The founder of the “Nani Mobila” factory, Igor Nani, accuses an attempt of a hostile takeover of the business he has built over 25 years. According to him, an associate who owns 40% of the company’s share capital would try to take control of the business through breach of trust, manipulation and the use of legal mechanisms against him.
Igor Nani stated during a press conference at IPN that he had noticed in recent years a diminution of control over the company and that some decisions had been made without his consent. “The biggest risk I felt recently was that I was openly told that I, as an administrator, was ineffective and had to be removed. That’s when I understood that I was losing control over the company”, said the founder of the business.
At the same time, the company’s founder also said that he offered a 40% stake in the company out of a desire to share managerial responsibilities and ensure the business’s development. The founder claims that tensions arose later on, and in recent months, the company has started to lose customers and face reputation issues. “I handed over the company’s leadership with complete confidence. I gave them access to all processes and believed that we would grow this business together”, he added.
At the same time, Igor Nani stated that his associate is asking for 2.5 million euros for a 40% stake in the company. According to him, the amount is unjustified and the negotiations between the parties have not led to an agreement regarding the future of the business.
In turn, the company’s lawyer, Olga Iovu, stated that the current conflict began after Veronica Storoj, employed by the company in 2022, became an associate with a 40% share of the social capital, valued at 530 thousand lei. The lawyer argues that the transfer was made based on a relationship of trust between the parties and as a recognition of her activity within the company. Moreover, according to her, Storoj would not have had the necessary financial resources to pay for the share and claimed that the money used for the transaction actually came from the company’s founder, Igor Nani. The lawyer says that these circumstances are to be verified by the competent institutions, and the trust that underpinned the transfer of participation would have been subsequently used against the business founder.
The lawyer asserts that after acquiring a 40% share, unjustified salary increases, fictitious employments, and the use of the company’s resources for personal interest were identified. In this context, complaints were filed with the National Anti-Corruption Center and the Botanica Police Inspectorate.
“The modern raid attack no longer resembles that of the ’90s. Today, masked individuals no longer come to occupy the headquarters. Today, influences, litigation, and seemingly legal procedures are used to eliminate the real owner and to transfer business control to other individuals”, stated Olga Iovu. According to her, there are suspicions regarding the company being damaged by at least one million lei, however, the external audit is still ongoing.
The company’s representatives have asked state institutions to investigate the circumstances of the case, including financial flows, the legality of payments made, and corporate changes made within the company. At the same time, they request the identification of individuals who may have participated in the actions to take control over the company and hold those found guilty accountable.
The management of “Nani Mobila” asserts that they wish to avoid speculation and manipulation of public opinion, and assures that the company’s activity will not be affected. Igor Nani announced that he has restricted access to the company’s headquarters for dismissed employees, and specified that Veronica Storoj and her husband are no longer employees of the company, and the business administration and customer relations are managed exclusively by the legal administrator of the company.
Contacted by IPN for a reaction, Veronica Storoj said that she doesn’t know what Igor Nani intends to do. She also rejected the accusations and maintained that there is no document to confirm the alleged request for a sum of 2.5 million euros for her 40% share of the company, legally obtained through a sales contract. At the same time, she specified that she will provide additional statements only together with her lawyer, if the situation requires it.
Note: IPN Agency offers the right to reply to persons who consider themselves targeted in news reports based on the statements of the organizers of this press conference, including by facilitating the organization of another press conference under similar conditions.
