ArmInfo. The Bulgarian "Multigroup Trade" LLC acquires 89.73% of the shares of the "Brestskoye Pivo" company ("Brest beer" ) from the Belarusian state. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. It is only known that the buyer is affiliated with the influential Armenian businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, who is known in Belarus for his friendship with Alexander Lukashenko. The Belarusian portal TUT.BY reports.
According to the source, since 2014, the Brest enterprise has been undergoing rehabilitation, it is managed by an anti- crisis manager. All this time, the Belarusian authorities have already tried to attract an investor to "Brestskoye Pivo" in order to improve the financial situation of the plant. However, multiple auctions for the sale of the enterprise as a property complex and its shares were declared invalid due to the absence of applications for participation in them, the press release of "Brestskoye Pivo" reports. In the name of fairness to say that the brewery in Brest was offered to many companies that specialize in the production of beer. But in each case, potential buyers were not satisfied with something. Many considered the asset to be overvalued.
However, on July 31, 2020, a potential buyer was found. The Belarusian authorities have signed an agreement with the Bulgarian "Multigroup Trade" LLC on the sale of the state block of shares in "Brest beer". The deal has not yet been closed, Brestoblimuschestvo stated. That is, the money for the shares has not yet been transferred, the shares have not been transferred to the new owners.
Currently, the issue of withdrawal of the enterprise from the reorganization procedure is being resolved, for which the terms of a settlement agreement with creditors are being worked out. This document will determine the final amount and the procedure for payment of accounts payable by the enterprise, "Brestskoye Pivo" told TUT.BY. The new owner will then be able to appoint their manager and start a full-time job at the plant. The new owner of "Brestskoye Pivo" - "Multigroup Trade" - is part of the Armenian concern Multi Group, which was created in 1998 on the initiative of businessman Gagik Tsarukyan and unites his assets in different areas (alcohol production, pharmaceuticals, sales of cars, liquefied gas, clothing, etc. etc). In 2010, the entrepreneur opened the Armenian-Belarusian trading house "Ar-Be" and established the bottling of brandy in Minsk. According to the newspaper, Tsarukyan is actively involved in political activities and is trying to build relationships with the authorities. He founded the Prosperous Armenia Party. In June 2020, the Armenian parliament deprived Tsarukyan of his parliamentary immunity and gave permission for his arrest. But the court left the businessman- politician free.
According to TUT.BY, Tsarukyan has not yet been to the plant in Brest. His Armenian partner spends a lot of time at the enterprise. It is known that there are plans to expand the "Brestskoye Pivo" business. It is planned to take as a basis the activities of the Bulgarian "BK - Gorna Banya" company, which Armenian businessmen bought in 2009. In Bulgaria it is one of the leading producers of bottled mineral and table water, carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices and nectars. Commenting on the future of the plant, TUT.BY was told at "Brestskoye Pivo" that one of the conditions for purchasing the state-owned stake in the enterprise is to preserve the number of employees and the level of wages. The main activity of the company will continue to be beer production. The new owner plans to rebrand the company's products, as well as expand the range of beer, mineral water and soft drinks. Since the conclusion of the contract for the sale and purchase of shares, representatives of> Multigroup Trade> are constantly at "Brestskoye Pivo'' OJSC, carry out a technical inventory of the enterprise, search for new potential sales markets, take part in the development of a further development strategy for the enterprise, the Brest enterprise said in its response.
