Malta based gaming and FX broker affiliate company Catena Media plc (STO:CTM) has announced that it has mandated Carnegie Investment Bank AB as financial adviser, to assist the company in assessing strategic options as part of conversations with third parties that have shown interest in acquiring certain assets, including all the remaining assets of the group.

The company didn’t identify who the third parties are, nor if a specific amount or price range was offered or discussed.

Catena, which operates a series of affiliate (and non-affiliate) websites in the gaming and financial trading areas, revealed mid last year that in an effort to streamline the business and focus on the fast-growing, regulated North American gaming market it was looking at disposing its Financial Trading websites, as well as some non-core gaming sites.

The company said that third parties have shown interest in acquiring “other assets” as part of this process, and the group continues to evaluate the divestment of such. During these discussions, third parties have also shown interest in acquiring all the remaining assets of the group in a strategic transaction or through a public tender offer for the group.

So far, the board of directors of Catena Media has received no firm or indicative bids for the group or any of its assets.

Catena Media (STO:CTM) shares responded by trading up by 17% this morning, but at kr22.90 are still well below their 52 week high of about kr58. The company’s shares have been in a year-long decline, which accelerated in November after Catena reported a Q3 Revenue decline, and 25% Europe staff layoffs.