offers have been requested from Poland's largest lender PKO Bank Polski, Spanish group Santander (
SAN.MC) and French bank BNP Paribas (
BNPP.PA) by the end of this week, the newspaper reported, citing a source close to one of the parties.
Offers were thought to have been made in the range of 2.7-2.9 billion euros ($3.5 -$3.7 billion).
AIB said last month it hoped to have a deal for Zachodni agreed by the end of September.
It would not comment on the report on Thursday.
Ireland's second-largest bank is selling its stake in Zachodni, its 22 percent stake in U.S. bank M&T (
MT.N) and its British business to raise part of the 7.4 billion euros additional capital requested by the Irish regulator.