|
Access Industries is a privately held, U.S.-based industrial group founded in 1986 by its chairman, Len Blavatnik. Access s industrial focus spans three sectors: natural resource and chemicals; media and telecommunications; and real estate. It is the owner of the Warner Music Group as of July 20, 2011.
Holdings Natural Resources and Chemicals LyondellBasell Industries In 2005, Access acquired Basell Polyolefins, a former joint venture between Royal Dutch Shell and BASF. Basell, headquartered in Hoofddorp, The Netherlands, was the global leader in the technology, production and marketing of polyolefins. Basell s polyolefin materials and production technologies were used to produce a wide variety of customer applications from packaging and automotive to medical and consumer goods. In December 2007, Access's Basell Holdings acquired Lyondell Chemical Company in a $20 billion transaction. The merged company, named LyondellBasell Industries, is the world's third largest independent chemical company. LyondellBasell is one of the world's largest polymers, petrochemicals and fuels companies: the global leader in polyolefins technology, production and marketing; a pioneer in propylene oxide and derivatives; a leading producer of advanced fuel products; and the operator of one of North America's largest full-conversion refineries. LyondellBasell is headquartered in The Netherlands. In Jan 2009, LyondellBasell Industries sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for its U.S. operations and one of its European holding companies amid a heavy debt load and plunging sales. TNK-BP In 1997, Access acquired a stake in the Russian oil company TNK and played a crucial role in transforming TNK into one of the world s most respected oil companies. In 2003, half of TNK was sold to British Petroleum (BP) to form TNK-BP, marking the largest-ever foreign investment in a Russian company. UC RUSAL In 1996, Access helped to form SUAL, one of the world s largest aluminum producers, through direct investment and the merger of assets. Over the next decade, SUAL continued to grow and became widely recognized as one of the best managed companies in Russia. In early 2007, SUAL merged with RUSAL and the alumina business of Glencore International AG to form UC Rusal, the world s largest vertically integrated aluminum producer. Media and Telecommunications Acision In 2007, Access acquired a stake in Acision, the market leader in messaging solutions for mobile operators worldwide. Acision has over 300 mobile operators as customers who serve over a billion end users. Over 50 per cent of global messaging traffic is generated through Acision's platforms. The company employs approximately 1,700 people in 22 countries across six continents. Top Up TV In late 2003, Access acquired a controlling stake in Top Up TV which launched in March 2004 on Freeview, Britain s Digital Terrestrial TV platform. Top Up TV broadcasts a range of channels including: British Eurosport, UKTV Gold, Discovery Channel, TCM, Cartoon Network, Discovery Real Time, UKTV Food, and Bloomberg. Warner Music Group Access invested in Warner Music Group in 2004 with Thomas H. Lee Partners, Bain Capital, Providence Equity Partners, and Edgar Bronfman, Jr. A partial sale of Warner Music Group was completed through an IPO on the NYSE in May 2005. Access continued as a significant shareholder. In May, 2011, WMG announced its sale to Access for US$3.3 billion cash, after a three-month bidding process.[1] The purchase was set to include cash of US$320 million and would include the assumption of US$2 billion of WMG debt. Access's stake in WMG was put at 2 percent at the time of the announcement.[2] The purchase was completed on July 20, 2011.[3] net1 Access invested in net1 in 2009. net1 is a telecom services provider offering mobile broadband in Scandinavia. By deploying 3G-technology in lower frequencies the company has the largest geographical footprint of all Scandinavian operators and approx, 100,000 subscribers. http://www.net1.se/ AMEDIA Access owns a majority stake in Amedia, Russia's leading TV production company. The Amedia group of companies also includes Media City, one of the largest TV studios in Russia, which provides end-to-end production services (including sound stages, equipment, costumes and scenery) to in-house and third-party producers. Icon Group In 2009, Access acquired the UK operations of LA-based Icon Group, the film and entertainment business created by Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey. Real estate Access owns hotels and commercial real estate properties in the U.S., Latin America, and Europe. One notable development is the Faena Hotel+Universe, opened in 2004[4] in Buenos Aires, Argentina. References External links de:Access Industries
| 
Encyclopedia
top
