“Tsentrobuv” An example of the police – Kommersant

As the “Kommersant”, one of the creditors of the network of shops “Tsentrobuv” – Gazprombank (GBO) – asked the Interior Ministry to check the legitimacy of the owners and the retailer’s management . Bank of suspects them of fictitious transactions and withdrawal of funds provided under the credit line. In “TsentrObuv” argue that cooperating with GPB and are conducting a joint audit.

GBO asks police to give a legal assessment of the financial performance of the beneficiaries and the management of JSC “TD” Tsentrobuv “” on the eve of the introduction with regard to the company’s monitoring procedures (see. “Kommersant” on April, 4). With the request of the Bank, which is one of the largest creditors “TsentrObuv”, April 8 addressed to the head of the Moscow Interior Ministry Department for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption Combating Major General Sergei Solopova. In a statement (a copy is in “b”) states that in 2013-2014 Gazprombank signed an agreement to open a credit line with the “Center” and JSC “TD” Tsentrobuv “” to finance economic activity. In support of the refund borrowers to provide the bank guarantee for each other. Upon the expiry of a refund this year, the companies formed a debt to Gazprombank 8.6 billion rubles.

From the text of the statement follows that of GPB management suspects “TsentrObuv” in the withdrawal of funds. According to sources, “b”, GBO counted 12 transactions, the legality of which has caused doubts. Lawyer Trofim Popov (represents the interests of GPB) has confirmed that his client “has issues” to the owners and management of the retailer on a number of transactions and financial transactions, including credit funds of GPB. “We ask to check if they were not a fictitious character,” – he said. The lawyer believes that the transaction could materially affect the financial position of the “Centro” and TD “Tsentrobuv”, “as a result led to the inability of borrowers to meet its credit obligations.” The statement said one of the owners “TsentrObuv” – Sergey Lomakin, called the controlling shareholder.

“Tsentrobuv”, established in 1992, today operates approximately 700 stores and is the largest network for the sale of footwear in Russia. According to “SPARK-Interfax”, 99.99% of JSC “TD” Tsentrobuv “” belong to the Cyprus Plazia Consulting Ltd, the main beneficiaries of which are considered to Sergei Lomakin and Artyom Khachatryan. The number of shareholders also include Leonid Makaron, Vladimir left, as well as the founders of retailer Dmitry Svetlov and Anatoly Gurevich. “Center” (imports and exports) is also 99.99% owned Plazia Consulting Ltd.

According to Gazprombank, the list of creditors’ TsentrObuv “also includes Sberbank, VTB and the Moscow Credit Bank (ICB). According to SPARK, long-term and short-term liabilities of JSC “TD” Tsentrobuv “” at the end of 2014 exceeded 25 billion rubles.

The “TsentrObuv” emphasize that the introduction of monitoring procedures in the company has been coordinated with all major creditors, primarily with GPB. “Today the leadership and management of the company in close cooperation with GPB conduct a comprehensive audit, including the period of issuance and use of major credit resources”, – assured the representative of the retailer.

partner Herbert Smith Freehills Alexei Panich suggests that the treatment of GPB to law enforcement agencies made to further pressure on the borrower. According to the lawyer, if the law enforcement agencies prove fictitious transactions, property or money appearing in them, they would be returned to the bankruptcy estate. The Interior Ministry said that if the results of pre-investigation and criminal proceedings will be initiated, it will happen not earlier than in a month. Most likely, the ministry added, the case will be on the fact of theft of credit and charge at the initial stage is unlikely to be personalized.

Vladislav Trifonov Anatoly Kostyrev