After the completion of the public offer for National Bank shares, the Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kostis Hatzidakis, made the following statement:

“The successful completion of the process of selling 22% of National Bank’s shares to foreign and Greek investors, with a very large overlap of the offer on behalf of the investors, is an extremely positive development for National Bank and the country’s banking system. However, it is also a development that follows other recent positive developments in the banking system, the successive upgrades of the credit rating of the Greek economy in recent months, as well as corresponding positive ratings for the country by international organizations.

In this direction, the preparation, organization and implementation of the public offering by the Financial Stability Fund administration contributed, which I want to thank.

It is indicative that this particular transaction was the most successful in the last three years in the EU in terms of the demand manifested and the minimization of the sale price discount.

It is a source of optimism for our banking system and the Greek economy.”