RDIF, foreign partners mull investing in Aeroflot

MOSCOW, Jun 17 (PRIME) -- The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and international partners are considering investing in national flagship air carrier Aeroflot, a representative of the fund told PRIME on Wednesday.

“The RDIF and its international partners are studying the possibility of investments in Aeroflot,” he said.

The passenger traffic of Aeroflot dropped 93.1% to 206,000 people in May amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Reuters reported Wednesday citing sources that the government is preparing a bailout plan for Aeroflot through a purchase of its new shares for a significant sum. Two sources named the government and VTB Bank among potential buyers of the new share issue.

One of the sources also said that the RDIF will also take part in the share issue. Aeroflot will issue around 80 billion rubles worth of new shares, and the government will buy 50 billion rubles worth of the shares, while the rest will be bought by VTB Bank and the RDIF in equal proportions, the source said.

The government currently holds 51.2% in Aeroflot.

(69.7524 rubles – U.S. $1)

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