“Both local lenders and investment funds are interested in Carpatica. The bank has opened its data room a few weeks back and the interested parties are already making their due diligence,” the people said.
They said a large US investment fund is among the potential investors.
Banca Carpatica is looking for a merger partner that will help propel the lender to the top 10 largest financing institutions on the local market, chief executive Johan Gabriels told Mediafax recently.
He said the bank could find a merger partner by September.
Banca Carpatica has been in the spotlight earlier this year after 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.