JAKARTA. Bank acquisitions have been growing in the first week of 2017. Recently, Salim Group has just acquired the shares of Bank Ina Perdana. Salim Group acquired 10.58% and 18.44% of Bank Ina shares through NS Financial Funds and ASEAN Financial Fund, respectively.

According to the website of MAS (Singapore’s Central Bank), NS Financial Funds and NS ASEAN Financial Fund are owned by the investment instrument Nikko Securities Indonesia.

As information, Salim Group controls 50% of Nikko shares through PT Gema Insani Karya. To date, Salim Group has built strategic cooperation with Pieter Tanuri, the leader of Philadel Terra Lestari (Philadel) to own 420 million shares or 20% Bank Ina shares.

President Director of Bank Ina Perdana Edy Kuntardjo said, the new investments have enhanced the bank’s capital. Bank Ina will apply to Financial Service Authority (FSA or OJK) for issuing rights in February 2017. “There will be additional funds as much as Rp 730 billion so that Bank Ina Perdana will become BUKU II (Commercial Banks Group of Business Activities II),” Edy told KONTAN.

As Information, Salim Group appointed Liontrust Ltd as trustee to conduct acquisition of Bank Ina on 21 December 2016. Few days before the acquisition, Germany based investment company Deutsche Invetitions und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG) acquired 9.09% of Bank Victoria shares worth Rp 277.6 billion.

The acquisitions of minor banks will likely be more massive in the early 2017 following the plan of Australian & New Zealand Banking (ANZ) to sell 39% of its shares in Bank Panin. Previously, ANZ has sold 20% of its shares in Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank.

(Muhammad Farid/Translator)

Editor: Rizki Caturini