Peterstar (merged with Synterra)

active

Prospective

PeterStar operates a digital, fiber optic telecommunication network that is interconnected with incumbent St. Petersburg and Moscow public telephony operators and with various mobile telephone, long distance and domestic and international IP-Service operators. Peterstar was established by St. Petersburg telephone Network Joint Stock company, and Petersburg Long Distance Company (PDL). The main owners of Peterstar were PLD holdings of US, Cyprus-based New Capital, and Telekominvest of Russia by 1999. It invested US$26 million into the project by 1997. By end of 1999, the company invested US$105.5 million in its communications infrastructure and finished its 1,000-km integrated digital fiber-optic network. By 2003 The company’s fiber optic network was about 2,000 km and it serviced around 100,000 telephone lines. In 2003 Peterstar’s shareholders were Metromedia International Group Inc., (71%) and Telecominvest (29%). In October 2003 Peterstar acquired the 100% of Metromedia International stake in Baltic Communications, Ltd. The deal was worth almost US$3.8 million, including US$1 million for BCL shares and a ruble loan for BCL equivalent to US$2.8 million. On August 1, 2005 Emergent Telecom Ventures S.A. and First National Holding (FNH) completed a transaction on acquiring a 71% stake in ZAO PeterStar from Metromedia International Group, Inc. (MIG). In 2006, OAO Telecominvest owned a 29% stake in the Company, and 71% of its shares were distributed among the European investment funds First National Holding (FNH) and Emergent Telecom Ventures (ETV). ZAO PeterStar owned a 100% stake in the telecommunications company Baltic Communications Ltd. (BCL), 90% stake in OAO Pskov City Telephone Network, 100% stake in OAO Pskovintercom, a 100% stake in OAO ASPOL-Diamant-Murmansk, as well as a 100% stake in a Kaliningrad communication operator ZAO Telecom Western Shipping Company. First National Holdings (supervising 58% in Telecominvest), the former Peterstar owner acquired a 100% control over the operator in two steps. In March, 2005 Metromedia International Group Inc. (MIG) concluded a treaty with FNH, Emergent Telecom Ventures S.A. and the Cyprus Pisces Investment Ltd., belonging to the first two companies, on JSC Peterstar 71% stake sale for US$ 215m. In November 2006 29% of Peterstar were sold by Telecominvest to FNH for $ 66.7m. Thus, FNH spent $ 281.7m on Peterstar. The same sum has been taken on credit by Synterra group(project 4431), which acquired 100% of Peterstar in July 2007. http://www.peterstar.com/en/ Combined with investment in BCL in 2000 In July 2007 Peterstar was integrated into Senterra group (project 4431).

Information and communication technology (ICT)

Russia

World Bank Group

Project

Broadband, Seaport, Telecommunications, Commercial, Manufacturing (Industrial), Government