How Fifa World Cup 2018 boosted Berger Paints' Russian venture

Company's loss-making Russian arm painted three World Cup soccer venues, and two airports to break even this fiscal; Berger now mulls acquiring competing painting companies

Berger Paints India is considering acquisition of competing paint companies in Russia after the 2018 FIFA World Cup instilled it with fresh hopes to scale up the hitherto loss making operation in this country.

Its Russian subsidiary, together with a local partner recently painted three World Cup soccer venues - Rostov Arena, Volgograd Arena and Kaliningrad apart from two airports which led to the Russian subsidiary breaking even this fiscal year.

“We have a 1,000-tonne-per-month capacity plant in Krasnodar in Russia whose capacity utilisation stands at 35-40 per cent. But we are eyeing acquisitions there,” Abhijit Roy, managing director and