Runa Capital, a venture firm operating globally from its offices in Moscow and San Francisco, has led a $2.2 million funding round in SchoolMint, a leading provider of mobile and online enrollment systems for US public, charter and private schools. Continue Reading
Category Archives: Deals
FxPro broker buys out forex spot aggregator Quotix
By Andrei Skvarsky. FxPro, a London-headquartered online retail foreign exchange broker, has bought out spot forex aggregator Quotix, which is based in Cyprus. Continue Reading
Russia-China Investment Fund (RKIF) reached an agreement to invest in a leading chain of stores selling products for children "Children's World"
September 9, 2014 Russia-China Investment Fund (RKIF) has reached an agreement in principle to invest in the company, “Children’s World”, is a major player in the sector of specialized network of trade in goods for children in Russia. To date, 100% of the share capital of the company is controlled by AFK “System”. Continue Reading
Mail.ru Group has placed part of its stake in the group Qiwi
Mail.ru Group has sold most of its stake in the group Qiwi, control of Russia’s largest system of instant payments . Mail.ru Group could realize 4% stake Qiwi from 2.8 percent discount to the market price, generated $ 80 million. Total investment in Qiwi, in which Internet holding company once owned a 25% stake, he… Continue Reading
EBRD PLEDGES FURTHER SUPPORT TO INDEPENDENT UKRAINIAN BREWER
The shareholders of an independent Lviv-based brewer Persha Privatna Brovarnia (PPB) including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which has over two decades of successful investment experience in the Ukrainian brewing industry, are financing another project aimed at supporting one of the most vibrant agribusiness subsectors in the country. Through this latest investment… Continue Reading
EBRD REDUCES STAKE IN POLAND’S LEADING TELECOMS/MEDIA PLATFORM CYFROWY POLSAT
The EBRD has reduced its stake in Cyfrowy Polsat, Poland’s leading media and telecommunications companies, by selling 33 per cent of its shares. The partial sale reflects the Bank’s continuing commitment to the company and its successful development. Continue Reading
The Funds of KCM’s group invest in Chaplin Cinemas network
ADM Capital’s funds, KCRF and KGF, members of a group of funds with the participation of Kazyna Capital Management JSC (owned by National Management Holding “Baiterek” JSC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announce completion of the acquisition of the controlling stake in Chaplin Cinemas network. Continue Reading
Moscow-based Runa Capital to invest up to $200 million in European startups
Runa Capital, a Moscow-based global tech-focused venture capital firm, announced yesterday the first closing of its new fund, Runa Capital II. With a target size of $200 million, the firm will continue investing in tech-based companies worldwide, focusing especially on Europe. The amount of the first closing has not been disclosed. Continue Reading
Utinet.ru, e96.ru and Sotmarket.ru merge into one listed company
Source – East-West Digital News Utinet.ru, e96.ru and Sotmarket, three major Russian e-commerce companies, announced yesterday the completion of their merger process – started last year – into an integrated company, christened “Platform Utinet.Ru.” Part of the company’s stock is being floated on the Moscow exchange following Utinet’s IPO in 2011. Continue Reading
EBRD PARTICIPATES IN KAZAKH RAILWAYS EUROBOND
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has participated in a bond issuance by Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ). The Bank participated in the longer-term tranche of the Eurobond. Continue Reading
EBRD AND FAO PROMOTE VIABLE FORESTS IN RUSSIA’S FAR EAST
Russia’s Far East occupies one-third of the country’s territory and accounts for more than nine percent of the world’s forests. Forestry there thus plays a crucial role, locally and further afield, supplying livelihoods for millions of people and a valuable habitat for flora and fauna, including the endangered Amur tiger. Continue Reading
Ulmart enters the travel market
Perhaps inspired by the success of Ozon Travel, Ulmart, Russia’s leading online retailer, has officially announced its entry into a new field of activity: Ulmart Travel. Continue Reading
Russian analog of Blue Apron raises venture investment from Moscow players
Source – marchmontnews.com Moscow Seed Fund, an institutional early-stage investor, and AddVenture, another Russian VC fund supporting Internet projects, are investing $347,000 in Chefmarket, an innovative Russian hybrid of a grocery store and a restaurant, the RVC web-site reported. Continue Reading
The Funds of KCM’s group invest in Chaplin Cinemas network
ADM Capital’s funds, KCRF and KGF, members of a group of funds with the participation of Kazyna Capital Management JSC (owned by National Management Holding “Baiterek” JSC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announce completion of the acquisition of the controlling stake in Chaplin Cinemas network. Investments of the Funds will be… Continue Reading
Russian IP video surveillance software company signs $15 million contract in Bahrain
Macroscop, a Russian startup developing software for IP videocameras, signed earlier this month one of its first international contracts with Bahrain’s MHS-Technologies. Continue Reading
EBRD BECOMES KEY INVESTOR IN ROMANIA’S ELECTRICA
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has invested over RON 320 million (equivalent to €75 million) for an 8.6 per cent stake in Romania’s electricity distribution company S.C. Electrica S.A., as the firm moves towards privatisation in the country’s largest-ever IPO. Continue Reading
EBRD FINANCES MAJOR BIOGAS PROJECT IN UKRAINE
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is organising a financing programme of up to €7.1 million to construct and bring into operation a 2.25 MW biogas plant, adjacent to Rokytne sugar mill in the Kiev region. The plant, which will be the largest facility of this type in the country, will generate electricity… Continue Reading
Three years after NASDAQ IPO, Yandex introduced on Moscow Exchange
Trading of Yandex shares on Moscow Exchange started yesterday in Russian rubles under symbol “YNDX”. Shares also continue to trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, where the search company was introduced in 2011. Continue Reading
Local search service Yell.ru secures $11 million from Swedish funds to measure itself against Yandex
Last week, Russian online local-search service Yell.ru announced that it has secured $11 million, which includes $8 million from Vostok Nafta and $3 million from current investor AB Kinnevik. Continue Reading
Middle East Investors Expected To Spend Us$180 Billion In Global Real Estate Markets Over Next Decad
Middle Eastern investors are expected to spend US$180 billion in commercial real estate markets outside of their own region over the next decade, according to the latest research from global property advisor CBRE. Continue Reading
ADB $300 Million Loan to Continue Power Upgrades in India’s Assam State
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $300 million loan to help India’s northeastern Assam state continue its drive to eliminate power sector inefficiencies that are hurting its consumers, its world-famous tea industry, and its environment. Continue Reading
EBRD Invests in Poland's Altus TFI
The EBRD plans to invest up to PLN 50 million (€12 million equivalent) in the forthcoming IPO of Altus TFI S.A. on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Altus is a privately held mutual fund and asset management company in Poland with more than PLN 5 billion of assets under management across 36 funds. Continue Reading
Russia’s VC market shrank in 1Q 2014, RMG and EWDN analysts found
Rye, Man & Gor Securities, a Russian investment firm, and East-West Digital News, an international resource on Russia’s IT, have issued a report on the status and trends of Russia’s venture market in 1Q 2014. Continue Reading
Russian-American startup iBuildApp raises another $200,000
Mobile app builder iBuildApp has raised $200,000 from Starta Capital and Nikolay Belykh. iBuildApp is an international project that enables clients to build and manage mobile apps. As well as being a resident of Moscow’s Skolkovo IT-Park, the project also has its headquarters in Foster City, California. Continue Reading
VTB Capital participated in the placement of CNH 1 billion Offshore Renminbi Bonds for Beijing Capital Company Limited
VTB Capital has been mandated as a joint bookrunner and joint lead manager on the placement of CNH 1 billion offshore renminbi bonds in the Reg-S format for Beijing Capital Company Limited, to be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and priced with a coupon of 4.7% and a three-year maturity. Continue Reading
Russia's Sberbank CIB co-arranges $250m loan for Kaspersky Lab
By Andrei Skvarky. Sberbank has lent $250m to Russian security software developer Kaspersky Lab, with the biggest Russia lender’s investment arm, Sberbank CIB, being one of the lead arrangers of what is a syndicated loan. Continue Reading
Sberbank, Abu Dhabi’s Invest AD clinch “strategic” deal
By Andrei Skvarsky. Russia’s biggest lender Sberbank and Abu Dhabi’s state-owned Invest AD investment management firm have signed a preliminary deal on “strategic” cooperation in asset management in Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Middle East, Sberbank said. Continue Reading
Streaming music startup Bloom.fm shuts down after Russia investor pulls out
As reported by Guardian, streaming music service Bloom.fm, app with more than 1.1m registered users in the UK alone, has shut down after its main investor pulled out suddenly. Continue Reading
Qiwi top executives make $30m and entrepreneurial experience available to Russian start-ups
In late April Andrei Romanenko, a top executive at Russian payment giant Qiwi, announced the launch of Run Capital, a venture fund targeting Russian tech start-ups at the pre-seed and seed stages. {{{?}}} The $30m fund will able to provide young Russian entrepreneurs with much more than just financial support, East-West Digital News, the first… Continue Reading