Locals in the running for KEB
Korea Development Bank is looking at making a late offer for Lone Star's 51 per cent stake in Korea Exchange Bank, the Korea Herald reports.KDB chairman Min Euoo-sung told reporters that he will consider an offer after consulting with the Government. No decision has been made, he added.On Tuesday, Hana Financial disclosed that the company had signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Lone Star Funds in relation to the latter's controlling stake in KEB.Two Korean domestic banks are now in the hunt for KEB, a reminder of the complex domestic political and business links in Korea that form an effective barrier to foreign investment in the country.ANZ, which plans to continue to negotiate with Lone Star, may have to trust that the vibrant union of bank workers will, in turn, deter the state, with its corporatist instincts, and steer the sale of KEB to the buyer least likely to reduce staff numbers.