Putin Signs Decree Seizing Assets of Auchan, Nestlé and Leroy Merlin in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on September 17 ordering the nationalization of Russian-based assets belonging to French retail chain Auchan, food conglomerate Nestlé, and the former Leroy Merlin home improvement stores. Control over these assets is being transferred to the state-linked joint-stock company LEV Management.

What Was Seized

According to the decree published on Russia's legal information portal, LEV Management takes over assets from Auchan, Nestlé, logistics operators FM Logistics, Bati Logistics, and LLC Le Monlid — the former Leroy Merlin operation. The Kremlin has effectively legalized the theft of businesses that continued operating in Russia and paying taxes to the aggressor state long after international pressure mounted to withdraw.

Companies That Stayed Too Long

All three firms were among the international companies criticized for remaining in the Russian market years after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. By staying, they contributed revenue to the Russian state budget while other Western companies exited.

Russian media reported the combined Russian-market valuation of the seized companies runs into tens of billions of rubles.