The German chemical-industrial group Henkel sold the Russian company to a “consortium of local financial investors” for 54 billion rubles (600 million euros) and definitively ceased its activities in the country, reported on the company’s website. The press release indicates that the agreement has already been signed.
The consortium acquiring Henkel’s business in Russia includes Augment Investments, Kismet Capital Group and Elbrus Services. All buyers have established and long-standing business relationships in western countries and are not subject to EU or US sanctions.
“The competent Russian authorities have already approved the agreement; the final closure is not yet complete,” the concern said.
The fact that Henkel had found a buyer for its Russian assets became known at the end of March, and they were put up for sale in the middle of last summer.
The Henkel company announced the cessation of activity in Russia and planned a market exit in mid-April 2022. At the same time, the company stopped investing in the development of Russian business and other supports at the end of March, but at the beginning of April she claimed that she continued to work in Russia and was ready to continue supplying daily consumption. products to the country.
“As of January 1, 2023, the Russian division of Henkel began to operate as an independent company under the new trade name LAB Industries”, — said in a message on the main page of the Russian version of the site.
He also states that “the separation of the Russian part of the business was an important technical condition for Henkel to leave the country” and “does not change the decision to leave the Russian market”.
RIA Novosti April 16 noted that Henkel products began to appear in Russian stores and markets under Cyrillic names. The packaging design remains the same. So, Vernel fabric softener is sold under the name “Vernel”, Persil washing powder – “Persil”, and Bref toilet blocks – “Bref”. “We changed the letters, but nothing has changed”, indicates the sheet of one of these products on the Ozon market place.
By account According to the German newspaper Handelsblatt, among the 40 German business leaders included in the main German stock index DAX, before the start of the military operation in Ukraine, Henkel was the leader in terms of investment in the Russian economy. Thus, in 2021, the group’s turnover in Russia reached around 1 billion euros and represented around 5% of its worldwide turnover.
The publication claims that after the decision to exit the Russian market was announced in April, Henkel partially reduced its industrial adhesives production activities in Russia for fear that its know-how could reach competitors or be used for military purposes.
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