The Russian government has taken over the operations of the Russian branches of beer producer Carlsberg and yogurt producer Danone, writes the BBC.
In April, Moscow approved a law that allows the state to seize the assets of companies from “unfriendly countries”. The new law followed the decision of many Western companies to stop working in Russia in light of its expanded aggression in Ukraine. It was a response to the actions of the US and other countries, which Russia says are “unfriendly and contrary to international law”. It was also announced that Germany’s Uniper and Finland’s Fortum came under Russian control.
Danone Russia and Baltika Breweries, owned by Carlsberg, have come under the control of the Russian real estate agency Rosimushchestvo.
France’s Danone, which started selling its branch in Russia last October, said it is currently analyzing what is happening. Carlsberg, in turn, stated that it had not received
“any official information from the Russian authorities regarding the presidential decree of the consequences for Baltika Breweries”.
The Danish brewer also said it had completed a thorough process that allowed it to completely separate the Russian branch from the rest of the company. An agreement on the sale of Baltika Breweries was signed in June, but the transaction has not yet been completed.
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