Private Equity Russia

Alexander Samonov,  former co-owner of the supermarket chain “Kopeika” has announced that he is seeking investment and strategic partners for the creation of an investment fund for the construction of data centers in Russia.

Samonov has informed Kommersant that he will be investing $15 million personally and hopes to reach a total investments into the fund of $100 million.  They aim to secure an additional $100 million of debt financing.

They estimate they will be building around 6 data centers at planned financing levels.

The Moscow Times reports today that Jochen Wermuth of Wermuth Asset Management has announced that the firm will be raising a $200 million Russia-focused private equity fund this year.

The Greater Europe Private Equity fund will not be sector-specific, but will focus on consumer oriented companies in areas such as cable television and high-speed Internet. The fund will also focus on consumer-debt-collection, an industry that Wermuth has current portfolio investments in.

Wermuth Asset Management currently has $400 million under management, and has overseen over $1 billion of investments into Russia over the past decade.

A road show for The Greater Europe Private Equity Fund is scheduled to begin in March.