the departure of Western companies has led to the formation of a new business elite in the Russian Federation – Kommersant

Taking advantage of the forced withdrawal of Western companies from Russia, the “new wave of entrepreneurs” that appeared in the country after the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine acquired assets at a significant discount, writes Bloomberg. According to the analytical agency AK&M, in 2022 and the first half of 2023, foreign companies sold businesses in Russia for over $21 billion. The agency notes that buyers of foreign assets are not among the richest Russians and for the most part are little known outside of Russia. at the same time, they have been doing business for several decades, either in their own enterprises or together with “famous billionaires.”

Among the companies that sold their Russian business at a significant discount, Bloomberg points out the McDonald’s fast food restaurant chain, whose assets were bought by businessman Alexander Govor, the American packaging manufacturer Ball Corp., and the German manufacturer of cleaning and detergents, cosmetics and personal care products Henkel AG.

The most expensive transactions that were concluded after February 2022 were the acquisition of shares in the Avito classifieds service, the plant of the international company Mondi in Syktyvkar, as well as Henkel assets.

Transaction on the sale of Avito shares from the South African holding Naspers (owned the group through the Dutch investment company Prosus) was concluded in October last year. The owner was the Kismet Capital Group holding of former MegaFon CEO Ivan Tavrin. The transaction amount was 151 billion rubles.

International manufacturer of paper and paper packaging Mondi Plc reported on signing an agreement with Cesar Invest (a structure of the development company Sezar Group) on the sale of its last and largest asset in Russia – Mondi Syktyvkar in September 2023. According to the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, the main beneficiary of Sezar Group is Isai Zakharyaev.

On the sale of assets to a consortium, which included Augment Investments, Kismet Capital Group and Elbrus Services, Henkel agreed in April of this year. By May the deal was closed. Its amount amounted to 54 billion rubles.