VEDOMOSTI. Mast-Bank, involved in the conversion into cash and withdrawal of Rub 36 bln, was sold to Andrei Ageev, a brother October — December Duma member Alexander Ageev. His partner could be Vladimir Golovnev, the former Duma member and a producer of workwear, Vedomosti pointed out.
“We with the brother put our names at stake in order to improve the bank’s reputation," Alexander Ageev told the paper. In late August Andrei Ageev appeared on the list of affiliated parties on the bank’s website, but later the bank disclosed that he holds 18.24% of the bank’s shares. The remaining shares, according to Alexander Ageev, are held by “members of his team” (it’s written on the bank’s website that 61% of the shares are in the hands of seven individuals).
The representative of the former Mast-Bank owner Dmitry Agramakov (he officially held 19.99% of the bank’s shares), confirmed the bank’s sale to Ageev, declining to comment. A CBR representative said that Ageev purchased the bank’s equity stake prior to October 1 (since this date it is necessary to agree upon the purchase of 10% or more of a bank’s shares with the Bank of Russia) and his holding equaled less than 20%, required for approval with the regulator.
As of December 2, 2013 a new board of directors was appointed and it will fully replace the bank’s management team, said Andrei Ageev, adding executives “from large banks” had already been invited. According to Ageev, he paid 100% of capital for the bank (Rub 1.6 bln by late September). This is a decent amount as many banks are listed below their capital, Vedomosti pointed out.
The former Mast-Bank owners divested the lender after a cash conversion scandal involving the lending institution, a source close to them told Vedomosti, adding they looked for buyers close to state authorities so that the latter are able to mend the bank’s reputation.
Andrei Ageev promised to turn the bank into “a clear and understandable institution”, he added that the bank was fully cleaned of strange companies that carry out suspicious activities, there were “lots of them”. He acknowledged that the bank obtained orders from the Bank of Russia, including those to limit the attraction of retail deposits. All orders are being implemented, Ageev assured, but the ban on retail deposits will be lifted in two months.
The bank will focus on corporate clients, said Ageev, and the bank plans to expand corporate lending and payroll projects. Mast-Bank already hooked up one status client, Vostok-Service, a company owned by former United Russia member Vladimir Golovnev. This company, a manufacturer of workwear, transferred its accounts and payroll project to Mast-Bank, and could also buy into the bank, said Ageev, adding Golovnev is pondering this over and studying documents.
