News


Antognolla Golf featured as Italy's Heavenly Heartland in Golf Monthy

Antognolla Golf, situated in Umbria in the centre of the country and also easily accessible from both Rome and Florence airports, was perhaps unfamiliar to many. Now its name is set to become synonymous with the European golf and leisure market. ‘Golf in the green heart of Italy’ couldn’t be more apt about a picturesque venue that has ultimately been reborn.

Read more

Pacific Links International Welcome Antognolla Golf to their Network

Antognolla Golf continues to demonstrate its re-emergence as a luxury golf property as it joins the Pacific Links International Network.


Read more

Jacopo Vecchi Fossa Crowned PGA of Italy Champion at Antognolla Golf

Jacopo Vecchi Fossa completed a wire to wire victory at Antognolla Golf, to become the 2019 PGA of Italy Champion. On the newly renovated Antognolla golf course, the twenty-five-year-old Fossa shot rounds of 64-65-68 for a winning score of 197, 16 under par.


Read more

The Residences at Hard Rock Hotel Davos featured as standalone piece in European CEO

The Residences at Hard Rock Hotel Davos was featured as a standalone piece in European CEO. The article highlights the fantastic investment opportunity for those who are seeking a charming, picturesque Alpine town.


Read more

VIY Greater Europe Hospitality Fund sold its stake in Radisson Blu Park Royal Palace Hotel in Vienna

VIY Greater Europe Hospitality Fund SICAV-SIF has today closed the sale of its stake in Radisson Blu Park Royal Palace Hotel in Vienna to the newly founded Luxembourg hotel fund ECHO Fund SCSp ("ECHO").


Read more

Residences at the Hard Rock Hotel Davos continue apartment sales

VIYM is happy to announce that one more apartment (69 m2) of the Residences at the Hard Rock Hotel Davos was sold in June 2019. Residences at the Hard Rock Hotel Davos are franchised by Hard Rock International.

Read more

Antognolla Golf Selected to Host the PGA of Italy Championship 2019

Antognolla Golf is proud to announce to be the host venue to the 2019 PGA of Italy Championship by +Energia.

2019 will see the 43rd edition of the PGA of Italy Championship, which this year is supported by title sponsor +Energia and is the premier annual event for PGA of Italy Golf Professionals. The inaugural Championship was played in 1977 and previous winners have included names such as Constantino Rocca and Francesco Molinari, the current reigning Open Champion. Returning to defend his crown at Antognolla will be Luca Cianchetti, who triumphed in 2018 at Castelgandolfo Golf Club.

Read more

Legendary Hard Rock Cafe Rock Shop® opened in Pulkovo Airport

New Rock Shop® - a souvenir store of the legendary global brand Hard Rock Cafe - was opened today at Pulkovo St. Petersburg Airport. This is first Russian Rock Shop® located in the airport terminal.

Read more

Residences at Hard Rock Hotel Davos featured in International Property & Travel March edition

Residences at Hard Rock Hotel Davos were included in a feature on Switzerland as an all season resort in the March issue of International Property & Travel.


Read more

Hard Rock Hotel Davos has been awarded best Christmas venue

Hard Rock Hotel Davos have been awarded best Christmas venue at the Prestigious Star Awards Grand Ball 2019.


Read more

Hard Rock Hotel Davos and residences

Hard Rock Hotel Davos greets guests of the World Economic Forum 2019 (WEF) second year in a row.

Read more

Grand Opening Hard Rock Cafe St Petersburg has been awarded Best New Opening 2018

Hard Rock Cafe St Petersburg was awarded “Best new opening 2018” on 30 January 2019. The award was presented during the Hard Rock International conference in Dubai - Annual General Meeting and Owners Meeting 2019.

Read more

Hard Rock Hotel Davos recognized by 2019 Travvy Awards

Hard Rock Hotel Davos was recognized in the Best Spa & Wellness Hotel/Resort – Europe silver category this week by 2019 Travvy Awards. It is the most prestigious awards in the industry today, receiving which is considered one of the top honors in the travel industry. This year 150 awards were presented recognizing travel suppliers and destinations’ excellence.

Read more

Nikolskie Ryady has been nominated as "Restoration of the year"

The object of cultural heritage "Nikolskie Ryady" was nominated in the "St. Petersburg and citizens of Saint Petersburg-2018" ceremony as the "Restoration of the year".

Read more

Family Doctor Medical Clinic Included In "The Best Clinics" Ranking

According to the medical portal "NaPopravku" Family Doctor Medical Clinic (Family Doctor) was included in the "Best Clinics" ranking in such specializations as pediatrics, dermatology and venereology, otorhinolaryngology, dentistry, proctology, gastroenterology in Moscow and dermatology and venereology in Saint Petersburg in 2018. The rating is based on the feedback of patients from private and public clinics. Being included in the ranking is once again a sign of the recognition of Family Doctor’s high quality medical care services.

Read more

Gloriette's Residences has completed the sale of all apartments

VIYM is pleased to announce Gloriette's Residences' project implementation. In November 2018 the remaining five apartments in the prestigious Gloriette's Residences complex in Vienna were sold. Thus, the project of the renovation and further sale of apartments on 5th and 6th floors of Radisson Blu Park Royal Palace Hotel has been successfully completed

Read more

Golden League takes part in MINEX RUSSIA 2018

Gold mining company Golden League has taken part in MINEX Russia 2018: Building Up Innovative Excellence in Mining and Exploration. The first project accelerator competition took place on 3 October 2018 at MineVenture, during which projects of the Noni and Bolotistoe deposits were presented. This business accelerator competition offered an opportunity to present developing projects to a group of investors and banks that are interested in supporting new objects of subsoil use.


Read more

Antognolla moves a step closer to reality

October marked an important milestone in the history of the Antognolla development. The news that the authorities found that the project would not be subject to the formal Environmental impact assessment (EIA) was gratefully received. This communication noted that all core design and environmental aspects were in compliance with the relevant statutory frameworks. The development moves a step closer to realisation as focus now turns to the Building permit submission that is scheduled for next month.

Read more

Hard Rock Hotel Davos named second best "Newcomer" Hotel of the year in Switzerland

Hard Rock Hotel Davos has been awarded second best "Newcomer" Hotel of the year in Switzerland within "The 222 best hotels in Switzerland" ranking by the Connoisseur Circle - an exclusive information service for Luxury Class travellers.

Read more

Gloriette’s Residences continue apartment sales

VIYM is happy to announce that one more apartment (154,4m2) located on the 6th floor of the prestigious Gloriette’s Residences complex in Vienna was sold in August.

Gloriette’s Residences is a complex of apartments on the top floors of Radisson Blu Park Royal Palace Hotel Vienna managed by the European hotel operator Austria Trend Hotels.

Read more

Rock Spa® Davos at Hard Rock Hotel Davos is now open!

The Hard Rock Hotel Davos always combines the power of music with the beauty of its location in the Swiss Alps to create an unforgettable experience for its guests. This philosophy is fully reflected in the newly opened Rock Spa® Davos through sights, sounds and other sensory experiences.

Read more

IHG continues to expand in Russia: The first Holiday Inn Express hotel opens in St Petersburg

International hotel operator InterContinental Hotels Group has opened its first Holiday Inn Express® hotel in St Petersburg. This is the fourth Holiday Inn Express® hotel to open in Russia this year.

Read more

Gloriette’s Residences continue apartment sales

VIYM is happy to announce that one more apartment (174,4m2) located on the 5th floor of the prestigious Gloriette’s Residences complex in Vienna was sold in June.


Read more

Legendary Hard Rock Cafe is opened in St Petersburg

A new branch of the legendary international Hard Rock Cafe chain opened in St Petersburg on 14 June. The cafe, designed to seat 200 in a 500 square metre premises, is located in the historical city centre on 62 Sadovaya Street not far from the Mariinsky Theatre and Saint Isaac’s Cathedral. An exclusive event, the Hard Hat Tour, was held to mark the opening and people were invited to be the first guest at the cafe.

Read more

The MEININGER Group has opened a hotel in St Petersburg

Since 28th of May the MEININGER group operates its first hotel in Russia. The MEININGER Hotel St. Petersburg Nikolsky offers a total of 158 rooms and is located in the heart of St. Petersburg in the former Nikolsky market halls on Sadovaya Street.


Read more

Syktyvkar Tissue group passes successfully regular certification

In April 2018 the Syktyvkar Tissue group has successfully passed Rosstandart voluntary certification of conformity of on organoleptic criteria, microbiological criteria, irritant effects sensitising indicators. Activities for certification were carried out in accredited laboratories and health authorities, Rosstandart certificates are valid for three years.


Read more

Syktyvkar Tissue Group becomes a party at the WWF Boreal forest platform

In April 2018 Syktyvkar Tissue Group joined WWF Boreal forest platform. This platform is a discussion platform for authorities and the forest industry, its main purpose is to promote the responsible harvesting of forest materials and implement mechanisms to encourage business to move to intensive forestry, which is fully consistent with the decree of the Russian Government.


Read more

Gloriette’s Residences continue apartment sales

VIYM is happy to announce that one more apartment (174,4m2) located on the 6th floor of the prestigious Gloriette’s Residences complex in Vienna was sold in April.

Read more

French Kiss became the winner of the “Best pastry chef – 2018” contest

French Kiss, a leading Russian premium handmade confectionary firm, was named the Best Pastry Chef in the nomination "The Best Handmade Sweets" according to the jury of Confectionery Industry Forum 2018 that was held in Moscow.

Read more

Percorso named the Best Fine Dining in St. Petersburg by TimeOut

Percorso restaurant at Four Seasons hotel Lion Palace St.Petersburg was named the Best Fine Dining in St. Petersburg in 2017 according to the jury of TimeOut St.Petersburg Restaurants Award. TimeOut Restaurants Award brings together the opinions of top experts from the industry – visitors.


Read more

First residence in Davos was sold in March 2018

VIYM is happy to announce that the first apartment (70 m2) located on the 2nd floor of the Hard Rock Hotel Davos was sold in March 2018. This is a crucial event for the company as it has potential to generate further sales.

Read more

VIYM's Managing Partner takes part in MIPIM 2018 international property exhibition in Cannes

The world's leading international property exhibition, MIPIM 2018, has come to a close in Cannes. For many years MIPIM has gathered the most influential players from diverse sectors of the international property market, offering unique access to development projects across the globe, construction firms, leaseholders, investment partners, and sources of financing.

Read more

SMS Group confirmed the high level of NPO Akhtuba technical capabilities

March 14-15, 2018 representatives of SMS Group visited the production site of NPO Akhtuba. During the visit, the prospects for the supply of furnace rollers and radiant tubes were discussed and an inspection technical audit was carried out. All technical issues related to the new project of the SMS Group (for the construction of heat treatment furnaces at one of the plants of Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH) were discussed with the Head of the furnace design division Frank Muller.

Read more

Hard Rock Hotel Davos included in NEWH’s Top Interior Design 2018 list

The Hospitality Industry Network (NEWH) has included the interior design of the Hard Rock Hotel Davos, by architects from British firm design bureau Woods Bagot, in its Top Interior Designers 2018 (TopID) list. This recognition of the Hard Rock Hotel’s design solutions once again serves to highlight the tremendous work carried out by Woods Bagot and the hotel’s team to retain the historic character of the site while reflecting contemporary trends in interior design and adding recognizable signature features of the Hard Rock brand.

Read more

The commencement of an infrastructure component at Antognolla

Antognolla S.p.a, the company responsible for design and construction phases of Antognolla, has commenced on the infrastructure component of the project to support the redevelopment of the castle and wider estate. These works mark the re-birth of the development and with it comes the promise of local employment and much needed boost to the local economy. The project will be undertaken by a joint venture of two local contractors.

Read more

Gloriette’s Residences continue apartment sales

VIYM is happy to announce that one more apartment (137m2) located on the 6th floor of the prestigious Gloriette’s Residences complex in Vienna was sold in February.

Gloriette’s Residences is a complex of apartments on the top floors of Radisson Blu Park Royal Palace Hotel Vienna managed by the European hotel operator Austria Trend Hotels.

Read more

French Kiss plans to renovate and reconstruct stores’ interior in 2018

French Kiss, a leading Russian premium hand-made confectionary firm, has planned to renovate and reconstruct the interior of its stores in 2018. In July 2017 the company opened a boutique in a new design and format in the "Avenue South-West" shopping mall, which became an excellent showpiece and furthered the company’s inspiration for design renovation of most of the stores.

Read more

Hard Rock Hotel Davos improves international recognition

First winter season for newly opened Hard Rock Hotel Davos is completed. Hotel first time welcomed guests of the World Economic Forum 2018 (WEF) in the end of January.

Read more

Austria Trend Hotels extend franchise cooperation with Radisson Blu

The Austria Trend Hotels, Austria’s largest hotel group, is entering into a franchise partnership with Radisson Blu, Europe’s largest upper-upscale hotel brand, for another one of its top hotels. VIYM, a private equity firm with extensive expertise in the hospitality industry, assisted Austria Trend on the deal.

Currently operating under the name of Austria Trend Hotel Park Royal Palace Vienna, the well-known superior 4-star hotel close to Schönbrunn Palace and Vienna’s Technical Museum will become a Radisson Blu franchise from January 2018. The Austria Trend Hotels have already had a successful cooperation with the Radisson Blu Hotel Altstadt in Salzburg since 2001.

Read more

NPO Akhtuba launches new production line with state support / Volgograd-TRV

At a recent press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin touched upon the development of the non-financial sector of the economy. It was announced that the country’s industrial production had grown and now exceeds 1.5%. In today’s world the groundwork for development is also created by local companies. A research and development facility, based in the Sredneakhtubinsky district, is preparing to launch a new production line. It will enable the manufacturer to develop new product lines. The project was made possible thanks to state support, as the company received a soft loan from the Industry Development Fund.

Read more

The Russian Supreme Court allows conservation professionals to reimburse VAT

The Russian Supreme Court’s Chamber for Commercial Disputes issued a ruling in the case brought by Novaya Gollandiya LLC and Nikolskie Riady JSC against St. Petersburg’s Tax Inspectorate No. 7, allowing the companies, involved in conservation and restoration work, to receive VAT reimbursements.

Read more

GNC opens first St. Petersburg store

Rusvit, one of Russia’s largest distributors of high-quality vitamins and minerals, sports nutrition and other dietary supplements, and also the exclusive holder of a franchise of the US firm GNC Holdings in Russia, is opening its first GNC-brand store at Galeria shopping and entertainment centre in St. Petersburg.

Read more

Andrey Yakunin meets investors in Asia

On 26 October 2017, the co-founder of VIYM private equity company Andrey Yakunin went on a ten-day investment tour around Asia visiting Ulaanbaatar, Beijing, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul. The main aim of the trip was to carry out marketing of new funds, establish partnerships with investors from Asia and conduct talks with potential investors interested in assets that are under VIYM’s management.

During his Hong Kong visit, in addition to meetings with potential investors and partners, Andrey Yakunin gave a speech at a breakfast seminar on “Russia: opportunities for Chinese corporate business”, organised by Russia’s leading law firm Pepeliaev Group together with influential business publication FinanceAsia.

Read more

Syktyvkar Tissue Group: company news

Syktyvkar Tissue Group (STG), one of the largest vertically integrated tissue paper production companies in Russia and the CIS, is pleased to share the Company’s latest key news. In October of this year, Cadilani line of professional hygienic and sanitary products produced under Veiro Professional brand for corporate clients (HORECA, offices, and passenger transport companies) reached the projected production volumes. Production capacity of the new line is over 500 tons of end products per month.

Read more

NPO Akhtuba announces a launch of the shaped casting production line at its site

In the end of October 2017, NPO Akhtuba, which specialises in producing the new generation of centrifugally cast pipes and related products, launched a new production line for shaped casting at its production site. One of the world’s leading producers of casting equipment, Germany-based company Förder- und Anlagentechnik GmbH (FAT), supplied the equipment for the line and provided its specialists to install and launch the equipment.

Read more

St. Petersburg TV: Restoration of Nikolsky Market: an 18th-century site takes on its historical appearance

Nikolsky Market on Sadovaya street is being restored. The famous 18th-century market is acquiring its traditional appearance. Until just recently, it seemed the building was not to be saved, but today its front shines in a historically accurate yellow colour. At the same time, plans to build underground parking and glass roof were abandoned.

Read more

Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg and the city once again receives international recognition

Four Seasons Lion Palace St. Petersburg, the first property of the international chain Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in Russia, has yet again confirmed its reputation as one of Russia’s top luxury hotels. Lobanov Presidential Suite at the hotel has been named “Russia's Leading Hotel Suite” at the 24th annual World Travel Awards. This year, for the first time ever, the award ceremony was held at the Marble Hall, Russian Museum of Ethnography in St. Petersburg, Russia, and brought together the elite of the hotel industry.

Read more

Andrey Yakunin is recognized for his “Contribution to the development of private equity industry in Russia and CIS”

Partner and co-founder of VIYM Andrey Yakunin received an award for his “Contribution to the development of private equity industry in Russia and CIS” at the industry’s most important annual event – IX Russian Private Equity Congress. Over 140 investor community representatives took part in the Congress and voted for the winner in this special nomination.

Read more

New clients for NPO Akhtuba

NPO Akhtuba, which specializes in producing pioneering centrifugally cast steel pipes and related products widely used in a variety of industries that have higher requirements for materials, has launched sales of petrochemical equipment for Russia's largest petrochemical company such as Sibur, Kazanorgsintez, Uralsintez

Read more

Dmitry Schuetzle participates in Kommersant’s business brunch “Property development in Saint Petersburg: historical legacy and innovation”

On August 18, 2017, publishing house Kommersant – with the participation of the chief architect of Saint Petersburg and the chairman of the Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture Vladimir Grigoriev – organized its annual business brunch “Property development in Saint Petersburg: historical legacy and innovation” in Saint Petersburg. Managing Partner of VIYM Dmitry Schuetzle was one of the speakers in the discussion of the modern image of Saint Petersburg.

Read more

Hard Rock International to Rock the Alps with Hard Rock Hotel Davos. Switzerland Ski Resort Slated to Open December 2017

With presence in more than 70 countries across the globe, Hard Rock International is expanding its hotel portfolio to the Swiss Alps, announcing plans to open Hard Rock Hotel Davos. Working in collaboration with International Hospitality Service AG (“IHS"), the owner of Spenglers Hotel and Holsboer Residences in Davos, Hard Rock will electrify the region in December 2017. VIYM, a private equity firm with extensive expertise in the hospitality industry, consulted IHS on the deal.

Read more

Russian GNC Holdings franchise signs a supply agreement with the Russian Olympic team

The Russian franchise of U.S. company GNC Holdings has signed an agreement to supply GNC nutritional supplements and protein powders to the Russian Olympic team. The agreement allowed the company to become one of the team’s top suppliers.

Read more

Syktyvkar Tissue Group: company news

Syktyvkar Tissue Group (STG), one of the largest vertically integrated tissue paper production companies in Russia and the CIS, is pleased to share the company’s results for the first half of 2017.

Read more

The 2017 Antognolla Open becomes the first international golf tournament to be held in Umbria

On the 8th and 9th July 2017, the 2017 Antognolla Open became the first international golf tournament to be held in the Italian province of Umbria. It was sponsored by Antognolla S.P.A., the developer of the Antognolla Luxury Resort and Residences hotel project, which is set to open its resort and villas in 2020 following an extensive multi-million EUR renovation.

Read more

Dmitry Schuetzle spoke at the International Business Forum of Property

Dmitry Schuetzle participated in the International Business Forum of Property “Russia for investors – investors for Russia” in Moscow.

Read more

ViaTech signs an agreement to hold commercial pilot testing in Sudan in collaboration with Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company (GNPOC)

ViaTech has signed an agreement to hold commercial pilot testing in Sudan in collaboration with Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company (GNPOC). In August 2017, the project will be executed for 20 days at four oil wells in the southern part of North Sudan.

Read more

HONKANOVA sponsors the SPIEF Gazprombank Private Banking Golf Tournament 2017

3 June 2017. The second stage of the golf championship organised by Gazprombank Private Banking took place in St Petersburg. The tournament itself consists of a number of stages in different locations, including overseas. This stage was held as part of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, with participation from clients and friends of Gazprombank Private Banking, as well as elite package forum participants.

HONKANOVA, VIYM’s portfolio company, was one of the event sponsors. During the tournament, guests were provided with detailed information about the company’s project. On the tournament itself, as well as during the gala dinner and award ceremony, advertising materials about the project were distributed. Representatives of HONKANOVA and the project developers participated in awarding tournament winners.

Read more

Four Seasons Lion Palace St. Petersburg hosts St. Petersburg International Economic Forum guests

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) came to a close on 3 June 2016. This year, a record number of participants attended the forum including more than 14,000 business representatives, heads of international organizations, officials, experts, scientists and journalists from 143 countries. During these eventful days, the Four Seasons Lion Palace St. Petersburg once again confirmed its position as one of the city's best luxury class hotels, offering guests high-quality service and luxurious historic interiors.

Read more

Nikolskiye ryady launches Holiday Inn Express model room

VIYM is excited to announce the completion of construction works on the Holiday Inn Express model room in the hotel complex Nikolskiye ryady, which is under construction at the moment. By now, the model room has been inspected by the hotel operator (InterContinental Hotels Group) and recognized as the best newly opened Holiday Inn Express model room in Russia.

Read more

French Kiss Opens Third Cafe in its French Kiss Patisserie Chain in Moscow

One of the leading Russian premium hand-made confectioners, French Kiss, has opened the third cafe in its French Kiss Patisserie chain located near Kitay-gorod metro station, at Maroseyka Street.

Read more

New clients for NPO Akhtuba

At the end of May, NPO Akhtuba, which specializes in producing pioneering centrifugally cast steel pipes and related products widely used in a variety of industries that have higher requirements for materials, announced that it has launched sales of petrochemical equipment for Sibur, Russia's largest integrated gas processing (by volume) and petrochemical company in the country. Today, it is producing over a quarter of all liquefied petroleum gas in Russia, from 30 to 49% of different rubbers, 16% of polyethylene, and considerable part of other petrochemical products in the Russian market.

Read more

VIYM's Managing Partner attends 19th Annual Global Private Equity‬ Conference

Andrey Yakunin, Managing Partner of VIYM, attended 19th Annual Global Private Equity Conference, which is traditionally hosted by IFC (International Finance Corporation) in close association with EMPEA (Emerging Markets Private Equity Association) in early May in Washington. During the conference, he took active part in a rich and varied programme of events organized for participants to expand their contact base, hold talks with partners, take part in conference sessions and round tables, engage with the media, and present companies’ current projects.

Read more

VIYM representatives visit Perugia

In the second half of May 2017, VIYM investment fund representatives paid an official visit to Perugia, the capital city of Italy’s Umbria region where VIY Greater Europe Hospitality Fund is undertaking the full-scale reconstruction and modernisation project of the 560-hectare medieval Antognolla estate into a premium-class hotel and living complex.

Read more

ViaTech starts the development project at a Tatneft field

In the beginning of May 2017, the management of Russian oil company Tatneft made a decision to include the oil well ultrasonic treatment technology developed by ViaTech in the list of 2017 pilot development projects as one of the perspective methods of enhanced oil recovery from failing oil wells that is of a potential interest for the company in future. As the result of this decision, ViaTech is planning to start the pilot development project using the new ultrasonic technology of oil well stimulation in early June.

Read more

VIYM presents Holsboer Residences in Davos and Gloriettes Residences in Vienna at a London property exhibition

For the first time, VIYM presented Holsboer Residences complex located in Davos and Gloriettes Residences complex in Vienna at Property Investor&Homebuyer Show 2017 exhibition in London.

Property Investor&Homebuyer Show is one of the leading property exhibitions in Europe that unites not only European participants, but also representatives from America and Asia. During the event, attendees can visit over 100 stands, attend over 70 seminars and meet key players in the property sector.

Read more

Spenglers Hotel Davos named one of Top-30 best new resort hotels by Handelszeitung

Spenglers Hotel Davos, which received an official four-star certificate in late March 2017, was named one of the Top-30 best new resort hotels by Swiss newspaper Handelszeitung. Handelszeitung is based in Zürich and is a leading Swiss business publication with more than 100 thousand readers.

Read more

Golden League’s results of 2016 field season at the Noni gold deposit in the Khabarovsk Territory

Gold extraction company Golden League has completed its 2016 field season at the Noni gold deposit. Past field season allowed to confirm the potential two-fold growth in the company’s gold reserves at up to 20 tonnes. Noni gold reserves amount to 10 tonnes (322 ths ounces) in C1+C2 categories, with an average grade of 4.86 c/t. Experts forecast potential growth in the company’s gold reserves at over 40 tonnes.

Read more

Spenglers Hotel Davos receives 4-stars from Swiss Hotel Association

At the end of March 2017, Spenglers Hotel Davos, located in one of the oldest and most popular Swiss resorts, received an official four-star certificate from Swiss Hotel Association.

Read more

VIYM's Managing Director takes part in MIPIM 2017 international property exhibition in Cannes

The world's leading international property exhibition, MIPIM 2017, has come to a close in Cannes. For many years MIPIM has gathered the most influential players from diverse sectors of the international property market, offering unique access to development projects across the globe, construction firms, leaseholders, investment partners, and sources of financing.

Read more

VIYM invests in GNC vitamins and supplements retail chain’s Russia expansion

The investment firm VIYM, which specialises in growth capital and real estate investment across the CIS and Europe, announces that it has acquired a minority stake in Rusvit, one of Russia’s largest distributors of high-quality vitamins and minerals, sports nutrition and other dietary supplements. Rusvit is also the exclusive holder of a franchise of the US firm GNC Holdings in Russia, under which brand it is actively developing its own retail chain. The stake and investment amount are not disclosed.

Read more

VIYM announces the official opening of Spenglers Hotel, Davos

VIYM is pleased to announce the official opening of the 4-star Spenglers Hotel in Davos. The Spenglers Hotel's technical opening took place on 15 December 2016, on the eve of the World Economic Forum and marked the completion of the first phase of the project to restore the 3-star Alexander Grand Hotel into an upscale 4-star hotel development, comprising an 80-room hotel and Holsboer Residences’ 31 serviced apartments (with 7 apartments available in phase 1). The design concept for the hotel and apartment complex was developed by leading international architectural firm Woods Bagot.

Read more

Syktyvkar Tissue Group launched a new hygienic and sanitary paper production line

Syktyvkar Tissue Group (STG) – a leading Russian producer of hygienic and sanitary paper – has officially announced that it launched a new production line of professional hygienic and sanitary products for corporate clients (HORECA, offices, and passenger transport companies) based at its Semibratovo production facility in the Yaroslavl Region. New products come in form of one- and two-ply V-fold

Read more

Agro-Alliance photo series wins a prize at "Best of Russia-2016" photo project

VIYM is happy to announce that Agro-Alliance photo series won a prize at “Best of Russia-2016” photo contest in “Architecture” nomination. Photos from the series were taken by a professional Russian photographer Mikhail Rozanov at the company’s facilities in Krasnodar region.

The photoshoot dedicated to VIYM portfolio companies took place to celebrate the company's 10th birthday in April 2016. “Every Mikhail's photograph is an attempt to present our projects as living organisms with their own mood and personality. Agro-Alliance photo series’ participation in “Best of Russia” project is a proof of Mikhail’s success,” noted Dmitry Schuetzle, Managing Director of VIYM.

Read more

«Nikolskie Ryady» to preserve its historic colour

The restoration works of a historic Nikolskie Ryady building, situated in the heart of St. Petersburg, is in full swing. The completion of works is planned for Summer 2018 when a new multifunctional hotel complex including a three-star Holiday Inn Express hotel and a hostel operated by Meininger Hotels will be opened.

By now, a whole number of works has already been completed: the design concept of the hotel complex has been developed together with the hotel operators; architectural firm “Liteynaya Chast 91” presented the design for public spaces and the courtyard; restoration work of building’s facades has started and is well under way.

As mentioned before, the project and the new concept focus on retaining original historical features of the construction. Thus, one of the key decisions was to preserve the historic colour of the Nikolskiy Market building.

Read more

French Kiss: 2016 Year in Review

French Kiss, a leading Russian premium hand-made confectionary firm, reported on the results of 2016 medium-term development strategy implementation. Last year, the company has opened four new boutiques and two cafes, rebranded and expanded its product line, increasing its revenue by 30%.

French Kiss currently occupies a solid position on the Russian premium chocolate market. The company’s distribution network consists of 24 of its own boutiques and cafes in Moscow and 10 franchise stores in other Russian cities.

Read more

Four Seasons Lion Palace St. Petersburg: 2016 Year in Review

In 2016, Four Seasons Lion Palace St. Petersburg has once again confirmed its reputation as one of St. Petersburg’s top luxury hotels by not only impressing its clients with impeccable hotel service and luxurious historic interiors, but also delivering excellent operating results and maintaining its leadership position on the luxury hotel market of the city.

Read more

CUT-Service held a presentation for one of Kazakhstan’s biggest oil companies KazMunaiGas Exploration Production JSC

At the beginning of the year, CUT-Service held a presentation for the management of one of Kazakhstan’s biggest oil companies KazMunaiGas Exploration Production JSC which owns 41 oil and gas fields across Kazakhstan. During the presentation, CUT-Service showed its unique ultrasound bottom-hole zone treatment technology which aims at increasing the flow rate of oil wells.

Read more

NPO Akhtuba signed an agreement with German company FAT as part of the development investment programme

In the beginning of January 2017, NPO Akhtuba, which specialises in producing the new generation of centrifugally cast pipes and related products, signed a cooperation agreement with one of the world’s leading casting equipment suppliers, Germany-based company Förder- und Anlagentechnik GmbH (FAT). The agreement was signed as a part of the development investment programme, which NPO Akhtuba is implementing together with the Russian Industrial Development Fund. According to the agreement, the German company will deliver equipment necessary for creating a new production line for shaped casting. NPO Akhtuba plans to launch the shaped casting production line and start new product manufacture by the end of 2017.

Read more

Spenglers Hotel Davos successfully passed the certification audit by Swiss Hotel Association hotelleriesuisse to receive 4-stars

In early January 2017, Spenglers Hotel Davos successfully passed the certification audit by Swiss Hotel Association hotelleriesuisse to receive 4-star hotel status. The status will be officially awarded in Q1 of 2017

Read more

MEININGER Hotels and VIYM announce their first partnership in Russia

MEININGER Hotels, Europe’s leading hotel group, and private equity firm VIYM, which specialises in growth capital and hospitality investments across Russia, CIS and Europe, have today announced the signing of a management agreement. The resulting project will see Germany’s MEININGER Hotels open their first ever hotel-hostel hybrid in Russia, as part of VIYM’s Nikolskiye Ryady development in Saint Petersburg.

Read more

Gloriette’s Residences make first apartment sales

VIYM is happy to announce that the first apartment (177 m2) located on the 5th floor of the prestigious Gloriette’s Residences complex in Vienna was sold in late November. This is a crucial event for the company as it has potential to generate further sales.

Read more

Spenglers Hotel Davos welcomes its first guests

On December 15 a four-star Spenglers Hotel in Davos will start operating in test mode. Spenglers Hotel will hold open days on December 16 and 17 for all those interested in visiting the hotel complex. The official opening is planned for March 2017.

Read more

Family Doctor clinic participated in a global public #GivingTuesday initiative

Family Doctor clinic participated in a global public #GivingTuesday initiative aimed at helping charities worldwide. As part of this initiative Family Doctor provides “Making friends” medical care programme certificates to children under guardianship of volunteers of interregional public organization “Big Brothers Big Sisters” (BBBS).

Read more

Family Doctor Medical Clinic Included In Top-50 Ranking of Russian Private Multi-specialty Clinics

Family Doctor Medical Clinic (Family Doctor) was included in the first Top-50 ranking of Russian private multi-specialty clinics. The ranking was created based on the data provided by analysts of a healthcare industry business magazine Vademecum. Vademecum’s revenue-based rating includes Top-100 Russian private multi-specialty clinics, among which Family Doctor ranks 42nd.

Read more

Managing Director of VIYM took part in a conference organised by Sberbank

Managing Director of VIYM Dmitry Schuetzle took part in a conference entitled “Into the Future: Russia’s Role and Place” organised by Sberbank. During the conference world’s leading experts and futurologists discussed main global trends, Russia’s role and place in the everchanging world and ways to realize the country’s potential in the sphere of technological development.

Read more

AFK ‘Sistema’ aсquires RHC’s Hotels

The investment firm VIYM, which specialises in growth capital and real estate investment across the CIS and Europe, has today announced the signing of a binding contract, stipulating the sale of  ‘Regional Hotel Chain’ (‘RHC’), where VIYM has played the role of development consultant, to the holding company AFK ‘Sistema’. RHC is one of the largest mid-market hotel chains in Russia, offering hospitality services from leading international brands, including: Park Inn by Radisson, Holiday Inn Express and Courtyard by Marriott. The sum of the transaction is RUB 6.6 bln, which includes banking debt, as identified on the day of the deal closure. Colliers International acted as a consultant for the deal.


Read more

Moscow Region Urban Planning Council has approved the construction project of the hotel and business complex in Odintsovsky District

VIYM is happy to announce the construction of the hotel and business complex at the first kilometer of Rublevo-Uspenskoye highway. The decision to implement the project was made at a Moscow Region Urban Planning Council board meeting on November 1, 2016.

Read more

Family Doctor Medical Clinic Included In Top-50 Ranking of Russian Private Multi-specialty Clinics

Family Doctor Medical Clinic (Family Doctor) was included in the first Top-50 ranking of Russian private multi-specialty clinics. The ranking was created based on the data provided by analysts of a healthcare industry business magazine Vademecum. Vademecum’s revenue-based rating includes Top-100 Russian private multi-specialty clinics, among which Family Doctor ranks 42nd.

Read more

Percorso named the best fine dining restaurant in Russia by TripAdvisor

Travel website TripAdvisor announced its Travelers’ Choice Awards rating of the world’s best restaurants. This year, TripAdvisor users voted Percorso at the Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg number one fine dining restaurant in Russia.

Read more

Family Doctor Medical Clinic Sets Another Record

Family Doctor Medical Clinic is happy to announce that it set a new clinic attendance record on October 17, 2016 – for the first time in Family Doctor’s history, clinics of the chain served over 1,000 patients in one day.

Read more

French Kiss opens a new boutique in Moscow after rebranding

French Kiss, a leading Russian premium hand-made confectionary firm, has announced an opening of its new boutique in Evropark mall at Rublevskoye Shosse. The launch of this French boutique is a new step in the company’s medium-term development strategy. Founded in 2003, the company’s distribution network consists of 24 of their own boutiques and cafes in Moscow and 10 franchise stores in other Russian cities.

Read more

VIYM took part in Russia’s VIII Private Equity Congress

Dmitry Schuetzle, Managing Director of VIYM, took part in Russia’s VIII Private Equity congress organised by Preqveca, information management and analytical centre, and Cbonds Congress company.

Read more

Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg and the city once again receive international recognition

Yet again this year, the Four Seasons Lion Palace St. Petersburg, the first property of the international chain Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in Russia, has received an international award. Luceo Spa within the Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg has been recognised as “Russia’s Best Hotel Spa” during the World Spa Awards 2016 ceremony in Sardinia, Italy.

Read more

VIYM's Hotel Projects Receive HolidayCheck and Hotels.com Awards

VIYM's hotel projects have been recognised by major tourism websites with key industry awards, further testifying to our brands' performance and high quality of service provided.

Park Inn by Radisson Yaroslavl was awarded a HolidayCheck Quality Certificate and Park Inn by Radisson Novosibirsk received an Outstanding Certificate from Hotels.com.

Read more

STG Boosts Capacity

Syktyvkar Tissue Group (STG), one of the largest vertically integrated tissue paper production companies in Russia and the CIS (12% of the Russian market) has officially announced that it has achieved design speeds of 2000 m/minutes on the paper production machine at its Semibratovo production facility in the Yaroslavl Region.

Read more

VIY GREATER EUROPE HOSPITALITY FUND INCREASES ITS SHARE IN HOSPITALITY ASSETS IN ITALY

VIY Greater Europe Hospitality Fund, based in Luxembourg, is spearheading an ambitious redevelopment initiative in the Umbria region of Italy. In the investors’ interests, the Fund has successfully closed the deal of acquiring a major stake in the company that is undertaking the redevelopment of the medieval Antognolla Estate.

Read more

Viatech ramps up activity in China

Viatech, which specialises in developing advanced ultrasound technologies to enhance oil recovery, held a roadshow for Chinese oil companies on 8 July 2016, in the city of Xi'an in China's Shaanxi province, in conjunction with the China Research Institute of Radiowave Propagation (CETC-22). The roadshow aims to familiarise Chinese firms with Viatech's advanced ultrasound technologies designed for use on the bottom hole formation zone to intensify oil-well production.

Read more

Industry Development Fund Offers Loan to Support NPO Akhtuba

In late June 2016, NPO Akhtuba's CEO Ruslan Khomutov presented his 'Import Substitution Project for Products aimed at the Petrochemical and Metals Industries' at a meeting of the Russian Industry Development Fund's Expert Committee. His proposal received unanimous support from the Expert Committee, and the Industry Development Fund decided to offer NPO Akhtuba a loan.

Read more

Family Doctor Medical Clinic Hits New Highs

Family Doctor Medical Clinic is glad to announce that it now serves over 300,000 patients – an all-time high for the organisation.

Read more

Four Seasons Lion Palace St. Petersburg Hosts St. Petersburg International Economic Forum Guests

The 20th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) came to a close on 18 June 2016. Over the three days the forum was on, 12,000 people from more than 130 countries flocked to St. Petersburg and the Four Seasons Lion Palace St. Petersburg once again confirmed its position as one of the city's best luxury class hotels, offering guests high-quality service and luxurious historic interiors.

Read more

French Kiss Opens Second Cafe in its French Kiss Patisserie Chain, in Belaya Dacha Outlet Village

One of the leading Russian premium hand-made confectioners, French Kiss, has opened the second cafe in its French Kiss Patisserie chain, in Belaya Dacha Outlet Village outside Moscow.

Read more

VIYM's Hotel Projects Awarded TripAdvisor Quality Certificates for 2016

VIYM's hotel projects have once again been recognised by the world's largest travel website, TripAdvisor. Holiday Inn Voronezh and Park Inn by Radisson Yaroslavl have been awarded TripAdvisor certificates for 2016.

Read more

French Kiss opens first café in French Kiss Patisserie chain

One of Russia’s leading premium hand-made confectioners, French Kiss, has opened the first café in its French Kiss Patisserie chain, at Kuznetsky Most 12/3, Building 1, Moscow.

Read more

Construction Work Concludes on Model Apartment at Spenglers Hotel, Davos

Investment firm VIYM is glad to announce the completion of construction work on a model apartment in the 4 star hotel complex Spenglers Hotel, Davos.

Read more

Four Seasons Lion Palace – attracting new talents

VIYM is glad to announce that, from 25 April 2016, Felix Murillo has joined the Four Seasons Lion Palace team as General Manager.

Read more

ViaTech Takes Part in Neftegaz-2016

The 16th international exhibition Equipment and Technologies for Oil and Gas Industries, Neftegaz-2016, which ran from 18-21 April 2016 at Expocentre, was a major event for the domestic and international oil and gas sector.

Read more

ViaTech Takes Part in Neftegaz-2016

The 16th international exhibition Equipment and Technologies for Oil and Gas Industries, Neftegaz-2016, which ran from 18-21 April 2016 at Expocentre, was a major event for the domestic and international oil and gas sector.

Read more

Exclusive interview of Vademecum, VIYM's Managing director shared his view on healthcare in the crisis

Investment firm VIY Management entered the healthcare market two years ago. Resources from one of its partner-funds was directed to the Family Doctor network of clinics in Moscow, but there was not much focus on its level of involvement in this business or the sector as a whole. In late April, Family Doctor opened its sixth clinic in Moscow, and VIYM says the network plans to continue its expansion in the capital and in St. Petersburg, as it delays the initial plan for regional expansion. VIYM’s Managing Director Dmitry Schuetzle talks to Vademecum about the Family Doctor project, and how the investment fund evaluates the medical business.

Read more

VIYM celebrates its 10th anniversary

VIY Management celebrated the 10th anniversary of its founding in April this year. This has been a complex and challenging 10 years, and we opened offices across Europe (London, Luxembourg, Moscow, St. Petersburg), successfully invested in over 15 projects in four European countries, creating over 2,000 jobs, and also registered two PE funds in Luxembourg: VIY Greater Europe Hospitality Fund and VIY Growth Fund. In March 2016, VIYM was certified as an Alternative Investment Fund Manager, acting in accordance with the Luxembourg Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD).

But even more importantly for us, over these years we have accrued invaluable experience, and VIYM can consider itself a leader on the Russian PE market. The company's services were recognised at the VII Russian Private Equity Congress, where VIYM won second place in the category 'Best Private Equity Team in Russia, 2015.'

Read more

Family Doctor opens new clinic at Baumanskaya in Moscow

Family Doctor has opened a new clinic in Moscow, located not far from Baumanskaya metro station at Baumanskaya Ulitsa 58/25, Korpus 12. This clinic is a modern multipurpose medical centre providing treatment in 40 key areas of medicine, offering patients comprehensive medical care from diagnosis to treatment, prevention and rehabilitation for a range of medical issues. The clinic will also offer two new areas of treatment: dietology and medical genetics, which are not available in any other Family Doctor clinic.

Read more

Volgograd Region Administration to help NPO Akhtuba receive state support

NPO Akhtuba, in the Sredne-Akhtubinsk district of Volgograd Region, hosted a meeting chaired by the head of the Regional Committee for Industry and Trade Roman Bekov, focused on developing cooperation in industry, and involving SMEs in state support programmes, according to a press release from the Volgograd Region Administration.

Read more

VIYM’s hotel projects among the best in the Travellers’ Choice Awards 2016

VIYM’s hotel projects are distinguished one more year in several categories in the Top 25 of Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2016 in Russia.

Read more

Golden League confirms Khabarovsk Territory gold reserves at Noni mine

Gold extraction company Golden League has confirmed to the Territorial Committee for Mineral Reserves (SSC Dalnedra), that Noni mine gold reserves amount to 10 tonnes (322 ths ounces) in C1+C2 categories, with an average grade of 4.86 c/t. Experts forecast potential growth in the company’s gold reserves at over 40 tonnes.

Read more

VIYM takes part in MIPIM 2016 international property exhibition in Cannes

The world's leading international property exhibition, MIPIM 2016, has come to a close in Cannes. For dozens of years, MIPIM has gathered the most influential players from diverse sectors of the international property market, offering unique access to development projects across the globe, construction firms, leaseholders, investment partners and sources of financing.

Read more

French Kiss begins producing biscuits

One of the leaders in the Russian hand-made, premium confectionary market, French Kiss, has officially started producing their own line of biscuits at their Moscow factory.

Read more

Syktyvkar Tissue Group Rostov subsidiary to increase production by a third

Rostov Governor Sergey Yastrebov has held talks with Syktyvkar Tissue Group CEO Mark Reznik to discuss future developments at the Rostov subsidiary, investment projects, possible support from federal and regional authorities and the possibility of signing a social-economic partnership agreement.

Read more

Four Seasons Lion Palace – an inspiring start to the year

The Hotel Four Seasons Lion Palace in St Petersburg has once again confirmed its reputation as one of the city’s top luxury hotels. Not only did it impress its clients with impeccable service, in particular the unsurpassable grandeur of its Christmas decorations, but it also delivered the best results it has seen so far for the first part of the year.

Read more

VIYM portfolio company NPO Akhtuba enters new market

NPO Akhtuba, which specialises in producing pioneering centrifugally cast steel pipes and related products widely used in a variety of industries that have higher requirements for materials used, has announced that it has launched sales to the petrochemicals industry. The company's main client had previously been the iron and steel industry.

Read more

Spenglers Hotel – the final countdown

VIYM is happy to announce that it has launched a construction project to comprehensively redevelop the 3-star hotel Alexander Grand Hotel, located in the very centre of Davos, and upgrade it to a 4-star hotel complex Spenglers Hotel. This new complex will be managed by a leading international hotel operator, and will have 80 fully equipped, modern rooms and 31 serviced apartments.

Read more

Regional Hotel Chain reached the finale of Russian Hospitality Awards

Regional Hotel Chain (RHC), a portfolio company of VIYM and one of the largest developers of internationally branded hotels in Russia, became a finalist of Russian Hospitality Awards 2015 of the category "Developer of the Year” and entered the TOP 3 list of the best hotel developers in Russia.

Read more

Syktyvkar Tissue Group's investment project in new paper production facilities recognised as a complex investment project in a priority Russian consumer industry

The investment project to launch a unique production line making hygiene products destined for corporate clients (HORECA, offices, passenger transport companies etc) – V-fold paper towels – implemented by Syktyvkar Tissue Group (STG) at its new production facility in the village of Semibratovo (Yaroslav Region), has been recognised by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade as a complex investment project in a key consumer industry sector.

Read more

French Kiss goes from strength to strength in 2015

French Kiss, a leading Russian premium hand-made confectionary firm has reviewed its performance after a successful 2015.


Read more

French Kiss opens new boutiques in Moscow

French Kiss, a leading Russian premium hand-made confectionary firm has opened four new boutiques in Moscow as part of its medium term development strategy. Today the company has 23 boutiques in Moscow and 18 franchise shops in other cities across Russia.

French Kiss currently occupies a solid position on the Russian market, in addition to developing its retail network, the number of French Kiss chocolate boutiques is set to nearly double in the coming years, and the company is also actively investing in production.

Read more

VIYM hosts V*Jazz Party in downtown Moscow

VIYM’s friends and partners gathered for the V*Jazz Party at the downtown Moscow bar Ne Dlya Vsekh. Leading Russian and international figures from the finance and investment world came together for the VIYM-hosted event to discuss the current climate and future prospects for the sector in an informal setting.

VIYM welcomed over 140 guests including representatives of major Russian banks (Sberbank, VTB, Gazprombank, Alfa Bank and others), leading Russian and international investment firms (including Elbrus Capital, CapMan, Da Vinci Capital, UFG, Itech Capital, Unicorn Capital), as well as private investors who shared their thoughts on the Russian private equity sector today.

Read more

Russian travel site OneTwoTrip raises $4 million in funding from Vostok New Ventures

OneTwoTrip, the Russian travel booking website operating in Russia, Europe and CIS, has secured $4 million in fresh funding from Vostok New Ventures. The deal was disclosed in the nine-months report of the Swedish fund.

Launched in 2011, the startup offers online booking of flight tickets and hotels. The company raised an $8 million round from an undisclosed investor in March 2015.

Read more

PERE Family Office & Private Investor Forum in Singapore gathers leading experts on private equity real estate

The PERE Family Office & Private Investor Forum on opportunities for private equity investment in high-end retail has come to a close in Singapore. Leading experts in this sector gathered in Singapore to discuss key regions and areas for investment in real estate in today’s macro-economic climate.

Read more

Dmitry Schuetzle takes part in Private Equity International Family Office & Private Investor Forum in Singapore

The Private Equity International Family Office & Private Investor Forum has come to a close in Singapore. In addition to events held by PEI Alternative Insight in Zurich, Hong Kong, Melbourne, and Paris, the Singapore forum provides an unrivalled platform for interaction with family offices and private investors from across Asia.

Read more

Dmitry Schuetzle takes part in Investing in Healthcare conference in Moscow

On 30 October the second annual Investing in Healthcare conference came to a close in Moscow, having gathered key representatives from banks, private equity funds, medical providers, private clinics, and other market players, to discuss pressing issues in the sector.

Read more

Andrey Yakunin takes part in conference on investing in the hotel sector in Russia and the CIS

The annual Russia & CIS Hotel Investment Conference ended on 28 October. VIYM’s co-founder and managing partner Andrey Yakunin took part in two panel discussions during the conference, about the future and long-term development trends on the Russian market, and evaluating the current state of hotel infrastructure in Russia ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2018.

Read more

2GIS raises $40M from Baring Vostok and ru-Net

2GIS, a leading Russian local search and city navigation service, has announced that it raised $40 million from Baring Vostok and ru-Net.

The company will use the investments to develop 2GIS products, for active promotion in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other large cities in Russia, and the launch of its service in developing international markets. As a result of the deal, the funds acquired a minority stake in the company.

Read more

VIYM's Managing Director takes part in RBC conference on private equity

RBC and international investment bank Lincoln International partnered with UBS and Squire Patton Boggs to hold a conference under the title 'Private Equity and Mezzanine Financing as Alternative Debt Financing for Mid-Cap Companies'.

Read more

PEI: Don't waste a good crisis

Could a country mired in an economic crisis brought on by falling oil prices and a civil war be entering a ‘sweet spot’ for investors?

Doing business in Russia’s private equity market can be likened to one of the country’s fairy tales. The hero searches the inside of a warm house full of hidden treasures as strong winds rage around the eaves on a dark and stormy night.

Read more

VIYM receives 'Best Private Equity Team in Russia' Award

VIYM has been awarded second place in the Best Private Equity Team in Russia award during the VII Russian Private Equity Congress organized by Cbonds and PREQVECA. First place went to investment firm Russia Partners, and third place to investment fund CapMan. In addition, Michael Calvey, Founder and Senior Partner of Baring Vostok, and Kirill Dmitriev, Chief Executive Officer of RDIF, received individual awards for the contribution to the development of the Russian PE industry.

Read more

Update on Russia's PE activities: Buran Venture Capital invests in ivi.ru

European venture capital fund Buran Venture Capital invests in ivi.ru – the leading Russian online video streaming platform.

Read more

Golden League takes part in Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok

Golden League gold mining company has taken part in the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. During the event, the first ever economic forum to focus on development of the Russian Far East, Golden League’s management held a number of meetings with potential investors and regional authorities.

Read more

Bright Capital Digital exits social network for doctors

Venture fund Bright Digital Capital has exited the professional social network for doctors Doctor at Work. It sold its stake of under 20% in the company to other shareholders, Guard Capital and its managing director Pavel Yunin, and also co-founder of the project Stanislav Sazhin and Ilya Kupriyanov. The entire social network is valued at about 1 billion roubles.

Read more

Update on Russia's PE activities: Baring Vostok leads $40m Series B in Russian car broker CarPrice

Russian private equity firm Baring Vostok Capital Partners has led a $40m Series B round in online used car broker and auctioneer CarPrice. The funding will be used to expand CarPrice’s footprint in Russia, as the company expands across many new regions. Proceeds from the investment round will also be used towards international expansion and to increase car stock.

Read more

Restoration work to Nikolskie Ryady historic site proceeding successfully

Deputy Governor of St. Petersburg Igor Albin visited the Nikolskie Ryady historic site, currently undergoing renovation work to reinforce and restore the listed building during his tour of the city’s Admiralty district.

Read more

Park Inn by Radisson opens in Novosibirsk

Carlson Rezidor, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic hotel groups and the leading international hotel operator in Russia/CIS & Baltics, and Regional Hotel Chain LLC (RHC), one of the largest developers of internationally branded hotels in Russia, are pleased to open a new mid-market Park Inn by Radisson hotel in Novosibirsk. This is the first hotel in Siberia of Park Inn by Radisson brand which is the largest international hotel chain in Russia.

Read more

Update on Russia's PE activities: RDIF, Nord Hydro, CR24BG and CCECC to invest in mini hydropower plants in Karelia

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the Government of the Republic of Karelia, Nord Hydro, the China Railway 24th Bureau Group and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, subsidiaries of the China Railway Construction Corporation, have agreed to invest in constructing small hydropower plants in Karelia. The agreement was signed during the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Read more

Family Doctor medical clinic opens new clinic in St. Petersburg

Family Doctor medical clinic has opened its first clinical facility in St. Petersburg. The clinic is located in the Petrograd district, a historic part of the city,  in a three-storey building with a total area of 1,600 square metres.

Read more

Four Seasons Lion Palace on Robb Report international list of 100 best hotels

The Four Seasons Lion Palace St. Petersburg, the first Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts hotel in Russia made the Robb Report list of the Top 100 Hotels 2015: International Editor's Choice.

Read more

French Kiss launched new production base in Moscow

French Kiss, Russia's leading producer of premium hand-made confectionery, launched a new production facility in Moscow as part of its medium-term development strategy. The company invested around RUB 200 mln in the new facility. Thanks to this new facility, French Kiss will more than double its confectionery production capacity, while boosting its operational efficiency.

Read more

VIYM takes part in the international real estate forum GRI Asia 2015 in Singapore

The 5th annual Asian real estate forum GRI Asia 2015 has come to a close in Singapore, supported by leading global real estate market organisation The Global Real Estate Institute. This event offers a unique forum for the most influential participants of the Asian and wider international real estate markets to carryout informal working sessions and seminars. The event's format makes it possible to meet with leading investors from Asia and across the globe, and also to present your own projects.

Read more

VIYM exits Agro Alliance on schedule

VIYM investment firm, which manages direct investment funds in the CIS and Europe, has announced that it is selling its stake in the leading Russian rice importer and trader, producer of premium quality packed cereals Agro Alliance, through a private placement in favour of one of the company's shareholders. No details regarding the stake or the transaction value have been made public.

Read more

Syktyvkar Tissue Group to redesign product packaging

The Syktyvkar Tissue Group will redesign the packaging of toilet paper, towels, wet wipes, and facial tissue under the company's private label and the Veiro brand.

Read more

Park Inn by Radisson hotel opens in Volgograd

Carlson Rezidor, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic hotel groups and the leading international hotel operator in Russia/CIS & Baltics, and Regional Hotel Chain LLC (RHC), one of the largest developers of internationally branded hotels in Russia, are pleased to open a new mid-market Park Inn by Radisson hotel in Volgograd. With this addition, Park Inn by Radisson extends its leading regional footprint in Russia to 18 hotels and almost 5,000 rooms. The opening of the hotel also supports the development of Volgograd’s hospitality infrastructure before the FIFA World Cup 2018.

Read more

Russia’s private health care business looks for boost from reforms

Private health care is growing rapidly in Russia and Family Doctor Medical Clinic is one of the pioneers. Operating for over 20 years and now serving more than 230,000 clients, the company recently opened its fifth clinic in Moscow and wants to more than double that number over the next three years, especially in Russia's regions. Customers are mainly covered by the rapidly developing private health insurance business, but the clinic also caters to the increasingly comfortably-off Russian middle class looking for a better service and higher quality medical care.

Read more

Update on Russia's PE activities: Oktogo inks more than $5 mln

The online travel company Oktogo, which includes hotel booking service Oktogo.ru and online travel portal Travel.ru, has announced that it attracted a new investment from MCI Management of Poland. The total round, which has participation from existing investors, is more than $5 million. Previously, Oktogo raised $30 million in venture capital from Mangrove Capital Partners, Ventech, VTB Capital and others.

The new funds will be invested in sales and marketing of Oktogo’s online travel services in Russia and CIS countries. The market intellegence firm PhoCusWright estimates that the Russian online travel market exceeds $10 billion per year.

Read more

VIYM takes part in the MIPIM international real estate show in Cannes

MIPIM 2015, one of the largest international real estate shows, has come to a close in Cannes. For over 20 years this event has offered a unique communications platform for the most influential players in various different sectors of the international real estate market, providing unrivalled access to development projects worldwide, as well as investment opportunities, leaseholders, partners, and sources of capital.

Read more

VIYM takes part in business breakfast ‘The influence of deoffshorisation laws on investment funds’

The National Alternative Investment Management Association (NAIMA) and Moscow Hedge Fund Managers club have held a business breakfast focused on the influence of deoffshorisation laws on investment funds.

Read more

Park Inn by Radisson Izhevsk listed in TripAdvisor’s Top-25 inns in Russia

Park Inn by Radisson Izhevsk has been awarded the Travelers’ Choice award as one of the 25 best B&Bs and Inns in Russia by the world’s leading tourist site TripAdvisor.

Read more

Update on Russia's PE activities: CapMan Russia and Russia Partners invest in Maximum Education – a leading Russian test preparation company

CapMan Russia II, a fund managed by CapMan, and the Russia Partners Technology Fund, which is managed by a New York-based private equity firm Siguler Guff, have acquired a stake in Maximum Education – a leading provider of test preparation services in Russia. The aim of the transaction is to expand the company’s operations in the growing test preparation services market in Russia.

Read more

Family Doctor clinic opens new paediatric facility in Moscow

Family Doctor Medical Clinic ltd announces the opening of a new paediatric treatment facility in Moscow.

Read more

Update on Russia's PE activities: Elbrus Capital acquires minority stake in realty classifieds group Cian

Elbrus Capital has acquired a minority stake in Cian Group, a major player on the Russian online realty classifieds market. Deal structure included both sale of existing shares and subscription for new shares. Size of the investment and stake acquired were not disclosed.

Read more

VIYM sponsors Alternative Investment Forum for Family Offices & Private Investors in Hong Kong

This year’s Alternative Investment Forum for Family Offices & Private Investors, one of the largest regional investment forums, has come to a close in Hong Kong. Alongside other events organised annually by PEI Alternative Insight in Zurich, Singapore, Melbourne, and Paris, the Hong Kong forum offers an unparalleled forum for family offices and private investors from across Asia.

Read more

First phase of modern buckwheat processing plant launches

Central Cereal Company (an Agro Alliance subsidiary) has held a ceremony marking the launch of a new buckwheat processing plant in Mtsensk district, Orlov Region.

Read more

The first Holiday Inn Express in Russia was opened in the very heart of Voronezh

Regional Hotel Chain (RHC) together with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) - one of the leading international hotel chains - held the official opening ceremony of Russia's first Holiday Inn Express hotel in Voronezh. RIMC CIS Company is going to be the operator of the first Holiday Inn Express hotel.

Read more

Update on Russia's PE activities: CityAds Media purchased Madnet platform from Tinkoff Digital

Cityads Media closed the deal purchasing mobile advertising platform Madnet* from Tinkoff Digital. Madnet is the first Russian new generation mobile advertising network employing Real Time Bidding (RTB) technology. Madnet developed in-house DSP**, SSP*** and DMP**** platforms integrated with the largest global RTB networks: Google, Mopub, Smaato and many others. Currently Madnet can provide up to 20 bln impressions per month.

Read more

VIYM takes part in Russia's Wealth Knowledge Day

VIY Management (VIYM) Managing Director Dmitry Schuetzle has participated in the round table discussion at the conference “Wealth Knowledge Day” organized by Moscow School of Management Skolkovo in close cooperation with National Alternative Investment Management Association (NAIMA) non-profit partnership, of which VIYM is one of the founding members. The aim of the event was to promote best practices of wealth management, succession and philanthropy and to present the outcomes of the latest thematic studies in this field.

Read more

Update on Russia's PE activities: Elbrus Capital buys Headhunter

Elbrus Capital has wholly acquired Headhunter, a Russian online recruitment company, from the Mail.Ru Group, a leading Internet company in Europe and is the sixth largest Internet business globally, for RUB 9.85bn. Following the deal, the company will invest in its mobile platform, the launch of new products and services, and expansion into new countries.

Read more

VIYM gives presentation for Skolkovo students and graduates

On 17 October 2014, VIY Management (VIYM) Managing Director Dmitry Schuetzle and VIYM portfolio company heads Alexei Vetrov (Family Doctor Medical Company), and Michael Johnston (Regional Hotel Chain) took part in a three day Private Equity course on financing shareholder capital organised by Moscow School of Management Skolkovo and National Alternative Investment Management Association (NAIMA) non-profit partnership, of which VIYM is one of the founding members. The course aim is to shed light on the work done by direct investment funds in Russia.

Read more

Update on Russia's hospitality market: Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg welcomes Four Seasons Hotel Moscow

Over a year ago the first hotel in that famous chain – Four Seasons – opened in Russia. The Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg, at the iconic 'house with lions', opened its doors – welcoming residents and visitors to the city, and fundamentally changing the luxury hotel market in Russia.

This autumn, Four Seasons Hotel Moscow, housed in the legendary hotel Moscow building, picked up this baton. As with the Lion Palace St. Petersburg, the Moscow Four Seasons project involved rebuilding a famous building, restoring design features. Four Seasons in Russia takes a particularly assiduous approach to the building's historical features – breathing new life into them, and inspiring visitors to the capital.

Read more

Update on Russia's PE activities: CapMan Russia invests in Kidburg

CapMan Russia II, a fund managed by CapMan, has acquired a 40% share in Kidburg – the first Russian operator providing children’s educational entertainment services. Kidburg is CapMan Russia II fund’s second investment. The aim of the transaction is to further expand the company’s operations in Russia.

Read more

Growth in Russia is in the toilet

Russia's ruble is tanking and economic growth has stalled. The economic news could not be much direr. But even in the worst economic climate there is one product that people will always need – toilet paper.

Read more

IHG® launches the Holiday Inn Express® brand in Russia

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world’s leading hotel companies today announces the launch of its Holiday Inn Express® brand in Russia, the CIS and Georgia. In cooperation with Regional Hotel Chain (RHC), Russia’s rapidly growing hotel properties developer, IHG is pleased to introduce Holiday Inn Express® Voronezh – Kirova which marks the debut of the brand in the region and will open its doors in just a few weeks’ time.

Read more

VIYM broadens bilateral ties with major Chinese companies

VIY Management (VIYM) – an independent partnership dedicated solely to exclusive private equity services for international investors seeking investment consulting, deal origination and asset management, has taken part in the Russian delegation to the 18th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT). The event took place in Xiamen, in the Southern Chinese province of Fujian.

Read more

Syktyvkar Tissue Group invested $ 100 mln in new production facility in Yaroslavl Oblast

Syktyvkar Tissue Group (STG), one of the largest vertically integrated tissue paper production companies in Russia and the CIS, brought online a new production unit with capacity to produce 35 thousand tons of tissue and base paper per year.

This new production facility represents the largest investment project envisaged in STG’s development strategy for the period 2011 to 2015. The total size of investment in this facility is estimated at about $100 mln (RUB 2.8 bln).

Read more

Business New Europe • French Kiss leaves a sweet taste

Russians love chocolate. In Communist times the Soviet state made sure there was a plentiful supply of chocolate and it was one of the few little luxuries widely available. Even today when visiting a friend in Russia it is de rigueurto bring some flowers, a bottle and a box of chocolates.


Read more

Update on Russia's PE activities: RDIF invests in the Logistics Company Freight Village RU

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has reached an agreement in principle regarding investment in the logistics holding company Freight Village Ru. Currently, RDIF is in negotiations with a number of leading foreign co-investors, who have expressed an interest in participating in the project. The final number of co-investors and their investment structure within the project is yet to be confirmed and will be announced at a later date.

The funds from the deal will be spent by Freight Village Ru to finance the construction of a large logistics complex, Freight Village Vorsino. This will allow the creation of a unified cluster of independent transportation firms, warehouses, distribution companies, logistics services providers, and industrial and trade enterprises with direct access to a multimodal terminal and to major freight corridors.

Read more

Family Doctor clinic opens new medical centre in Moscow

Family Doctor Medical Clinic ltd announces the opening of a new medical centre in the heart of Moscow.

The new clinic is Family Doctor’s fourth medical centre and the first one that was opened as part of the company’s development strategy. The centre is located in a two-story building and has 20 consultation rooms (total area of over 800 square meters). The centre will treat adult patients only (18 years and older).

Read more

VIYM announces acquisition in chocolate producer French Kiss

VIY Management (VIYM), a leading independent private equity advisor managing funds on behalf of a wide range of private and institutional investors, is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition on their behalf of a stake in French Kiss, a leading premium-segment chocolate producer in Russia. Funds raised from the acquisition will be used to finance the Company's investment programme through 2017.

Read more

Update on Russia's PE activities: Vostok Nafta invests $25 mln in GetTaxi

Vostok Nafta, once a major player investor on the Russian stock market and now a direct investment fund, has made a few more major investments after a long hiatus.

The fund, which earned $230 million in Tinkoff Credit Systems Bank (TCS Bank) IPO last October, invested $25 million in the GetTaxi service at the beginning of the second half, part of a $150 million investment round in the company, Vostok Nafta said in its earnings report. Including the latest investment, GetTaxi, created by Israel's Shahar Waiser, has raised $210 million. Other investors include Leonard Blavatnik's Access Industries and the Inventure Partners Fund.

Read more

Update on Russia's PE activities: International VC consortium injects $7 million into Russian package tour online reseller OnlineTours.ru

Four funds invest $7 mln in Internet tour service OnlineTours. The new capital injection is meant to increase the market share of OnlineTours and further develop its technology platform. The startup claims that its ambition is “to build the leading online travel service in Russia.”

Read more

Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg Marks First Year Anniversary

It was a year ago when the Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace first opened its doors to guests in St Petersburg, significantly changing the competitive landscape in Russia’s growing luxury hotel sector.

Read more

Park Inn by Radisson Yaroslavl Wins Prestigious CRE Federal Awards 2014

Park Inn by Radisson Yaroslavl, one of RHC’s newly opened hotel properties, was selected as the best new regional hotel of 2014 in Russia at the recent CRE Awards ceremony. CRE Federal Awards (Commercial Real Estate Federal Awards) are widely recognized among the most prestigious annual real estate awards for Russia.

Read more

Update on Russia's PE activities: UFG Private Equity and Gazprombank Acquire Segmenta Pharmaceuticals

Cyprus-based Alvansa Limited, the main shareholders of which are Gazprombank and UFG Private Equity, has acquired Novosibirsk's Segmenta Pharmaceuticals, which owns the trademarks for a number of medicines, Andrei Mladentsev, who owns 5 percent of Alvansa, told Interfax-Interfax

Read more

Managing Director of VIYM discussed investing in Russia at the world-renowned SuperReturn Conference

Dmitry Schuetzle, Managing Director of VIYM, took part in the expert panel session at 6th annual SuperReturn Emerging Markets 2014 which focused on assessing which emerging economies will produce the best long-term results in the private equity space and generate sustainable deal flow and exit opportunities.

Read more

Update on Russia's PE activities: Sberbank CIB organizes financing for PanKlub, representing the PANDORA jewelry chain in Russia and the CIS

Sberbank CIB1 arranged financing for PanKlub, which is the exclusive distributor of PANDORA jewelry in Russia and CIS countries. The deal amounts to more than 13.6 billion rubles. Part of this sum was provided to the operating company in the form of credit2, issued with the assistance of Sberbank CIB’s Loans Department, the remaining part – through Sberbank Merchant Banking’s purchase of a 35% stake in the holding company of Maxim Nogotkov. This stake was acquired by Sberbank Investments LLC, a part of Sberbank Merchant Banking, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sberbank of Russia.

Read more

Robb Report • Best of the Best 2014

Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg has been included in the list of the Best of the Best assets in the hotel category in the 2014 edition of Robb Report's 26th annual Best of the Best issue.

Read more

New CEO Joinning RHC Team Leadership

Dear colleagues!

We have the great pleasure to announce that Mr. Michael Johnston is joining the team of the Regional Hotel Chain as its new CEO.

Read more

Global Conference 2014

The representatives of VIY Management (VIYM) took part in the international Global Conference 2014 held by The Milken Institute on April 27-30, 2014 in Beverly Hilton, Los Angeles.

Read more

Agro-Alliance expands into Ural and Siberia

Agro-Alliance, Russia’s leading producer of packaged cereals, has officially launched a subsidiary company – Siberia Grocery Company in a bid to strengthen its foothold on the Ural and Siberian market of packaged cereals and grocery products.

Read more

Update on Russia's PE activities: UFG Private Equity invests in Santens

UFG Private Equity has acquired a minority stake in Russian pharmaceutical logistics firm Santens Service Logistics Group.The company will use the funding to further develop its core services and expand its storage facilities.

Read more

Condé Nast Traveller's Hot List 2014 - The Best Hotels in The World

Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg has been named among the world's best new hotels for 2014 (The Hot List 2014) by Condé Nast Traveller , one of the most reputable travel magazines around the world.

Read more

House and Garden's Hotels by Design Issue - The Most Beautifully Designed Hotels

Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg has been included in the prestigious annual guide to the most beatufully designed hotels in the world prepared by Hotels by Design.

Read more

Update on Russia's PE activities: RDIF Together with Leading Investors from Middle East and China invest in the Global Agro-Industrial Business

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has attracted a consortium of high-profile international investors from the Middle East and China to invest in Sodrugestvo (the “Company”), a leading vertically integrated agricultural processor and trader with revenue of around $2.0bn in 2013. In the event the transaction is completed, the funds will be used to finance geographical expansion, as well as further vertical integration.

Read more

The 2013 Awards of Excellence Winners - Top Europe Hotel Opening 2013

Luxury Travel Advisor magazine, part of Questex Travel Group, honored the 2013 Awards of Excellence winners during a commemoration ceremony held in late March 2014 at the Langham, Chicago. Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg has won in the category of Top Europe Hotel Opening in 2013.

Luxury Travel Advisor is the travel trade’s first and only publication dedicated to educating a select group of luxury travel advisors through detailed coverage of luxury travel’s finest – hotels and resorts, destinations, exclusive features, cruise insights, event coverage and industry news. Each month over 12,000 influential travel advisors turn to Luxury Travel Advisor for unique insights backed by editorial excellence and founded on a commitment to delivering the best in luxury travel.

Read more

TripAdvisor Travelers' Score Review of Sochi Hotels - the Power of Brands

TripAdvisor has prepared a new Travelers' Score Review of Sochi Hotels based on the post-Olympics feedback from the community of TripAdvisor travelers. The newly opened Park Inn by Radisson Sochi Centre has proved its quality to rank second in the list of the Top 10 most superior places to stay in Sochi.

Park Inn by Radisson Sochi Centre is an absolutely new hotel on the Sochi hospitality market. It was opened by the Regional Hotel Chain (RHC), Russia’s leading dedicated regional hotel developer and one of Rezidor’s most important partners for future business development in Russia, at the end of January 2014, just in time for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

Read more

ViaTech Announces Win of Tender with Rosneft

ViaTech (Power Ultrasonic Systems), the Russian developer of innovative ultrasound equipment and services, has won official tender to supply its oil well stimulation systems to the leader of Russia’s petroleum industry – Rosneft.

This is the first time when ViaTech will provide its ultrasound technologies to an oil industry player solely on a commercial basis after a long period of testing. The tender has resulted in signed commercial contracts on 60 oil well ultrasonic stimulations with two Rosneft affiliated companies - Samatlorneftegaz and Rosneft-Nizhnevartovsk. All of the contracts will be executed by the end of 2014.

Read more

Market news: Gold Trades Near 6-Month High as Investors Await Russia Measures

Gold traded near the highest level in more than six months in New York as investors waited for decisions on possible sanctions against Russia after Crimea’s disputed vote on breaking with Ukraine.

Read more

Show Apartment Launched at Park Royal Palace Hotel Vienna

A new exclusive three bedroom show apartment has been opened at Park Royal Palace Hotel Vienna, the newly built hotel property located at the west part of the Austrian capital, close to the world-known Schönbrunn‎ Palace and just 10 meters from the famous Vienna Technical Museum.

The three bedroom show apartment features a magnificent contemporary interior and thoughtfully arranged layout designed by renowned A2Zen Consulting Ltd and showcases the spacious open-plan living/dining room, cozy fully furnished kitchen and stylish bathrooms which is capable enough to meet the diverse demands of its residents.

Read more

Update on Russia's PE activities: Intel Capital invests US$ 10M in Mango Telecom

Mango Telecom has received an investment from Intel Capital, Intel Corporation’s global investment and M&A organization. These funds will help Mango to pursue expansion of its cloud-based business services in Russia and enter the European market.

Considering the importance and potential of the cloud-based business communications market, Mango will use Intel Capital’s investment to fulfill its ambitious plans and invest further in R&D and infrastructure.

Read more

RHC and Rezidor announce the Park Inn City Centre Sochi in Russia

The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide, and the Regional Hotel Chain (RHC), the leading dedicated regional hotel developer in Russia, have announced the Park Inn City Centre Sochi. The new hotel was scheduled to open by the end of January 2014, in time for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. RHC is one of Rezidor’s most important partners for future business development in Russia. In 2009, the companies signed a strategic agreement for up to 20 Park Inn hotels centrally located across major cities in the country.

Read more

Market activities: Russia in International Rankings ● Russia breaks into Bloomberg top 50 countries for business

For the first time Russia has entered the top 50 in Bloomberg’s Best Countries for Business 2014 ranking at 44th. It's up 12 positions from last year primarily due to improved domestic consumption and WTO membership.

Read more

TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Hotel Awards 2014

TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, in January announced the winners of its 2014 Travelers’ Choice awards for hotels in Russia. The winners were determined based on the reviews and opinions of millions of TripAdvisor travellers around the globe. Four Seasons Lion Palace St. Petersburg opened in July 2013 has proved its status as one of Russia’s best hotels being included in Top 10 county’s hospitality properties.

Read more

INVESTMENT IN MEDICINE SERVICES

VIYM has attracted a pool of investors and successfully closed a deal of acquiring a blocking stake in the Family Doctor Medical Company (Family Doctor) in the investors’ interests.  The purpose of the deal is to finance the Family Doctor development program up to 2018.

Read more

Four Seasons Lion Palace - best travel hotel in Russia

Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg has been selected as the best hotel in Russia in 2013 by the Aeroflot Media, an official onboard media of the major Russian airline. The winner’s selection was made by the independent vote of travelers from around the world flying with Aeroflot.

Read more

Golden League is ready to process gold ore

On December-16, 2013 the Regional Agency for Subsoil Use in Russia’s Far East – Dalnedra  approved a feasibility study to build a new gold ore mining and processing factory on the gold deposit Noni, owned by the Golden League Group of Companies (Golden League).

Read more

RHC and Rezidor inroduce Park Inn Yaroslavl

Regional Hotel Chain (RHC) and The Rezidor Hotel Group have announced the opening of the Park Inn Yaroslavl. The hotel was developed by Regional Hotel Chain (RHC) under the strategic agreement signed by RHC and Rezidor as one of the most dynamic and fast growing international operators globally and in the emerging markets of Russia and other CIS.

Read more

STG finished phase I of new tissue paper plant

Metso Paper has completed delivery of technological equipment to Syktyvkar Tissue Group (STG) necessary to launch a new tissue production line at its mill in the Yaroslavl region.  At the moment the line is running in testing mode. The company plans to complete construction of phase two of this plant in July 2014.

Read more

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts officilly introduced its new hotel in St Petersburg

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, one of the world's leading luxury hotel brands, with 86 properties in 35 countries, has officially introduced its new hotel in St Petersburg - Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St Petersburg. The Grand Opening Celebration took place at the hotel on November 1, 2013. This event finalized the period of development works on the Project.

Read more

Market activities: Russia jumps up in Doing Business 2014 ranking

Russia's business climate has made notable strides over the past year, climbing up 19 positions in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2014 ranking.

Read more

Market activities: Russia's enterpreneurs are positive about the future

“Russia performs well in comparison to other rapid-growth markets in EY G20 Entrepreneurship Barometer 2013, which underlines its solid overall performance in developing an ecosystem more conducive to entrepreneurs in recent years. For those starting a new venture, there is certainly plenty of opportunity: a growing consumer market, rising disposable income, vast resource reserves and a highly skilled workforce.

Read more

VIYM opens doors to Silicon Valley

The VIYM representatives took an active part in the second round of the Russian Innovation Week 2013 (RIW 2013) which was held on September 19-20, 2013 in the heart of Silicon Valley, California at the Santa Clara Convention Center.

Read more

Four Seasons Lion Palace St. Petersburg – One of the best up-and-coming hotels 2013

Four Seasons Lion Palace St. Petersburg has been named among the 15 best up-and-coming hotels 2013 by Travel+Leisure magazine, a well-known travel magazine with more than 4.8 million readers around the world.

Read more

Holiday Inn Voronezh — coming soon

On August 13, 2013, representatives from the Regional Hotel Chain (RHC) completed the inspection of 73 hotel modules designed and produced by the German company ADK Modulraum. This is the second (after April 2013) and the last batch of fully equipped turn-key modules required for implementation the hotel project in Voronezh – Holiday Inn Express Voronezh-Kirova. The new hotel is due to be opened by the end of 2013. At the moment, all of the modules are ready for shipment to Russia.

Read more

Four Seasons St Petersburg officially welcomes its first guests

The biggest buzz on Russia's burgeoning hotel market this summer is the debut of the Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg, the brand's first property in the country, which opened its doors on July 7, 2013 after a major renovation of the palace building known as the "House with Lions" into a five-star hotel.

Read more

Agro-Alliance farm has harvested winter barley

Agro-Alliance farm, which is located in Abinsky district of Krasnodar region, has completed the harvest of winter barley.

Read more

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ST. PETERSBURG RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX

The Bulletin of Real Estate Group (www.bn.ru) research and analysis center focused on the real estate market of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region released the ranking of the ten most beautiful St. Petersburg residential complexes of the last decade. All experts unanimously cast their votes for VODOLEY low-rise residential complex as No.1 most balanced design and comfort solution, which is offered in the full compliance with the best practices of sustainable development as part of the city's unique architectural landscape.

Read more

Market news: DESTINATION VIENNA - Arrivals and bednights in all types of accommodation

The Vienna Tourism Board informed, that the destination of Vienna achieved an increase of bednights of +10.4% in May (in total: 1 239 000 bednights). This is once more the best result in the history of the Viennese tourism market. The countries which showed the most considerable increase of tourist inflow to the destination of Vienna last month: Russia (+25,4%), Germany (+17,3%), Austria (+10,5%) and Great Britain (+11,8%). Russia currently has 7% of the total Viennese market and ranks third in terms of tourist flow after Germany and Austria.

Read more

Unique concept for new apartment development

The architecture firm A2Zen Consulting, which was hired to design an apartment concept for the four-star mixed-use hotel complex of Austria Trend Hotel Park Royal Palace Vienna has released its version of apartment concept design of two- and three-bedroom apartments.

Read more

The project of buckwheat mill has passed State Expertise

Central Cereal Company - being a subsidiary of the Holding has got the permission for construction of the storage and processing facilities for buckwheat and modern logistic terminal complex in Oryol region.

Read more

VIYM and RHC participate in Russian Tourism Road Show in Beijing

On 20-22 June, 2013, VIYM introduced its Regional Hotel Chain (RHC) project headed by its CEO, Vladislav Smirnov, at the Russian Tourism Road Show 2013 in Beijing, China. During the plenary discussions with government authorities of China and Russia, RHC was presented as one of the most important initiatives for the Russian travel industry with an ambitions to increase regional tourist flows by opening affordable hotels of international quality in Russia's most economically vibrant and perspective regional centers.

Read more

Four Seasons Hotel in St. Petersburg hosted reception for new Mariinsky stage

On May 3, 2013, the embassy of Canada in the Russian Federation hosted an official reception dedicated to the grand opening of the new stage of Mariinsky Theatre (Mariinsky II) in St. Petersburg, one of the world’s best-known theatres. The gorgeous event was held in the grandiose historical building of Four Seasons Lion Palace St. Petersburg.

Read more

RHC launches new construction technologies in Russia

On April 18, 2013 an international team of experts from Regional Hotel Chain (RHC) and InterContinentalGroup (IHG) visited the manufacturing facilities of Germany-based ADK Modulraum, one of the leading producers of transportable module buildings, to inspect a mock-up hotel module designed specially for the companies’ joint project in Russia. After some insignificant adjustments to the primary concept, the experts accepted the mock-up of the fully equipped turn-key hotel module and approved its large-scale production.

Read more

New design of boil-in-bag line

The company announced a new design of Agro-Alliance boil-in-bag line.

Read more

Market news: TRIPADVISOR 2013 TRAVELERS' CHOICE HOTEL AWARD

TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site, announced the winners of its 2013 Travelers' Choice award for hotels. In its 11th year, the award has recognized the most outstanding hotel properties in different categories (from Top Luxury Hotels to B&Bs and low-price Inns) worldwide.

Read more

Market news: DESTINATION VIENNA - Arrivals and bednights in all types of accommodation

The Vienna Tourism Board informed, that the destination of Vienna achieved in February an increase of bednights of +5,6% in total 623.790. The strongest increase of demand was from Great Britain (+19,1%), Japan (+18,7%), Spain (+17,7%), USA (+14,1%) and Russia (+11%). Although Vienna offers +1.790 new beds (in comparison to February 2012), which is +3,4% of capacity, the increase of bednights was + 5,6% The room occupancy in February was 46% which is a new all-time high.

Read more

STG buys new production line from Metso

Metso Corporation, a global supplier of process industry machinery and systems, will provide a complete tissue production line for Syktyvkar Tissue Group (STG).

Read more

NEW HIRES

Ex-head of Real Estate Development Ltd, Dmitry Vorobyov, who opened W St. Petersburg in 2011, joins Nikolskiye Ryady project as its new CEO

Read more

HVS Moscow acts as the Hospitality Advisor in Regional Hotel Chain’s roll out of Holiday Inn Express hotels in Russia

HVS Moscow is pleased to announce its role as the hospitality advisor to the Regional Hotel Chain in their plans to develop Holiday Inn Express hotels across Russia. IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has signed a franchise multiple development agreement (MDA) with Regional Hotel Chain, a portfolio company of VIY Management (VIYM) to develop 15 new hotels in Russia by 2019.

Read more

RHC brings new modular technologies to Russia

RHC develops modular construction strategy for its lower mid-market hotel cluster for its 15 new hotels across Russia's most vibrant regional centers.

Read more

RHC launches Holiday Inn Express in Russia

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has signed a franchise multiple development agreement (MDA) with Regional Hotel Chain (RHC), a portfolio company of VIY Management (VIYM) to develop 15 new Holiday Inn Express hotels in Russia by 2019.

Read more

STG announces appointment of operations director for its new plant

Syktyvkar Tissue Group (STG), VIYM’s portfolio company and one of Russia’s largest domestic producers of base tissue paper and tissue products, has announced the appointment of Mr. Enrico Galli to the position of Operations Director for the new plant in Yaroslavl region.

Read more

Slim&Fit brown rice and red kernel rice recognized as the best

Competition in quality of products, which was part of 20th International Exhibition "Prodexpo" (Moscow), was completed on 15 February.

Read more

Results of 2012: resource base growth

The Golden League (GL) announced the results of 2012. According to the management, the company has made considerable progress in its development over the past 12 months.

Read more

Market news: DESTINATION VIENNA - Arrivals and bednights in all types of accommodation

The Vienna Tourism Board informed, that the destination of Vienna achieved in December 2012 an increase of bed nights by 7,9% (1.1m). Actually, 2012 was the most successful year of tourism demand in Vienna. The annual bed nights increased by 7,5% and amounted to 12,3m. It is important to note, although many new hotel projects are coming up, the demand in Vienna hospitality market increases faster than the new hotel capacities.  This is the main specific point of this market that proves its short-term growth potential.

Read more

The first Four Seasons Hotel in Russia • The Best Project in St. Petersburg

VIYM was awarded a prestigious real estate prize for its participation in the project development of the Four Season Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg by the independent expert jury at CRE St. Petersburg & Federal Awards 2012 in the best city hotel real estate category.

Read more

Market news: The 10 Most Anticipated Hotel Openings Of 2012

This new year will usher in a fleet of luxury hotels slated to open in locations that range from the familiar (New York City) to the exotic (hello, Mauritius). Our Forbes Travel Guide editors have chosen a short list of 10 hotels to watch in 2012.

Read more