KYIV. April 15 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is mulling the possibility of expanding its presence in Ukraine’s banking sector, a representative of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has said.
It could be investment in one private bank and one state-run bank, director of the NBU’s international relations department Serhiy Kruhlyk said.
“It’s the best timing for entering,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
However, he did not provide any further details.
The press service of the Kyiv office of EBRD did not comment on the information.
The EBRD is the largest international financial investor in Ukraine. As of March 1, 2015, the Bank had a total cumulative commitment of EUR 10.9 billion in 344 projects in the country.
The EBRD holds 15% stakes in UkrSibbank and Megabank.
As reported, in March 2015, it was announced that EBRD, which held 15.2169% in ProCredit Bank (Kyiv), would withdraw from the structure of the bank’s shareholders.
In March it was reported that Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank International AG is holding negotiations with the EBRD to involve the bank as a co-investor in Raiffeisen Bank Aval.
Kruhlyk told reporters that a foreign investors want to buy a bank in Ukraine.
“Yesterday an investor arrived: he is buying one of the Ukrainian banks. Foreign investor… He said that he wants to develop a specific business there,” he said.
Kruhlyk said that the foreign investor has relatives from Ukraine.
