BBVA Boosts Bet on Turkey in $2.6 Billion Bid for Garanti

  • Spanish lender to bid for 50.15% it doesn’t own in bank
  • Some rivals winding down Turkey holdings amid volatility

A Turkiye Garanti Bankasi bank branch in Istanbul.

Photographer: Nicole Tung/Bloomberg
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Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA is seeking full control of its Turkish unit in a deal valued at as much as 25.7 billion liras ($2.56 billion), increasing its bet on the country amid a slump in the nation’s currency.

The Spanish lender will offer 12.20 liras per share for the 50.15% it doesn’t own in Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS, according to a statement from the bank on Monday. That represents a premium of about 15% over Garanti’s closing price on Nov. 12.