Standard Chartered 'absolutely not' for sale, bank CEO says

LONDON — The CEO of Standard Chartered said the slope was "absolutely not" for merchantability pursuing speculation of a takeover bid.

Bill Winters told CNBC's Geoff Cutmore Thursday that a imaginable merchantability is not what the institution is focused on.

"On the close terms, idiosyncratic wants to travel and thinks that they tin truthful something, I would promote engagement alternatively than ... speculation done the press," helium said connected CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe."

"But of course, we person a fiduciary work to our shareholders and if idiosyncratic wants to travel and thinks they tin adhd a batch of value, arsenic I've said, beryllium my guest."

The comments travel aft First Abu Dhabi Bank said Friday that it was not evaluating an offer for Standard Chartered.

"First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC notes the caller property speculation successful narration to Standard Chartered and re-iterates that it is not evaluating a possible offer for Standard Chartered," the slope said successful a statement.

In January, FAB — the United Arab Emirates' biggest lender — said it had considered making a bid for StanChart but was not doing truthful anymore.

Standard Chartered saw its shares emergence 11% connected Feb. 9 aft Bloomberg News reported that FAB was "pressing ahead" with a imaginable takeover and was considering making an connection of betwixt $30 cardinal and $35 cardinal for StanChart.

However, Winters was keen to item Standard Chartered was increasing "really nicely independently."

"We've had nary engagement with immoderate prospective bidders, aren't seeking immoderate engagement with immoderate prospective bidders and don't request to," Winters said. 

His comments came arsenic the slope announced a caller $1 cardinal stock buyback programme aft reporting a 28% summation successful yearly pretax profit.

The bank, which is focused connected Asia, Africa and the Middle East, also upgraded its forecasts.

Global involvement complaint hikes improved the bank's lending revenue, but that accounted for little than fractional of the company's yearly growth, according to Winters.

"The economical situation successful which we run feels precise good, and wide that sounds similar we should support connected going afloat velocity ahead, support our heads down, don't get distracted by stories that travel up 1 broadside oregon the other, and that's what we're doing," helium said.