Russia’s government, seeking to diversify its economy away from energy, is finding it difficult to lure international private-equity firms, even as investors turn to emerging markets. TPG co-founder David Bonderman is betting that, with the right connections, he’ll overcome a complex legal system, widespread corruption and competition from local oligarchs for assets. Doubters, including the Carlyle Group, aren’t buying.
“Russia is still perceived as the ‘Wild, Wild West,’ and the issues TPG is facing there aren’t helping,” said Jeremie Le Febvre, a partner at Triago, which helps companies raise funds. “Investors much prefer Asia and Latin America right now.”
After raising $1.4 billion over the past three years, Russian private-equity managers are seeking more than $4 billion this year and next as dealmaking is picking up. China, by contrast, attracted $28.6 billion from limited partners since 2008, India $15 billion and Brazil $5 billion as Western pension funds turn to fast-growing economies to meet increasing obligations, according to the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association.
“There will be intense fundraising activity in the next 12 months, and limited partners will take a fresh look at Russia,” said Mounir Guen, head of MVision Private Equity Advisers.
In March, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced a $10 billion private-equity fund, partly funded by the government and aimed at investing alongside international firms. He also created a working group to turn Moscow into a global financial center. It includes Stephen Schwarzman, chief executive of Blackstone Group, one of the world’s largest private-equity firms, along with Goldman Sachs’s Lloyd Blankfein and JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon.
State-owned Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, said it planned a $1 billion private-equity fund with Credit Suisse Group. The two companies will each contribute about $100 million.
‘Political risk’
Russia ranked as less attractive for private-equity deals than Brazil, India and China, as well as Africa and the Middle East, in the survey. Almost two-thirds of those questioned cited “political risk” as the main reason for avoiding the country.
Corruption in the local authorities as well as a small, volatile universe of fund managers are other deterrents, said Steven Cowan, a partner at 57 Stars, a Washington-based fund of funds investing in emerging markets for pension plans, including the California Public Employees’ Retirement System.
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