Prosecutors Target Buyers of Foreign Assets for Budget Payments
The Prosecutor's Office filed its second claim of the month against buyers of foreign assets — «Kommersant». The Arbitration Court of Moscow accepted the Prosecutor's Office of Moscow's claim against JSC «GS Investments», which acquired packaging manufacturer Amcor's assets at the end of 2022, reports «Kommersant».
Consensus
- Russian prosecutors have filed lawsuits against companies that purchased assets from foreign firms that exited Russia.
- The lawsuits seek additional payments to the state budget from the buyers of these assets.
- The cases involve acquisitions of industrial assets from foreign companies that left Russia.
- The lawsuits were filed in the interests of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Minpromtorg).
- Third parties in both cases include the Ministry of Finance and the Accounts Chamber.
- The court cases are being handled by arbitration courts.
- The buyers are linked to individuals with significant wealth, including the family of former Chelyabinsk Steel Plant shareholder Andrei Komarov.
- The acquisition of Amcor's assets by GS Investments occurred in late 2022.
- The acquisition of 50% of the Ilm group by Ilm Global Timber Rus occurred in 2023.
- The total value of the Amcor deal was €370 million, excluding debt and cash.
- The total value of the Ilm deal was not disclosed in the sources.
- The court has not disclosed the legal basis for the claims.
Points of divergence
- The prosecutor demanded over 400 million rubles from GS Investments, with the amount specified as 414.53 million rubles. — tg_moscowtimes_ru
- The prosecutor's claim against GS Investments is likely based on a currency exchange difference related to a 'voluntary contribution' at the time of the government commission's decision versus the deal date. — thebell
- The prosecutor's claim against Ilm Global Timber Rus is based on the violation of procedure for deals with foreign entities linked to states engaging in unfriendly actions against Russia. — tg_echoonline_news
- The court has not disclosed the substance of the claims, but suggests the issue may relate to a portion of a payment that should have been made during the Amcor acquisition. — kommersant
Coverage (4 sources)
- Purchasers of assets of foreigners who left Russia are now being issued bills for additional payments to the budget — The Moscow Times
- Prosecutors came to buyers of foreign assets — The Bell
- Prosecution filed second monthly lawsuit against buyers of foreign assets — «Kommersant» — ЭХО / Новости
- Prosecure office demanded 414.53 million rubles from buyer of Amcor packaging plants — Коммерсантъ