The state-owned VTB Bank is going to step down as a Rosbank shareholder by the end of 2013. The VTB and the Interros Boards made a deal in compliance with which the state bank got 19.28% of the total shares of Rosbank, which is controlled by the French group Societe General. Later the VTB's ratio decreased, because Rosbank brought out an additional issue in favor of its owner. Right after that, the VTB representatives expressed the intentions to sell the bank's part, but the deal was not completed. Presently, there is a series of negotiations on the asset's purchase as many investors are interested in it. Societe Generale stays the main candidate. The next large shareholder (7%), the Interros company owned by Vladimir Potanin, has not shown any interest in this case yet. Taking into account the current position of Rosbank on the banking market, 10% stake sale may total $418 mln.
Recently Chairman of the Rosbank Board Vladimir Golubkov has become a key person involved in the investigation of the commercial bribery. Golubkov and his accomplice Vice President of the Bank Tamara Polyanitzina were extorting $1.5 mln from owner of the Ecooffice company Andrey Kovalev. This money was supposed to improve the credit conditions for the entrepreneur. As a result of that, the Rosbank divested the Chairman of the office and passed his powers to first Deputy Igor Antonov.
