Amazon and SoftBank were interested in the purchase of Ozon • The Bell • RIMA — Russian Independent Media Archive

Date

06/27/2020

Author

Валерия Позычанюк

Source

The Bell

Preserved copy

Internet Archive

Translated material

Amazon and SoftBank were interested in the purchase of Ozon

Amazon and SoftBank were interested in the purchase of a share in Ozon’s Internet retail, and six months ago the head of the Russian retailer Alexander Shulgin even went to meet with Jeff Bezos, said the owner of the AFC, Vladimir Yevtushenkov. The interlocutor who was familiar with the details of the negotiations previously told about the interest of the American IT giant, but, according to him, they did not agree to anything specific.

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Ozon is “the only company in Russia that Amazon considered from the point of view of participation and considered SoftBank,” RIA Novosti quoted Yevtushenkov. According to the businessman, Ozon general director Alexander Shulgin met with Amazon Head Jeff Bezos "five to six months ago, maybe more." Amazon The Bell spoke about the interest in the Russian online retailer by the interlocutor, familiar with the fact of negotiations. But, according to him, this transaction eventually broke.

In addition, Yevtushenkov said that Ozon was “a few steps from profitability and prepared for IPO perfectly”. He used to say that the “system” is preparing for the IPO Ozon in 2020 or 2021 and the London stock exchange will be selected for this.

AFK Sistema and the Sistema VC venture fund now belongs to almost 43% in the online retailer. Baring Vostok controls about 40% Ozon.

Sberbank has been interested in buying a share in Ozon for at least a year now, wrote The Bell. In June, Reuters found out that Sberbank plans to buy 30% of Ozon stakes after additional dopation. This will happen after the bank sells its share in their joint company Yandex.Market - as part of a divorce in joint projects.

Yevtushenkov did not confirm the information about the upcoming transaction of Ozon with Sberbank, but did not refute. “If he wants and will hardly try, he will be able to (buy OZON - Ed.),” RIA Novosti quotes the words of the businessman.