Banca Carige Explained

Banca Carige S.p.A.
Type:listed
Isin:IT0005108763
Num Locations: 529
Num Locations Year:2017
Industry:Financial services
Net Income Year:2017
Assets: €24,919.7 million
Assets Year:2017
Equity: €2,244.7 million
Equity Year:2017
Owner:BPER Banca
Num Employees: 4,642
Num Employees Year:2017
Footnotes:in consolidated financial statement[1]
Fate:On 28 November 2022, the bank was incorporated into BPER Banca.
Location:Genoa, Italy

Banca Carige S.p.A., historically known as Cassa di Risparmio di Genova e Imperia (Ca.Ri.Ge.) was an Italian bank based in Genoa, with more than 500 bank branches in Italy, prior to its acquisition by BPER Banca in February 2022.[1] The predecessor of the bank, a mount of piety, was founded in 1483 in Genoa, the Republic of Genoa. Banca Carige and its subsidiaries were known as Banca Carige Group (Italian: '''Gruppo Banca Carige'''). The banking group was one of the large banking groups in Italy, and as such, was supervised by the European Central Bank. In 2017, the banking group had 529 branches[1] throughout Italy, with one branch in Nice, France,[1] about 37.2% of branches were located in the home region Liguria.[1] In November 2022, Banca Carige was fully incorporated into BPER Banca and ceased to exist as a separate entity.

History

1483–1990: early years

In 1483, the Franciscan religious Angelo Da Chivasso, founded the mount of piety (Italian: Monte di Pietà) of Genoa.[2] In 1846, a decree of Piedmont-Sardinia King Charles Albert of Sardinia created the Cassa di Risparmio di Genova,[2] which extended the basic financial services of the mount to encourage and protect small savings more widely.In the 19th century, the bank expanded into western Liguria, and in 1967, it became the Cassa di Risparmio di Genova e Imperia.[2] Imperia was the capital of the west-most province of Liguria region.

1991–1999

In 1991, due to Amato Law, the bank, as a statutory corporation, was split into Banca Carige S.p.A. and Fondazione Carige,[3] forming Gruppo Banca Carige in the same year. The bank absorbed Istituto di Credito Fondiario della Liguria and Mediocredito Ligure. In January 1995, Banca Carige entered into the Borsa Italiana as a listed company. In 1997, the Gruppo Banca Carige acquired some insurance companies.

2000–2013: Berneschi's Bank Management

In 2000, Carige Vita Nuova Assicurazioni was created from Basilese Vita Nuova, while in 2002, Carige Assicurazioni was founded from Levante Norditalia. In 2000, the Banca Carige Group acquired the Cassa di Risparmio di Savona and the Banca del Monte di Lucca. Between 2000 and 2002, Carige completed three further acquisitions of branches from other banks: 21 branches from Banco di Sicilia, 61 from Banca Intesa group, and 42 from the Capitalia Group in Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia–Romagna, Tuscany, Lazio, Marche, Umbria, Apulia, and Sicily. In 2004, the bank strengthened its position in Tuscany with the acquisition of the Cassa di Risparmio di Carrara and founded Carige Asset Management SGR for the management of financial products. In 2004, the bank acquired the private bank Banca Cesare Ponti. In 2008, two further major acquisitions were completed: 79 branches from the Intesa Sanpaolo Group in Aosta Valley, Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, and Sardinia, and another 38 branches from the UniCredit Group in Lazio, Sicily, Emilia–Romagna, Veneto, and Umbria.[4] In 2010, the bank acquired another 22 branches from Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena.[2]

In September 2013, the Bank of Italy (Italian central bank) blamed Carige for using accountancy tricks and being in a difficult situation due to derivatives the bank had bought from Deutsche Bank. Carige published a statement to explain the event.[5] The Bank of Italy demanded from Carige a new business plan by the end of October.[6] In 2013, the bank sold its asset management subsidiary to ARCA SGR for €101 million.[7]

2014–2019

In 2014, the bank sold its insurance subsidiaries Carige Assicurazioni and Carige Vita Nuova to investment funds managed by Apollo Global Management for €310 million (via Primavera Holdings S.r.l.).[8] [9] However, in 2016 the new board of directors wanted to sue the old managers for mismanagement by selling the insurance companies, claiming it was actually harmful to the bank instead of gain.[10] However, the court rejected the lawsuit.[11]

In mid-2015, subsidiaries Cassa di Risparmio di Savona (with second-tier subsidiary Immobiliare Carisa), Cassa di Risparmio di Carrara, Columbus Carige Immobiliare were absorbed into Banca Carige.[12] In 2016 Banca Carige Italia was absorbed by Banca Carige.

Around 2015, Malacalza Investimenti replaced Fondazione Carige, as the largest shareholder of the bank.

The Banca Carige Chairman Giuseppe Tesauro resigned on 26 June 2018.[13] [14] Vittorio Malacalza, representing the majority shareholder of the bank: Malacalza Investimenti, also resigned as a director in July.[15] [16] In total, 8 directors, or the majority of the board excluding CEO Paolo Fiorentino, had resigned in mid-2018.[17] [18] [19] [20] [21] However, in the re-election of the whole board, Malacalza Investimenti, secured a majority of the new board for 7 seats, as well as hiring Fabio Innocenzi as the new CEO.[22]

In September 2018, Carige also followed the peer to sell their merchant acquiring business to Nexi.[23]

In November 2018, the bank was bailed out by the voluntary arm of the Fondo Interbancario di Tutela dei Depositi (FITD). The voluntary arm of FITD was funded by some of the Italian banks,[24] which partially underwritten (€318.2 million, plus 1.8 million from non-member of the voluntary arm: Banco di Desio e della Brianza[25]) the issue of the Tier 2 subordinated bonds of Carige of a size of €400 million in order to boost its capital.[26] [27]

On 2 January 2019, the European Central Bank appointed administrators including former Chairman Pietro Modiano and CEO Fabio Innocenzi (who resigned in December 2018), to run the bank after they were unable to raise €400 million of new share capital at the end of 2018.[28] The board of directors, controlled by Malacalza Investimenti, rejected the proposed capital increase in December 2018.[29] It was reported that BlackRock once interested in acquiring the bank, but withdrew from the negotiation in May 2019.[30] Another bid from Apollo Global Management, however, was rejected by FITD.[31]

2020–2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the bank's top management was looking for a buyer who could put an end to the banking crisis that the bank has been through in the previous decade.[32] [33] On 14 February 2022, the purchase negotiation by BPER Banca was concluded, with the approval of the Fondo Interbancario di Tutela dei Depositi (FITD). Furthermore, the FITD guaranteed to Carige other funds for a total €530 million.[34] On 28 November 2022, the bank was incorporated into BPER Banca.[35] The Monte di Pietà of Genoa is sold to Affide, a brand of Custodia Valore - Credito su Pegno S.p.A. and from 2022 part of it.[36]

Structure

, the Gruppo Banca Carige was a financial group composed of the Banca del Monte di Lucca,[1] Banca Cesare Ponti[1] and Creditis Servizi Finanziari[1] and other subsidiaries.[1] According to CONSOB data, the main shareholders of Gruppo Banca Carige on 26 December 2019 were:[37]

Rank Name Percentage Substantial shareholders
1 79.992%
2 Compania Financiera Lonestar 9.087% Gabriele Volpi
3 8.341%

The original majority owner of the bank, Fondazione Carige, now owns < 2%.

Controversies

The former Banca Carige Chairman Giovanni Berneschi had been sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment by an Italian Court in July 2018, due to a fraud that related to the bank.[38] However, the case was re-trialed after the Supreme Court of Cassation ruled that the case should be heard in Milan instead of Genoa.[39] [40]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2017 Relazione e Bilancio Consolidato. 2017 Consolidated Annual Report and Statements. 2018. 1 August 2018. Banca Carige. Genoa. it. https://web.archive.org/web/20180801190600/http://carige.reportingcenter.it/sites/carige2012.annualreporting.it/files/allegati/bilancioconsolidato2017ita.pdf. 1 August 2018. dead.
  2. Web site: La Storia. 1 August 2018. Banca Carige. it. 30 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170730131649/http://www.gruppocarige.it/wpsgrp/portal/istituzionale/carige-ist-ita/gruppo/la-storia. dead.
  3. News: Approvazione del progetto congiunto di ristrutturazione presentato dalla Cassa di risparmio di Genova e Imperia, dall'Istituto di credito fondiario della Liguria e dal Mediocredito ligure. 29 October 1991. 11 March 2016. Gazzetta Ufficiale. Ministry of the Treasury. it.
  4. Web site: Trasferimento del ramo d'azienda consistente in n°38 sportelli dalle banche del Gruppo UniCredit. 2 October 2008. 14 April 2016. UniCredit / Banca Carige. it.
  5. DERIVATI: NON ESISTONO "BUCHI" NEL BILANCIO CARIGE . Banca Carige. 10 September 2013. 1 August 2018. Genoa. it.
  6. FAZ 11. September 2013: Neue Krisenbank in Italien (in German)
  7. Web site: BANCA CARIGE ED ARCA SGR FIRMANO IL CONTRATTO PER LA CESSIONE DI CARIGE ASSET MANAGEMENT SGR. 30 December 2013. 23 April 2016. Banca Carige. it.
  8. Web site: Affiliate of Apollo Global Management agrees to acquire Carige Assicurazioni and Carige Vita Nuova from Banca Carige and to establish a long term distribution agreement. 29 October 2014. 23 April 2016. Banca Carige.
  9. Web site: Banca Carige and Apollo announced the successful completion of the disposal of Carige Assicurazioni and Carige Vita Nuova and the signing of a long term distribution agreement. 5 June 2015. 23 April 2016. Banca Carige.
  10. Web site: DELIBERAZIONI ASSUNTE DAL CONSIGLIO DI AMMINISTRAZIONE IN MERITO ALLA CESSIONE DELLE PARTECIPAZIONI DI BANCA CARIGE NELLE COMPAGNIE DI ASSICURAZIONE. 17 June 2016. 9 August 2016. Banca Carige. it.
  11. News: Italian court rejects Carige's lawsuit over insurance units sale. 7 December 2018. 9 December 2018. Reuters. Ayai Tomisawa. Ritsuko Ando. Norihiko Shirouzu. William Mallard. Simon Cameron-Moore.
  12. Web site: APPROVATO IL PROGETTO DI FUSIONE PER INCORPORAZIONE DI CASSA DI RISPARMIO DI SAVONA, CASSA DI RISPARMIO DI CARRARA, COLUMBUS CARIGE IMMOBILIARE E IMMOBILIARE CARISA IN BANCA CARIGE. 6 July 2015. 6 May 2016. Banca Carige. it.
  13. Resignation of the Chairman, Mr. Giuseppe Tesauro . 26 June 2018. 1 August 2018. Banca Carige. Genoa.
  14. News: Carige chairman quits due to disagreements on governance, management. 26 June 2018. 1 August 2018. Reuters.
  15. [no title]]. 16 July 2018. translated from Italian version. 1 August 2018. Banca Carige. Genoa.
  16. News: UPDATE 1-Banca Carige's governance rifts widen as top shareholder set to quit board. 12 July 2018. 1 August 2018. Reuters.
  17. News: Carige: Queirolo leaves the board of directors, fifth resignation in one month. 7 August 2018. 9 August 2018. The Medi Telegraph. GEDI Gruppo Editoriale.
  18. Press release. 10 August 2018. 13 August 2018. Banca Carige. Genoa.
  19. News: Carige loses its sixth board member. 9 August 2018. 14 August 2018. The Medi Telegraph. GEDI Gruppo Editoriale.
  20. [no title]]. 10 August 2018. 5 September 2018. Banca Carige.
  21. Resignation of member of the Board of Directors. Request for an addition to the Shareholders' meeting agenda submitted by the shareholder Malacalza Investimenti S.r.l.. 23 August 2018. 5 September 2018. Banca Carige.
  22. News: Carige Bank: Malacalza wins over board. 21 September 2018. 1 October 2018. The MediTelegraph . GEDI Gruppo Editoriale.
  23. CLOSING OF PAYMENT SYSTEMS PARTNERSHIP WITH NEXI FINALISED . 28 September 2018. 4 October 2018. Genoa. Banca Carige.
  24. Web site: Banche aderenti allo schema volontario. 4 December 2018. 9 December 2018. Fondo Interbancario di Tutela dei Depositi. it. Rome.
  25. Web site: Banche non aderenti allo schema volontario. 4 December 2018. 9 December 2018. Fondo Interbancario di Tutela dei Depositi. it. Rome.
  26. News: Italian banks step in to rescue struggling Carige . 12 November 2018 . 10 December 2018 . Financial Times . Rachel . Sanderson . limited.
  27. TIER 2 SUBORDINATED BOND ISSUED BANCA CARIGE THANKS THE VOLUNTARY INTERVENTION SCHEME OF THE INTERBANK DEPOSIT PROTECTION FUND FOR UNDERWRITING THE ISSUANCE WITH VALUE DATE TODAY . 30 November 2018. 9 December 2018. Genoa. Banca Carige.
  28. News: ECB-appointed administrators step in to manage Italy's Banca Carige. Giulio. Piovaccari. Francesco. Canepa. Reuters. 2 January 2019. 2 January 2019.
  29. News: Top shareholder in Banca Carige blocks crucial cash call. Andrea. Mandala. Valentina. Za. Reuters. 23 December 2018. 2 January 2019. Genoa.
  30. News: BlackRock pulls out of rescue deal for Italian bank . 9 May 2019 . 20 May 2019 . Financial Times . subscription. Rachel. Sanderson.
  31. News: Carige Rescue Plan Set to Go Ahead Without Apollo. 23 June 2019. 23 July 2019. Bloomberg. Jerrold. Colten.
  32. News: Bper vola a Piazza Affari, analisti positivi su offerta non vincolante per Carige . 15 February 2022 . ilsole24ore.com . ilsole24ore.com . 15 December 2021.
  33. News: Carige in profondo rosso, Bper non rilancia sul prezzo dell'Opa e il titolo crolla . 15 February 2022 . ilsole24ore.com . ilsole24ore.com . 11 January 2022.
  34. News: Carige: Fondo interbancario approva la cessione a Bper e ricapitalizzazione da 530 milioni . 15 February 2022 . ilsole24ore.com . ilsole24ore.com . 15 February 2022.
  35. News: Genova, Carige diventa Bper: disguidi nel primo giorno sotto la nuova insegna. In mattinata sito bloccato . 28 November 2022 . ilsecoloxix.it . ilsecoloxix.it . 28 November 2022.
  36. News: Genova, scattano le nuove regole per il Banco dei Pegni. Code e proteste all’ex Monte di Pietà . 2 January 2024 . ilsecoloxix.it . ilsecoloxix.it . 30 November 2022.
  37. Web site: Azionisti rilevanti di BANCA CARIGE SPA - CASSA DI RISPARMIO DI GENOVA E IMPERIA . consob.it . consob.it . 27 December 2019.
  38. News: Truffa Carige, condanna confermata e aumentata in Appello per Berneschi. La Repubblica (Genoa edition). GEDI Gruppo Editoriale. Marco. Lignana. it. 6 July 2018. 1 August 2018.
  39. News: Italy's top court orders retrial of former Carige chairman. Domenico. Lusi. Rome. Reuters. 17 October 2019. 1 November 2019.
  40. News: La Cassazione cancella le condanne di Berneschi per la truffa a Carige. Il processo riparte da zero . 16 October 2019. 1 November 2019. Il Secolo XIX. it.