AMSTERDAM, March 17 (Reuters) – BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA) on Friday denied any curiosity in buying ABN Amro (ABNd.AS) financial institution, following a report by a Dutch newspaper that the French financial institution had held talks final summer time about taking a stake in ABN.
“BNP Paribas Group reminds firmly that it has by no means proven any curiosity within the acquisition of ABN Amro,” the financial institution stated in an announcement.
A spokesperson for ABN Amro declined remark.
The report in Dutch monetary every day Het Financieele Dagblad cited paperwork it obtained by way of the Dutch Freedom of Data Act.
The paper stated the paperwork confirmed representatives of BNP Paribas held “orienting talks” with the ministry of finance to point their curiosity in ABN and have been directed to debate the matter with the financial institution’s executives.
The FD story on Friday adopted experiences in June final 12 months, through which sources with information of the matter stated that France’s largest lender had signalled an curiosity in taking up ABN Amro.
ABN Amro was partially re-privatised in 2015, after a authorities bailout and nationalization through the 2008 monetary disaster.
The federal government nonetheless holds a 56% stake, however final month stated it will promote a part of its stake, lowering it to simply beneath half.
Reporting by Bart Meijer and Toby Sterling; Modifying by Elaine Hardcastle and Sandra Maler
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