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COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE.
AND TRANSPORTATION

. . WASHINGTON, DC aosro-srss

 

WI Ham 

February 16, 2013'

Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.

Chairman and Chief Strategy Of?cer
WL Ross Co. LLC

1166 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

Dear Mr. Ross:

Thank you for the time you have spent appearing before the US. Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and answering numerous written
questions submitted by its members. Given your position as Vice-Chairman of the Board
of Directors of the Bank of Cyprus and a substantial investor, we write today to request
any additional information you may have regarding contacts between Russian interests
and the Trump presidential campaign and the Trump Organization.

Media reports have noted a substantial degree of Russian involvement and
?nancial interest in the Bank of Cyprus. The second largest shareholder in the Bank of
Cyprus is Renova Corporation, a Russian conglomerate headed by Viktor Vekselberg.1
Mr. Vekselberg is an associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin and served on the
board of the Russian oil company Rosne?, which is majority-owned by the Russian
government and was placed under US. sanctions in 2014 a?er Russia?s claimed
annexation of Crimea.2

In addition, the former Vice Chairman of the Bank of Cyprus was Vladimir
Mr. is also a longtime associate of President Putin.4 The
two served together in the KGB. in what was then Leningrad, and Mr. 
later served as Russia?s Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade and head
of Russia?s Federal Tourism Agency.5

 

Trump?s Pickfor Commerce Secretary Shares a Business Circie with Putin Associates, McClatchy (Dec.
20, 2016) {online at 

2 Id. See also Rosneft, Shareholder Structure (online at


3 Bank of Cyprus, Annual Corporate Governance Report 2015 (available at

Report-i).

?1 Mining Executive Receives Payout of 5100 Mill ion, Russia is Largest Ever, New York Times (Dec. 17,
2012) (online at 

5 See id.

Wilbur L. Ross, .lr.
February 16, 2017'
Page 2

Furthermore, it has been previously reported that Russian shareholders once
controlled a majority of the shares of the Bank of Cyprus. 5

In light of these links between the Russian? government and the Bank of Cyprus 
in addition to recent revelations about Russian contacts with former National Security
Advisor Michael and multiple Trump campaign of?cials and Russian government?
directed efforts to meddle in the U.S. presidential election we request that you answer
the following:

i) In a post-hearing question for the record, Senator Maria Cantwell asked about
your relationships with Russian investors in the Bank of Cyprus. in your January
22, 201?, response, you stated, had never had dealings with any of them prior to
my investment in the Bank. I have only met once, for one hour, the principal
Russian investor, and then only after he had invested in the Bank.? Please provide
details of this meeting, including the person(s) involved, dates, and topics
discussed.

2) Are you aware of any contacts between any individuals currently or formerly
associated the Bank of Cyprus and anyone af?liated with the Trump presidential
campaign or the Trump Organization? If so, please detail these contacts, including
the person(s) involved, dates, and the topics discussed.

3) Are you aware of any loans made by the Bank of Cyprus to the Trump
Organization, directly or through another ?nancial institution, its directors or
of?cers, or any af?liated individuals or entities? if so, please detail the amount
and terms of any such loan.

4) Are you aware of any efforts by any of the leadership of the Bank of Cyprus or
anyone with an ownership interest in the Bank of Cyprus to directly or indirectly
influence US. elections or policy positions?

5) Did you have any contacts with current or former Russian government or
intelligence of?cials during the 2016 presidential campaign? If so, please detail
these contacts, including the person(s) involved, dates, and the topics discussed.

 

6 Cyprus Bank '3 Bailout Hands Ownership to Russian Pierce-rats, New York Times (An g. 21, 2013)
(online at 4jVi3p).

Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.
February 16, 2017
Page 3

6) Are you aware of any contacts between current or former Russian government or
intelligence of?cials and any individuals currently or formerly associated with the
Trump presidential campaign or the Trump Organization? If so, please detail these
contacts, including the person(s) involved, dates, and the topics discussed.

Thank you in advance for your prompt response.

Sincerely,

BILL NELSON RICHARD BLUMENTHAL

Ranking Member Ranking Member, Subcommittee
on Consumer Protection, Product
Safety, Insurance, and Data
Security

ED MARKEY Mg a TOM UDALL

Ranking Member, Subcommittee Member

on Space, Science, and Competitiveness

I

CORY BOOKER BALDWIN

Ranking Member, Subcommittee

on Surface Transportation and Merchant
Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and
Security