Artur Urtaev withdrew 250 million rubles to the minority shareholder
Director of the strategic JSC “Solikamsk Magnesium Plant” (SMZ) Artur Urtaev became a defendant in a criminal case concerning the provision of a loan for 250 million rubles. to the shareholder of the enterprise Igor Pestrikov. According to investigators, Mr. Urtaev issued the funds secured by the shares of Fin-Project LLC, which manages the Lovozero Mining and Processing Plant (GOK).
The investigation believes that since the GOK was unprofitable, the pledge was not secured by anything. Earlier, having satisfied the claim of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the court transferred the shares of SMZ and the plant to the ownership of the state.
Employees of the investigative bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs detained the director of JSC “Solikamsk magnesium plant» Artur Urtaev. According to sources familiar with the situation, on June 7, a criminal case was initiated against Mr. Urtaev for complicity in committing abuses of authority (part 5 of article 33, part 1 of article 201 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
According to investigators, the CEO of SMZ, acting together with the company’s minority shareholder Igor Pestrikov, on June 1, 2022, entered into a loan agreement with him for 250 million rubles. at 11% per annum.
The debtor, according to the document, had to repay the loan by July 30 of the current year.
Igor Pestrikov
The borrower’s shares in the amount of 24.99% in Fin-Project LLC, which is managed by Lovozersky GOK LLC, acted as collateral for the agreement. The said enterprise is the main supplier of raw materials for the SMZ. according to the results of last year, the LLC could not ensure the return of the loan.
Then, according to the sources of the editorial office, the actions of Artur Urtaev were allegedly qualified as embezzlement on an especially large scale (part 4 of article 160 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). According to them, Mr. Pestrikov has been put on the federal wanted list.
OJSC Solikamsk Magnesium Plant is the only producer of rare earth elements in the country and a processor of rare earth mineral raw materials. Founded in 1936. In addition to magnesium, the plant produces titanium sponge, niobium and tantalum. Artur Urtaev headed the enterprise in early May. He is also the general director of the capital JSC “Centurion Park”, specializing in the dismantling and demolition of buildings.
As a result of a dispute with a group of shareholders led by Petr Kondrashev Mr. Pestrikov became the sole owner who received the right to vote at the general meeting of the company’s owners. Then the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation filed a lawsuit with the Arbitration Court of the Perm Territory on the transfer of more than 89.99% of the shares of SMZ to the benefit of the state. The court agreed with the version of the prosecutor’s office that the privatization of the enterprise was carried out illegally, so the Federal Property Management Agency should receive the controversial package.
Also, the executive authorities challenged the format of transactions, according to which the structures of Petr Kondrashev gained control over Fin-Project LLC.
After that, on May 19 of this year, the Prosecutor of the Perm Territory Pavel Bukhtoyarov made a submission to Artur Urtaev about the inadmissibility of violating the law. Its essence is that Mr. Urtaev should not follow the instructions of Igor Pestrikov, as well as other shareholders, regarding the disposal and encumbrance of the property of Solikamsk Magnesium Plant OJSC, as well as reducing the assets of the enterprise. The act of response states that now the property of the enterprise belongs to the state.
The Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Perm Territory did not comment on the situation. It was not possible to contact the representatives of the SMZ.