OREANDA-NEWS. April 27, 2009. The 1Q2009 priorities of Parex banka were: restructurization of sydicated loans, stabilization of customer base, closing of the agreement on the entering of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development into the shareholder structure, as well as a achievement of substantial decrease in administrative costs and the development of the new strategy, states the first quarter operational results of the Bank, reported the press-centre of Parex banka.

As at 31 March 2009, the Bank's credit portfolio was 1.74 billion lats, deposits accounted for 1.92 billion lats and total assets stood at 2.87 billion. The amount of capital and reserves at the end of March reached 70.4 million lats. As reported earlier, on March 24 the Cabinet of Ministers decided to increase the capital of Parex banka by 227 million lats, investing 165 million in the share capital and issuing a subordinated loan of 62 million lats. Recapitalization of the Bank is a subject to approval from the European Commission.

Parex banka asserts that with the tight economic situation in progress both in Latvia and worldwide, the quality of assets is one of the most significant issues on the agenda of banks. In the end of 2008, Parex banka performed a detailed evaluation of assets and established substantial provisions for the asset value decrease and started its work at cost optimization. As a result, the monthly costs in 1Q2009 have decreased by the average of 2.4 million lats and the Bank has established additional provisions in the amount of 7.9 million lats for the asset value decrease.

In 1Q2009 Parex banka's proceeds before provisions, depreciation and taxes totalled 3.1 million lats, though the Bank closed the first quarter with total loss of 6.9 million lats. The Bank continues to closely monitor changes in the quality of assets and is currently working on the development of effective solutions to further decrease potential losses from the asset value decrease. Besides in order to find the most effective solution for the non-performing loan issue the Bank has established a new structural unit.

Moreover, Parex banka is actively working at the development of the strategy, including the evaluation of priorities and definition of strategic objectives, that will enable to restructure the business activities and provide further development and growth.