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Businesses sell in Russia

Many Western companies sold their Russian assets to comply with the sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine, and to respond to the Kremlin's threats that it could seize foreign assets.

The following companies have sold their business in Russia. They are grouped by sector.

Continental sold its Russian tire plant to holding company S8 Capital by May 2023.

Renault sold Avtovaz's majority stake to the Russian government in 2022. The price was reportedly only one rouble, but there was a six-year buyback option.

Volkswagen sold its Kaluga production facility and local subsidiaries to Volkswagen in May 2023. Banks & Insurance

HSBC said that it had transferred its Russian unit, owned by Expobank, to the bank for an undisclosed amount in May.

In May 2022, Societe Generale will sell its Rosbank division to Interros Capital. The loss is 3.1 billion euros ($3.4 billion).

Uniqa Insurance announced on October 4 that it has completed the sale of Raiffeisen Life, and so completed its exit from Russia. Energy

Shell sold its Russian retail business and lubricants to Lukoil by 2022. Food & Beverages, Consumer Goods

Carlsberg announced on December 3 that it had agreed with long-time employees of Baltika Breweries in Russia to sell their shares.

Heineken said that it sold its Russian operations to Arnest Group in August 2023 for a symbolic amount of one euro.

Belgian brewer AB InBev has agreed to sell its share in the joint venture AB InBev Efes by April 2022. This will result in a $1.1billion impairment.

Danone sold its Essential Dairy and plant-based business to Vamin R LLC, taking a 1.2 billion euro hit.

Unilever announced on 10 October that it had sold its Russian unit to Arnest Group. Arnest Group is a Russian manufacturer of cosmetics, household products and perfume. FORESTRY AND PACKAGING

International Paper sold its 50 percent stake in a joint venture to Russian shareholders in 2023. Mondi, a British company, sold three packaging converting businesses to Gotek Group in September 2023 for 1.6 billion roubles (16.45 million dollars). It also agreed to sell the largest plant it has in Russia to Sezar Invest at 80 billion roubles.

Finnish packaging company Huhtamaki sold its Russian operations last year for 151 millions euros. Forestry firm Stora Enso also sold three corrugated packing plants to local management. RESTAURANTS & RETAIL

AmRest sold its KFC business to Smart Service in Russia for 100 million Euros in May 2023.

Gazprombank Group purchased 14 MEGA shopping centers in Russia in September 2023 from a division of IKEA operator Ingka Group for an undisclosed amount. Ingka announced that it sold its last asset, its final Russian asset, on Nov. 8, 2024.

Hugo Boss announced on August 5 that it had sold its Russian business for an undisclosed amount to Stockmann, a wholesale partner.

Moscow has approved the sale of Inditex's Russian operations to an UAE-based buyer by April 2023.

LPP sold its Russian operations in June 2022, to a Chinese group and the former CEO of Russian firm Re Trading. The stores were sold for $135.5m plus 1.2billion zlotys (304.67m) for inventory. LPP reported a loss of 600 million zlotys on the sale in March 2024.

McDonald's closed its Russian business in 2022 and took a $1.28 billion charge. TOBACCO

British American Tobacco announced in September 2023 that it would sell the Russian and Belarusian operations to a consortium headed by its Russian management. The amount of this sale was not disclosed.

Imperial Brands sold its Russian business in April 2022 to Russian investors. OTHER

EMBRACER

In March, the Swedish gaming company announced that it had ceased its operations in Russia after selling selected assets of its Saber Interactive subsidiary to a third party for $247 millions.

FRAPORT

On October 25, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, authorized the transfer to an unknown party of 25% of the stake held by German airport operator Fraport in St Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport.

POLYMETAL INTERNATIONAL

The precious metals company announced in March that it had sold its Russian operations to a Siberian miner for $3.69 billion, which included the net debt of $2.21 billion.

Vimpelcom was sold to the senior management of Vimpelcom in October 2023, completing the telecoms operator's exit from Russia.

XEROX HOLDINGS

In October 2023, Xerox Holdings, a printer maker, announced that it had sold the Russian operations of its company to local management at an undisclosed price.

YANDEX NV

Yandex is a Dutch company that runs an internet search engine. In July, a Russian investor consortium bought the majority of its business in a deal valued at around $5 billion. ($1 = 0.9148 euros) ($1 = 97.2500 roubles) ($1 = 3.9387 zlotys)

(source: Reuters)