x

Economy

Bank of Cyprus Rejects 3 Lone Star Bids for Share Buyout

NICOSIA — Cyprus’ largest bank, Bank of Cyprus, said Friday it has rejected three successive cash bids over the last three months by LSF XI Investments LLC to buy all its share capital on the grounds that they “fundamentally undervalue” the financial institution.

In a statement, the bank’s Board said the first bid was made on May 5 at a price of 1.25 euros ($1.26) per share, followed by a second 15 days later at 1.31 euros ($1.32) per share.

The third bid by the Dallas-based, Cayman Island’s registered LSF XI Investments — also known as Lone Star — was made July 8 at a price of 1.51 euros ($1.52) per share.

The Board said it “unequivocally” rejected the bids because apart from undervaluing the company and its future prospects, they were “not in the best interests of the company.”

It added that the Lone Star buyout attempt also doesn’t “adequately address the complexities of completing a transaction to acquire Bank of Cyprus, given its strategic importance to Cyprus.”

The Bank of Cyprus has been weighed down by bad loans since a 2013 financial crisis that forced a nearly bankrupt Cyprus to secure a multibillion-euro rescue deal from its eurozone partners. It also resulted in the seizure of hundreds of millions in uninsured savings in the Bank of Cyprus and the closure of its second-largest lender, Laiki Bank.

The Bank of Cyprus board said it’s committed to becoming a “stronger, safer and more focused institution” and plans a return to dividend distributions next year.

RELATED

NICOSIA - Some 22.7 percent of Cypriots weren't born on the island, ranking the country second highest in the 27-member European Union in that category, data released by the bloc's statistics agency Eurostat said.

Top Stories

Columnists

A pregnant woman was driving in the HOV lane near Dallas.

General News

FALMOUTH, MA – The police in Falmouth have identified the victim in an accident involving a car plunging into the ocean on February 20, NBC10 Boston reported.

General News

NEW YORK – Meropi Kyriacou, the new Principal of The Cathedral School in Manhattan, was honored as The National Herald’s Educator of the Year.

Video

Enter your email address to subscribe

Provide your email address to subscribe. For e.g. [email protected]

You may unsubscribe at any time using the link in our newsletter.