Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 14-03-28

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] President Papoulias meets with Pope Francis

[02] Piraeus Bank's shareholders approve share capital increase plan

[01] President Papoulias meets with Pope Francis

"Congratulations for your President. He is a wise man" said Pope Francis after the end of their 40-minute meeting.

Asked by ANA-MPA whether he would visit Greece, the Pope said that it is something that he would like very much adding that President Papoulias has already invited him to do so.

Papoulias offered the Pope a book on the "splendour of the Orthodoxy" and Pope Francis offered Papoulias a small bronze relief depicting "The angel of peace that beats the evil" and a book with his apostolic speeches.

Currently, President Papoulias is meeting with secretary of the state of Vatican Pietro Parolin.

[02] Piraeus Bank's shareholders approve share capital increase plan

The meeting approved a plan to issue 1,029,411,764 new common shares at a price of 1.70 euros per share. The share capital increase plan is made through a book-building offer abroad with the participation of institutional and other category investors and through a public offer in Greece.

Piraeus Bank on March 26 announced the successful completion of an international book building process. The public offer in Greece is expected to be made in the first 10 days of April, after approval by regulatory authorities. Following completion of the share capital increase plan, Piraeus Bank's equity capital will total 9.9 billion euros with the EBA Core Tier 1 rate at 16.8 pct (pro-forma).

The capital boost plan will strengthen the bank's capital base, facilitate access in international capital markets, fully repay existing preference shares of the Greek state (750 millon euros) and raising private investors' participation in its equity capital.

Credit Suisse Securities Ltd, Deutsche Bank AG London Branch and Goldman Sachs International will act as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners while Mediobanca-Banca di Credito Finanziario S.p.A. ��� UBS Limited as Joint Bookrunners of the share capital increase plan. BNP PARIBAS will act as Co-Lead Manager.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article