KBC Group is buying VB Leasing in Slovakia through its subsidiary ČSOB. The price of the deal was not disclosed. Johan Thijs, the group’s general director, said this is the Belgian bank’s first acquisition in a long time, adding that it will strengthen ČSOB’s position on the Slovak market. Following the acquisition, ČSOB Leasing will have approximately a 25-percent market share.
KBC is planning to make additional acquisitions on the Slovak market. KBC, J&T and Penta are each vying to take over Sberbank Slovensko, the Slovak subsidiary of the Russian bank. Trend writes that intensive negotiations are already underway. KBC has not commented on the Sberbank tender.
