(Reuters) – Russia has permitted the acquisition of PepsiCo (NASDAQ:) owned Wimm-Invoice-Dann Drinks by an area cheesemaker, the anti-monopoly service stated on Wednesday, a enterprise the U.S. foods and drinks big stated it determined to promote final yr.

In early March PepsiCo stated it was suspending gross sales of its sodas in Russia, one in every of many Western shopper manufacturers to halt operations within the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. It can stay the proprietor of Wimm-Invoice-Dann, a separate dairy enterprise, one of many largest in Russia.

Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) on Wednesday stated it permitted an software from Multipro, a Russian cheesemaker that specialises in Mozzarella for pizzas and white-rind cheeses akin to Brie and Camembert, to purchase Wimm-Invoice-Dann Drinks.

Overseas-owned asset gross sales in Russia are in focus as many Western firms go away the market over occasions in Ukraine, giving some native corporations the possibility to select up belongings on a budget, however PepsiCo instructed Reuters on Wednesday its resolution to promote the enterprise had been taken final yr.

“PepsiCo determined to promote the manufacturing web site in Ramenskoye, which has not been functioning since 2015 and doesn’t make any merchandise,” it stated in a written response to Reuters.

The positioning consists of administrative buildings, in addition to storage, manufacturing and infrastructure websites, all of which might be taken over by the brand new proprietor, PepsiCo stated.

PepsiCo, whose colas have been one of many few Western merchandise allowed within the Soviet Union previous to its collapse, stated in March it could proceed to promote every day necessities, akin to milk and different dairy choices, child formulation and child meals, in Russia.