The Ministry of Finance rejected Carlsberg’s claims about the “theft” of business in Russia

The Baltika brewing company is not owned by the Russian state; its transfer to temporary management did not change the ownership structure. So the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation commented words of the CEO of the Danish holding Carlsberg Group Jacob Aarup-Andersen about the “theft” of the company’s business in the country by the Russian authorities.

“LLC Baltika Brewing Company is not owned by the state. The Federal Property Management Agency has been appointed as a temporary manager, which exercises the powers of the owner with the exception of the powers to dispose of property. At the same time, the introduction of temporary management does not entail a change in the ownership structure,” the department said in a statement on its Telegram channel.

October 31 Carlsberg in its report for the third quarter announced on the write-off of assets associated with Baltika. Aarup-Andersen, in turn, said that ties with the Russian brewing company of the holding were severed, and any deal with the Russian authorities that would “justify the illegal takeover of the business” is impossible.

In mid-July, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the transfer of shares belonging to Carlsberg Group structures to temporary state management. On July 18, it became known that Taimuraz Bolloev, who led the company from 1991 to 2004, had been appointed president of Baltika. After this, the Carlsberg Group reported that the change of management at the Russian enterprise occurred without the knowledge or approval of the holding.

At the beginning of October, Carlsberg terminated licensing agreements with Baltika for the production and sale of products under the group’s international and regional brands. On October 20, it became known that Baltika had obtained an injunction for Carlsberg to terminate its licensing agreements.