Mergers & Acquisitions

Umpqua Bank bags another failed Washington lender

Wed, Mar, 3 2010

(Free) Umpqua Bank has acquired the banking operations and 14 branch network of failed Washington-based lender Rainier Pacific Bank, in a purchase and assumption agreement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

China Mobile confirms Shanghai Pudong talks

Wed, Mar, 3 2010

(Free) China Mobile, the world’s largest mobile operator by subscribers, has confirmed it is in talks to acquire a stake in Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (SPDB) in order to expand into the e-commerce sector.

Attijari profits up 26%, eyes African growth

Wed, Mar, 3 2010

(Free) Morocco's largest lender, Attijariwafa Bank, has posted net profits for fiscal 2009 of MAD3.9 billion ($474.4 million), an increase of 26.4 percent compared with the previous year, on a 20.9 percent increase of revenue to MAD13.3 billion.

CIBC posts strong Q1, takes Butterfield stake

Wed, Mar, 3 2010

(Free) Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), Canada’s fifth-largest bank by assets, has paid $150 million to acquire a 22.5 percent stake in Butterfield Bank, the largest independent lender in Bermuda.

Umpqua set for further growth

Sun, Feb, 28 2010

Umpqua Bank, the 162-branch-strong Oregon-based regional lender, has acquired a failed Seattle bank and boosted its capital base following a successful stock offering. Despite posting a loss in 2009, it is turning the corner following a challenging period and may be looking for more deals.

Irish state takes 15% stake in Bank of Ireland

Sun, Feb, 28 2010

(Free) The Irish government has taken a 15.7 percent stake in Bank of Ireland, after the European Union blocked its original plan to receive a €250 million ($337 million) cash dividend.

HSBC and Bradesco target Mexico

Wed, Feb, 10 2010

HSBC and Bradesco, Brazil’s second-largest privately-owned bank, are both targeting the Mexican retail banking market with ambitious acquisition and investment plans in anticipation of the country emerging from its worst recession since 1995, reports Douglas Blakey

Top M&A deals of 2009: Dealing with a new reality

Thu, Dec, 17 2009

Set against a backdrop of watchfulness and, at best, cautious optimism, banking M&A in 2009 was characterised by lower asset values and government bailouts – though the number of deals remained surprisingly consistent. Dan Jones reports

All change in the UK

Tue, Nov, 17 2009

Over 10 percent of the retail banking market branch network in the UK is available to buy as Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland pay the price for accepting state aid during the height of the economic crisis in late 2008. But given the perilous nature of the UK economy, will there be interest? Dan Jones reports

ANZ ups the ante in Asia

Wed, Oct, 14 2009

Alex Thursby, ANZ’s chief executive officer for Asia-Pacific, Europe and America, tells Elena Torrijos that a string of recent deals in Asia illustrate just how important the Australian bank considers the region. The only major gap in its portfolio is India, described as a ‘bridge too far’ for the time being