German Talanx and Czarnecki craving for stake in Alior

Getin Bank may make an approach for buying a controlling stake in Alior Bank with German insurer Talanx in cooperation with Japanese insurance giant Meiji Yasuda, the media reported on Wednesday. The lender has already completed due diligence. Last week, the media reported that besides state-owned PZU and French Société Générale, Getin Bank is also reputedly interested in purchasing a stake of over 25 percent in Alior Bank. Puls Biznesu informed that Polish billionaire, Leszek Czarnecki, who controls Getin previously had talked with Japanese insurer Meiji Yasuda about a joint bid. Today, the daily along with Reuters said Czarnecki will make a joint offer with Talanx. Meiji Yasuda has been cooperating with Talanx in international expansion for four years. Representatives of Talanx and Getin declined to comment. Czarnecki is also mulling over the purchase of Polish unit of Raiffeisen International Bank and is interested in Bank BPH. If he merges all of the lenders with Getin, "an empire with a total value of PLN 190 billion will be created," Puls Biznesu daily pointed out. Carlo Tessara is obliged to sell the stake in Alior by June 2016, but he would like to get rid of it sooner in order to settle with his creditors in Italy, Puls Biznesu informed previously.