The Government is postponing the sale of Russian and Ukrainian assets accumulated from the family of the former billionaire Sean Quinn after prices slumped.
The State secured the agreement of Alfa Group’s A1 trading and investment company, controlled by Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman, to hold the assets until the economy improves, A1 said on Tuesday.
The holdings are now valued at as much as $120 million, down from about $200 million in 2013 when A1 and the State entered the partnership, A1 said.
The State is seeking to recoup investments in real estate assets including a skyscraper in Moscow and a shopping mall in Kiev, properties accumulated by Mr Quinn, once Ireland’s richest man.
Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, along with high interest rates and a slump in oil prices, have pushed the Russian economy toward its first recession since 2009, while Ukraine output shrank 17 per cent in the first quarter.
“During two years of practical cooperation between the bank and A1, a serious success was achieved in recognizing the rights to all key real estate assets in both Russia and Ukraine that were illegally withdrawn from the appropriate owners and lenders,” Eoin O’Leary, Ireland’s ambassador to Russia, said. His predecessor, Philip McDonagh, said in 2013 that the recovery of the assets is of “paramount importance” to Ireland.
Under the original deal, A1 was to get 30 per cent from the sale of recovered assets. The revised deal allows A1 to earn future rental income and a payout of 20 per cent from the sale of assets.
Since the joint venture was established in 2013, the ruble and Ukraine’s hryvnia have tumbled against foreign currencies and commercial property values have plummeted, Alfa said.
As a result of the joint venture, Alfa said it had been able to secure control over the Q Park warehouse complex in Kazan, the Kutuzoff office tower in Moscow and the Univermag shopping center in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev.
Alfa failed to sell Q Park, valued at 2.58 billion$50 million, in public auctions in April and December.
“Moscow offices have some liquidity, but depend on debt and regional logistics are challenging,” Tim Millard, head of the Russian advisory group at real estate broker Jones Lang LaSalle in Moscow, said. “The Kiev market is basically not operating.”
- Bloomberg
