Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Bethel Finances: Bronfman: I understand Fischer's motivation on housing bubble

www.bethelfinance.com

Bethel Finance news:

"I understand Stanley Fischer's motivation to try and prevent a real estate bubble. I saw what real estate bubbles did to the US and European markets," IKEA Israel franchisee Matthew Bronfman told "Globes". He added, "I don’t pretend to know what is the best way for the Bank of Israel to fight this, and I have nothing but my appreciation for Governor Fischer."

"Globes": There are rumors here that your family wants to liquidate its business in Israel. How do feel when these rumors reach your ears?

Bronfman: "Rumors are rumors. It's obvious that I'm not going anywhere. I'm committed to Israel. As I've said before, the sale of assets at a profit is an excellent sign to Jews and businessmen around the world that it's good to do business here. We've completed our investment in Blue Square we sold shares, and a few months later we invested in Shufersal. I think that the rumors are silly."

Shufersal Ltd. (TASE:SAE) controlled by Nochi Dankner through IDB Holding Corp. Ltd. (TASE:IDBH), is Israel's largest supermarket chain. Alon Holdings Blue Square - Israel Ltd. (NYSE: BSI; TASE: BSI), controlled by David Wiessman through Dor Alon Energy in Israel (1988) Ltd. (TASE:DRAL), is Israel's second largest supermarket chain.

Are you considering any more partnerships with Nochi Dankner?

"We had excellent relations with IDB, and if we have partnerships in the future, it will be my pleasure, but there's nothing at the moment."

The vesting period for the controlling core of Israel Discount Bank (TASE: DSCT) expires in almost five years. What will you do then?

"We've have a new chairman for only a year and a new CEO for just a few months. They're working together on a management. We expect to work with a new group to move the bank forward, and improve its equity and profits. Our focus is on the customers, the retail, in order to compete as best we can against the two other big banks." (The reference is to Bank Hapoalim (TASE: POLI) and Bank Leumi (TASE: LUMI)).

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