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☆ JPMorgan Chase is caught in U.S-Russia sanctions war after overseas court orders $440 million seized from bank
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Hugh Son | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A Russian court sided with state-run lender VTB Bank in its efforts to recoup $439.5 million from JPMorgan Chase that the American lender froze in U.S. accounts after the Ukraine invasion. The court ordered the seizure of funds in JPMorgan's Russian accounts and "movable and immovable property," including the bank's stake in a Russian subsidiary, according to a court order published Wednesday. It also boosted an ongoing American effort to convince European allies to release Russian state assets to assist Ukraine. JPMorgan said Russian courts have enabled similar efforts by Russian lenders against American or European banks at least a half dozen other times. JPMorgan said it faced "certain and irreparable harm" from VTB's efforts.

Persons: Jamie, JPMorgan Chase, VTB, Jamie Dimon, Biden, Joe Biden, JPMorgan Organizations: JPMorgan Chase, U.S . Senate Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs, Wall, Capitol, Washington , D.C, VTB Bank, JPMorgan, of Locations: Washington ,, Ukraine, Russian, St, Petersburg, U.S, Russia, Southern, of New York

☆ Russian court rules in favour of VTB Bank's $122 mln claim from former European subsidiary
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SummaryCompanies This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in UkraineMOSCOW, Dec 1 (Reuters) - A Russian court has ruled that state-owned lender VTB's (VTBR.MM) claim for 112.6 million euros ($122.1 million) from its former European subsidiary should be paid, court filings showed on Friday. VTB in September filed a lawsuit seeking to recover debt from the former subsidiary, now called OWH SE, and applied for interim measures that were granted in full, leading the Russian court to freeze securities owned by OWH. Frankfurt-based VTB Bank (Europe) SE, already ring-fenced by regulators due to sanctions and in liquidation since last year, has been renamed OWH SE, its Chief Executive Officer Frank Hellwig said last month. German regulator BaFin said the measures had resulted in a complete ring-fencing of the subsidiary from its parent. ($1 = 0.9222 euros)Reporting by Elena Fabrichnaya; Writing by Alexander Marrow; editing by Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: VTB, Frank Hellwig, OWH, BaFin, Elena Fabrichnaya, Alexander Marrow, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: VTB's, OWH ., VTB Bank, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine MOSCOW, OWH . Frankfurt, Europe, Ukraine, VTB

MOSCOW, Dec 1 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree putting St Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport under the temporary management of a Russian company, wresting control from investors from Germany, Qatar and other Gulf states. The airport's management company has 14 co-owners. The rights of foreign shareholders will pass to two different Russian entities. Russian shareholders will retain their rights. The decree stated that airport's foreign shareholders would be able to restore their rights to stakes in the new company if they apply and conclude corporate agreements that comply with Russian laws on foreign investment.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Fraport, VTB, Ramzan Kadyrov, Taimuraz, Carlsberg's, Gleb Stolyarov, Alexander Marrow, Ilona Wissenbach, Gareth Jones, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Petersburg's Pulkovo, Qatar Investment Authority, Russian Direct Investment Fund, Baring, Baltika Breweries, Reuters, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Russian, Germany, Qatar, St Petersburg, Abu Dhabi, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow

☆ Russian companies' scaled-down IPOs in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A customer walks in a store of Russian clothing retailer Henderson in Moscow, Russia October 31, 2023. IPO/DPO- Biotech startup Genetico (GECO.MM) raised 179 million roubles in an IPO in April. - CarMoney, a fintech service owned by SmartTechGroup (STG) raised 978 million roubles in a direct public offering (DPO) in July. - Technology company Astra (ASTR.MM) raised 3.5 billion roubles in an October IPO. - Men's clothing chain Henderson (HNFG.MM) attracted 3.8 billion roubles through its IPO in early November.

Persons: Maxim Shemetov, Uzhuralzoloto, Vladimir Putin's, Softline, Alexander Marrow, Kevin Liffey Organizations: Henderson, REUTERS, Biotech, SmartTechGroup, Technology, Astra, SPO, State, VTB Bank, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, IPOs

☆ Russia's VTB in Europe changes name as it liquidates
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of VTB bank is seen on the bank's headquarters in Tehran, Iran, May 23, 2023. Before Russia invaded Ukraine, VTB in Europe attracted tens of thousands of German savers with its relatively high interest rates and marketed itself as a sponsor of Frankfurt's ice hockey team, the Lions. But after the war began, savers withdrew their money, resulting in a bank run and prompting regulators to manage the outflow. VTB in Russia did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Direktbank division that served retail savers has closed with its last customer - who used VTB for a deposit for a garden shed.

Persons: Majid Asgaripour, Russia's, Frank Hellwig, VTB, Hellwig, Miro Zadro, Tom Sims, John O'Donnell, Alexander Marrow, Barbara Lewis Organizations: West Asia News Agency, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Lions, savers, Thomson Locations: Tehran, Iran, Frankfurt, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, VTB, Ost, West

☆ Sberbank CEO expects 'serious cooling' in Russian mortgage market
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Elena Fabrichnaya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Russia's biggest bank Sberbank (SBER.MM) expects a sharp cooling of the mortgage market following an expected 80% rise in mortgage lending this year, CEO German Gref said on Wednesday. Gref said the bank's mortgage issuance for the whole of 2023 was expected to reach 4.6 trillion roubles ($50.1 billion). VTB, Russia's number two bank, expects mortgage loans across the entire sector to total 7.2 trillion roubles this year, falling to between 5 and 5.5 trillion roubles in 2024. Vyacheslav Dusaleyev, head of retail business at Rosbank, gave corresponding forecasts of 7.3 trillion roubles this year and 5 trillion next year. Mortgage demand has remained buoyant in part because of the wide range of preferential offers available, according to the central bank.

Persons: Maxim, Gref, Sberbank, Vyacheslav Dusaleyev, Olga Polyakova, Elena Fabrichnaya, Mark Trevelyan, Christina Fincher Organizations: St ., Economic, REUTERS, Rights, Mortgage, Thomson Locations: St, St . Petersburg, Saint Petersburg, Russia, Moscow, Rosbank

The sanctions imposed by Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control target third-party firms and people alleged to assist Moscow in procuring equipment needed on the battlefield, including suppliers and shippers. In addition, the State Department imposed diplomatic sanctions targeting Russian energy production and its metals and mining sector. Thursday's sanctions targets include Turkish national Berk Turken and his firms, which are alleged to have ties to Russian intelligence. The latest sanctions build on the thousands of financial penalties imposed on Russian infrastructure and its officials, banks and oligarchs. He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russia’s demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees.

Persons: Berk Turken, Janet Yellen, Russia “, ”, SWIFT, Vladimir Putin Organizations: WASHINGTON, United Arab, Treasury Department's, Foreign, State Department, Treasury Department, United Arab Emirates, Financial Engineering, VTB Bank, Central Bank, NATO Locations: United States, Turkey, China, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Turkish, Russian, Russia, UAE, ARX, U.S, Moscow

☆ Who is in Putin's delegation to China - and who stayed in Moscow?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 18, 2023. Sputnik/Dmitry Azarov/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently on a visit to China, his second only trip outside the former Soviet Union since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Who is in the Russian delegation with Putin - and who stayed in Russia? Before Putin left for China, he was shown at a meeting with defence and spy chiefs at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow. The following top officials are thought to be in Russia.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Azarov, Alexander Novak, Sergei Lavrov, Yuri Ushakov, Maxim Oreshkin, Dmitry Peskov, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, Anton Siluanov, Maxim Reshetnikov, Dmitry Shugaev, Yuri Chikhanchin, Dmitry Chernyshenko, Igor Morgulov, Igor Sechin, Alexei Miller, Alexei Likhachev, Andrei Kostin, Igor Shuvalov, Leonid Mikhelson, Oleg Belozyorov, Kirill Dmitriev, Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Nikolai Patrushev, Alexander Bortnikov, Dmitry Medvedev, Anton Vaino, Sergei Kiriyenko, Mikhail Mishustin, Viktor Zolotov, Sergei Naryshkin, Guy Faulconbridge, Muralikumar Organizations: Forum, Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Soviet Union, Putin, Kremlin, Central Bank Governor, Federal Service for Military, Gazprom, VEB, Russian, Russian Direct Investment, Russia Security, Federal Security Service, Russia's Foreign Intelligence, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Ukraine, Russia, CHINA, North Korea, China BUSINESSPERSONS, Moscow, Russian

☆ Top Russian banks say exporters can now get trapped funds from India
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Elena Fabrichnaya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

After Moscow despatched troops to Ukraine in February 2022, Western countries imposed sweeping sanctions and have sought to wean themselves off Russian energy exports. India has been a major beneficiary, picking up Russian oil on the cheap. In response, India is seeking to stimulate investment in several sectors and diversify the goods that India supplies to Russia, Kapoor said at the economic forum. Tightening global supplies have led Russian companies to stop offering fertiliser such as di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) to India at discounted prices, three industry sources told Reuters. On the transactions issue, Kapoor rejected reports in Russian media that rupees stuck in Russian exporters' accounts in India were related to oil supply payments.

Persons: Ivan Nosov, Andrei Kostin, Kostin, Moscow Pavan Kapoor, Kapoor, Sergei Lavrov, Lavrov, Elena Fabrichnaya, Alexander Marrow, Gareth Jones, Emelia Organizations: ., Economic, RBC, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine MOSCOW, India, Moscow, Ukraine, Vladivostok, Sberbank, Arab, Emirates, Russian, Jakarta

☆ VTB CEO sees 2023 profit at around 420 bln roubles -news agencies
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The logo of VTB bank is seen on the bank's headquarters in Tehran, Iran, May 23, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Russia's second largest bank VTB (VTBR.MM) could make a profit of around 420 billion roubles ($4.46 billion) in 2023, news agencies quoted CEO Andrei Kostin as saying on Tuesday. Kostin said the bank, which plunged to a sanctions-induced loss in 2022, planned to use the profits to replenish its capital. Kostin said the bank was ready to invest up to 1 trillion roubles in floating-rate government debt. ($1 = 94.2500 roubles)Reporting by Elena Fabrichnaya and Alexander Marrow; editing by Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Majid Asgaripour, Andrei Kostin, Kostin, Elena Fabrichnaya, Alexander Marrow, Jason Neely Organizations: West Asia News Agency, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Tehran, Iran

☆ Russia's VTB to make record profit in 2023 but dividends unlikely, CEO tells RBC
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of VTB bank is seen at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 15, 2022. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Russia's state-owned VTB bank (VTBR.MM) will make a record profit this year, even though dividends are unlikely, the lender's CEO Andrei Kostin told Russian newspaper RBC in an interview published on Monday. RBC quoted Kostin as saying: "Our profit forecasts this year are good, the year is going well. Our target for net profit is 400 billion roubles ($4.13 billion), but I think we will eventually exceed this level and earn record profits." On the urgent recommendation of the central bank, we have suspended ... dividends," the newspaper quotes Kostin as saying.

Persons: Maxim, Andrei Kostin, Kostin, VTB, Elena Fabrichnaya, Felix Light, Christina Fincher Organizations: St ., Economic, REUTERS, Rights, Russian, RBC, United Shipbuilding Corporation, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: St, St . Petersburg, Saint Petersburg, Russia, Ukraine, India

☆ As war grinds on, HSBC halts Russia payments
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Iain Withers | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HSBC Bank logo is seen in this illustration taken March 12, 2023. "We have therefore reached the decision to restrict commercial payments by our corporate entity customers to or from Russia and Belarus through HSBC," a HSBC spokesperson said. Business customers have been informed the bank no longer intends to process the payments, the spokesperson added, rolling out globally from this month. HSBC has announced an exit from Russia, but the planned sale of its unit to local lender Expobank has hit delays and is pending final regulatory approval. The United States has pushed for harsher action against banks with Russia links, while China in contrast has deepened economic ties with Russia.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Expobank, Iain Withers, John O'Donnell, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: HSBC Bank, REUTERS, HSBC, Belarus, Business, Nikkei, SWIFT, Raiffeisen Bank, United, Thomson Locations: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Europe's, China, United States, Hong Kong, Moscow, Europe, Russian

☆ Russian court rejects Goldman request to dismiss Otkritie lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Goldman Sachs is displayed in their office located in Sydney, Australia, May 18, 2016. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Sept 8 (Reuters) - A presiding judge at the Moscow Arbitration Court on Friday rejected a Goldman Sachs (GS.N) request to dismiss a $6.3 million lawsuit by Russia's Otkritie (OPENI.MM), which is owned by state bank VTB (VTBR.MM). A lawyer for Goldman had argued on Thursday that the Moscow court had no jurisdiction and the case should instead be heard in London. At Otkritie's request, Goldman's assets in Russia, including its 5% stake in Russia's largest toy retailer, Detsky Mir (DSKY.MM), were sequestered last month. Otkritie says in a filing with the court that Goldman cited sanctions introduced against Moscow by the United States and Britain over Ukraine in failing to settle the debt.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, David Gray, Russia's Otkritie, Goldman, Otkritie, Detsky Mir, Kevin Liffey, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Moscow, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Moscow, London, Russia, United States, Britain, Ukraine

☆ Goldman Sachs lawyer says suit by Russia's Otkritie Bank should be heard in London
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Russian bank Otkritie is seen at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 15, 2022. Otkritie says Goldman owes the money in connection with a derivatives agreement and wants the claim to be handled in the Moscow Arbitration Court. Otkritie, owned by state bank VTB (VTBR.MM), says in a filing with the court that Goldman Sachs cited sanctions introduced against Moscow by the United States and Britain over Ukraine in failing to settle the debt. A lawyer for Goldman asked on Thursday for the lawsuit to be dismissed on the grounds the Moscow court had no jurisdiction. Otkritie's lawyer said the Moscow court should have sole jurisdiction and that sanctions essentially prevented Otkritie from accessing justice services in the UK.

Persons: Maxim, Goldman Sachs, Otkritie, Goldman, Detsky Mir, Elena Fabrichnaya, Mark Trevelyan, David Evans Organizations: St ., Economic, REUTERS, Russia's, Court, Moscow, Reuters, London Court, International, Thomson Locations: St, St . Petersburg, Saint Petersburg, Russia, Ukraine MOSCOW, Moscow, London, United States, Britain, Ukraine

☆ State-owned VTB bank to control Russia's biggest shipbuilding firm for five years
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with CEO of VTB bank Andrei Kostin in Moscow, Russia, August 10, 2023. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERSSummaryCompanies VTB to control United Shipbuilding Corporation for five yearsVTB boss Kostin says the news is unexpectedPutin says there are problems at USCMOSCOW, Aug 10 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the state-owned VTB (VTBR.MM) bank would be given control of the state's 100% stake in United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), the largest shipbuilding company in Russia. Trade and Industry Minister Denis Manturov specified that VTB would manage the stake in trust for five years. United Shipbuilding Corporation builds vessels for both the civilian and military sectors, operating about 40 shipyards, design offices and repair yards across Russia and employing 95,000 staff. Putin told VTB CEO Andrei Kostin at a televised Kremlin meeting that he supported a government proposal to transfer the stake.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Andrei Kostin, Mikhail Klimentyev, Kostin, Putin, Denis Manturov, Vladimir Vladimirovich, Manturov, Guy Faulconbridge, Kevin Liffey Organizations: Sputnik, United Shipbuilding Corporation, USC MOSCOW, USC, Trade, Industry, Kremlin, USC JSC, VTB Bank, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Kremlin

[1/2] The logo of Russian technology giant Yandex is on display at the company's headquarters in Moscow, Russia December 9, 2022. Maksut Shadaev, the head of Russia's ministry of digital affairs, told parliament in December that around 100,000 IT specialists had left Russia in 2022. It is not yet clear whether Volozh's comments may have any bearing on how Russia decides to proceed with the company. One of the sources said "hawks" in state companies believed nothing at all should be paid to foreigners. Two sources said VTB had never been a serious option as a buyer, given sanctions on the state lender.

Persons: Yandex, Maksut Shadaev, Ramzan Kadyrov, Arkady Volozh, Andrei Kostin, VTB, Alexei Kudrin, Alexander Marrow, Polina Devitt, Mike Collett, White, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, nationalising Nasdaq, Reuters, Yandex NV, Yandex, U.S, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, nationalising, Ukraine, Serbia, Yandex

☆ Russia's VTB Bank nearing record profits as lending picks up
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Elena Fabrichnaya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

2 lender VTB (VTBR.MM) remains on track for record profits this year, CFO Dmitry Pyanov said, anticipating a further rise in lending and improving the bank's forecast for return on equity to above 20% for 2023. The bank posted 142.6 billion roubles ($1.58 billion) in second-quarter net profit on Thursday and said returns for the year as a whole could exceed 400 billion. VTB did not provide comparative figures as banks were ordered to limit disclosures in 2022. "The target may be higher than 400 billion roubles...I admit that it won't be exactly 400, but it won't be rounded up to 500 - you should not expect this. Pyanov said VTB would issue "replacement bonds" for three Eurobond issues, two denominated in dollars, and one in Swiss francs.

Persons: VTB, Dmitry Pyanov, Pyanov, Elena Fabrichnaya, Alexander Marrow, Jason Neely Organizations: Bank of, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine MOSCOW, Ukraine, Bank of Russia

☆ A top Russian banker says the dollar's dominance is ending — but China's yuan is gaining prominence
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The CEO of Russia's VTB Bank said the US dollar's dominance is ending, but the yuan could be on the rise. His comments come as VTB, Russia's second-largest bank by assets, is discussing settling trade transactions using the yuan with countries outside China. The debate is fanned by fears that Washington is weaponizing the US dollar-denominated global financial system against Russia over the Ukraine war. VTB posted a loss of $7.7 billion in 2022 due to Western sanctions against Russia. But the bank expects to post record profits in 2023 after acquiring a rival Russian bank, Reuters reported in April.

Persons: —, Andrei Kostin, Kostin, Russia's, Washington, VTB Organizations: Russia's VTB Bank, Reuters, Service, US, Russia Locations: Reuters Beijing, China, Russian, Russia, Ukraine, Washington

☆ Russia's Sberbank launches Indian rupee accounts for individuals
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A view shows the logo of Sber (Sberbank) at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 15, 2022. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/File PhotoMOSCOW, June 14 (Reuters) - Russia's dominant lender on Wednesday said individuals could now open accounts in Indian rupees, expanding the range of foreign currencies available as Moscow strives to reduce dependency on the U.S. dollar and euro. "As Sberbank has highlighted, the bank supports the trend of de-dollarisation and constantly increases the number of foreign currencies available to clients," Sberbank said in a statement. Sberbank has more than 100 million retail clients and already offers deposits in China's yuan and UAE dirhams. "Other soft currencies are still only looking for their consumers in Russia, acting as niche offers," he added.

Persons: Anton Vaganov, Sberbank, Anatoly Pechatnikov, Elena Fabrichnaya, Alexander Marrow, Louise Heavens, Sharon Singleton Organizations: St ., Economic, REUTERS, U.S ., UAE dirhams, Thomson Locations: St, St . Petersburg, Saint Petersburg, Russia, MOSCOW, Moscow, yuan, UAE

"But the situation is changing and it is possible that a window of opportunity will appear before the end of this year, then we will issue yuan bonds." Russian firms placed bonds worth 1.7 billion yuan ($237.5 million) in May. The bank has issued 140 billion roubles ($1.7 billion) worth of rouble-denominated bonds this year, he said, and would continue to do so at the right price. The head of Sberbank rival VTB last week told Reuters Russia's economy had adapted to sanctions. Sberbank's record first-quarter profit of 357.2 billion roubles featured no one-time revenues, meaning profits should grow as the business does, Skvortsov said.

Persons: Taras Skvortsov, Skvortsov, VTB, Alexander Marrow, Elena Fabrichnaya, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Reuters, Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine MOSCOW, Ukraine

☆ Exclusive: Russia's VTB may pull out of running for Yandex stake - CEO Kostin
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Maxim ShemetovMOSCOW, June 9 (Reuters) - Russian state-owned lender VTB (VTBR.MM) may pull out of the running to acquire a stake in internet giant Yandex (YNDX.O), the bank's CEO, Andrei Kostin, told Reuters, as discussions are now centered around higher prices than the bank's initial offer. Kostin said he was not sure VTB would continue with its bid. "I am not sure that we will go into Yandex," Kostin told Reuters when asked about plans. "It was announced at $7 billion recently, we submitted our application at a different price level, lower," Kostin said. VTB was hit hard with Western sanctions over Russia's actions in Ukraine, something that limits its ability to front a consortium bid, Kostin said.

Persons: Maxim Shemetov, Andrei Kostin, Kostin, –, Arkady Volozh, VTB, Vladimir Potanin, Vagit Alekperov, Guy Faulconbridge, Elena Fabrichnaya, Alexander Marrow Organizations: Moscow International Business Center, REUTERS, VTB, Reuters, Kostin, Yandex NV, Thomson Locations: Moscow, City, Russia, Maxim Shemetov MOSCOW, Yandex, Ukraine, Yandex's

Asked if he thought the world was in a new Cold War, Kostin said that it was now a "hot war" that was more dangerous than the Cold War. VTB, Kostin said, was discussing using yuan in settlements with third countries. "We have already entered into a hot war," Kostin said of the crisis with Ukraine. The situation is worse than in the Cold War, it is very difficult and alarming." Asked if Russia's economy would remain a free economy, Kostin said: "I very much hope so."

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Andrei Kostin, Kostin, Vladimir Putin, Putin, VTB, Guy Faulconbridge, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, U.S ., European Union, Reuters, U.S, JPMorgan, VEB, EU, West ., Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Russian, China, MOSCOW, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Moscow, Australia, Britain, Soviet Union

☆ Exclusive: VTB to sell one of Russia's biggest grain traders, Demetra-Holding, CEO Kostin says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, June 9 (Reuters) - VTB, Russia's second largest bank, will sell its stake in one of Russia's biggest grain traders, Demetra-Holding, and is in negotiations with both Russian and foreign buyers, CEO Andrei Kostin told Reuters in an interview. Demetra has a network of grain elevators, major deep sea grain terminals and its own logistics. It owns a non controlling stake in major grain trader United Grain Company (OZK). It's decided," Kostin told Reuters. Kostin said VTB saw few prospects for itself in the grain business, adding that a sanctioned bank in the shareholding hindered the holding.

Persons: Andrei Kostin, Demetra, VTB, It's, Kostin, Vadim Moshkovich, Guy Faulconbridge, Elena Fabrichnaya Organizations: Reuters, United Grain Company, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Russia, China

☆ Russia predicts trade with China will hit record $200 billion in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Trade between Russia and China is expected to hit a new record level of $200 billion this year, according to Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin during his trip to China, as Moscow faces growing isolation from the West. Last year, bilateral trade jumped nearly 30% to a record $190 billion, mainly boosted by China buying Russian energy. This year, their trade continued to surge, up 41% in the first four months, according to Chinese customs figures. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Chinese Premier Li Qiang attend a welcoming ceremony in Beijing on May 24, 2023. The two countries have also planned to build the Power-of-Siberia 2 pipeline to deliver more Russian gas to China via Mongolia.

☆ Russia should not take temporary control of foreign banks' units, central-bank governor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a decree placing the Russian assets of Finland's Fortum (FORTUM.HE) and Germany's Uniper (UN01.DE), which both operate power plants in Russia, under Moscow's control. "Such decisions should be made with very good reasons, connected to the stable functioning of the Russian economy," Nabiullina said when asked whether Russia could do the same with banks. Foreign banks have stepped in to take business from Russian lenders hit by sweeping Western sanctions imposed after Moscow despatched troops to Ukraine in February 2022. Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International (RBIV.VI), earned more than half of its profit last year from Russia. Reporting by Elena Fabrichnaya, Vladimir Soldatkin, Alexander Marrow and Jake Cordell; Editing by Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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