News 25.07.2007
Great Circle Fund invests in Russian logistics sector STS Logistics receives a US$21.1 million investment
Moscow, Russia, July 25th, 2007 - Alfa Capital Partners announces Great Circle Fund’s investment of US$21.1 million in Moscow-based STS Logistics, a leading Russian freight forwarding, warehousing, and customs services provider with particular expertise in complex movements of oversized and non-standard goods associated with major projects throughout Russia and the CIS. The company’s clients include Intel, Komatsu, Ford and Otis. STS Logistics is the 2004 "Company of the Year – Leader in Transport industry," the 2005 "Best Forwarding Company," and the 2007 third place winner in the top 25 rating of Russian logistics companies provided by KIA-Center, a Russian logistics consulting firm.
"STS is a well established logistics provider with an outstanding reputation in the project logistics field and this well managed company is ideally placed to take advantage of the fast growing Russian construction and industrial sectors" said Richard Sobel, CEO of Alfa Capital Partners.
"We have been aggressively tracking the logistics sector in Russia and are delighted to team up with one of the leading logistics providers in Russia and the CIS," said Hew Crooks, a Partner with Great Circle Capital. "STS has a chance to take their state-of-the-art logistics business and expand it dramatically. Though their expertise in logistics and freight service is unmatched, they have sometimes lacked the warehouse space to offer their clients a fully integrated solution. We believe they are now poised for tremendous growth."
Proceeds from the Great Circle investment will be used to develop a network of Russian warehouses as well as open new offices to complement its existing 30 offices in Russia and the CIS.
"We needed this investment to realize our aggressive expansion plans," said Rustam Yuldashev, the CEO of STS Logistics. "We are very excited to have teamed up with such a strong and knowledgeable Western investor. This partnership will help us to grow our business and operate at the highest Western standards in terms of corporate governance and transparency. With this investment, we will create a network of 8-10 modern warehouses totaling 100 thousand square meters in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. As a result of this new investment, we establish ourselves as the only logistics provider in Russia that controls the whole chain of freight delivery: customs clearance, transport and warehousing."
________________________
Contacts:
Richard Sobel CEO
Alfa Capital Partners
+7 495 775-1828
Natalya Titova
Partner
STS Logistics
+ 7 495 775-0202
+31 172 234422
Paul Rapello
Partner
Great Circle Capital
+1 203 323-4363
Alfa Capital Partners, a leading Moscow-based private equity and real estate investment group, manages US$701 million in capital from international institutional and private investors alongside capital from Alfa Group. ACP is the regional manager for a US$180 million OPIC-sponsored Maritime Infrastructure Fund, the manager of a US$200 million private equity fund, Alfa Capital Private Equity, L.P., and the co-founder and joint manager of the Marbleton Property Fund, L.P. ACP seeks to invest in leading companies in Russia, Ukraine and the CIS.
Alfa Capital Partners is an affiliate of Alfa Group, one of Russia’s largest financial industrial groups. For more information on ACP, please visit www.alfacp.ru
The Great Circle Fund LP is a $180 million emerging markets private equity fund seeking leveraged buyout and expansion capital opportunities within the global transportation network. The Fund’s primary geographic focus is the countries of the former Soviet Union, Southeast Europe and Turkey. The Fund is sponsored by the United States Overseas Private Investment Corporation and managed by Great Circle Capital LLC, based in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. Moscow-based Alfa Capital Partners is the regional manager of the Fund. Probel Capital Management, based in Brussels, is an advisor to the Fund.
Great Circle Capital LLC is an investment management company specializing in private equity investing in the transportation and infrastructure sector in the emerging markets. Great Circle was founded in 2001 and is based in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. Great Circle Capital and affiliates are the General Partner and Investment Manager of the Great Circle Fund LP.
Please visit our website: www.greatcirclecapital.com
STS Logistics is an integrated logistics provider, offering freight transport by air, truck, rail and sea, to/from Russia, CIS and abroad, customs brokerage and warehouse management and services. STS is headquartered in Moscow, Russia and maintains 30 regional offices, including branches in CIS countries, the Netherlands, China, Japan, and the USA, as well as a network of partnerships around the world. The Company employs personnel of over 400.
Please visit our website: www.stslogistics.net |
