Foreign firms' losses exiting Russia top $107 bln
STORY: Renault is among foreign firms to take a big hit leaving Russia.
A Reuters analysis of company filings and statements shows firms have seen more than $107 billion in writedowns and lost revenue.
About 1,000 companies have exited the country following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine two years ago.
The volume of losses has risen by one third since the last tally in August last year.
Moscow demands discounts of at least 50% on foreign asset sales.
It has steadily tightened exit requirements, and often accepts nominal sale prices of as little as one rouble.
So far this year, sales of assets owned by Shell, HSBC, Polymetal International and Yandex have been announced.
Those sales totalled nearly $10 billion and had discounts as high as 90%.
Last week, Danone said it received regulatory approvals to dispose of its Russian assets, taking a loss of $1.3 billion.
Western nations froze around $300 billion of the Bank of Russia's gold and foreign exchange reserves after the invasion of Ukraine.
Now Moscow has promised to retaliate against EU proposals to redistribute billions of euros in interest earned on its frozen assets.
It has warned of catastrophic consequences, and said any attempt to take its capital or interest is "banditry".
The state RIA news agency calculated the West could lose assets and investments worth at least $288 billion if Moscow retaliates - a number Reuters couldn't verify.
Moscow has already taken temporary control of assets owned by several Western companies, including Carlsberg and German energy firm Uniper.
But Moscow's hardline approach inflicts damage on Russia, too.
One lawyer and sanctions expert said a surprisingly large number of his clients had left Russia entirely.
He added they would likely be reluctant to return even after hostilities end.
It means useful technologies have left the country and Russia may no longer be able to support certain high-tech production in future.
