Aurora Russia Limited
13 April 2007
13 April 2007
Aurora Russia Limited completes first stage of investment in Unistream Bank
Aurora Russia Limited ('Aurora Russia' or the 'Company'), the AIM-quoted
investment vehicle established to make equity or equity-related investments in
small and mid-sized private companies in Russia, announces today that it has
completed the first stage of its acquisition in Unistream Bank ('Unistream')
investing $13.6 million (£6.9 million) for a 17.7% stake. Once the approval of
the CBR has been received for Aurora Russia to purchase more than 20% of a
Russian bank, the Company will purchase an additional 8.3% stake for $6.4
million (£3.3 million), thereby bringing its total shareholding to 26% as
announced on 30 November 2006. The funds will be used to finance Unistream's
expansion across Russia over the next few years. Management accounts show that
$1.84 billion was transferred by Unistream in 2006 making it one of the leading
money transfer companies in Russia.
Commenting on the investment, James Cook and John McRoberts, two Directors of
Aurora Russia Limited, said:
'The Russian money transfer market is showing extremely high rates of growth and
is one of the fastest growing money transfer regions in the world. Unistream is
one of the market leaders in the money transfer business in Russia and is
continuing to increase its share of the market putting it in an extremely strong
position to capitalise on the growth in this sector.'
Enquiries
Aurora Russia Limited
James Cook, Moscow +7 495 644 1662
John McRoberts, London +44 (0) 20 7839 7112
Financial Dynamics
Ed Gascoigne-Pees +44 (0) 20 7269 7132
Felicity Murdoch +44 (0) 20 7269 7243
Notes to editors:
Aurora Russia
Aurora Russia floated on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock
Exchange on 24 March 2006. The Company has been established to make equity or
equity related investments in small and midsized private Russian companies
focused on the financial, business and consumer services sectors where the
Directors believe there is potential for growth together with viable exit
opportunities within two to four years of making such investments. The Company
intends to provide its investee companies with the necessary capital to continue
to expand and develop. The Manager shall provide hands-on operational support to
deliver significant step changes in performance and value creation.
Aurora Russia will target companies with Enterprise Values of up to
approximately £100 million and will seek to secure blocking or controlling
stakes and board representation. The Company intends generally to take equity
stakes of greater than 20% in each portfolio company. It is anticipated that
each equity investment will typically be between £5 million and £25 million.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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