Russian Standard Takes $25M Stake in CEDC

Dear Client: Russian Standard and its billionaire chairman Roustam Tariko have acquired a 9.9% stake, or 7.2 million shares, in Central European Distribution (CEDC) for $25 million sometime between November 15-21, according to a Nov 28 joint filing with the SEC. Russian Standard is probably most well known in the US for its flagship Russian Standard and Imperia vodkas. They consider the stake a "strategic investment," according to the filing, since CEDC operates in similar alcohol categories (low to mid-priced