In January-September 2013, the bank reported a profit of RON19.37 million.
In the second quarter of the year, the bank reduced its loss to RON350,000 from RON905,000 in January-March.
The bank’s assets fell by 19%, to RON3.29 billion at the end of September, from RON4.06 billion in December 2013, in line with the bank’s strategy to reduce the portfolio of financial assets and support the development of the basic banking operations.
In September, Banca Carpatica’s total operating income fell 2% to RON155 million.
The bank reported net loans of RON1.19 billion in September, down 2.8% compared with December 2013.
The management of Banca Carpatica announced earlier this year its plans to merge with another bank to maximize its growth potential.
Banking sources told MEDIAFAX in August that JC Flowers, a private equity firm founded by a former partner and executive at Goldman Sachs, is in competition with AnaCap and Axxess Capital for a stake in Banca Carpatica.
Some other investors asked for access in Carpatica’s data room, including several Israeli investors, while another Romanian lender is ready to start discussion with the bank’s management and shareholders, the sources said.
Banca Carpatica has been in the spotlight earlier this year after in March the central bank suspended the voting rights of two of its largest shareholders, namely Ilie Carabulea and Corneliu Tanase.
Carabulea was placed under house arrest for suspicion of bribery and influence peddling in connection to a case regarding the insurance company Carpatica Asig, part of the Carpatica banking and financial group. Tanase’s voting rights were suspended for having acted together with Carabulea.
Carabulea owns roughly 41.29% in Carpatica. His share could be acquired by the new investors in the bank. (EUR1=RON 4.4197)