(ANSA) - MILAN, AUGUST 04 - Bper closed the first half of the year with a net profit of 1.38 billion euros, practically tripled compared to 518.8 million in the same period of 2021. The result benefits from the purely accounting contribution of the badwill (negative goodwill) of Carige, equal to approximately 1.19 billion euros.
The normalized profit, according to a note, is equal to 316.6 million, of which 203.9 million recorded in the second quarter, with an increase of 81% quarter on quarter.
The analysts' expectation was for a second quarter profit of 97.5 million.
"The half-year just ended marks another important step in our growth strategy, thanks to the entry of Banca Carige into the B Group last June. The transaction further strengthens our competitive positioning on a national scale in limitedly managed territories and will contribute to increasing our prospective profitability", declared the CEO Piero Luigi Montani.
The accounts, he added, are "very satisfactory and reflect growing ordinary profitability supported by an increase in both net interest income and net commissions, coupled with operating costs under control."
During the six-month period, Carige recorded a loss of 221.1 million, which includes extraordinary negative items of 212.5 million net, mainly attributable to provisions and write-downs.
Montani said he could complete the acquisition "by the end of the year", despite the decision of the Court of Genoa, which suspended the decision to appoint the board of directors of the Ligurian bank.
From the hearing of 9 August, the outcome of which could come the "same day" or "in a few days", we expect a "favorable" verdict, but even if it is not, we will request a new meeting and therefore we will reconfigure a new board that can go come on".
(HANDLE).