• Sweden edition
Business & Money

Ikea swindled out of 1.5 billion in Russia

Published: 20 Jun 09 10:30 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/20172/20090620/

Ikea has been swindled out of 1.5 billion kronor ($189 million) in Russia, company founder Ingvar Kamprad revealed on Sommar, a show on Sveriges Radio P1.

“We were completely fooled when it came to electricity and gas deliveries. Something that is going to cost us more than 1.5 billion kronor. I know that this will become a legal matter,” he said, according to Sveriges Radios Ekoredaktion.

Ikea currently has eleven stores in Russia.

Kamprad also revealed that during a recent board meeting he had put forth the idea of establishing an Ikea location in Iran, but this was set aside due to opposition by other board members.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

14:09 June 20, 2009 by Hauhr
This article tells me absolutely nothing! I would really like to know in what way Ikea was "swindled". Have they been overcharged unfairly/illegally? How exactly were they fooled? Did they think electricity costs X but didn't realise that it actually costs Y? sounds like the mistake a consumer makes, not a well-oiled corporate machine. I would have liked some deeper information/analysis about what has happened and maybe also how much of a setback 1.5 billion dollars represents for Ikea.
15:50 June 20, 2009 by PINGPONG
how much of a setback 1.5 billion dollars represents for Ikea.

its 1.5 billion kr not dollars , hauhr , maybe learn to read
16:20 June 20, 2009 by Nemesis
Its $189 million.

The numbers are for Swedish currency. US currency is for US only. They use different currencies in diferent countries.

Also as we are in Europe, maybe the local would consider curency equivalent in Euros as it is our nearest large currency.

Some details about what actually happened would be nice.
23:25 June 21, 2009 by Mib
Russia has a long way before it can be considered a democracy with proper rules and order.I used to work for a Company that had to pay bribes to get its goods into Russia. This was no 2 bit company. It was a global brand that employed tens of thousands of people.
23:30 June 21, 2009 by jack sprat
Small change by Ingvar standards I think,...hardly a weeks pocket money.

Its a dodgy place now under Putins corrupt regime.

Lots of companies have been trying to pull out as fast as possible with what assets they can for the last year or so.

There is little faith or trust in what he might do next.

It might be wise for I.K.not to haggle over it or he could end up losing out on more than his electric bills.
23:39 June 21, 2009 by jack sprat
Mafia rules on the streets and Putin is happy to let them.

They also rule the streets in most of the ex Soviet Block countries in addition to having a Worldwide influence.

They are bad news wherever they go,making a fortune out of various rackets and that suits Putin.

However there are signs that he may be killing the goose that lays the golden egg as ppl.come to fully recognise him for what he is.
07:09 June 22, 2009 by skane refugee
IKEA is a private company whose profits go to a web of Kamprad family controlled trusts and 'charities'.

The $189m hit is not a threat to the financial health of IKEA as a whole, or probably even to IKEAs Russian operations where they have a very sizeable sourcing operation.

If they have their day in court then either the reputation of IKEA management or the reputation of Russia as an attractive place to invest will take a hit.
11:20 June 22, 2009 by jack sprat
Have to be up early in the morning to pull the wool over Kamprads eyes.

No doubt more companies will be taking note of which way the wind is blowing in Russia, as some already have.

Did read a report that Kamprad was softening up in his old age and was thinking of giving funds from his own "charity" to real charity.

Just hope this setback doesnt change his mind.
17:41 June 22, 2009 by Kooritze
I wonder what Ikea,s profit for the same period in Russia was?

By the way, what is ahppening to articles on this site? Are we going for the shortest with minimum information jounalistic prize or something?
17:51 June 22, 2009 by GefleFrequentFlyer
Care to share the details of this article? Or was it a cut-copy-paste from the Afton?

Ingvar really thinks he's going to get a fair trial in Moscow huh? I suspect his attorney's retainer will correspond with the value he places on his life on this blue earth.
21:30 June 22, 2009 by skane refugee
He's a master of cloaking and spin (even by Swedens extraordinary standards ;o) ;o) ) ... his impressive PR machine somehow managed to save IKEA when his active Nazi past received global publicity and he faced a worldwide boycott of his company ... (his 'darkest hour' according to interviews he's given since)

who knows what his 'charities' will eventually get up to ... but don't hold your breath for real charity anytime soon!
09:25 July 12, 2010 by srmsofttech9
EARN GLOBAL MONEY shows you different earning programs from all over the globe and help people to earn money from different earning program owned by different organizations.

Click Here
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Business & Money headlines
Ericsson probed over suspected bribes

Ericsson probed over suspected bribes

Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson is suspected of having bribed ministers in Romania in connection with being awarded a contract for the country's emergency number and is now under investigation in the United States. READ () »

Warning over 'long-term' Swedish export slump

Warning over 'long-term' Swedish export slump

Sweden's largest business confederation has gone out guns blazing, criticizing politicians for not facing up to the challenges of "a lost year for Swedish exports" in 2012. READ () »

'Lean hospital a sign of Swedish welfare reform'

'Lean hospital a sign of Swedish welfare reform'

A Stockholm hospital saved from closure by private health care providers has been hailed by the Economist as one of modern's Sweden public-private success stories. READ () »

H&M mulls production in South America and Africa

H&M mulls production in South America and Africa

Swedish clothing giant H&M is looking into the possibility of sourcing its production to South America, Central America, and even Africa, chief executive Karl-Johan Persson said on Monday. READ () »

Nord Stream plans new gas pipelines

Nord Stream plans new gas pipelines

Gas pipeline firm Nord Stream will hold an information meeting on the Baltic island of Gotland on Monday to introduce a proposal to extend its controversial gas pipeline project. READ () »

'Sweden next in line for housing market crash'

'Sweden next in line for housing market crash'

Sweden tops a list of countries that risk suffering a housing market crash, Germany's Commerzbank has warned, citing the slackening off of Swedish property prices as a harbinger of a potential downswing. READ () »

Solna voted best place to live in Sweden

Solna voted best place to live in Sweden

Solna, a suburb just north of Stockholm, is the best place to live in Sweden, according to a new ranking published on Friday by Swedish news magazine Fokus. READ () »

Ikea founder rated fifth richest in the world

Ikea founder rated fifth richest in the world

Ingrad Kamprad, the founder of Swedish furniture giant Ikea, finished fifth on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index published on Friday, with an estimated fortune of $55.6 billion. READ () »

LinkedIn profile lands Swede with hefty tax bill

LinkedIn profile lands Swede with hefty tax bill

A Swedish man is facing a five-million kronor ($750,000) add-on to his tax bill after the authorities took a proper look at his account on the professional networking site LinkedIn. READ () »

India in no rush to open first Ikea store

India in no rush to open first Ikea store

The first Ikea store to open in India may not be ready for years, with the India head of the Swedish furniture giant prepared to wait until the the perfect location is found for the first of the 25 planned stores. READ () »

More Business & Money

Find a new job in Sweden now
20/05 Active Directory and Exchange Technician to Skanska IT Nordic
Solna
20/05 Application Engineer
Net Entertainment NE AB
Stockholm
20/05 Application Engineer
Net Entertainment
Stockholm
20/05 Area Sales Manager
Sverige
20/05 Business Development Manager
Hays
Stockh, STHM
20/05 Certification Project Manager
Net Entertainment
Stockholm
20/05 Enterprise Risk Manager
Net Entertainment NE AB
Stockholm
20/05 Global Senior Buyer
Valueone AB
Stockholm
20/05 Group Risk Manager
Humancapital
stockholm, STHM
20/05 GSI Account Director
Sverige

ALL JOBS »


 
Latest Business & Money news from Germany
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Holiday Luxury Villa in Portugal
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS