It is a bank that, for the people of Imperia, has an almost historical flavor and, now, after long troubles, it hopes to begin to see a glimmer. For Carige, the parent company of the Banca Carige Group, the possibility of an acquisition by Bper Banca, which would assume the controlling interest, is gaining ground.
A possibility, in perspective, which would protect the tens of thousands of customers of the Genoese banking institution and, at the same time, would preserve the work of the employees located in the 16 branches still open in the province of Imperia, from Ventimiglia to San Bartolomeo, passing through Vallecrosia, Bordighera , Dolceacqua, Ospedaletti, Coldirodi, Sanremo, Arma di Taggia, Taggia, Badalucco, Santo Stefano al Mare, Pieve di Teco, Imperia Porto Maurizio, Imperia Oneglia and Diano Marina.
The situation relating to a possible acquisition by Bper Banca has rapidly evolved since Sunday 9, when the Emilian institute presented a new non-binding offer. The response of the management committee of the Interbank Deposit Protection Fund (the so-called Fitd, owner of Carige for 80%) quickly approved the granting of an exclusivity period which, until February 15, gives Bper the opportunity to to carry out the operations necessary for the potential acquisition. The granting of the exclusivity is the direct result of Bper’s downward revision of the request for the “dowry” to take over the Genoese bank, now put up for sale by Fitd since last April. In particular, Bper halved the request for recapitalization of Carige by the selling shareholders from 1 billion to 530 million, before acquiring, at a nominal cost of 1 euro, the 80% shares held by Fitd.
“The new terms – explained in a note by the same management of Bper – were proposed thanks to the renewal of the tax benefits provided for by the budget law and after the analysis of Carige data from which lower costs for integration emerge”.
On the other hand, Bper’s offer of the takeover bid remained unchanged, at € 0.80 per share, on the remaining 20% of capital, which also includes the share of Ccb, which withdrew from the tender.
Beyond the technical notes for the passage of the majority share package, what is looming can finally be a positive turning point in the troubled path followed in recent years by Carige which, among other measures, has also had to “cut” a number high number of branches and employees. In the last reduction, in the province of Imperia alone, 10 branches were closed and merged with other nearby agencies