RIYADH, June 1 (Reuters) - The Saudi central bank has ordered domestic lenders to freeze bank accounts of businessman Maan al-Sanea, one of the country's wealthiest businessmen and recently a big shareholder in HSBC, three Saudi-based bankers said on condition of anonymity.
The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) has issued two circulars telling Saudi banks to freeze Sanea's accounts, the bankers said.
Sanea is chairman and founder of the Saad Group, which is active in healthcare, education and contracting. Forbes magazine estimated Sanea's net worth at $8.1 billion in 2008.
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said last week it was considering lowering its ratings on Saad Group due to reduced liquidity and real estate exposure.
Sanea was not reachable for comment through Saad Group. "Saad has never commented on rumors or speculation about its business affairs or those of its individual members," a company spokesman said.
A SAMA spokesman declined to comment on the issue, saying that only its Governor, Muhammad al-Jasser, was allowed to speak to the media. SAMA does not make pulbic the contents of its bank circulars concerning individuals.
Al-Sanea made international headlines when he spent 3.3 billion pounds ($5.29 billion) in 2007 to acquire a 3.1 percent stake HSBC. According to a regulatory filing at the end of 2008, Al-Sanea still held a HSBC stake of around 3 percent.
He also holds a stake of 28.8 percent in British housebuilding company Berkeley Group, according to a May 19 regulatory filing.
Al-Sanea is married to a daughter of Sulaiman Hamad al-Gosaibi, the recently deceased chairman of the Ahmad Hamad Al Gosaibi and Brothers Group. (Reporting by Souhail Karam; editing by Thomas Atkins and Andrew Callus)