Turkish Insurers Surge on Report AIG Group Seeks Partner Dec. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Yapi Kredi Sigorta AS and Aksigorta AS gained on a report American International Group Inc. wants to partner a Turkish insurer. Yapi Kredi Sigorta added 40 kurus, or 4.4 percent, to 9.45 liras at 10:28 a.m., the biggest increase since Oct. 22. Insurer Aksigorta AS, owned by Haci Omer Sabanci Holding AS, advanced 18 kurus, or 3.8 percent, to 4.90 liras. Chartis Inc., a unit of AIG, is looking at “inorganic growth” and Yapi Kredi Sigorta and Aksigorta are among its targets, said Goktug Gug, chief executive of Chartis in Turkey, Referans newspaper reported. “Aksigorta looks the most likely candidate for a strategic partnership because Sabanci previously stated their intentions on this issue too,” said Mehmet Ilgen, a trader at Ata Invest. “Yapi Kredi is still a strong M&A candidate.” France’s Groupama SA and Eureko BV bought stakes in Turkish insurers over the past three years as they sought to take advantage of penetration levels that trail markets in Europe. Saudi Oger Ltd., a Riyadh-based builder and telecommunications company, is in talks to buy an insurer in Turkey, Sabah newspaper said on Oct. 6 citing chairman Mohammad Hariri. Sabanci Holding may sell a stake in Aksigorta, Sabanci Chief Executive Ahmet Dorduncu said in February last year, before Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. collapsed and the global economy dived into recession. Sabanci owns 62 percent of the company, according to Bloomberg data. To contact the reporter on this story: Seda Sezer in Istanbul at ssezer2@bloomberg.net. Last Updated: December 8, 2009 03:40 EST http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/...pid=newsarchive&sid=aCH9rJB.Nrw0 |