11.04.2011

Majority of IK Banka shares have been purchased by Turkiye Halk Bankasi of Turkey (Halkbank)

Halbank purchased the majority of the shares in IK Banka amounting to 91.56% as of 08.04.2011. The shares were purchased from  Demir-Halk Bank (Nederland) N.V. of Netherlands (DHB Bank) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) which held shares in IK Banka amounting to 66.56% and 25.00% respectively. Halkbank also owns 30% of DHB Bank’s shares.

On this occasion, Halkbank’s CEO Mr. Huseyin Aydin stated: “We are very pleased with our entry in the Macedonian banking sector through the purchase of IK Banka which is already a solid and dynamic bank. We will provide both capital and technological support to IK Banka to accelerate its growth in Macedonia and become the bank with the best services and products. We believe in Macedonia’s future and we have the wish to support the Macedonian economy, both in retail segment as well as in industry and trade. We want IK Banka to be one of the biggest banks in Macedonia in a short period of time and also to establish a regional presence.”

Regarding the shareholder change, IK Banka’s CEO Mr. Yucel Inan said: “Halkbank was already our indirect shareholder and we are excited that now it has become our direct majority shareholder. With Halkbank’s support IK Banka will be even stronger and we will introduce more sophisticated banking products and services to Macedonian citizens and companies. Halkbank has huge resources and we will benefit from their experience, know-how and technology, as well as funding facilities. This will carry IK Banka further faster, not only in terms of size but also in terms of quality as the best bank in Macedonia and in the region.”

Halkbank is the 7th largest bank in Turkey in terms of asset size and is owned 75% by the Turkish state while 25% of its shares are freely traded on the Istanbul Stock Exchange. As of end of 2010 Halkbank had over 35 billion euro assets, 3.5 billion euro equity and achieved 1 bio euro net profit. Halkbank has over 700 branches in Turkey and abroad and employs over 13 thousand staff.