If approved, the move would see Altai-based firm Bochkari granted temporary administration of Multon JSC and Multon Partners, Coca-Cola HBC’s Russian subsidiaries, according to a report by Moscow-based newspaper Kommersant.
Bochkari submitted the request in mid-October, proposing that it act as an “interim manager”, according to several sources “familiar with the situation” cited by Kommersant.
The brewer’s proposal has been sent to the Russian government for consideration and has reportedly received partial backing from a deputy prime minister.
Speaking to Kommersant, Multon Partners said a local management team runs the business and that it has received no notification of the reported measures.
Founded in Athens in 1969 and now based in Switzerland, London-listed Coca-Cola HBC is the world’s third-largest Coca-Cola anchor bottler by volume, serving hundreds of millions of consumers across a wide range of international markets.
The bottler’s shares plunged following the news, which closely mirrors events leading up to the Kremlin’s seizure of Nestlé’s Russian assets in September.
According to Coca-Cola HBC’s 2025 Annual Report, the bottler reported net sales revenue from external customers of €1.61 billion in Russia last year.
In a stock exchange filing issued after 6pm UK time yesterday, Coca-Cola HBC said: “Coca-Cola HBC has received no notification from the Russian government of any changes to its operations in Russia, which have been operated locally on a self-standing basis since 2022.”
The company added: “Coca-Cola HBC does not rely on income or capital from its Russian business to fund the group’s operations outside Russia or to service the group’s indebtedness.”
