Lado Gurgenidze

In septembrie 2009, Liberty a platit 15 milioane dolari pentru pachetul majoritar al Bancii Populare a Georgiei, cel de-al saptelea creditor din fosta republica sovietica. Banca distribuie pensiile publice in Georgia.

"Avem destui bani si pentru alte afaceri de acest gen", a declarat Gurgenidze, fost premier al Georgiei, in cadrul unui interviu. "Suntem inca un fond de investitii tanar si suntem in curs de a aduce pe profit prima investitie, deci ar putea trece ceva timp pana la gasirea unei alte banci", a completat el.

“Liberty Investments va investi numai in domeniul serviciilor financiare in tari cu taxe reduse, un nivel mic al coruptiei si o economie deschisa - Georgia, cateva tari din estul Europei, Africa si poate Caraibe. Geografia nu conteaza si nu vom face decat cinci sau sase investitii in final. Acesta este modelul nostru de afaceri si asta este doar prima investitie a Liberty Investments," a spus Gurgenidze, facand referire la achizitia Bancii Populare din Georgia.

Economistul georgian, care a fost premier al tarii intre 2007 si 2008, mai are la activ restructurarea Bank of Georgia, pe care a preluat-o in 2004 cu o balanta de plati de 160 milioane de dolari si o cota de piata de 18%, aducand-o in trei ani la o balanta de plati de doua miliarde de dolari si o cota de piata de 34%.

“Liberty Investments will pursue investment opportunities in financial services in countries with low taxes, low corruption and open economy – Georgia, some countries in the Eastern Europe, Africa and maybe Caribbean. Geography is of no concern and we will make only five or six investments eventually. This is our business model and this is only the first acquisition by Liberty Investments”, said Gurgenidze referring to the acquisition of Georgia’s Narodny Bank.

The Georgian economist was the prime minister of the former Soviet state between 2007 and 2008, and spearheaded the restructuring efforts of Bank of Georgia that he took over in 2004 with a $160bln balance of payments and market share of 18%. Within three years, the bank had a balance of payments of $2bln and a market share of 34%.