Citibank seeks 19.9% of Shanghai lender
By Hu Yuanyuan (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-26 06:13

Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (SPDB), one of the country's leading joint-stock banks, is considering issuing additional shares valued at US$500 million to Citibank so that the US banking giant can increase its stake to 19.9 per cent, a top manager told China Daily.

Citibank, which currently has a 4.62 stake in Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, wants to raise its shareholding to 19.9 per cent. u ING bought a 19.9 per cent stake in Bank of Beijing in March. u HSBC raised its stake in Ping An Insurance Company of China from 9.99 per cent to 19.9 per cent in  May. The banking giant also has 19 per cent of Bank of Communications. u Bank of America signed a strategic co-operation pact with China Construction Bank in June with the option of taking a 19.9 per cent stake.

"Citibank does plan to increase its stake in SPDB to 19.9 per cent, but we are still waiting for approval from the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC)," Shen Si, the board secretary of SPDB, said in an interview with China Daily.

He said that co-operation with Citibank was smooth; and that the world's largest financial services provider has the option to raise its stake to 19.9 per cent by 2008 according to their strategic agreement in 2002.

"If everything goes smoothly, we will seal a final agreement with Citigroup on its intended stake expansion by the end of the year," Shen added.

Citibank currently has 4.62 per cent in the Shanghai-based lender while its largest shareholder, Shanghai Financial Bureau, has 8.26 per cent.

Due to the fragmented shareholding structure, Citibank is likely to be the largest shareholder after it raises its stake but Shen is not worried about ceding control.

"It does not imply that Citibank will control us as domestic investors have the controlling stake," Shen added.

Nine of the 10 biggest shareholders are local investors or firms controlled directly or indirectly by the Shanghai government; and together, they have 32.44 per cent of the listed lender.

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