Deutsche Bank has reached an agreement with the Dutch Ministry of Finance to buy parts of ABN Amro’s commercial banking activities in the Netherlands.

The assets covered by the deal include two corporate client units that provide financial services to large corporate clients; 13 commercial advisory branches serving medium-sized clients; parts of Rotterdam-based bank Hollandsche Bank Unie; and the factoring services company IFN Finance, according to a press statement.

The deal would see Deutsche Bank become the fourth largest provider in the Netherlands of corporate and investment banking services.

ABN Amro was purchased by a consortium of Fortis, Santander and RBS in October 2007. Fortis' operations in the Netherlands were then bought by the Dutch state in October 2008.

A number of assets have come up for sale since the financial crisis, with troubled institutions selling assets to shore up capital. In just one example of the strong M&A activity in the financial sector, Deutsche Bank is reportedly close to a deal with Luxembourg-based Sal Oppenheim to buy its wealth management business.