The government will sell to BPCE the capital of Novo Banco directly controlled by the Ministry of Finance, accompanying the disposal of Lone Star’s 75%, in a deal valuing the bank at 6.4 billion euros, it was announced today.
“The Portuguese government will accompany the sale by Lone Star, disposing of the stake that the Ministry of Finance directly controls”, reads a note sent to newsrooms, which also highlights BPCE as the “second largest French bank, one of the largest European banks, and a cooperative structure bank,” as well as an institution of “high credibility, solidity, and performance.”
“This operation concludes a long process, initiated with the resolution of BES and the subsequent disposal, in 2017, of Novo Banco to Lone Star, contributing to safeguard the stability of the Portuguese financial system”, adds the note sent by the Ministry of Finance.
According to the authority, this transaction represents for Portugal “a very important signal of international investors’ confidence in our country and the national economy”. This proposal “will enable the creation of value and support for the national economy and Portuguese companies,” argues the ministry led by Joaquim Miranda Sarmento.
A Lone Star reached an agreement with the French banking group BPCE for the sale of Novo Banco for an amount equivalent to a valuation of 6.4 billion euros for 100% of the share capital, it was announced today.
Lusa | 08:22 – 13/06/2025
Further according to the government, “this sale, combined with the distribution of dividends from Novo Banco that occurred this year, allows the state to recover almost 2 billion euros of the public funds injected into the institution.”
The Executive also argues that this is a transaction that ensures not only “greater diversification” of investors and shareholders of banks operating in Portugal but also guarantees the “maintenance of the current structure of the national banking market, without occurring problems resulting from a possible concentration process, namely a restructuring, and safeguards the levels of competition in the Portuguese banking system.”
A Lone Star reached an agreement with the French banking group BPCE for the sale of Novo Banco for an amount equivalent to a valuation of 6.4 billion euros for 100% of the share capital.
The completion of the transaction is scheduled for the first half of 2026.
[Updated at 13:23]
