Sweet taste of Uzbekistan reaches North America, as Crafers™ enters the US confectionery market with a unique twist.

(New York City, September 2nd, 2020). As part of its international expansion, Crafers™ – a leading confectionery manufacturer in Central Asia, has entered US candy and snack markets, focused on providing a broad array of its delicious products through multiple market segments. At the core of its mission  is a unique business model, which supports K-12 education and strengthens inter-generational family development.

Having adjusted its market entry strategy to address the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and after completing deep analysis of the target market, Crafers’ management moved forward to complete FDA registration formalities, and selected A-Com Logistics  of NY as its logistics provider and appointed Eats and Treats International, as its exclusive North American Importer. The Company with the help of its advisers also developed a unique relationship with the World Affairs Councils of America to support its Academic WorldQuest Program 

The company intends to pursue distribution across all 50 States. It will initially focus on alternative retail and ethnic markets, and in the first quarter of 2021 will unveil its proprietary online/offline education program designed to deepen and strengthen relationships between grandparents and their grand-kids, as well as to improve educational skills outside of the formal learning environment.

To assist Crafers in its US market roll-out and subsequent growth, the company has sought assistance from experienced US and Uzbek- based professionals. Broad Street Capital Group has been selected to develop and implement Crafers’ market entry strategy and to assist the company in building out its US organization and distribution infrastructure. Lipman Law PLLC of New York and Kosta Legal of Tashkent, Uzbekistan have been chosen to provide strategic legal advice and legal services to support the Company’s market entry efforts.

Crafers’ full line of chocolates, wafers, marmalades, candies, marshmallows and chips is expected to enter US distribution channels in the second half of September, 2020

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About Crafers – Founded in 2018, Crafers produces over 150 different SKUs, employs 800 workers and has an annual production capacity of 47,500 tonnes.  Its modern 350,000 sq. ft facilities are certified to international standards such as ISO 9001 and 22000. The company has exported its products to 15 countries
About World Affairs Councils of America (WACA)– Since its founding in  1986, WACA supports more than 90  Worlds Affairs Councils across the USA with international programming and educational programs on issues, which include international trade, the economy and global health.
About Broad Street Capital Group – Based in the heart of New York City’s Financial District, Broad Street Capital Group is an international private merchant bank, which since 1988 has served several foreign governments, multiple state-owned companies, as well as SMEs in emerging markets. Through its member companies, the Group focuses on developing project financing, providing trade credit and political risk mitigation, export management services and cross-border market development advisory.
About Lipman Law-Lipman Law PLLC is a boutique international law practice in headquartered in New York City, whose principal partner has nearly 30 years of experience both in private practice and government with a focus on corporate governance, SEC enforcement, and securities litigation, 
About Kosta Legal – is a leading full service law firm based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Kosta Legal maintains a very international business strong international business and corporate practices. The Firm has been ranked as a Tier-1 firm by influential independent ranking directory The Legal 500.
About A-Com Global Logistics – a premier logistics and freight forwarding services provider involved in bilateral US-Uzbekistan trade. Company enjoys reputation for developing customized multi-modal shipping solutions for its clients in the food and confectionery business segments,
Media Contact – Deneeze Agency, Ann Denysenko +1 646 272 8898  ann@deneeze.com

 

Broad Street Capital Group selects Lipman Law to provide due diligence support and General Counsel services.

(December 2, 2019, New York City, NY) In an effort to streamline its legal operations and to manage international due diligence and compliance processes for the $1.2 billion of financing transactions in its pipeline, Broad Street Capital Group announced today that it has retained Alex Lipman of Lipman law PLLC, to provide general counsel services. Alex Lipman has also joined Broad Street as an Advisory Board Member.

Most recently a partner at a major international law firm, Mr. Lipman has almost 30 years of experience both in private practice and government with focus on SEC enforcement matters, anti-corruption investigations, securities litigation, other regulatory and government matters, as well as corporate governance.

Alex’s government experience includes serving as a Special Assistant United States Attorney on the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. In that position he prosecuted and tried cases involving accounting fraud, mail and wire fraud, and insider trading. Alex also served as a Branch Chief in the SEC’s Enforcement Division, where he conducted numerous high-profile investigations into securities law violations, including cases stemming from the collapse of Enron.

In private practice,  Alex has successfully represented numerous individuals and entities in high-profile white collar securities cases, including cross-border investigations and international prosecutions.

Mr. Lipman also has been a key driving force in developing a proprietary Grey2White® Due Diligence Program designed to identify and solve complex legacy due diligence issues, as well as to optimize multiparty compliance inquiries, which arise during international financing transactions.

“We are very excited to have Mr. Lipman and his Firm advise our team. As the Broad Street Capital Group is poised to enter its next phase of growth, having a seasoned, internationally renowned legal expert in our corner, will help the firm’s clients not only to successfully navigate through complexities of international financing and M&A transactions, but will also allow them to unlock the value of their companies by putting in place best practices in the areas of financial reporting, anti corruption and corporate governance.” said Alexander Gordin, Managing Director of the Broad Street Capital Group.

“I look forward to working with Mr. Gordin and the Broad Street team on ways to improve and streamline the way due diligence and compliance are managed during international financing and merger transactions involving companies in emerging markets. Rather than engaging in a reactive, expensive and cumbersome process, the Grey2White® program aims to provide deeper due diligence investigations than conventional KYC screenings in advance of potential transaction. This would provide greater transparency from the start, reduce costs and benefit all parties involved in the transaction.” said Alex Lipman

About the Broad Street Capital Group.

Based in the heart of New York City’s Financial District, Broad Street Capital Group (www.broadstreetcap.com) is an international private merchant bank, which since 1988 has served several foreign governments, multiple state-owned companies, as well as SMEs in emerging markets. Through its member companies, the Group focuses on developing project financing in the $100 million to $1 billion range, providing political risk mitigation, export management services and cross-border market development advisory. The Firm has done business in over 35 countries, spanning the emerging markets landscape from Bangladesh to Ukraine.

Currently, the Firm maintains presences in eight countries and works closely with all trade and development agencies of the U.S. Government, as well as with Credit Agencies of several European and North American countries. Since its inception, Broad Street Capital Group has been involved in multiple high-profile cross-border transactions in agriculture IT/telecom, aerospace, healthcare, oil and gas,energy generation, food security, nuclear safety, hospitality and franchising sectors. The firm’s current advisory and financing portfolio is expected to exceed $1.25 billion by January 1st, 2020.

 

Lots of financing options, yet modest results

How to successfully develop and finance more quality projects in emerging markets?  (Part 1)

Problem:

Last week, at a financing round-table organized by the US-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC) – representatives from the IFC, EBRD, OPIC and US EXIM bank reaffirmed their commitment to financing projects and trade with Ukraine.  They also demonstrated a whole host of very effective financing and insurance tools, available for use in Ukraine and other emerging markets.

At the same event, these esteemed organizations mentioned multiple success stories and yet each only named half a dozen, or so, of the largest Ukrainian companies (a few were the same names repeated by several institutions).  They also addressed fairly effective wholesale funding arrangements with local banks to serve local small and midsize businesses (SMEs).

Yet, each of representatives has acknowledged a serious problem, which acutely manifests itself in Ukraine and in other emerging markets: lack of strong bankable projects in the $10-75 mil. range, a segment widely considered the main economic driver and job generator in emerging market countries such as Ukraine.

Also noted were lack well-developed and bankable public sector projects in segments such as healthcare.

Thus given widespread availability of interested project sponsors, along with multiple public financing tools and risk mitigation products, what can be done to bridge the gap and convert more deal concepts into real deals with realistic financing and true economic impact?

Solution:

It is all about proper packaging.   Although the institutions are willing and able to lend,  they each have very specific goals and requirements.  Yet, the project sponsors/borrowers, oftentimes are not able to conform to those requirements, despite the fact that their financials and business plans are often sound.   (To Be Continued)

Broad Street Capital Group to lead an international Trade Mission to Uzbekistan.

For Immediate Release

New York, August 26, 2018. Fresh from its success of developing a pioneering $250 million, 20-year OPIC insured, capital markets financing, Broad Street Capital Group announced today that it will lead an international Trade Mission to Uzbekistan between September 5th and 9th, 2018.

The goal of the Trade Mission is to identify and engage large project development and financing opportunities in the areas of health care, distributed and renewable energy generation, agriculture, ICT and aerospace. 

With its proven ability to develop and structure complex financing solutions ranging from $100 to $500 mil., and utilizing support of Export Credit Agencies (ECAs), such as US EXIM Bank, and of US government development institutions,
such as Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), Broad Street Capital Group is uniquely positioned to bring low-interest, long-term financing to projects to be developed by the Trade Mission participants and supported by the Government of Uzbekistan.

The mission participants will also introduce an innovative Grey2White™ initiative designed to assist local companies in becoming more bankable and transparent to western partners and international financial institutions.

Joining Broad Street Capital’s team during the upcoming Mission will be representatives of US, UK and Israeli companies, international law firms and professional organizations. The delegation will be led by Mr. Alexander Gordin, Managing Director of the Broad Street Capital Group and will meet with a number of federal and local Government Officials, project sponsors and company owners in Tashkent.

“Uzbekistan represents a tremendous opportunity for international project development and international business cooperation,” said Alexander Gordin. “Policies implemented by President Mirziyoyev have been very effective in attracting foreign investment, supporting technology transfer and focusing on growing key areas of the Uzbekistan’s economy,” added Gordin.

About the Broad Street Capital Group

Based in the heart of New York City’s Financial District, Broad Street Capital Group (www.broadstreetcap.com) is an international private merchant bank, which since 1988 has served several foreign governments, multiple state-owned companies, as well as SMEs in emerging markets. Through its member companies, the Group focuses on developing project financing in the $100 million to $1 billion range, providing political risk mitigation, export management services and cross-border market development advisory. The Firm maintains a permanent presence in Astana, Kazakhstan and Kyiv, Ukraine.  Since its founding, Broad Street Capital Group has done business in over 35 countries, spanning the emerging markets landscape from Bangladesh to Ukraine.

The Firm works closely with all trade and development agencies of the U.S. Government and Export Credit Agencies of several European and North American countries. Since its inception, Broad Street Capital Group has been involved in multiple high-profile cross-border transactions in IT/telecom, aerospace, health care, energy generation, food security, nuclear safety, hospitality and franchising sectors. The firm’s current advisory and export management portfolio exceeds $900 million and expected to exceed $1.5 billion by November 15th, 2018.

For more information contact: Rustem Tursyn, Representative for Central Asia

+1 212 705 8765 ext. 707, or via email rtursyn@broadstreetcap.com