Project start: 2001
Project end: 2003

About the Company:
"Volga" (Balakhninsky PPP, Nizhegorodskaya Region) is one of the largest newsprint producers with a Russian market share exceeding 30%. It sells to 60 states; the major proportion of export goes to Western Europe (the most famous newspapers in the EU are printed on Volga-produced paper); production also goes to CIS countries, Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa.

Investment Appeal / Investment Idea of the Project:
The asset has a large potential for growth in value.
Growing home newsprint market, big share of exported production.
The enterprise is extremely appealing for strategic investors.

Role of the Investor:
At the time of its purchase, the PPP was at technical default with loan repayment to one of its shareholders. Having acquired control of Volga, Alfa-Group restructured the loan and stabilized the financial situation. The new management team formed by the shareholders carried out a number of measures with the purpose of upgrading the equipment, improving management efficiency, reducing costs and introducing sophisticated computer systems. Volga’s performance indicators now match the best in the industry. A large-scale new technology program was implemented to significantly improve the environmental impact of production.

Divestment:
Alfa-Group left the project be selling the shares to Russian strategic investor.