Deal with Shishkarev on Delo does not close on date; Russian roulette procedure will be completed - Rosatom

MOSCOW. Aug 28 (Interfax) - Rosatom, which owns 49% of Delo Group, has failed to complete the deal to buy out Sergei Shishkarev's 51% stake in Delo Group by the scheduled date as part of the Russian roulette procedure, and the state nuclear energy corporation intends to complete the process, Rosatom told reporters.

"The transaction to transfer Sergei Shishkarev's stake in Delo Management Company LLC to Rosatom was scheduled for completion on August 28, 2026. The parties were required to sign and notarize all necessary documents. Authorized Rosatom employees arrived at the notary's office today and were prepared to fulfill the state corporation's obligations. However, neither Sergei Shishkarev nor his representatives showed up for the closing," Rosatom said.

"Rosatom state corporation will complete the Russian roulette procedure in strict accordance with the provisions," Rosatom said.

In response to Shishkarev's statement, Rosatom noted that the state corporation "is aware of Sergei Shishkarev's opinion on the need to adhere strictly to all technical formalities, which would have been completed in any case had he or his representative appeared on the appointed day to perform the notarial act. However, it is obvious that minor procedural elements should not hinder the fulfillment of the parties' substantive obligations."

Delo Group founder Shishkarev on Wednesday said that he demands strict adherence to the terms of the agreement with Rosatom regarding the purchase of his stake in Delo Group, and without this, he does not agree to accept the state corporation's offer. In the statement, he emphasized that this is not a refusal to fulfill the agreement, but concerns only strict and complete compliance with procedures.

The Delo Group founder also reported that he has submitted a proposal to Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev to focus available resources, efforts, and expertise on stabilizing the situation at Delo Group. Shishkarev has also proposed that the state corporation recapitalize the company using the amount earmarked for payment to him as part of the deal.

Rosatom in February announced that it was launching a mutual buyout offer for the Russian roulette deal within the Delo Group amid disagreements with Shishkarev. In March, Shishkarev officially notified Rosatom of his intention to buy out the state corporation's stake in Delo Management Company. According to the terms of the Russian roulette deal, the price for Shishkarev's buyout of Rosatom's stake was set at 74 billion rubles, and Shishkarev's stake at 77 billion rubles.

Shishkarev, the founder and co-owner of Delo Group, in late June declined the buyout of his partner's stake in Delo Group, and the right to play Russian roulette was transferred to Rosatom. Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev in early July announced that the state corporation had reached a corporate decision to buy out the stake of Shishkarev, a partner in Delo Group, through a Russian roulette deal.

Delo Group operates marine container terminals in the Azov-Black Sea, Baltic and Far Eastern basins, a network of railway container terminals, and a fleet of containers and flatcars. The group's transportation and logistics division includes the TransContainer intermodal container operator and the Ruscon multimodal transport operator, and the stevedoring division includes DeloPorts and the Global Ports leading container terminal operator.