 According to the Financial Times, in 1994, Oleg Deripaska, then an independent metals trader, won the backing of Cherney and TWG to become general manager of Sayansk aluminium plant in Siberia, which lead to formation of SibAl and a partnership between Cherney and Oleg Deripaska in this company.In 2002, 80% of the capital in the Bulgarian State-owned tobacco company, Bulgartabac, was placed on the market.In April 2002 Cherney put together a three-partner consortium called "Metatabac" to bid for Bulgartabac.