Kremlin Says It Is Not Aware of a Request to Seize Coca-Cola HBC's Russian Assets; Shares Rise Over 4% After Peskov's Remarks
MOSCOW — Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a daily news briefing on November 9 that the Kremlin is not aware of a letter from the Siberian brewer Bochkari asking President Vladimir Putin to place the Russian assets of bottler Coca-Cola HBC under temporary management. Coca-Cola HBC shares rose by over 4% after the remarks.
Russia's Kommersant newspaper reported on Thursday that beer maker Bochkari had sent the letter asking for Coca-Cola HBC's Russian assets to be placed under temporary management and for Bochkari itself to be appointed as temporary manager. Among the justifications cited in the letter was Coca-Cola's sponsorship of global sporting events from which Russian athletes are barred because of the war in Ukraine. Bochkari is owned by businessman Vadim Smagin.
Coca-Cola HBC is a Swiss-registered bottling company in which the U.S. Coca-Cola Company holds a 21% stake. The company said on November 5 that it had not received any notification from Russian authorities of changes to its operations in the country. According to its latest financial report, its Russian unit had accumulated over $1 billion in cash as of July 3, 2026, which it cannot repatriate under current restrictions.
Reuters noted that the Kremlin has spared U.S. firms from asset seizures in recent months, since President Trump's return to the White House.
(Source: Reuters)
Source: Reuters
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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