Weekend media speculation identified ANZ as a probable bidder for a minority stake in RHB Capital, the fifth largest banking group in Malaysia.
The Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank put its 25 percent stake in RHB Capital up for sale more than a month ago, with the market talking of a price in the order of US$1.5 billion.
On Thursday,
Reuters reported that two private equity firms, Carlyle Group and TPG Capital, were in talks regarding an offer.
A follow-up report, in
The Star newspaper, on Saturday, promoted the prospects of alternative bids from ANZ and from DBS of Singapore.
ANZ holds about 24 per cent of AMMB, Malaysia's fourth largest bank, a stake first acquired in 2008.
AMMB's other major shareholder, Azman Hashim, was reported in March to be looking at selling his 16.7 per cent shareholding.
For ANZ to buy all or most of that stake the Malaysian Government would need to lift its cap of 30 per cent on foreign interests in banks, something ministers have said they may be willing to do.
DBS own 15 per cent of Alliance Financial Group, the sixth largest bank in Malaysia.
Consolidation manoeuvres are underway in Malaysia's banking system.
For example, Hong Leong Bank, the fifth-ranked bank, is seeking to buy EON Capital, the seventh-largest bank.
EON Capital is, separately, the subject of an alternative bid from China Construction Bank,
Bloomberg and other media reported yesterday.
As with ANZ and AMMB, a bid by CCB for EON would force the Government and Bank Negara, the central bank, to update their policies on foreign ownership.