OREANDA-NEWS. VTB Bank and RusHydro have signed a cooperation agreement at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. Andrey Kostin, President and Chairman of VTB Bank Management Board, represented VTB, and Evgeny Dod, Chairman of RusHydro’s Management Board and General Director, represented RusHydro.

Under the agreement, VTB Bank will consider providing RUB 85 billion in financing to RusHydro by buying the company’s additional bond issue, subject to conclusion of a five-year contract. These funds would be used to refinance the loan portfolio of RusHydro’s subsidiary RAO Energy Systems of the East, and the deal would see VTB gain a 20% stake in RusHydro.

The agreement also contains provisions allowing VTB to develop proposals to enhance RusHydro’s investment appeal and promote its strategic development. The bank would have an input into initiatives to boost the company’s shareholder value and market capitalisation.

RusHydro Group is one of Russia’s major energy holdings with over 70 renewable energy facilities in Russia and beyond. The installed capacity of its electric power plants is 38.5 GW, including the RAO Energy Systems of the East and Russia’s newest and cutting-edge hydroelectric power plant Boguchanskaya.

RusHydro is Russia’s leader in the production of renewable energy. It generates electricity from rivers, tides, wind and geo-thermal resources.