The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has received a package of documents from an investor, a citizen of the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation, Grigory Guselnikov, for the approval of the acquisition of a 22.5% stake in Russian Sberbank`s Ukrainian-based subsidiary, according to the NBU`s press service.
The documents are currently being considered, the press service said.
The National Bank recalled that on April 10 it received a package of documents from a citizen of the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation, Said Gutseriev, who was seeking the approval of a deal to buy a 77.5% stake in Russian Sberbank`s subsidiary in Ukraine.
According to the current legislation, the NBU may consider such documents for three months from the date of the receipt of the full package of documents, while the regulator is verifying the business reputation of investors, their financial condition, and the origin of funds.
”The National Bank of Ukraine has the right to prohibit a legal entity or an individual from acquiring or increasing a substantial share in a bank,” the regulator said.
Earlier, Russia`s Sberbank announced on March 27 it had struck a deal to sell a 100% stake in the Ukrainian-based subsidiary to a consortium of investors with the participation of the Latvian Norvik Banka, controlled by Russian businessman Grigory Guselnikov and a private company from Belarus.
Russia`s Sberbank subsidiary has been operating in Ukraine since 2001, being one of the largest financial institutions in terms of assets.
