MOSCOW, July 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

 

Seller UniCredit Bank Remains Significant Shareholder with 6.2%

Cartesian Capital Group, LLC, a global private equity firm and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia's $10bn government-sponsored private equity fund have acquired stakes in the Moscow Exchange MICEX-RTS from ZAO UniCredit Bank ("UniCredit Bank").

Following this transaction, the RDIF will own approximately 2.7% and Cartesian will own approximately 2.5% of MICEX-RTS. UniCredit Bank will reduce its stake in the exchange to 6.2%.

The investment is part of a long-term strategy to promote the development of Russian capital markets and broaden the regional and international appeal of the Moscow Exchange. This transaction follows an investment earlier this year in the exchange by the RDIF and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Kirill Dmitriev, Chief Executive Officer of RDIF, said: "We are pleased to invest alongside a leading private equity firm such as Cartesian Capital in a great Russian company. This is our second investment in the Moscow Exchange, and together with Cartesian and the EBRD we look forward to supporting the exchange as it continues to grow and develop."

Peter Yu, Managing Partner of Cartesian, noted: "With its strong market-leading position, MICEX-RTS is both central to Russia's continued development as a regional and global financial center and an attractive IPO candidate. Even in times of continued economic uncertainty, well-managed exchanges can thrive. RDIF is an ideal value-added partner for institutional investors entering Russia and we will work closely with them in the continued development of the exchange."

Mikhail Alekseev, CEO of ZAO UniCredit Bank, said: "We are keen to remain one of the largest shareholders in MICEX-RTS and we are committed together with other shareholders, including those to whom we sold part of our stake, to foster its development and support the company on its way to the IPO."

Notes for Editors

The Moscow Exchange MICEX-RTS is the leading Russian stock exchange and the leading trading venue for futures and options in Eastern Europe. It provides a wide range of opportunities to investors, professional institutions and their Russian and foreign clients for equities, bonds, currencies as well as derivatives trading.

Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), established in June 2011, is to be capitalized with $10 billion in Russian government funds to make equity investments that generate strong returns. In each investment it makes, RDIF is mandated to secure co-investment that as a minimum matches its commitment, thus acting as a catalyst for direct investment into the Russian economy. Kirill Dmitriev has been Chief Executive Officer of the RDIF since inception. Additional information is available at http://www.rdif.ru.

Cartesian Capital Group is a global private equity firm focused on the world's emerging markets. With more than $2 billion in commitments under management, Cartesian specializes in helping closely-held companies expand transnationally. The principals of Cartesian have invested in more than 75 companies in over 24 countries across a wide range of sectors and situations. For more information, please see http://www.cartesiangroup.com.

UniCredit Bank is the 8th largest bank in Russia by total asset providing financial services to corporate and private clients and operating in corporate financing and treasury operations. The bank is part of UniCredit Group, a major international financial institution with strong roots in 22 European countries and an overall international network present in approximately 50 markets, over 9,400 branches and 159,000 employees as of 31 March 2012. For more information, please see http://www.unicreditgroup.eu

SOURCE Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Cartesian Capital Group and UniCredit Bank