Acron Group

History

At the core of the Group are two production facilities, Acron (established in 1961) and Dorogobuzh (established in 1966), which at one time formed the basis of the Soviet fertiliser industry. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, both enterprises were privatised, underwent a large-scale revamping and adopted the long-term reconstruction and upgrade programme and consolidated corporate governance system. Early in this decade the Company set a course to develop a vertically integrated business. Today, in addition to its production assets, the Group has its own logistics and distribution networks and is investing in raw material projects. In order to strengthen its hand in the world's largest fertiliser market – China – in 2005 the Group acquired complex fertiliser producer Hongri Acron and created its own extensive distribution network. In 2011 the company entered a joint venture with Rio Tinto to develop the Albany potash prospect in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Owners and Executives

Shareholder structure as of 1 August 2012

Vladimir Kunitsky, Chairman of the Managing Board and CEO (since 29 July 2011). Vladimir Gavrikov was executive director in 2005–2011; he is still a member of the board of directors and also a deputy of the duma (parliament) of Novogord Oblast.

Alexander Popov, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

The Group’s ultimate parent is Subero Associates Inc (British Virgin Islands). The Group is ultimately controlled by Mr Viatcheslav Kantor.

Operations

Acron is a global mineral fertiliser producer with a diversified product portfolio consisting of complex fertilisers such as NPK and bulk blends, and nitrogen fertilisers such as urea, ammonium nitrate and urea-ammonium nitrate. The Group's key markets are Russia, China and other Asian countries, Europe, Americas.
Acron has three production facilities – Acron (Veliky Novgorod, Russia), Dorogobuzh (Smolensk Region, Russia) and Hongri Acron (Shandong Province, China). Acron’s logistics and transportation capabilities include its own fleet of railway cars and three sea port trans-shipment facilities on the Baltic Sea – at the Kaliningrad port of Russia, at the Estonian Sillamäe port and at the Estonian Muuga port. The Group operates distribution networks in Russia and China. Acron employs over 14,000 people. North-Western Phosphorus Company (NWPC) was established by Acron in 2005 to secure an independent phosphate raw material base. On 24 October 2006 NWPC obtained state licences to develop apatite-nepheline ore deposits at the Oleniy Ruchey and Partomchorr fields in the Murmansk region.
Oleniy Ruchey Mine:

Verkhnekamsk Potash Company (VPC) is executing a strategic project to create a potash raw material base for Acron Group. In 2008, Acron Group obtained a license to develop the Talitsky area of the Verkhnekamsk potassium-magnesium salt deposit. Design work is underway for the Talitsky mining and processing complex, with a projected capacity of 2 million tonnes of potash per year.

In June 2014 the company reported positive exploration results from its Albany potash development, in southern Saskatchewan, Canad,a which it holds in partnership with Rio Tinto. The company in a statement described the site as "one of the best potash development opportunities in the world."

Performance Highlights

In 2011, the Group’s output of ammonia and mineral fertilisers (exclusive of own use) totaled 5.8 million tonnes. In 2011 the Group’s consolidated revenues under IFRS were RUB 65.4 billion (US$ 2.2 billion), and net profit was RUB 20.3 billion (US$ 692 million).

Sales

The Group sells its products both via retailers and directly to end users. The Group established its own distribution network under the Agronova brand in 2005 to improve the efficiency of its domestic sales. Agronova has 6 regional branches and 16 specialised warehouse facilities. The total storage capacity of the distribution network is 169,000 tonnes. Agronova International Inc. was founded by Acron in 2008 to handle marketing, distribution and sea transportation of the Group’s export cargos. Agronova Europa AG was set up in 2009 to supply the Group’s products to the European market. The Group continues to develop its own distribution network in China, called Yong Sheng Feng. Yong Sheng Feng’s key business is wholesaling fertilisers and other chemicals.