Poland's PKO Bank Polski Buys Nordea's Local Unit

WARSAW--PKO Bank Polski SA (PKO.WA), Poland's largest lender by assets, bought the local unit of Scandinavian bank Nordea Bank AB (NRBAY, NDA.SK, NDA1V.HE) for 2.83 billion zlotys ($890 million), the banks said late Wednesday.

PKO BP bought shares in Nordea Bank Polska bank as well as life insurance company Nordea Polska Life and Nordea Finance Polska.

The price is still subject to change depending on Nordea Polska's financial results. The transaction is subject to approval by the Polish antitrust office and the financial-markets regulator.

The Scandinavian banking group put its Polish unit up for sale earlier this year and PKO BP had been one of the leading potential acquirers, The Wall Street Journal reported at the time.

Over the next few days, PKO BP will announce a public tender for Nordea Polska shares to buy out minority shareholders that own 0.79% in the bank.

Poland's banking sector, split between many small and medium-sized lenders, is expected to go through a wave of consolidation as international institutions leave the market due to increasing competition, a slowing Polish economy and trouble at home.

Dutch Rabobank recently sought suitors for its local unit BGZ, according to local reports.

Write to Patryk Wasilewski at [e-mail]