How Putin’s alleged ‘business associate’ made $400m from a major Russian gas deal

Mikhelson needed a strategy. Without political protection, Novatek’s founder may have faced similar pressures to Bogachev. “Novatek could not have survived as an independent producer if it did not allow people from Putin’s inner circle to come in and become shareholders,” Milov claimed. “What Mikhelson did is the smoothest integration with the Kremlin’s people. Not a hostile takeover. He bought himself the ability to implement his vision.

In May 2009, Volga Group announced it had increased its stake in Novatek, and Timchenko had been made a director. As part of the deal, Novatek would acquire a 51% share of Yamal LNG from Volga and associated companies. Yamal’s importance is not only commercial. “One of Putin’s ambitions was to re-establish Russian control over the Arctic coast,” said Mikhail Krutikhin, a partner at the consultancy RusEnergy. Moscow’s military presence in the region was weakened by the fall of the Soviet Union, and Putin was convinced commerce could help reverse that. “This was a project that had a very interesting political meaning,” Krutikhin said.

Days later, Kolbin apparently cashed in. On 14 March, company accounts show Varix sold its shares in Yamal for $526m, netting an estimated $416m profit. That September, Timchenko sold up, too. Innecto’s remaining 23.9% went for $450m, according to company filings.Photograph: Novatek Navolution is named as a “related party” in accounts filed by a Timchenko Cyprus company, Innecto. The filing gives a clear definition for the term: “Related parties are companies which are subject to common control”.An invoice dated 29 June 2011, addressed to Olneil and issued by the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands, shows one of the registry’s surveyors travelled to Germany for a “meeting to discuss Project Graceful”.

Wow shocking

Business Business Latest News, Business Business Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Business People of the Year are Australia’s energy transition leadersOur political system should be providing the policy and regulatory certainty to support the business leadership that is helping get Australia to the other side of the energy transition. They’re the only ones who stand to profit from the transition to renewables. Everyone else loses. I look forward to holding these people all accountable as well for the most probable outcome of all of their “leadership” in energy transition. They can use some of the taxpayer subsidies that they receive and hand back to residents to defray cost increases likely to come.
Source: FinancialReview - 🏆 2. / 90 Read more »

Macquarie CEO named AFR Business Person of the YearShemara Wikramanayake’s leadership has led to record profit and a prime position in the energy transition, making her the third prominent Macquarie banker to top the AFR list.
Source: FinancialReview - 🏆 2. / 90 Read more »