PZU to purchase Bank BPH this year - Reuters

PZU may sign a preliminary agreement to buy Poland's No.10 lender BPH this year, a financial sector source said on Wednesday. A source added that BPH owner, U.S. General Electric, is under pressure to sell as many of its GE Capital arm's assets this year as possible. PZU wants to create a strong banking group based on the recently bought Alior Bank. The insurer is interested in BPH. In June it said that it could be interested also if BOS , or other banks put up for sale.