Bargain Bank Units in Europe Fail to Lure Buyers Amid Crisis

European banks are struggling to find buyers for at least $32 billion of businesses earmarked for sale as the sovereign-debt crisis drags on, raising the likelihood they’ll have to settle for fire-sale prices.

European Union lenders including Deutsche Bank AG and France’s Societe Generale SA have announced plans to shed more than $1 trillion of assets over the next two years to bolster capital. On top of selling loans, the banks put at least 50 businesses up for sale in markets spanning the globe, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.