INSURANCE - Germany's Gothaer eyes Turkish insurer: sources

www.reuters.com - (Reuters) - Germany's Gothaer Insurance Group is in talks to buy a majority stake in Turkish insurer Isik Sigorta from Bank Asya (ASYAB.IS), four sources close to the process told Reuters, as it seeks to tap a potential growth market.

One of the sources said an American insurer was also interested in buying the stake.

Turkey's Bank Asya, which offers banking services that comply with Islamic law, holds a 65.42 percent stake in Isik Sigorta, according to the insurer's website. Other shareholders may also sell their stakes, the sources said.  (source)

BANKING - Bank Asya press conference

www.bankasya.com.tr  - Bank Asya board member and general manager Mr. Abdullah CELİK held a press conference on 08.02.2012 and the main topics are listed below:

• Bank Asya continues ongoing negotiations with buyers regarding the sale of its Isik Sigorta (Insurance Subsidiary) shares. Depending on the offers, Bank Asya may sell entire of its shares.  (source)

INSURANCE - TAKAFUL - Turkey's Bank Asya in talks on sale of insurance unit Isik Sigorta

www.reuters.com - Feb 8 (Reuters) - Turkish lender Bank Asya , which offers non-interest banking services that comply with Islamic law, said on Wednesday it was in talks with investors on the sale of its insurance unit Isik Sigorta.  (source)

BANKING - HSBC seeks partner for foreign bank

ISTANBUL: The Turkish unit of Europe's biggest lender HSBC said a foreign bank had mandated it to explore a tie-up with a Turkish partner, sparking a rally in shares of smaller banks on takeover speculation.

Selim Kervanci, head of global banking at the unit, said: "We have been mandated by a foreign bank on a new partnership within the Turkish banking sector." (source)

FINANCE - INSURANCE / TAKAFUL - Bank Asya to sell stake in Isik Sigorta

ISTANBUL, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Here are news, reports and events that may affect Turkish financial markets on Friday ...

BANK ASYA
The Islamic-style lender has mandated HSBC Yatirim to asses opportunities to sell a stake in its insurance unit, Isik Sigorta, to a strategic partner, according to a filing with the stock exchange late on Thursday.