(BelTA) – Russia’s Sberbank Leasing has closed a deal to purchase 1% of BPS Leasing shares from Belarus’ BPS Sberbank, BelTA learnt from the Russian company.

Sberbank Leasing will now own 51% of BPS Leasing, while the share of BPS Sberbank has reduced to 49%.

By purchasing the assets of BPS Leasing the Russian company confirms its serious intentions to expand its leasing operations in Belarus, Sberbank Leasing informed.

“The transition of the controlling interest to Sberbank Leasing will allow bringing innovative technologies and solutions into the leasing market of Belarus, offering more financial resources for various economic sectors of Belarus, upgrading Belarusian companies with direct involvement of BPS Leasing. The expansion of Sberbank Leasing within the framework of the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space has a strategic importance,” the Russian company noted.

Sberbank Leasing has been on the Russian leasing market since 1993. The company landed in the top three in Expert Rating Agency ranking in 2012. A great business reputation of the company was confirmed by Fitch Rating. In January 2013 the international rating agency affirmed Sberbank Leasing at BBB, Outlook Stable, with the National Long-Term Rating at AAA. Expert Rating Agency confirmed the company’s rating at A++. The company’s only shareholder is Sberbank of Russia. Sberbank Leasing has 65 branches all over Russia and subsidiaries in Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belarus.