Germany public bank WESTLB has brought from French bank NATEXIS BANQUES POPULAIRES 5.1% of its 15% stake in Portuguese investment bank BANCO FINANTIA (net profits of EUR 25.9 million for assets of EUR 1.19 bn, workforce of some 400 people). WESTLB has also bought the shares owned by BANCO FINANTIA itself, raising its total stake in the Portuguese group to 8.2%, making it the third biggest shareholder after the group's board of managers (60%) and NATEXIS BANQUES POPULAIRES (9.9%).