March 28 (Reuters) - Austria's Raiffeisen Bank said on Saturday it would buy Garanti BBVA's Romanian business for 591 million euros ($680 million), its first significant acquisition in recent years.
Raiffeisen to Acquire Garanti BBVA Romania in $680 Million Deal
Major Acquisition Signals Strategic Shift for Raiffeisen Bank
Deal Overview and Financial Details
March 28 (Reuters) - Austria's Raiffeisen Bank said on Saturday it would buy Garanti BBVA's Romanian business for 591 million euros ($680 million), its first significant acquisition in recent years.
Significance of the Acquisition
The deal marks a turning point for Raiffeisen, which has long been under pressure to withdraw from Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of Western sanctions on Moscow.
Raiffeisen’s Strategic Direction
CEO’s Statement on Growth and Expansion
Raiffeisen's CEO Johann Strobl said his bank has a strong capital base and is pursuing both organic growth and acquisitions in its core markets.
"This transaction is a significant strategic step in one of the most attractive banking markets in Central and Eastern Europe, a country we know very well," he said in a statement.
Market Impact and Integration Plans
Raiffeisen said the acquisition should make it the third-largest bank in the Romanian banking market by total assets. Raiffeisen expects to close the deal in the fourth quarter.
It plans to integrate the business with its existing Romanian operations.
Implications for Garanti BBVA and BBVA Group
Financial Impact on BBVA
Istanbul-listed Garanti is a majority-owned unit of Spain's BBVA, which estimates the transaction will have a net positive impact of around 10 basis points on its CET1 ratio and 112 million euros on the group's income statement.
Impact on Raiffeisen’s Financials
Raiffeisen said the transaction is expected to have around a minus 60 basis point impact on its CET1 ratio.
Exchange Rate Information
($1 = 0.8690 euros)
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Fabiola Arámburo in Mexico City; Editing by William Mallard and Edwina Gibbs)
