Wiese Sudameris: No deal on the table yet

Amid mounting rumors that Italian banking group Intesa is looking to sell its majority stake in Peruvian bank Banco Wiese Sudameris, spokespeople from both Wiese Sudameris and Intesa deny any deal is in the making. Earlier this week Peru's economy minister Pedro Pablo Kuczynski announced that several groups including Canadian bank Scotiabank (NYSE: BNS) and local business group Grupo Wong - with large holdings in the supermarket business - were interested in buying Wiese Sudameris. "It may be true that many companies including Scotiabank and Grupo Wong are interested in buying the bank, but no deal has been signed and no discussions are underway to sell," a Wiese Sudameris spokesperson told BNamericas. Representatives from Intesa added that a delegation from the parent company is currently meeting with board members of Wiese Sudameris on an ordinary business visit: not to discuss a potential sale. "Rumors have been started by Grupo Wong to generate hype about the sale of Wiese Sudameris," a source in the financial system told BNamericas. "Grupo Wong has met with the economy minister to discuss purchasing Wiese Sudameris, but no discussion has taken place with Intesa." Banco Wiese Sudameris is the third largest bank in Peru in terms of total loans and deposits.