Zubr Capital, the first Belarusian private equity firm, has launched Zubr Capital Fund I (ZCFI) with capital commitments of USD50 million.
The fund plans to make long-term investments for a period of up to 10 years and will target Belarusian companies.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is the anchor investor of the fund, contributing USD12.5 million, a total which may be increased in the coming year.
ZCFI is aiming for a portfolio of five to seven companies with a focus on rapidly developing operators in the IT sector, producing consumer goods with high export potential, as well as retail companies.
“The importance of investments by funds is that they bring both money and expertise,” says Oleg Khusaenov, the CEO of Zubr Capital. “This is the so called ‘smart money’, that allows companies to grow and develop rapidly. The launch of the fund in Belarus is the evidence of the country’s financial markets ready and prepared to cooperate with western investors, businesses and experts in various fields. Traditionally the participation of private equity funds in a company is a sort of a mark of quality and a sign of confidence in it.”
