The Federal Tax Service decided to recover 240 million rubles from the Ural beverage manufacturer Ariant

Information on the debt is also available in the database of the Federal Bailiff Service, which indicates that in mid-October two enforcement proceedings were opened against TsPI-Ariant and provisional measures were introduced.

The press service of Rosselkhozbank, which manages the asset through its RSHB-Finance structure, confirmed the existence of TsPI-Ariant debt. According to the publication’s interlocutor, the debt arose after the company failed to meet payment requirements at the end of August 2024, the deadline for which expired on September 23.

TsPI-Ariant’s financial difficulties became known in July, when the company notified the retail chain Krasnoe & Beloe of its intention to suspend production. The reason was the shortage of financing caused by the long-term seizure of assets by decision of the Arbitration Court of the Chelyabinsk region within the framework of the process of nationalization of the assets of the Ariant group of companies. The provisional measures imposed prevented the attraction of credit funds and the embargo on accounts imposed on March 28 was not lifted until June 10, the publication notes.

As reported by RBC, in August, the former owner of the nationalized assets of the Ariant and Kuban-Vino groups of companies sent a letter to presidential aide Alexei Dyumin, reporting the “destruction” of assets, including TsPI-Ariant, and reported about a Lack of funds to pay excise taxes, salaries and the purchase of raw materials. Part of the funds was allocated by the agricultural company Ariant, but the letter specified that this would only be enough for the current month.

According to the press service of Rosselkhozbank, the debt arose due to the fact that one of the company’s large counterparties delayed payment for products against the background of increasing production volumes. Rosselkhozbank assured that the debt will be repaid from the company’s income, which will not affect its financial situation or its ability to meet its obligations.

Sergei Uchitel, a partner at Pen & Paper, noted that these situations are not uncommon when corporate control changes in large companies. He added that corporate conflicts and legal disputes can become the basis for demanding prompt fulfillment of obligations to banks and creditors.

Unpaid tax debt can lead to the initiation of bankruptcy proceedings, the lawyer warns. The head of the Ministry of Finance, Anton Siluanov, previously said that it is planned to sell the seized assets to obtain state revenue. The teacher pointed out that to increase the value of the asset it will be necessary to settle the tax debt early or include its amount in the transaction price.

Rustam Kurmaev and Partners partner Dmitry Kletochkin added that the nationalization procedure in Russia is new and the practice of solving these problems has not yet developed. It suggests that RSHB-Finance may require additional financing for the company; Otherwise, the Federal Tax Service will have to declare bankruptcy in case of late payment of taxes.

• LLC “Food Industry Center – Ariant” was founded in 1998 and is part of the Ariant group of companies. The company positions itself as the largest producer of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in the Urals. The company’s capacity allows it to produce up to 60 million bottles per year. The selection includes Piccole Bolle and Villa Blanca sparkling wines, James Barly and Carte Blanche whiskey, Mama Jama and Torcedor rum, as well as mineral and sparkling water.

• In April 2024, the IPC, together with other assets of the Ariant group of companies, became state income. According to RBC, the former owners of the Ariant group of companies are challenging the nationalization decision, citing violations of substantive and procedural law. Among the arguments are the omission of the limitation period, the record short period of consideration of the case in the Arbitration Court of the Chelyabinsk region, as well as the deprivation of the defendants and third parties of the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the materials of the case . .