Barclays expects to incur a £64 million ($104 million) loss from the sale of its retail and commercial arm in Russia, according to its earnings statement Tuesday.
The loss is "estimated based on the range of offers received from potential buyers," the statement said.
The bank announced a plan to sell the units in February to focus on corporate and investment banking. Britain's third-largest bank acquired Russian retail lender Expobank for $745 million in March 2008. In a statement announcing the Expobank deal, Barclays said the acquisition would generate a profit and achieve a return on investment "significantly above the cost of equity" by 2011.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.