March 12 (Reuters) - National Bank of Canada ( NTIOF ) on

Tuesday denied a media report that said it was in talks to sell

its Cambodian unit, ABA Bank.

Bloomberg News on Tuesday reported that the lender was

exploring options for ABA Bank, including its sale for more than

$2 billion.

National Bank of Canada ( NTIOF ) is currently not engaged in any

process or negotiations for the sale of ABA Bank, nor has it

hired any advisers, the bank said in a statement.

Canadian banks have sought growth opportunities abroad as

competition has intensified in their highly regulated domestic

market.

National Bank of Canada ( NTIOF ) took full control of ABA Bank in

2019, after gradually increasing its stake in the Cambodian

lender over the years since 2014.

The Montreal-based bank also made an additional

investment

of $63 million in ABA Bank in 2019, betting on Cambodia's

future and promising economy.

Formerly known as Advanced Bank of Asia Ltd, ABA Bank

was found in 1996, and has 94 branches with more than 1,600

self-banking machines, according to its website.

ABA reported net income of C$343 million ($254.17

million)and revenue of C$726 million for the year ended Oct. 31,

2023, according to National Bank of Canada ( NTIOF ).

($1 = 1.3495 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Harshita Meenaktshi and Jaiveer Singh Shekhawat

in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Anil D'Silva)