Dmytro Popov’s jewelry empire: How the businessman controls pawnshop chains and jewelry stores

Dmytro Popov’s jewelry empire: How the businessman controls pawnshop chains and jewelry stores

Dmytro Popov — an influential player in the Ukrainian pawnshop and jewelry market.

He is the beneficiary of several large-scale business structures, including the pawnshop networks «Partner», «Capital», and the jewelry group «Zolotyi Vik», which is part of the multi-brand corporation Union Group.

Pawnshops with Many Faces

The largest pawnshop network in the country — «Partner» — has more than 400 branches. However, different legal entities hide behind this name:

• «Partner» Mokiyenko and Company — 17 years in the market, beneficiaries — Nataliya Mokiyenko and Artur Popov;

• «Partner» Yehorova and Company — almost 4 years, owners — Olena Yehorova and Nataliya Popova;

• «Partner» Popov and Company — the youngest enterprise, 96% owned by Dmytro Popov, 4% — by his father Ivan Popov.

Additionally, Popov is associated with the pawnshop network «Capital», which legally inherits the assets of the company «Klimchuk and Company» — another old structure with a 16-year history.

Jewelry Business: Loud Brands and an Opaque Structure

The Union Group, controlled by Popov, includes large retail networks:

• «Golden Century» — 90 stores,

• «Silver Country» — 145 outlets,

• «Golden Country» — about 30 outlets,

• «Silver Age» and «DOMINANT» in Ocean Plaza, Kyiv.

However, behind the facade of shop windows lies a complex structure of dozens of companies. Many of them have minimal authorized capital and signs of fictitiousness, including:

• LLC «Jewelry Group» — UAH 690 million in authorized capital, among the owners are Dmytro Popov, his relatives, and partner Leonid Pogrebnyak;

• LLC «Jewelry Group» — established in 2017 with a modest UAH 18.6 thousand in authorized capital;

• PE «Jewelry Factory «Zolotyi Vik» — UAH 100 authorized capital, registered back in 2005;

• LLC «Jewelry Factory «Zolotyi Vik» — a manufacturer with a capital of UAH 10 thousand, 100% owned by Dmytro Popov;

• LLC «Zolotyi Vik №1» — intermediary company;

• LLC «Silver Country» and «Golden Country» — each has 21 types of activity, considered a sign of fictitiousness, with the authorized capital not exceeding UAH 3 thousand;

• LLC «Kairos XXI» — registered with authorized capital of UAH 1 thousand.

Business Model

Popov has built a complex business model where dozens of enterprises interact with each other as parts of one system. Some companies are used for trade, others for production, and some for tax optimization or avoiding control. Most structures are connected through relatives, partners, and old companies that are restructured or created for new needs.