Postbank Buys Share in BHW Bank

Germany's Postbank said on Monday that it had acquired 9.2 percent of the second-biggest German home loan bank, BHW, in a move seen as possibly a first step in taking control of the company. Postbank, a subsidiary of Germany's national post office, Deutsche Post, said it had acquired the stake from German insurer Ergo, but did not mention the price. Postbank said the purchase opened interesting possibilities, given that majority shareholders in BHW had indicated they intended to sell their stakes in the bank.