Home World Europe HSBC Gets Nod For Oman Merger The European lender has received approval to merge its Omani business with Oman International Bank. by Reuters June 3, 2012 HSBC Holdings has received formal regulatory approval to merge its business in Oman with local lender Oman International Bank, it said in a statement to the Muscat stock exchange on Sunday. The combined entity, named HSBC Bank Oman, begins operations today after gaining assent from the sultanate’s Ministry of Commerce & Industry, with shares in the bank to trade from Monday under the HBMO.OM ticker, the statement said. HSBC, Europe’s biggest bank, will own 51 per cent of the new entity. Simon Cooper, chief executive of HSBC Middle East and North Africa, has been named chairman of HSBC Bank Oman, with Ewan Stirling appointed as chief executive, the statement said. Waleed Omer Abdul-Monem Al Zawawi, previously a director on the OIB board, was named deputy chairman. Two other members of OIB’s current board, including its chairman, Juma Ali Juma Al Juma, will sit on the merged entity’s board. The Gulf Arab state had briefly halted the merger after a creditor of the British bank filed an objection to the tie-up citing a pending lawsuit. Tags Breaking News World 0 Comments You might also like 19 injured after fire breaks out in a building in Abu Dhabi Two killed and over 100 injured in Abu Dhabi gas explosion The world offers tributes to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan In pics: UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan with world leaders