RBC invests $ 120 million in "non-business" strategy
In two years, $ 120 million will be invested by RBC Information Systems in its new strategy - the development of online entertainment projects. Investments will receive both RBC's own startups and third-party ones. At the same time, the company plans to buy the latest in the markets of Russia, CIS countries and Eastern Europe. He told about such plans in his interview Herman Kaplun, Chairman of the Board of Directors of RBC.
Among the first steps in the chosen direction is the selection of a separate company, Media World, for a new business. The structure will be headed by Mikhail Gurevich, who has been in management positions for many years at RBC. This company, Kaplun pointed out, has a number of initiatives in the entertainment segment, and will continue to try to enter other markets: “to negotiate partnerships, try to buy someone, if you can still buy someone”. “Business as usual,” he noted. “We understand that in the first stage we will spend significantly more than we earn.” The staff of the "entertainment" direction is planned to reach 500 people (now - 150).
After three years, RBC expects $ 70-100 million of cumulative turnover within the project, but it does not undertake to confidently predict indicators, because it “buys expectations”. It is known for certain that it will generate income: 75% - advertising, 25% - services. The geography of activity, as noted, is not limited to Russia - interest, in particular, manifests itself in the markets of Ukraine, the prosperous countries of Eastern Europe, Spain.
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In addition, the plans of the holding - venture financing. It creates, in fact, a mini-fund, from which the holding is going to allocate funds for promising start-ups in the hope that some of them will “shoot”. As Herman Kaplun said in an interview, there are a huge number of young talents with original ideas, and if interesting projects appear, the company will acquire them. At the same time, RBC does not want to risk more than $ 10 million in the venture direction. “Maybe we’ll limit ourselves to five, as it will,” the source said. “We don’t know how many projects will come to us.” As a buying party, RBC is counting on a 50% stake in companies.
Among the first steps in the chosen direction is the selection of a separate company, Media World, for a new business. The structure will be headed by Mikhail Gurevich, who has been in management positions for many years at RBC. This company, Kaplun pointed out, has a number of initiatives in the entertainment segment, and will continue to try to enter other markets: “to negotiate partnerships, try to buy someone, if you can still buy someone”. “Business as usual,” he noted. “We understand that in the first stage we will spend significantly more than we earn.” The staff of the "entertainment" direction is planned to reach 500 people (now - 150).
After three years, RBC expects $ 70-100 million of cumulative turnover within the project, but it does not undertake to confidently predict indicators, because it “buys expectations”. It is known for certain that it will generate income: 75% - advertising, 25% - services. The geography of activity, as noted, is not limited to Russia - interest, in particular, manifests itself in the markets of Ukraine, the prosperous countries of Eastern Europe, Spain.
')
In addition, the plans of the holding - venture financing. It creates, in fact, a mini-fund, from which the holding is going to allocate funds for promising start-ups in the hope that some of them will “shoot”. As Herman Kaplun said in an interview, there are a huge number of young talents with original ideas, and if interesting projects appear, the company will acquire them. At the same time, RBC does not want to risk more than $ 10 million in the venture direction. “Maybe we’ll limit ourselves to five, as it will,” the source said. “We don’t know how many projects will come to us.” As a buying party, RBC is counting on a 50% stake in companies.
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/2945/
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