“McDonald's announced today that it has entered into a sale and purchase agreement with current licensee Alexander Govor. Under this agreement, Govor will acquire the entire portfolio of McDonald's restaurants and operate restaurants under the new brand. Since 2015, Govor has been a licensee of McDonald's and operates 25 restaurants in Siberia,” McDonald's said in a press release published today .
The company noted that the completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including regulatory approval, which is expected in the coming weeks.
"The buyer has also agreed to finance the wages of corporate employees who work in 45 regions of the country until the closure, as well as fund existing obligations to suppliers, landlords and utilities," the announcement said.
One of the conditions of the agreement is the preservation of jobs. In particular, network employees will work on equivalent terms for two years.
The head of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, Denis Manturov, promised "all the necessary assistance in setting up work" for the new owner of McDonald's assets in Russia.
Alexander Govor is a co-founder of the oil refinery company from Novokuznetsk "NefteKhimServis". He owns a 50% stake in the Anzhersky Oil Refinery located in the same city, the Park Inn hotel and the Grand Medica chain of private clinics, as well as the Siberian Distribution Center company, specializing in the sale of shoes and clothing.
Earlier today, information appeared in the media about two applicants for the purchase of the Russian business of McDonald's. In addition to Govor, the Kazakh entrepreneur Kairat Boranbaev, who manages part of the partner restaurants of the chain in Tatarstan in the Urals, was also indicated.