Moscow is considering the possibility of foreign banks buying into Russian banks, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told an international investment forum on Friday.
"We have nothing against respectable financial institutions from the United States or our European partners acquiring stakes in [our] major banking groups," Putin said at the Sochi 2010 forum.
"We are studying such a possibility; there is nothing unusual about that and we are ready to work with our partners along these lines."
It was reported several days ago that a pool of about 40 foreign investors led by TPG Capital, one of the largest private equity investment firms globally, could acquire a 10% stake in VTB, Russia's second largest state-controlled bank.
MOSCOW, September 17 (RIA Novosti)
