Almaz Capital Invests $3m In Game Developer Alawar

Almaz Capital Partners has made an investment in Russian online game producer Alawar, making it the second Russian games sector deal in the last month after the Mangrove and ABRT funding of Drimmi. Through its Russia Fund I, Almaz has acquired 23% of Alawar at a cost of about USD 3 million; 15% was purchased from Finam Capital Partners and the remaining 8% from business angel investor Alexander Katalov. Finam’s original investment in Alawar amounted to USD 1 million in 2007 while the company’s valuation has increased 1200% since then.

Alawar (www.alawar.ru)
Alawar is a Russian developer and publisher of casual games for the PC, distributing titles to some 60 countries around the world through internet portals like Rambler-Games and Games@Mail.ru, as well as the company’s own web site. Alawar was founded in 1999 and has since grown to include five studios and more than 30 developers with over 200 globally popular games to their credit. Claiming 70% of Russia’s USD 30 million annual casual games market, Alawar is one of Europe’s biggest industry players and the leader in Russia. Some of the company’s best known titles include Alien Outbreak, Arctic Quest, Farm Frenzy, and Grand Master Chess.

Almaz Capital (www.almazcapital.com)
Almaz Capital Partners is a private equity firm focusing on technology-based companies in CIS and Russia. Almaz seeks opportunities in digital media, software development, internet and consumer technologies, and communications at the product development, growth, and profitability stages. The firm strives to use its expertise in help portfolio companies operate efficiently and competitively in their respective markets.

Almaz maintains strategic partnerships with U.S.-based Cisco Systems and Russia’s UFG Asset Management.,