RBC. The Bank of Russia's loan to rehabilitate banks that make up financial group Life (Probusinessbank, Express-Volga, VUZ-Bank, Gazenergobank, Bank Poidem!, and Probusinessbank-rehabilitated Bank Solidarnost (Samara)) could equal Rub 100 bln. But no final rehabilitation decision has been taken so far, RBC reported.
Based on RBC's data, the group's rehabilitation is being lobbied by the group's management board chairman and a Probusinessbank shareholder Alexander Zheleznyak (his stake is 21.6%), who is trying to reach an agreement with the Bank of Russia and, at the same time, to retain clients. "The Rub 100 bln amount appeared as a gap in the entire group's capital is projected at Rub 70 bln, including a gap of Rub 30 bln in the capital of Probusinessbank itself," a RBC source at Life Group said, noting no decision on the rehabilitation has been adopted so far, and the threat of license revocation is still high.
"It's not certain that the group will be rescued and, maybe, not all banks from the group will be rehabilitated," another RBC source said. According to the same source, at issue is indeed Rub 100 bln. This estimate was made by Life Group shareholders and representatives of DIA's temporary administration, a RBC source said. The amount, which the Bank of Russia will consider, is comparable with retail deposit accounts held by Life Group (as of July 1, 2015 households held around Rub 100 bln on deposit accounts at the group's banks).
Two sources close to Life Group told RBC that B&N Bank, which is part of Mikail Shishkhanov's financial group B&N, and Sovcombank are interested in rescuing the group's banks. However, B&N Bank's press service told Banki.ru on Monday that B&N Bank has no intention to bid to rehabilitate Probusinessbank.
Meanwhile, business daily Kommersant wrote on Tuesday that Credit Bank of Moscow is seeking to be in charge of Probusinessbank's rehabilitation. This option is possible, but a lot will depend on rehabilitation terms, a source close to Credit Bank of Moscow told the paper.