The international banking group BNP Paribas has expressed interest in a potential acquisition of the Dutch consumer lender ABN Amro, a bank that has been state-owned since the financial crisis, Bloomberg reports.
The largest French bank recently requested a meeting with the Dutch government and discussed its interest in the transaction, said unnamed sources who requested not to be identified due to the privacy of the information. BNP is reportedly attracted to the retail and corporate franchise of the Dutch bank as well as the possibility of expansion in Northern Europe.
The Dutch government is currently not seriously examining the French bank’s interest, and BNP’s preliminary contact has not progressed to any detailed negotiations, the sources said. The state may prefer to sell further shares on the market, which would allow it to raise funds while retaining some control.
