Moscow Times 25 May 2012
Sberbank is close to buying Turkey’s Denizbank, in a deal that would secure it a foothold in its long-eyed Turkish market and nudge out a rival bidder, three people familiar with the matter said Thursday.
Europe’s No.2 lender by market value, Sberbank was competing for Denizbank, a unit of Belgium’s Dexia, with Qatar National Bank.
Sberbank is now left as the only bidder and is starting exclusive talks, one of the sources said. Two other sources said a statement regarding Sberbank and Denizbank might be issued later on Thursday.