The main transactions of 2017 in IT market of Russia

Merlion expands distribution and strengthens positions in system integration

Acquisition of DSCon company

In February Merlion signed the agreement on entry into its structure of the company DSCon - distributor hardware and the software for creation DPCs. As well as the previous similar transactions, this was carried out within the strategy of development for the Value Add Distribution (VAD) direction – distribution of solutions with additional services. Due to accession of Merlion company expects to fill up a solution portfolio with network products Mellanox Technologies, Infortrend and some others. In more detail here.

Company takeover RentSoft and Velvica

In July, 2017 Merlion announced the beginning of process of integration into its structure of commands of two companies - RentSoft (the distributor of cloud services) and Velvica (a technology platform for distribution of cloud services). Cloud distribution becomes one of core competencies of Merlion, noted in the company concerning the transaction. The company also carried out these absorption within development of the VAD direction which in business of Merlion occupies a third. Read more here.

Purchase of a share in OTR system integrator

In October, 2017 Merlion announced entry into the capital of the OTR system integrator specializing in projects in a public sector. The biggest customers OTR are the Federal Treasury, DIT of Moscow, VTB. Merlion became the owner of 60% OTR. At the same time the distributor purchased a similar share in the "About Ah-Ti Resource" company created by natives of Forecast. Her primary client - DIT of Moscow.

In more detail about acquisition OTR and also information on shareholders of Merlion for the first time disclosed to TAdviser in 2017 it is possible to read here.

Softline is bought before the IPO

Acquisition of Insight Technology Solutions

In July Softline became the owner of Insight Technology Solutions - the Russian division of Insight company, being one of the largest Microsoft partners in the world. The company sells products and other vendors of the software. Softline was going to rename an acquired asset into "Softline enterprise solyushnz" and to involve it in work with clients in the developed countries. Read more here.

Enaza purchase

In August the Cyprian Axion Holding Cyprus Ltd (79.9% of stocks belong to Softline Group) became the owner of 100% of head company Enaza — Freshstore LLC. Enaza - developer of the platform for distribution of digital content and the software. Softline said that are going to scale the Enaza platform on the markets of foreign countries, including South America, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Read more here.

Zubr Capital purchased a share in the Belarusian business of Softline

In December it became known that the management of the Belarusian company "Zubr capital" in which management private equity funds of Zubr Capital Fund I and SMH stay invested $10 million in the Cyprus offshore of Lagembor controlling the Belarusian assets of Softline. Means of Zubr Capital will go for development of the Belarusian perimeter of Softline which is included in the international business of group and as a part of which there are projects with emphasis on global market. Read more here.

Transactions of 2017 are made in anticipation of the IPO of Softline which carrying out is expected in 2018-2019.

New cloud technologies attract authoritative investors

Dmitry Komissarov, CEO of New cloud technologies

Former vice president of Rosneft

In September New cloud technologies had a new minority shareholder - the ex-vice president of Rosneft Thomas Hendel. He owns in the company of shares in 1.6% which he purchased at the major shareholder Andrey Cheglakov. Read more here.

Old acquaintance of Vladimir Putin

In November the ex-intelligence officer of the GDR and the old acquaintance of the president Russia Vladimir Putin Matthias Warnig purchased 1.8% of New cloud technologies. The source in the company explained TAdviser that the developer needs additional investments on development. In more detail here.

Invested Lanit in the developer of the HR platform

Philip Gens

In April the ABC Solutions company which is engaged in creation of the Russian ZoZo WFM HR platform attracted more than $1 million investments from Lanita venture fund. In exchange for investments the 40% share in the company was received by the top manager and the son of the founder Lanita Philip Gens. Another 11% - at Tikhon Smykov, the head of Inventive Retail Group entering into Lanit. On 24.5% in ABC Solutions founders Mikhail Engelgardt and Maxim Ryabov saved. Read more here.

RedSys and CompuTel appeared in pledge at bank of owners of Technoserv

As TAdviser knew in March, 2017, RedSys company, CompuTel of Systems Management and Magellan signed agreements on opening of a credit line and providing the bank guarantee with Promsvyazbank. Read more here.

Before accomplishment of agreement obligations of RedSys, "CompuTel of systems management" and Magellan will be in pledge at the bank belonging to owners of Technoserv system integrator Alexey and Dmitry Ananyevym.

Earlier TAdviser wrote that since the end of 2016 "CompuTel of systems management" and Magellan - large IT contractors Pension fund Russia – belong to the company "Телигент" headed by the former manager of Technoserv Alexey Turochkin.

The Cyprus offshore of Androklus Limited (cm more detailed) became the owner of "Teligent", in turn, since December, 2016. Under above-mentioned agreements in pledge Promsvyazbank has also "Teligent".

One of interlocutors of TAdviser considers that the Cyprus company of Androklus Limited which became the owner of "Teligent" "CompuTel of systems management" and Magellan, can act for the benefit of Technoserv. Earlier other interlocutors of TAdviser said that Technoserv and RedSys discuss possible merge of assets. But in the companies it was disproved.

Partners of 1C created the joint venture for automation of large corporations

The largest partner of 1C First BIT purchased a share in 51% in Gradum company. The head First BIT Anton Dolgov in September, 2017 told TAdviser about it. The transaction is carried out with the purpose to construct the player in the field of automation of a large corporate segment based on solutions of 1C, he says.

Gradum was created as the company to which other partner of 1C - Axelot - transferred the direction of business on automation of a large corporate segment. It occurred within conversion of Axelot into diversified holding – in separate companies it selects also other directions of business. Read more here.

The IT integrator of Rosneft had own DPC

In September "The Siberian Internet company" (Sibintek, internal IT integrator of Rosneft) announced completion of the transaction on acquisition of DPC of Cloud DC located in the Zelenograd special economic zone. The DPC will be used for transition to cloud model of rendering services, consolidation of information resources, storage and data processing of industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and as the technical platform for tests of elements of the digital enterprise. Read more here.

Owners of Platon Igor Rotenberg and Andrey Shipelov purchased Alexey Nashchekin's IT holding

Igor Rotenberg (photos are Vedomosti)

In November the National Telematic Systems company specializing in creation of information systems for "smart" roads had new co-owners. On 45% at its founder Alexey Nashchekin Igor Rotenberg and Andrey Shipelov purchased. Igor Rotenberg is a son of the friend Vladimir Putin – Rotenberg's Arcadia - owns 50% of "RT-Invest Transport Systems (RTITS)" company (RTITS) - the operator of a system of collection of a payment from the heavy-load Platon cars. Read more here.

Sberbank increases digital assets

Purchase of 80% of service of online record to doctors of DocDoc.ru

In May Sberbank announced purchase of a controlling stake (79.6%) of DocDoc.ru service. Acquisition of DocDoc.ru is an important step to strategy implementations on creation of the digital ecosystems directed to the widest satisfaction of needs of the client noted in Sberbank. Read more here.

Joint venture with Yandex.Market

In August Sberbank and Yandex signed the agreement of intent to create joint venture based on Yandex.Market. Having integrated infrastructure and technologies, the companies will develop the e-commerce ecosystem including purchase and sales of goods, including digital and also the products and services connected with it. Under the terms of the agreement Sberbank invests 30 billion rubles in Yandex.Market. Read more here.

Investments into VisionLabs

In October Sberbank announced acquisition of 25.07% of stocks in the VisionLabs company specializing in development of technologies for face recognition. The bargain is concluded through an inner pattern of Sberbank. This investment in bank is called the first step on creation of the biometric platform of identification of clients of Sberbank which, along with the person, will use also recognition on a voice, a retina and other biometric factors. Read more here.

MTS entered the market of online cash desks

In October MTS purchased 50.82% in the capital of the Russian software developer for retail "Cloud retail" (LiteBox brand). Transaction amount was 620 million rubles. MTS declared plans thanks to this transaction to deliver ready-made solutions for cash services of business clients. Read more here.