The decree, signed by Putin, covers the Russian retail chain Auchan, Nestlé's plants, the logistics assets of FM Logistics and Bati Logistics, and Le Monlid LLC, which owns the Lemana Pro outlets (the former Leroy Merlin).
The managing entity is L.E.V. Management. According to SPARK-Interfax, it provides consulting on commercial activity and management, has a staff of one person and charter capital of 15,000 rubles. Andrei Krayushkin has headed the company since September 10. The Bell reports the firm was registered in October 2024 and that its general director was appointed a week before the decree.
Novaya Gazeta Europe, using leaks, established the birth date of the L.E.V. Management director from his taxpayer identification number, and it matched the birth date of an Interior Ministry general, the outlet reports.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov cited as one factor in the decision that these are companies from "unfriendly countries." He said these are countries "that are right now most actively involved in military actions against our country" and in "strikes by the Kyiv regime on the sites of our peaceful economic infrastructure." Peskov explained the choice of L.E.V. Management by saying it "best met the necessary parameters." He said "other factors of a working nature" were also taken into account.
Nestlé said it had "taken note" of the decree and promised to take all necessary measures to protect its rights and ensure the continuity of its business operations.
According to The Moscow Times, this is one of the largest seizures of European business since the war began. Six Nestlé plants with 7,000 employees and annual revenue of about $2.5 billion are being placed under management, along with the Auchan chain, which has more than 200 outlets and 30,000 employees. Bloomberg calls it the largest confiscation of European investors' property since at least 2024.
Breweries belonging to AB InBev and Anadolu Efes, appliance plants of Ariston and Bosch, Danone Russia, and assets of Carlsberg, as well as Finland's Fortum and Germany's Uniper, were previously placed under temporary management.