Investment Intelligence provides up-to-date private equity information and news designed for entrepreneurs, private equity investors and corporate acquirors interested in Central & Eastern Europe.

UFG Private Equity

UFG Asset Management (UFGAM) was established in 1996 as an arm of Russian investment bank United Financial Group. The two organizations split in 2003 with the sale of the bank, leaving UFGAM as an independent and privately owned venture.

UFG PE Part of Three-way Deal to Purchase Rising Star Media

Posted Tue, 26/01/2010 - 00:27

In an unusual three-way deal Charles Ryan, head of UFG Private Equity, has teamed up with Rising Star Media's Paul Heth and National Amusements' Shari Redstone to purchase Rising Star from National Amusements. Heth and Redstone, the daughter of American media mogul Sumner Redstone, founded Rising Star Media in 2002 to take advantage of the burgeoning Russian theatre market. Heth will serve as the Rising Star's CEO, Redstone will take the role of chairman, and Ryan will represent UFG in the venture. The three partners are committed to further expansion of Rising Star's Kinostar chain throughout Russia.

Yandex Offers Golden Share to Sberbank

Posted Sun, 11/10/2009 - 11:41

In a bid to prevent any single investor from accumulating more than a 25% share in Yandex NV (the Dutch holding company), the company has agreed to sell a priority or "golden" share to Russian state-owned Sberbank. The single share, to be purchased for €1 gives Sberbank veto power over anyone attempting to purchase a larger than acceptable stake. The decision is an attempt to allow Yandex to continue its strategy of governance without a single majority shareholder.

Yandex Raises Capital With Sale of Shares to UFG, BVCP, Tiger

Posted Thu, 17/09/2009 - 15:01

Rumors have been circulating around Russian search engine Yandex and its plans to raise several billion dollars in a future IPO. Now a handful of Yandex private investors including Oradell Capital have sold shares equalling a 9% stake in the company, to a group being managed by Baring Vostok, UFG Asset Management, and Tiger Global Management. With Yandex currently valued at USD 1.1 billion, the acquisition cost the group about USD 100 million but increased their total Yandex shares to nearly 60%.

UFG PE Fund II Receives $50m Commitment from the EBRD

Posted Wed, 15/07/2009 - 23:46

Citing renewed confidence in the strengthening Russian economy, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has agreed to a USD 50 million (€ 36 million) investment in UFG Asset Management's UFG Private Equity Fund II. UFG Private Equity is to be headed up by Robert Sasson & Charles Ryan both of whom have previous ties to the EBRD.

CEDC and Lion Capital Ink Russian Alcohol Deal

Posted Thu, 30/04/2009 - 22:41

A binding agreement has been announced between Lion Capital LLP and Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC) that increases CEDC's ownership in Russian Vodka producer Russian Alcohol Group. The complicated agreement calls for CEDC to eventually acquire sole management control over Russian Alcohol Group over a five year period. CEDC currently is a minority owner but will be immediately granted enhanced minority rights. When CEDC's payments to Lion and other investors reaches USD 230 million, they will jointly govern Russian Alcohol in a 50/50 joint deal with Lion. Upon reaching USD 380 million in payments, the company will gain sole majority control. CEDC retains the right to make its payments earlier than planned thereby gaining control sooner. The deal still faces certain government approvals.