Although Grupo Aval S.A. de Colombia owns both financial entities, the conglomerate has decided that the two banks will compete separately in the Panamanian market.
Aside from the Colombian Grupo Aval, the Spanish company Banco Popular may also be in negotiations to acquire Citi's entire consumer banking operation in Central America.
The sixth largest bank in Spain, which at the moment has no presence in Central America, could be interested in acquiring the consumer banking operation that Citi has put up for sale in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama.
The banks Davivienda and Grupo Aval, already present in Central America, could be in talks with Citi to acquire its consumer banking operations in the region.
The sale of assets of Citigroup in 7 countries in Latin America represents an expansion opportunity for Colombian banks.
Since 2007 Colombian bankers have made progress in the region, led by Bancolombia with $3,216 million and Grupo Aval with $2.821 million.
For example, in Panama they have operations with "... large international banks because it is considered a tax haven, where it is possible to make investments and transactions swiftly and without a lot of questions being asked by local controlling entities," noted an article in portafolio.co.
The $490 million transaction will be closed after being approved by the respective authorities, with a probable distribution of extraordinary dividends of $140 million.
Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores S.A., through its subsidiary Banco de Bogotá, has agreed to acquire 100% of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria de Panama.
Grupo Aval completed the purchase of BAC-Credomatic completing the transaction for the purchase price of $ 1,920 million.
Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo, president of the board of Grupo Aval, which owns 75% of Banco de Bogota, told the press, "We hope to expand the product range and offer new services designed to meet Colombian customers established in Central America and Central American customers doing business in Colombia.”
Grupo Aval would finalize the purchase this year, once it has authorizations from regulatory agencies.
The announcement was made by the president of Banco de Bogota (part of Grupo Aval), Germain Salazar.
Larepublica.com.co reports, "in order to get the resources for this transaction, which will be of 1,900 million dollars, Banco de Bogota announced the issuance of 2.200 million pesos in bonds convertible into shares ($ 1,220 million Dollars)."
Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo, one of the richest men on earth, is the owner of Grupo Aval, which controls some of the largest banks in Colombia.
Grupo Aval agreed to purchase 100% of the shares of BAC-Credomatic from GE Capital for $1.9 billion. Currently, GE owns 75% of BAC-Credomatic and agreed to buy the remaining 25% to sell it to Grupo Aval.
GE Capital Global Banking announced today that it has reached a definitive agreement to sellBAC Credomatic to Grupo Aval, Colombia’s largest banking holding group, for $1.9 billion.
The transaction is subject to certain regulatory approvals and other customary conditions, and the parties anticipate closing by the end of 2010.
The Colombian Bank has made an offer to purchase 100% of BAC-Credomatic’s shares.
The value of the offer was kept private, but it was known that it expires on the afternoon of June 10.
“After being authorized by the board of ‘Banco de Bogotá’, its president instructed one of its subsidiaries to make an offer for 100% of the shares of BAC-Credomatic Central America”, said a source from the Colombian Financial Superintendence to Terra.com.
O4Bi is a system that allows to control and manage what a company needs: the complete process of development of works, accounts receivable, treasury, banks, sales and accounting.
O4Bi is a very robust system that allows to control and...
Recognized Brazilian company of backhoe loaders, telescopic, articulated and other types of cranes looking for companies interested in representing the brand and distributing their machinery in Central America and Mexico. The company manufactures and sells telescopic,...