January 24 2008, 10:46

"Dyadya Vanya" bought Zakarpattya plant of Russian "Rich" (ТМ "Green Ray")

"Russkoye pole" holding (TM "Dyadya Vanya"), the large player of Russian market of canned fruits and vegetables, entered Ukraine. "Kommersant" got information that the company purchased "Green Ray" company, the property of Russian group "Rich". According to the experts' estimations, the sum of deal has not exceeded $ 3 mln.; it was profitable for both parties. Ukrainian plant was non-core for "Rich" group; but, it corresponds to the specialization of "Russkoye pole" holding.

Tigran Telunts, the owner of "Russkoye pole" holding told "Kommersant" about the finished deal on the sales of Ukrainian Joint Venture cannery "Green Ray", owned by Russian LLC "Group "Rich", to his company past week. He specified that 100% of the enterprise were purchased. Khasan Khadzhimuradov, the co-owner of Group "Rich" confirmed that "he has the desire to sell this plant, and "Russkoye pole" whishes to buy it". However, he proved that no deal had been signed yet. According to Mr. Telunts, the capacity of Ukrainian plant (located in Western Ukraine) is 10 mln. of jars per year. The experts estimate the annual turnover to be worth to $ 3 mln. The plant produces cucumbers, tomatoes, vegetable mixes and other canned products supplied to Russian and Ukrainian markets under Green Ray brand. "Green Ray" TM will remain the property of Group "Rich", Tigran Telunts specified. He said that "Russkoye pole" planned to use the plant facilities for the production of canned fruits & vegetables under own brand "Dyadya Vanya".

"Russkoye Pole" company produces and sells canned fruits and vegetables under "Dyadya Vanya" brand. The approximate volume of Russian plants capacity is 45 mln. of jars per year. Also, the company orders production on the plants of India, Thailand and China. The volumes of the abroad production are 40 mln. jars per year. According to the data of Tigran Telunts, the owner of the company, it generated around $80 mln. of profits in 2006.

Ukrainian plant of "Rich" group may cost not more than $ 3 mln., to the opinion of Maxim Protasov, the Chairman of the Directors Board, "Pomidorprom" cannery holding. "The deal is favorable for both parties. Ukrainian plant produces canned cucumbers - "Russkoye pole" sells predominantly canned cucumbers; to the contrary, canned corn production is the profile business for "Rich" group", he observed.

The market players say that Khasan Khadzhimuradov sells out the cannery assets. One of the players informs that group "Rich" has already sold Tikhoretskiy plant (Russia) for $ 2.5 mln. to "Solnechniy" cannery in Kuban region. The source close to "Rich" group told "Kommersant" that "Pomidorprom" holding claims for the third plant of the group, the largest "Tekhada" cannery. Khasan Khadzhimuradov made no comments about the reason for the assets sales.