Russia puts Sonoco, Menshen and ex-Smurfit Kappa packaging units under state management
A decree signed by President Vladimir Putin on 15 October 2026 places three foreign-linked packaging producers in Russia under temporary management by OOO Management Company Capital Center: 12,600 ordinary shares of Kappa Rus, 99.71% of Menshen Packaging CIS and 100% of Eviosys Packaging Kuban. TASS names the owners as Georg Menshen, Sonoco Packaging Netherlands Investments and Sverige International Holdings, the vehicle through which Smurfit Kappa sold Kappa Rus to management in 2023. The decree responds to EU support for Ukraine; the Kremlin says it can be reversed.
Why this mattersState management of Russian units tied to Sonoco and Menshen shows the exposure still carried by Western groups with Russian assets, and by the buyers of businesses they sold.
- Decree of 15 October 2026 transferred 12,600 ordinary shares of Kappa Rus, 99.71% of Menshen Packaging CIS and 100% of Eviosys Packaging Kuban into temporary management.
- The foreign owners named by TASS are Georg Menshen GmbH & Co. KG, Sonoco Packaging Netherlands Investments B.V. and Sverige International Holdings AB.
- OOO Management Company Capital Center was appointed as manager.
- Kappa Rus, a Smurfit Kappa subsidiary until its 2023 sale to management, makes corrugating medium, containerboard and corrugated packaging; 2025 revenue was RUB 16.5bn.
- Eviosys Packaging Kuban is among Russia's largest tin can producers; Menshen Packaging CIS makes plastic packaging.
- The decree is a response to EU support for Ukraine; the Kremlin said the measure could be reversed.