Carabulea sells Carpatica

The only bank whose shares are held in majority in Sibiu, Banca Carpatica, will be sold this year, Ilie Carabulea, the controlling shareholder says. According to the statements made by him to the Capital publication, the management of the bank had several talks with potential foreign buyers.

According to the statements issued by Carabulea in the national publication, the amount requested for taking the control over the Sibian bank is nearly 200 million euros. Capital magazine calculated that the amount needed for taking over the control of the bank is 125 million euros. Carabulea publicly declared that the pressures for selling the bank are stronger and stronger, but, for now, no definite decisions have been made for dumping the institution on the market. Nevertheless, sources from within the bank associates consider the sale of the bank as certain this year.

Profit of 31 million euros

According to the data from the official website, the Banca Carpatica network is made up of 121 operational units across the country, some of the spaces where these perform their activities are the property of the bank, and others are rented. The bank is controlling shareholder in the Carpatica Invest Financial Services and Investments Company and in Carpatica Asig SA company. The profit of the bank in 2004 was 31,5 million dollars.

The prefect is a shareholder

Banca Carpatica is a bank of Sibiu, if we look at the structure of shareholding. If we consider the natural persons, it is sufficient to mention Nicolae Nan former deputy or the actual prefect, Ion Ariton. The vice-mayor of Sibiu, Eugen Mitea also holds shares in Carpatica, and SC Safa, the company where the vice-president of the County Council, Gheorghe Dicu was an associate at, as well. Among the main shareholders we find companies such as Atlantic Travels, Atlassib, Euroconf SA and Phoenix Star.

Reasons

Capital magazine also provided a reason for which Banca Carpatica has to be sold. “There are foreign groups of investors who have not entered the Romanian market yet, but who are targeting this. After the European integration, small banks, with Romanian controlling capital, have no chance to keep up with the competition. For this reason, the shareholders have made up their minds on selling. If we analyze the long list of those who subscribed for the run for the BCR, we notice important names in the European bank system, who have not managed to get into the Romanian market”, the magazine specifies.

n Traian DELEANU