Mail.ru Group will have new co-owners

This is Rostek and Gazprombank.
09.05.2018
Vedomosti
Origin source
Megafon creates a joint venture with Gazprombank, Rostech and USM Holdings Alisher Usmanov, the operator's press service reported. The purpose of the joint venture is "the development of digital services and projects in the digital economy," the report says.

The press release clarifies that the companies are creating a new structure - "MF Technology" (ITF). In it, Megafon will introduce the Mail.ru Group (11,500,100 shares of Class A, accounting for 5.23% of the economic share and giving 58.87% of the vote). Later, the company among themselves will be shared by all participants of the transaction.

Now the shareholder of the ITF is a 100% subsidiary of Megafon - Lefbord Investment Limited (Lefbord). Under the deal, Gazprombank will buy a 35% stake in the ITF from Megafon, USM - 9%, and Rostek will receive 11%. Thus, the operator's subsidiary will retain a 45% stake in the ITF. The total business is estimated at $ 450 million, the report said.

Megafon gained control of Mail.ru about a year ago - the operator was considering various opportunities for the development of this business and possible synergies. This was told to Vedomosti by the executive director of Megafon Gevorg Vermishyan. One of the goals of the new joint venture is the creation of new financial products and services jointly with Gazprombank, he said. In the center of the ecosystem, most likely, will be a payment card "Megaphone" - its holders and subscribers of Megafon will be available new credit, insurance and other products, he clarifies.

The second block of ITF projects is connected with the development of software for enterprises and the development of special software. In this regard, it is logical to partner with Rostekh, Vermishyan argues.

Megafon will also benefit from investments in Mail.ru - a net financial return of about $ 200 million, Vermishyan considered. These funds, in particular, are needed to reduce the debt burden and the development of the operator's business, notes the top manager. In addition, the partners plan to form an investment fund for investments in promising technology companies, Vermishyan added.

CEO of USM Management Ivan Streshinsky through the press service told Vedomosti that the joint venture's goal is to create a platform that will form an "entire ecosystem based on fundamentally new digital financial instruments." At the same time, Gazprombank and Rostekha have the necessary expertise in the field of information technology and financial services, he said. "In addition, we already have the experience of successful cooperation with them, and a common view on the future of the digital industry," concludes Vedomosti.

Earlier, the newspaper Kommersant wrote about the plans of Gazprombank and Rostek to become co-owners of the Internet holding Mail.ru Group. The publication indicated that the bank and the state corporation will purchase shares in the new company "MF Technology" - a joint venture with Megafon and USM Holdings.

"Megafon", as the newspaper noted, will contribute to this business economic and voting shares in Mail.ru Group and by the results of the transaction will receive $ 247.5 million. "Partners also plan to jointly develop banking products and a financial digital platform, expecting to compete with JV" Yandex " . Market "and Sberbank", - stressed "Kommersant".

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