Banks, Financial Services, Funds, Investments, Latvia, USA

None of the potential investors are from Latvia. All of them are either from the United States or Canada, Straujuma said, adding that she knows the names of these persons, but is not authorized to reveal them or the amount of the deal for the time being.

Straujuma said that prices and various other conditions are currently being clarified. This is going to be the most advantageous and otherwise "best deal" possible for Latvia in any case, Straujuma promised, adding that it is important that new players from the United States enter the Latvian banking sector.

As reported, after several hours of debates, the government yesterday accepted the purchase offer from the U.S. fund Ripplewood Holdings for the purchase of the Citadele bank, Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma (Unity) told members of the press yesterday, while declining to comment on the conditions of the deal.