DOHA, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Qatar is open to buying stakes in part state-owned UK lenders RBS and Lloyds Banking Group and has discussed investing in Britain, Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani said on Wednesday.
The prime minister made the remarks during a press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Asked whether the Gulf Arab state would invest in RBS or Lloyds specifically, he replied: 'We are very open to any investment in the UK and we have discussed some.'
Qatar has stakes in companies including retailer J Sainsbury , Barclays bank and German automaker Porsche through its sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority (QIA).
Qatar's prime minister is also the chief executive of QIA.
RBS shares were up 0.7 percent and Lloyds shares were up 1.5 percent on the London Stock Exchange.
Earlier in the month, Qatar Holding, a unit of QIA, invested in contingent convertible bonds issued by Credit Suisse .
(Reporting by Regan E Doherty, Writing by Dineh Nair, Editing by Will Waterman) Keywords: QATAR RBS/ (dinesh.nair@thomsonreuters.com; + 971 4 391 8301; Reuters Messaging:dinesh.nair.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The prime minister made the remarks during a press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Asked whether the Gulf Arab state would invest in RBS or Lloyds specifically, he replied: 'We are very open to any investment in the UK and we have discussed some.'
Qatar has stakes in companies including retailer J Sainsbury , Barclays bank and German automaker Porsche through its sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority (QIA).
Qatar's prime minister is also the chief executive of QIA.
RBS shares were up 0.7 percent and Lloyds shares were up 1.5 percent on the London Stock Exchange.
Earlier in the month, Qatar Holding, a unit of QIA, invested in contingent convertible bonds issued by Credit Suisse .
(Reporting by Regan E Doherty, Writing by Dineh Nair, Editing by Will Waterman) Keywords: QATAR RBS/ (dinesh.nair@thomsonreuters.com; + 971 4 391 8301; Reuters Messaging:dinesh.nair.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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