Following the decision Monday of the board of directors of the local public establishment Paris La Défense not to approve the sales agreements with Hermitage, in particular because of "the absence of financial and technical guarantees provided by the project leader", Hermitage gives formal notice Paris La Défense to sign under penalty of asking for one billion euros in damages.
The project in question, called "Hermitage Plaza", is initiated by the Russian developer Emin
Iskenderov and planned the construction of two 320-meter skyscrapers
tall with luxury residences, offices, hotels and businesses to replace apartment buildings built in 1974.
Hermitage said in a press release on January 4 that it was "amazed to see that Paris La Défense did not respect its commitment by arguing fallacious elements to sign the promise to sell before December 31, 2021 as provided by the protocol of March 24, 2021 which resulted from a judicial mediation ”.
This refusal on the part of the public establishment is also seen as "incomprehensible and disturbing", "a disturbing turnaround" by the company of the Russian promoter who "recalls having worked for 13 years and having invested 350 million euros for a project emblematic and on the basis of a partnership agreement entered into by a State public establishment since taken over by Paris La Défense ”.
False information at the origin of the refusal according to Hermitage
In this same press release of January 4, Hermitage declares that "false information was apparently disseminated internally during the board" of directors of Paris La Défense on December 28 "relating to the reality of the commitments and the quality of the project partners" without however putting forward any evidence.
The company claims in particular to have "produced proof of the firm commitment of a leading international financial institution to provide the necessary financing for [it] to fulfill its obligations under the promise to sell, that is to say a amount of 280 million euros, thus offering the required financial guarantees ”.
Paris La Défens is therefore put on formal notice to sign the promise to sell by Hermitage, otherwise Hermitage will resume its claim procedure for one billion euros in damages "notwithstanding a demand for forced execution and other procedures for breach. abuse and disloyalty ”which the company had renounced during mediation.