11 Jan 2010 14:10

Societe Generale reduces stake in Ukraine

KYIV. Jan 11 (Interfax) - French Bank Societe General has reduced its stake in Ukraine's Professional Finance Bank (based in Donetsk) from 94.7886% to 63.6317% following the placement of ProFin Bank's additional share issue, the Ukrainian bank said in a statement.

However, the French bank's total shares in ProFin Bank increased from 33,176,004 to 61,245,494. The Ukrainian bank did not provide information on other changes to its charter capital.

According to Ukraine's Securities and Stock Market State Commission, the changes in the bank's ownership were included in the registrar on December 30.

In March 2009, shareholders in ProFin Bank planned to increase the charter capital by 180% to 92.25 million hryvni (7.985 hryvni/$1 on January 11, 2010) through an additional share placement.

In 2008, ProFin Bank was 941st largest CIS bank by assets and 152nd biggest Ukrainian Bank according to the Interfax-1000: Banks of the CIS, compiled by the Interfax Center for Economic Analysis (CEA).