KIEV, Dec. 1 ??“ BNP Paribas, a French banking group, signed an agreement to acquire 51% stake in UkrSibbank, Ukraine??™s fifth largest bank, UkrSibbank Vice President Ernest Haliyev said Thursday.

A BNP Paribas official familiar with the situation confirmed on Thursday the group had been holding exclusive talks with UkrSibbank over the 51% stake.