PARIS (AFX) - BNP Paribas and Unicredito are the only foreign banks to be seriously examining the possible acquisition of Landesbank Berlin, which is expected to be sold in 2007, the daily L'Agefi said, citing a banking source.
BNP Paribas declined to comment.
L'Agefi said both are interested in Landesbank Berlin's savings bank network, Berliner Sparkasse, which has a 41 pct market share in the city and could serve as a base for building their German retail banking activity.
Landesbank Berlin has been up for sale as part of an agreement with the state of Berlin and the EU in return for aid that Berlin was allowed to give the bank and Berliner Gesellschaft. paris@afxnews.com afp/mjs/jlw COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2006. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited