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Russian Danone will be sold to Ramzan Kadyrov's nephew
The former Russian division of the French dairy products company Danone will be sold to Russian investors. The agreement was reported by the Vedomosti newspaper. There are two local investors: the Vamin Tatarstan enterprise and the deputy chairman of the Chechen government, nephew of the head of the republic Ramzan Kadyrov, Yakub Zakriev. They will pay for the asset in equal shares, that is, 50% each.
Yakub Zakriev is the son of Zargan Kadyrova, the sister of the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov, Idel.Realii clarifies . He already led the Russian subsidiary of Danone from July 2023 to March 13, 2024, when it was under the temporary management of the Federal Property Management Agency by decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin. On March 13, Putin canceled his decree on the transfer of shares of the Russian Danone to the Federal Property Management Agency.
Chairman of the Board of the Vamin Tatarstan company Mintemer Mingazov was also already a member of the board of directors of Danone Russia JSC.
The French company Danone is one of the largest producers of dairy products and other food products, operating in more than 140 countries. Danone came to Russia in 1992. The company's Russian assets were registered as Danone Russia JSC. He owns such brands as “Prostokvashino”, “Bio Balance”, “Tema”, “Aktual”, “Danissimo”, “Activia”, “Danone”, “Petmol” and others.
- In October 2022, the company transferred its Russian business to the management of local top managers with a buyback option for five to ten years, as well as maintaining a blocking stake.
- On July 16, 2023, Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the transfer of shares of foreign owners of Danone Russia to the temporary management of the Federal Property Management Agency, that is, in fact, on their nationalization.
- In April 2023, Vladimir Putin signed a decree that effectively allows the nationalization of the assets of foreign companies in Russia. According to statements in the Kremlin, the document was developed as a response to the seizure of Russian assets abroad under sanctions.