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Russian Investments
 an Bonde Nielsen became from 1992 involved in a number of Russian projects including timber production in Siberia and Vyborg Pulp and Paper Company, all interests that were subsequently sold. It was a difficult period in Russia but gave the background and experience to get involved more successfully in a number of other Russian projects as described below.
Tebukneft JSC
A publicly quoted oil company in the Komi Republic in northern Russia, producing a million tons of crude oil per year. Following an initial 11% investment in 1994 Jan Bonde Nielsen together with a financial investor made a successful hostile takeover bid obtaining a controlling interest which was sold in 1999.
State Glass Institute
The Russian State Glass Institute was acquired in 2000. The assets amongst others included 50,000 sqft of poor office space on the outer ring road of Moscow. The passing rent initially was insignificant. With minimal refurbishment and efficient property management the passing rent is now in excess of a million dollars per annum. The entire shareholding has been sold early 2004 for ten times the original investment.
The Greenoak Group
In August 1999 Greenoak acquired the Oil Terminal in Batumi in a privatisation. The Terminal's history goes back to the beginning of the Caucasus oil history in the late nineteenth century but at the time of privatisation it was a run down state-owned facility which had been the target of many international investment companies due to its important strategic location. The local government was looking for investors to develop the potential of the Terminal but was not successful.
Greenoak succeeded by committing to a significant capital expenditure programme over a three year period.
The Terminal tranships crude oil and oil products exported by regional producers in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Georgia. During the period of Greenoak's ownership throughput has increased three times and the Terminal has been completely rebuilt and modernised.
Greenoak also owns a textile factory and controls the Batumi Sea Port, making it a major economic force in Georgia. Greenoak works in close cooperation with the government, the business community and its employees. Greenoak enterprises between them employ more than 3000 people in Georgia, and more then $200.0 million has been invested in Georgia since the start in 1999.
During the eight year period the group's net profit has grown significantly.
The FLS Industries bid
On 15 September 2003 it was publicised that an international consortium of investors led by Jan Bonde Nielsen was seeking to acquire the FLS Industries Group. FLS is one of Denmark's leading industrial companies and, amongst its many activities, is involved in the construction of more than 50% of the world's cement plants. The total cost of a bid was likely to be in the region of USD 1 billion.
In addition to Greenoak the consortium comprised Citigroup Venture Capital Equity Partners, a member of Citigroup, one of the world's leading financial institutions; Multiplex, an Australian international construction and property development group; and Atlas Cement Technology & Management Group, a privately owned independent cement company.
Plasma Surgical
Jan Bonde Nielsen was co-founder of Plasma Surgical, a medical technology company which develops devices and equipment for use in surgery. The company's immediate objective is to introduce a new technology for safer and more effective coagulation in surgery. The PlasmaJet system is based on a unique and proprietary breakthrough technology in the field of plasma dynamics. The product was originally invented by the Russian professor Nikolaj Suslov whose work and inventions over the past twenty years led to this latest development. The prevention of bleeding is a key issue in the practice of surgery but particularly important in all major procedures. The shareholding was sold at the end of 2004.
Menzi Navigation
Jan Bonde Nielsen was a partner in Menzi Navigation, which in 1996 bought nine RoRo vessels together with the Cyprus shipowner Adonis Papadopoulos, the Chairman and main shareholder of Interorient Navigation. In the meantime all the vessels have been sold.
Greenoak Shipping
Greenoak Shipping is owned together with Interorient Navigation Co (www.interorient.com). The company has a 50% shareholding in Caspian Maritime which is involved in constructing large Articulated Tug Barges and Shuttle Tankers for use in the Caspian Sea. The vessels will incorporate the latest technology and their design is based on many years of experience gained in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.
The tankers will range in size from 55,000 to 63,000 DWT which is the largest size that can be built in the Caspian region.
This project is being developed as a potential alternative to pipelines for some of Central Asian future production.
In view of the environmental sensitivity of the Caspian Sea, the vessels will be built to the highest safety standards and they will load and discharge their crude oil cargoes using modern offshore loading systems, thus avoiding congested ports. Delivery of the first vessel was originally scheduled for late 2006, but due to delays these vessels will now be operational no earlier than 2009.
Wildlife Conservation
Jan Bonde Nielsen has been involved in nature and wildlife projects for a long time and is currently establishing a private wildlife sanctuary on the Nguruman escarpment in Kenya.
Jan Bonde Nielsen is committed to preserving the Nguruman Group ranch, a privately owned wildlife sanctuary, where the natural habitat of flora and fauna is fiercely protected, by sixty rangers, from the dangers of poaching and excessive tourism. Located southwest of Nairobi the reserve is situated on 65,000 acres of varying types of vegetation from semi-desert to rain forest.
The sanctuary is headquartered at the Oldonyo Laro Estate on the edge of the Nguruman escarpment with panoramic views of the Great Rift Valley 2,000 feet below and a backdrop of mountains rising 8,000 feet topped by rain forest. The main aim of the activity is to benefit the country and the people of Kenya by creation of jobs, protection of existing wildlife and fauna in the area as well as re-introduction of indigenous species which have been poached to extinction in the area.
Hunting ended officially in Kenya in the 1970s and like the rest of the country the Ngurumans had suffered from poaching and the number of wildlife dropped to seriously low levels. Since the activity started, wildlife rangers have been patrolling the sanctuary and a significant increase in wildlife has occurred. The rangers clear the area from snares and make sure that new snares are not put in place. In addition to protecting the wildlife, efforts are being made to increase the number of watering holes and access to salt supplements to keep the wildlife in the area. |
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