The company, originally created as a state operator, has been consolidating assets over the years.
The Federal Antimonopoly Service has approved the sale of 100% of the shares of JSC Tatspirtprom — one of the largest alcohol producers in Russia. The buyer is JSC Rosspirtprom, an entity directly linked to Arkady and Boris Rotenberg.
The deal is being executed through JSC Svyazinvestneftekhim, which is controlled by the government of Tatarstan. The purchase amount is not officially disclosed.
Preparation for the consolidation of assets has been underway for about a year. It has been formally stated that roles are divided: Rosspirtprom focuses on alcohol production, while Tatspirtprom concentrates on vodka and other alcoholic products. In fact, this is about further consolidation of the spirits and alcohol business built around the Rotenberg structures.
The history of Rosspirtprom is closely linked to state resources and regulators of the alcohol market. The company, originally created as a state operator, has been consolidating distilleries over the years, receiving funding through affiliated banks, and strengthening control over the industry. As a result, Rosspirtprom's share of the alcohol market has grown to dominant levels.
Approval of the deal with Tatspirtprom finally solidifies the formation of the largest alcohol holding in the country, where access to administrative resources and regulatory mechanisms remains a key competitive advantage.
Brothers Arkady and Boris Rotenberg are close friends of Vladimir Putin, with whom they practiced judo in Leningrad, and who became billionaires thanks to large state contracts and connections with the Kremlin, especially after the 2000s, which led to their inclusion in the sanctions lists of the USA and EU after 2014. Their wealth and business empire, including contracts for the construction of the Crimean Bridge and Olympic facilities, are closely tied to political support and influence from Putin.
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