Alior Bank and PKO BP launch negotiations with Raiffeisen

State-run Polish lender PKO BP  and Alior Bank informed that they have started exclusive negotiations with Austria's Raiffeisen over the purchase of its Polish unit. "The Bank has entered into negotiations with Raiffeisen Bank International relating to the acquisition by the Bank (directly or indirectly) of 100 percent of the outstanding share capital in Raiffeisen-Leasing Polska," PKO Bank Polski said in a market filing. Meanwhile, Alior negotiates to buy core banking operations of Raiffeisen Bank Polska. "In relation to the offer submitted by the Bank on September 6, 2016 concerning a transaction involving the acquisition by the Bank from Raiffeisen Bank International of the demerged core banking business of Raiffeisen Bank Polska, on September 21, 2016, the Bank commenced a period of exclusive negotiations with RBI concerning the acquisition of the Raiffeisen Bank Polska core business," Alior Bank announced. According to media reports, PKO BP filed a bid for Raiffeisen's Polish assets together with insurer PZU, with PKO BP seeking the leasing unit and PZU eyeing buying Raiffeisen's banking unit in Poland.