Raiffeisenbank erwägt nach Einmarsch in der Ukraine Rückzug aus Russland – Quellen
By Alexandra Schwarz-Goerlich, John O’Donnell and Francesco Canepa
VIENNA/FRANCOPORT, Mar 1 (Reuters) – Austria’s Raiffeisen (VIE:RBIV) Bank International (RBI) is considering leaving Russia, two sources with knowledge of the matter have told Reuters, which would make it the first European bank to do so since the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops.
The decision, which could see one of central and eastern Europe’s biggest banks exit both Russia and Ukraine, is not imminent but could be triggered if its business in those countries needs more cash or capital, one of the people said.
RBI has been operating in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union 30 years ago and its business in the country – Russia’s No. 10 bank by assets – contributed nearly a third to the group’s net profit of 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion) last year.
Its contingency plan shows how some foreign companies operating in Russia are struggling to adapt to the heavy sanctions imposed by the West, as well as the ensuing turmoil that has gripped Russian markets. Energy giants BP (LON:BP) and Shell (LON:RDSb) are among the companies looking to reduce their ties with Russia.
„Raiffeisen Bank International has no plans to leave Russia,“ said an RBI spokesman in Vienna, declining to make any further comment.
Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a „special operation“ that it says is not designed to occupy territory, but to destroy its southern neighbor’s military assets and capture what it considers dangerous nationalists.
A second person said RBI could exit Russia and Ukraine by ceding its assets to another entity, without giving details. A temporary suspension of its activity in both countries is also an option, the same person said.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has said Moscow will temporarily curb attempts by foreign investors to sell Russian assets, complicating any attempt to leave the country.
RBI’s share price extended losses after reports spread that it is considering a possible exit from Russia.
The bank’s Russian division said in a statement, „Raiffeisenbank plans to ensure uninterrupted availability of its financial services for clients on the basis of the current legislation and orders of the regulator.“
The potential cost to RBI of leaving Russia and Ukraine is unclear. Both sources said it is financially robust enough to withstand any disruption to its banking operations in the two countries.
The second source said that any decision to leave Russia would have to be made in coordination with the Russian central bank, which could impose its own conditions.
The Austrian Finance Ministry said this week that RBI is „well positioned for any eventuality.“
Die RBI hat EUR 2,4 Milliarden in ihre russische Tochtergesellschaft investiert, die Ende letzten Jahres ein Vermögen von EUR 11,96 Milliarden hatte.
Die Abschreibung beider Geschäftsbereiche würde die Core Equity Tier 1-Quote der Gruppe – ein Schlüsselindikator für die finanzielle Solidität des Bankensektors – um etwas mehr als 100 Basispunkte senken, die nach Berechnungen von Reuters derzeit bei 13,14% liegt.
Dabei sind die Vorteile der „Hedge“-Wetten der Bank in Höhe von 1,4 Mrd. Euro gegen ihr Währungsrisiko gegenüber dem Rubel nicht berücksichtigt, die die Kapitalbelastung verringern würden.
Darüber hinaus weist die RBI in ihrer Präsentation der Jahresergebnisse ein Engagement von € 1,6 Milliarden in Russland und € 170 Millionen in der Ukraine aus, das nach eigenen Angaben hauptsächlich über die Konzerneinheit Corporate and Markets abgewickelt wird.
(1 USD = 0,8950 EUR)
(Geschrieben von John O’Donnell; bearbeitet von Mark Potter; übersetzt von Darío Fernández)