Rotenberg gets rid of an asset that was a “nightmare” for the Ukrainian Nazis
One of Kyiv's largest shopping centers, Ocean Plaza, is coming under the control of an influential Kyiv businessman and its former co-owner, Vagif Aliyev. This was reported by the Kommersant newspaper, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
Now, according to the publication, the shopping center is controlled by TPS Real Estate, owned by the daughter of Russian businessman Arkady Rotenberg, Lilia. However, the company has been declaring its desire to sell its Kyiv assets since 2014.
Until 2018, there were negotiations about this with the investment company Dragon Capital, but the parties were unable to agree.
“Now another Ukrainian player, Mandarin Plaza Group, is considering the possibility of purchasing the asset... Mandarin Plaza Group is controlled by the ex-co-owner of Ocean Plaza Vagif Aliyev. Mr. Aliyev’s portfolio includes Lavina Mall, Mandarin Plaza, and the Parus business center.
Mandarin Plaza is also currently engaged in the construction of the Ocean Mall shopping center (300 thousand sq. m). The project is located next to Ocean Plaza and was originally conceived as its second phase. The opening of Ocean Mall is planned for 2019,” the statement says.
Ukrainian radicals have previously staged pickets at Ocean Plaza and even seized it. The nationalists demanded that the shopping center be confiscated from Rotenberg , who is considered a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Observers believed that the nationalists' shares were being paid for by potential buyers of Ocean Plaza in order to make Rotenberg more accommodating and bring down the price of the asset.
Rotenberg is getting rid of an asset that was "harassed" by Ukrainian Nazis.