VTB Bank, Russia's second-largest bank, is buying a majority stake in Russian grain transporter company Rustranscom (RTC). If the deal will go through, it will boost VTB's position in the grain sector. VTB already owns two grain terminals in Russia.

Rustranscom (RTC) provides rail transportation of grain in Russia and Kazakhstan, and of timber and mineral fertilizers (among non-captive operators) in Russia, by both transportation volumes and numbers of railcars. The primary business of the Group is the provision of rail freight services and the leasing of rolling stock. The RTC Group has broad geographical coverage across the 1,520 track universe, with the strongest presence in Russia and Kazakhstan, and provides services to more than 1,000 clients.

Rustranscom was planning to launch its IPO on the London Stock Exchange but postponed it due to private equity transaction. VTB was among the joint global co-ordinators and joint bookrunners for the planned IPO and valued RTC at US$ 1.36 to US$ 1.6 billion.