MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Russian government has taken control of the Russian unit of French yogurt maker Danone as well as brewer Carlsberg (OTC:
CABGY
) stake in a local brewer, according to a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin Sunday.
Foreign stakes in Danone Russia and the Baltic Brewery will be placed under the “temporary administration” of the government property agency Rosie Mushchester, the decree says fertile.
This follows the Russian subsidiaries of Germany’s Uniper and Finland’s Fortum being brought under state control in April. The Kremlin warned at the time that it could temporarily seize more Western assets after Moscow sent thousands of troops to Ukraine last year in order to Retaliation against foreign actions against Russian companies abroad.
Carlsberg said in a statement on Sunday evening that it “has not received any official information from the Russian authorities regarding the presidential decree or the consequences of the Baltic Brewery “.
it added that the prospect of a full disposal of its Russian operations is currently highly uncertain. Carlsberg said in June it had signed an agreement to sell its Russian business, subject to regulatory approval.
Danone said in a statement that it was looking into the issue, adding that the Kremlin’s decision would have no impact on its financial guidance 25.
The French company said last October it was looking for a buyer for its dairy business in Russia, a deal that could lead to up to A write-off of EUR 1 billion ($1). billion).