BT Group companies are another area of growth for us. 2024 has been a highly active year for us in terms of acquisitions, integrations and mergers, both in Romania and in the Republic of Moldova.
The most significant milestone was the acquisition of OTP Bank Romania and of the other OTP Group companies in Romania. The first merger took place last year, when OTP Leasing Romania became BT Leasing. In 2024, BT also received approval from the Financial Supervisory Authority to acquire OTP Asset Management. It will remain a stand-alone company, part of the Banca Transilvania Group, focused on alternative investment fund management. It will have a new brand identity, to be announced in 2025, and will reposition itself in the market with a range of distinct products and services. In February 2025, Banca Transilvania merged with OTP Bank Romania, after an integration completed in record time, in just seven months.
Last year, Banca Transilvania and BT Investments reached an agreement with BRD-Groupe Société Générale and Société Générale Assurances to acquire BRD Pensii, a company active in Romania, in the field of mandatory (Pillar II) and voluntary (Pillar III) private pensions. The acquisition requires the approval of the Financial Supervisory Authority in Romania, which is expected in the first part of 2025.
In line with our strategy to expand our business model and capitalize on growth opportunities in the Republic of Moldova, we also successfully expanded our operations: Victoriabank, part of the Banca Transilvania Group, acquired BCR Chisinau in March 2024, and the two banks merged in February 2025. This was a milestone in the neighboring country - the first time a local bank acquired another bank in Moldova.