NICOSIA, Cyprus – The finance minister of Cyprus says the government has approved Hellenic Bank's multibillion-euro offer to take over the island nation's troubled Cooperative Bank.
Finance Minister Harris Georgiades said that under the in-principle deal reached Friday, Hellenic Bank will manage 9.7 billion euros ($11.25 billion) worth of client deposits.
Hellenic, which also is based in Cyprus, will also absorb 10.3 billion euros ($12 billion) in assets — including loans, bonds and cash — and operate 72 Cooperative Bank branches while employing 1,100 of its approximately 2,600 workers.
Georgiades says another 8.3 billion euros ($9.62 billion) of Cooperative Bank's assets will be taken over by the state. The sum includes 7 billion euros ($8.12 billion) worth of bad loans.
The minister says the deal is subject to European Union approval.
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