Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order authorizing Expobank to acquire full ownership of HSBC Bank, a subsidiary of the international financial group HSBC, according to official legal information published on the government portal. The approval grants Expobank joint stock company the right to complete the transaction that transfers 100 percent of HSBC Bank RS’s authorized capital shares from HSBC Europe BV to Expobank. The wording of the document emphasizes the completion of a full stake transfer and the formal authorization that enables the purchase to proceed under Russian law.
Officials describe the decree as a procedural step enabling Expobank to execute the acquisition in a single, decisive action that consolidates control over HSBC Bank RS. The document underscores that the transaction involves the full purchase of the authorized capital shares in HSBC Bank RS, owned by HSBC Europe BV, and marks a significant transfer of ownership stakes within the Russian financial sector. The decree confirms the legality of the transfer and clarifies the roles of the involved corporate entities in this cross-border deal.
Earlier reports indicated that Putin had signed a decree enabling other financial and corporate transactions. These included permissions related to the Renaissance Insurance Group PJSC and the Ozon Holdings Plc, signaling a broader pattern of regulatory approvals governing strategic investments by Russian entities in diverse sectors. The presidency has, in several instances, issued orders that allow state and private firms to conduct selective share transactions under defined conditions, reflecting the government’s approach to balancing market activity with national oversight.
As the agenda moved through the year, the president also authorized foreign or mixed ownership transactions in various sectors. In February, permissions were granted for certain foreign individuals or entities to engage in trading activities related to Yandex Bank, with earlier actions in January authorizing operations involving shares of Russneft. These steps illustrate a framework in which the state regulates cross-border and domestic investment in a way that aligns with broader economic and strategic aims while maintaining market mechanisms where possible.
The pattern of approvals culminates in the broader narrative of strategic reallocation of assets within the Russian financial ecosystem. The approvals for Expobank and HSBC Bank RS underline a shift in the domestic banking landscape, where consolidation and the transfer of equity stakes can influence competitive dynamics, risk profiles, and regulatory compliance across the sector. The overall record reflects a coordinated approach to managing corporate ownership structures and ensuring that major financial transactions proceed within an established legal framework, with clear authorizations from the highest level of government.