Prokhorov restructuring his Soglasie ownership scheme
MOSCOW. Nov 20 (Interfax) - Businessman Mikhail Prokhorov is restructuring the form of his ownership in the insurance company Soglasie.
Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) on Tuesday green-lighted the Cypriot company Lasentio Investment Ltd. to acquire a 40.71% stake in LLC Insurance Company Soglasie charter capital, which, added to the stake it already has, would give it a 55% interest, the FAS website says.
Previously, Prokhorov held the controlling stake in the insurer's capital directly, the rest via Lasentio.
"The moving of the controlling stake in property structure to the Cypriot offshore is evidence of plans to sell the asset," senior Interfax Center for Economic Analysis expert Anzhela Dolgopolova said.
At the same time, she said, Bloomberg has reported - citing anonymous sources - on Prokhorov's group Onexim's plans to acquire Insurance Company RESO-Garantia. So the transfer of the stake could be in keeping with such negotiations, she said.
According to Bloomberg, one of the options is merging the two insurance companies. Another discussed scheme for the deal involves an exchange of part or all of Prokhorov's 17% stake in Russian Aluminum for stock in RESO-Garantia.
Prokhorov has said that he is getting out of the business, and will transfer assets into management and focus on politics.