Heineken has announced its departure from Russia following the sale of its business enterprise in the nation for a symbolic €1 ($1). The Dutch beer maker stated in a statement Friday that it had received the needed approvals to sell its operations to Arnest Group, a Russian manufacturer, finishing a withdrawal course of action it initiated in March 2022.

Heineken CEO Dolf van den Brink stated that “recent developments demonstrate the substantial challenges faced by significant manufacturing organizations in exiting Russia.” He added, “While it took a great deal longer than we had hoped, this transaction secures the livelihoods of our staff and makes it possible for us to exit the nation in a accountable manner.” The brewer expects to incur a total loss of €300 million ($323 million) from the deal.

When Moscow launched its complete-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a slew of multinational organizations left Russia, or announced plans to do so. But more than the previous 18 months, the Kremlin has produced it increasingly tricky for Western firms to sell their Russian assets. It now also obliges them to spend a hefty charge to the Russian government on such sales.

In March, Heineken stated it had decided to “do every little thing possible” to prevent its Russian business enterprise getting nationalized, even though leaving the nation “as rapidly as doable.” The organization stated, “First, we do not feel the Russian state or the persons closest to it would have the very best interests of our persons at heart. Second, we have been uncomfortable that the Russian state really should advantage from forced appropriation of key business enterprise assets.”

Arnest Group, which manufactures cosmetics, household goods, and metal packaging for customer goods, has offered all 1,800 of Heineken’s staff in Russia with employment guarantees for the subsequent 3 years as element of the deal.