Santander Divests Major Polish Assets in EUR 7 Billion Deal

Deal News | May 07, 2025 | CEE Legal Matters

Santander Divests Major Polish Assets in EUR 7 Billion Deal

Banco Santander has agreed to sell a 49% stake in its Polish subsidiary, Santander Bank Polska, and 50% of its Polish asset management arm, Santander TFI, to Erste Group Bank for a total of EUR 7 billion. The deal, contingent on regulatory approvals, marks a significant transaction in the Polish banking sector. Respective advisory roles were undertaken by Greenberg Traurig for Santander, and Rymarz Zdort Maruta and Wolf Theiss for Erste Group Bank. The transaction is strategically crucial as it reshapes the Polish financial landscape, likely influencing competitive dynamics and market share distributions.

Sectors

  • Banking
  • Legal Advisory
  • Asset Management

Geography

  • Poland – The transaction involves Polish banking assets and asset management operations.
  • Spain – Banco Santander, the seller, is a major Spanish banking group.
  • Austria – Erste Group Bank, the buyer, is an Austrian financial services company.

Industry

  • Banking – Involves the sale of significant stakes in Santander's banking and asset management operations in Poland.
  • Legal Advisory – Involves multiple legal firms advising on the transaction between Santander and Erste Group Bank.
  • Asset Management – Part of the transaction involves the sale of a 50% stake in Santander TFI, an asset management firm.

Financials

  • EUR 6.8 billion – The value of the 49% stake in Santander Bank Polska being sold.
  • EUR 200 million – The value of the 50% stake in Santander TFI being sold.

Participants

NameRoleTypeDescription
Banco SantanderSelling CompanyCompanyA major Spanish banking group that is selling stakes in its Polish subsidiaries.
Santander Bank PolskaTarget CompanyCompanyThe Polish subsidiary of Santander, a major player in the Polish banking sector.
Santander TFITarget CompanyCompanyThe asset management arm of Santander in Poland.
Erste Group BankBidding CompanyCompanyAn Austrian financial services company acquiring the stakes from Santander.
Greenberg TraurigLegal Advisor for SantanderCompanyAn international law firm advising Banco Santander on the transaction.
Rymarz Zdort MarutaLegal Advisor for ErsteCompanyA law firm advising Erste Group Bank on the transaction.
Wolf TheissLegal Advisor for ErsteCompanyA European law firm advising Erste Group Bank on the transaction.