Banca Transilvania, Romania’s third largest bank in terms of assets, will take over Capital Partners, the leading independent consulting firm in the field of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and corporate finance.

Capital Partners was founded by local investment banker Doru Lionachescu and other local partners in 2004 and has advised on transactions amounting to more than EUR 2 billion.

Banca Transilvania will carry out this transaction through its brokerage firm, BT Securities, which will take over the investment banking activity of Capital Partners.

“The transaction consists of the take-over of Capital Partners’ brand and team, whereby BT Securities will become BT Capital Partners, following the completion of the appropriate legal steps. Banca Transilvania Financial Group expects that the transaction will be completed by the end of March, this year,” reads the bank’s press release.

BT Capital Partners will advise and assist companies in listing on the capital market and in attracting new investors. It will also provide brokerage services, consultancy for mergers and acquisitions, financing and structuring of complex financing schemes, market research, and consultancy for strategic management.

“The entering of the investment banking market is a milestone for Banca Transilvania Financial Group, as it consolidates our range of products and services provided to large corporate clients,” said Horia Ciorcila, Banca Transilvania’s founder and Chairman of the Board. “This new acquisition is part of BT Financial Group’s strategy to take advantage of the growth opportunities in the local market,” he added.

“BT Capital Partners will focus on Romanian companies with investment potential and will contribute to the consolidation of the strongest financial pole with Romanian capital,” said Doru Lionachescu, main partner and founder of Capital Partners.

Capital Partners had revenues of EUR 1.13 million and a net profit of EUR 244,000 in 2014, according to data from the Ministry of Finance.

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Andrei Chirileasa, andrei@romania-insider.com