According to three sources of Forbes, the main contender for the purchase of the majority "Togliatti" shares, which in September 2015 was taken over by the investment fund Credit Mediterranee SA Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, is the owner of "Stroygazmontazh" billionaire Arkady Rotenberg. According to one source, the first summer Rothenberg coordinated the possibility of a deal at the top. "Kirsan [Ilyumzhinov - Forbes] all able to communicate, and more than once the situation resolves with distressed assets. Including in the interests of others. For this transaction is Arkady Romanovich [Rothenberg - Forbes] », - says Forbes source familiar with the situation. Ilyumzhinov himself said it does not comment.

Why was it necessary harmonization at the highest level? "Togliatti" - one of the largest chemical enterprises in Russia, accounting for 20% of the ammonia supply to the Russian market, about 8% of the world market. Revenues in 2014 amounted to 48.5 billion rubles. Most of the ammonia and urea is exported - through the pipeline, which runs through the territory of Ukraine to the port of Odessa. In addition, the principal ownerVladimir Makhlai 124 left Russia in 2005. At the end of December 2014 the Basmanny Court in Moscow decided to arrest in absentia and himself, and his son Sergei, chairman of the board of directors of the plant. Both the international wanted list on charges of fraud in large-scale production for export "Togliatti" chemical enterprise.

Corporate conflict around the plant lasts for more than ten years. In early 2005, the company Synntech billionaire Viktor Vekselberg bought about 10% shares of "Togliattiazot", after which the management of the company has publicly stated about the threat of raider attacks. After a few months of the beginning of the Ministry of Internal Affairs investigation into the legality of privatization of the enterprise. According to its results was a criminal case on the fact of non-payment of taxes for 2001-2003 in the amount of 280 million rubles, and the Chairman of the Board Vladimir Makhlai was wanted.
At the same time the company has shown an interest in and the future owner "Uralhima" Dmitry Mazepin who planned to build a chemical holding, and by that time had already acquired stakes in three companies. In the summer of 2007, the tax authoritiesthere are new claims to "Togliatti", this time by 2.6 billion rubles. A year later, it became known that "Uralkhim" Dmitry Mazepin bought Vekselberg structures 7.5% stake in the company.

In spring 2010, the criminal prosecution of Vladimir Makhlai was discontinued, and privatization, recognized as lawful. However, soon followed by a new round of conflict. In February 2012, at the suit of "Uralhima", whose managers were not given access to the documentation "Togliattiazot" it was a criminal case against unidentified persons. In December of the same year, there was one more thing - under "fraud on a large scale" in connection with irregularities in the export of ammonia.

At the end of 2014 living in Dubai Makhlai Vladimir began looking for opportunities to exit from a problem situation. Get his comments failed. According to Forbes data, negotiations were held with several intermediaries specializing in such transactions. Then the Basmanny court in absentia arrest and declared internationally wanted his son Sergei, who served as Chairman of the Board of Directors, on the tiepared in the theft of money from "Togliattiazot" on a large scale. Shortly before the announcement of the arrest in absentia Sergey Makhlai said publicly about threats coming from the side of Dmitry Mazepin that threatened criminal prosecution in the event of failure of the sale of the business on his terms.

However, events began to move not on the script, which counted Mazepin. In September 2015 on the control of more than 70% of the shares "Togliattiazot" said the ex-president of Kalmykia, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. In an interview with RBC Ilyumzhinov said that acts as a strategic investor, "If you think I'm the front in the interests of the Arabs or Chinese ... No. I'll sign the paper. Maybe that's why I trust caused by the seller. You should be aware, many have tried to buy off or get the asset at their disposal. I openly offered [sellers], and then they go out and say your concept of normal, let's work. " However, market sources believe that in the near future he will part with their package. In "Uralhima» Forbes reported that they had no information about kaof any transactions with JSC "Togliatti" shares.

Arkady Rotenberg called the primary, but not the only likely buyer "Togliattiazot". According to Forbes sources claimed on the asset and billionaire Suleiman Kerimov. And employees of the company this year allegedly seen on its territory General Director of the Tuva Energy Industry Corporation Ruslan Baysarov.

Ammonia production on "Tolyattiazote" in 2014 increased by almost 30% to 2.9 million tons. The construction of cargo complex of ammonia and urea in the port of Taman in the Krasnodar region. the second phase of the project included in this year's adjusted federal program "Development of Transport System of Russia" and should be completed by 2020.

Arkady Rotenberg already have assets in the chemical industry. Back in 2011 on the basis of "Fertilizers" in the city of Voronezh region Rossosh established National Chemical Group (NHC). A year later, he launched a project to create the Far East one of the world's largest complex for the production of fertilizers. After exiting the plant inNakhodka, the projected capacity in 2021 it will be able to produce 1.1 million tons of ammonia, 2 million tons of urea and 1 million tons of methanol per year. At the beginning of September 2015 NHC signed a 20-year contract to supply gas to "Gazprom Mezhregiongaz." NHC Director General Nikolay Sabitov on Forbes request for interest in "Tolyatiiazotu" did not answer.