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Nikita
Riauzov, Deputy Head
of Investment
MDM Financial Group (or ‘MDM’ for
short) is the second largest privately-owned banking group operating
in Russia as measured by both assets and capital. At 31 December
2002 MDM had total assets of US$ 3.42 billion and total shareholders’
equity of US$ 433 million.
MDM’s three core business areas are corporate
banking, investment banking and retail banking and its clients include
approximately 50 of Russia’s top 100 corporates. MDM’s
presence in Russia is growing rapidly, and it now has a network
of over 100 full service offices nationwide.
In 2002 MDM was the most profitable privately-owned
banking group in Russia with net profit after tax of US$ 110 million.
Its return on average equity was 29.4%. Despite a challenging operating
environment, MDM’s results show that banking in Russia can
be a sustainable and profitable business based on genuine financial
intermediation between non-related parties.
MDM’s financial strength is underlined by
its credit ratings. Following upgrades from Fitch (to ‘B’)
and Standard & Poor's (to ‘B‘), and the assignment
of first-time ratings from Moody's (at the level of ‘B1’),
all in the second half of 2002, each of these ratings is at the
maximally high level for a Russian privately-owned banking group.
At the heart of all of MDM’s operations
is a strong corporate governance programme. MDM has initiated a
range of measures designed to achieve best international corporate
governance practices, including the creation of a simple and transparent
legal structure and the delineation of ownership and management
functions. MDM also issues quarterly financial statements in accordance
with International Accounting Standards. In the fourth quarter of
2002 MDM Bank received a first-time corporate governance rating
from Standard & Poor’s.
MDM Financial Group has also led the return of
Russian banks to international markets. In 2000 MDM arranged the
first western-financed syndicated loan for a Russian corporate since
the crisis, and in 2001 was the recipient of the first uncollateralised
syndicated loan for a privately-owned Russian bank since the crisis.
During the last 18 months, MDM has finalised five transactions with
export credit agencies, including the first post-crisis deal for
a Russian bank with the U.S. Eximbank, and it has re-opened the
a forfait financing market in Russia. In December 2002, MDM placed
its debut Eurobond, a Regulation S US$ 125 million transaction,
issued with a coupon of 10.75% at par.
www.mdmfinancialgroup.com
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