Russia’s Gazprombank explores options for Swiss business, including sale

ZURICH, July 8 (Reuters) – Russia’s Gazprombank is discovering strategic selections for its Swiss small business, like a probable sale of all or parts of it, Zurich-centered Gazprombank Switzerland reported on Friday.

Gazprombank (GZPRI.MM) is just one of the last remaining channels for financing trade flows amongst Russia and Switzerland simply because the other main Russian banking institutions are matter to sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Its Swiss small business, which employs about 80 individuals, is largely energetic in trade and export funding, like serving to Swiss industrial teams finance exports to Jap Europe. It also funds the extraction, transport and processing of uncooked materials from Russia to Western Europe for commodity traders.

“The Financial institution now expects to conclude the strategic review course of action – such as acquiring an trader if this kind of alternative is pursued – by the close of the 3rd quarter of 2022,” it claimed.

Based mostly on equity of about 200 million Swiss francs, the financial institution could be valued at around 150 million Swiss francs ($154 million), one sector source, who declined to be named, reported.

Feasible purchasers for components or all of Gazprombank could be economical traders or other banking companies, a Gazprombank Switzerland spokesperson claimed, declining to remark on a valuation.

Commodity traders could also be intrigued in Gazprombank Switzerland, the market supply told Reuters, and the very first probable potential buyers have presently expressed interest.

“It is the obligation of the Board of Administrators to often overview the strategic orientation of a financial institution and to realign the company model if needed,” the spokesperson explained when requested irrespective of whether current or potential worldwide sanctions had induced the strategic critique.

Requested about any doable affect from the Swiss Economic Market place Supervisory Authority FINMA, the bank spokesperson reported: “The initiated tactic evaluate is in the bank’s own desire and not because of to exterior force.”

Gazprombank Switzerland was strongly capitalised and operationally properly positioned, the spokesperson extra.

According to the newest publicly out there facts, Gazprombank Switzerland produced a profit of 3 million francs in the very first 50 % of 2021, down from 4 million in the year-back period of time.

Gazprombank is not the only Swiss subsidiary of a important Russian financial institution that could before long modify arms.

FINMA has eased the restrictions against Sberbank (Switzerland) AG (SBER.MM). This would enable the lender to cut down its equilibrium sheet in check out of a probable sale or change of possession, the watchdog claimed this month. read through much more

($1 = .9744 Swiss francs)

Reporting by Oliver Hirt, Crafting by Michael Shields, Editing by Paul Carrel and Alexander Smith

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Belief Ideas.