‘Sexy' Berlin favours IPO for Landesbank

Landesbank Berlin, the German bank being sold by the city of Berlin, is in favour of an initial public offering over an outright sale, according to bankers.

UBS analysts say a public offering of the bank could yield up to €8bn ($5.9bn), while a buyout would only raise between €4.7bn and €6bn. Banking sources said: "A float is by far the most viable option for Berlin, which, as the mayor said last year, is ‘sexy but poor', and will just do whatever fetches the best price."

WSJ Logo