Here Come The Russians

Colorado based Adam Aircraft was purchased by a shell company controlled by Industrial Investors, a Russian private equity firm that looks likely to return the general aviation manufacturer to normal operations as soon as next week. Adam Aircraft had filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 because it was unable to secure financing. One of it small aircraft models, the A500 propeller driven plane, was in production when it discontinued operatations at the end of last year, while its A700 very light jet model is awaiting FAA approval.

According to an October 4, 2006 press release from Industrial Investors, in connection with its completion of a facility to transfer bulk cargo and shipping containers to rail lines on Russia's Pacific Coast, it described itself as follows:

Industrial Investors Group was established in 1999 and now unites direct investments fund, management companies and enterprises in key fields of Russian economic system, managed by them. Industrial Investors strategy includes not only long term investments in enterprises, but also active participation in owned companies management and development.

“Russkiy alcogol” company (the Russian leader of production of alcoholic beverages), “Dexter” company (operator of the first Russian air taxi) and other companies are parts of Industrial Investors Group besides of FESCO [the Far Eastern Shipping Company involved in the facility announced]. The total income of the group was more than 1 milliard of USD in the year 2005.

FESCO is Russia's only shipping company, a fact attributed to high taxes on shipping in Russia in a 2004 interview. "Chairman of the Board at the Industrial Investors Group Sergei Generalov stated that it means $20 million fewer earnings a year for his companies."

In September of 2005 the private equity firm made headlines by selling Russian Defense Contractor Volgograd Machine Building Company VgTZ (VMK) to one of its competitors, the Most Group, a move which gave the buyer a monopoly in the armored personnel carrier market and an edge in a competition to build Russia's next generation light armored tank, a contract in which only one other company was in a position to compete after the sale.

The Adam Aircraft purchase is likely intended to compliment is holdings in Dexter and Velvet Skyways, which offer domestic and international air taxi services, respectively, from Russian airports.

Industrial Investors may be interested in other Colorado investments as well. Two of its other current investment interests are solar energy and alcoholic beverage production, both of which are fields in which Colorado excels.

Given Industrial Investors prior links to the Russian Defense industry, it is also possible that it may be trying to secure the technical expertise needed to muscle into the defense aerospace business. Very light jets, like the proposed A700 are also suitable for use as military training aircraft, and conversion to military verions with light attack, light air intercept and reconnaisance missions.