Russia’s leading media and electronics e-commerce store Ozon.ru has received USD 18 million in investments from an international syndicate of companies. Initiated and managed by Russia’s largest private equity investor Baring Vostok Capital Partners, the company will use the funds to further develop its logistics and distribution system and establish an expanded product line.
Leading European investment capital firm, Index Ventures, joined with networking and Internet leader, Cisco Systems Inc., and Germany’s venture capital group, Holtzbrinck Ventures. Baring Vostok Capital Partners is the controlling shareholder in Ozon.ru.
Ozon.ru (www.ozon.ru)
Founded in St. Petersburg in 1998, Ozon.ru is headquartered in Moscow. It offers 260,000 different items from 12 product categories. The company works with over 400 suppliers and delivers 3000 orders per day. Focusing on the Russian-speaking Internet market, Ozon.ru has over 120,000 unique visitors per day.
The company’s distribution centre is located in Tver. The Russian e-commerce market is expected to double in the next four years due to expanded broadband use throughout the country.
The company’s turnover has risen 78 percent to USD 45 million in the first half of 2008.
Holtzbrinck Ventures (www.holtzbrinck-ventures.com)
Holtzbrinck Ventures invests risk capital into startups and young companies in the media sector since 1998. The company specializes on Internet, mobile and broadband firms, with over 60 investments under management.
Holtzbrinck Ventures maintains active supervision and long-term support for its investments, along with the utilization of its own established brands in those companies.
Index Ventures (www.indexventures.com)
Active in technology venture investing, Index Ventures has been one of the leading European venture capital firms since 1996. The company helps build information technology and life science businesses into global leaders.
With offices in London, Jersey and Geneva, the company has invested into Betfair, Skype and Photoways.
Baring Vostok Capital Partners (www.bpep.com)
Operating in the Russian and surrounding markets, Baring Vostok Capital Partners has over USD 600 million in investments under management. It has invested in nearly 50 companies since 1994. The firm works in the financial services, branded consumer products, telecommunications, media, technology and oil and gas industries.
Baring Vostok has a number of leading institutional investors from North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. These include pension funds, governmental investments, endowments and international institutions
09/04/2007
Central & Eastern Europe, Internet, E-Commerce & E-Services, Investment, Private Equity News, Russia