Yandex to Sell Its Assets in Russia, Exiting the Market and Starting a New Chapter

Yandex, known as Russia’s equivalent of Google, is set to exit the Russian market entirely in a groundbreaking move. The company has struck a deal worth $5.2 billion, marking the end of an era for the dominant online search engine in the country. Under the agreement, a consortium of buyers, including Yandex’s management, an investment fund associated with Russian oil giant LUKoil, and three other businessmen, will take over the company’s operations in Russia.

While Yandex bids farewell to its Russian ventures, it will retain control over several non-Russian businesses. These include operations in cloud computing, self-driving cars, as well as various patents and intellectual property licenses. This decision aligns with the company’s strategy to diversify its portfolio and explore new avenues beyond the Russian market.

The sale price takes into account a 50% discount mandated by law for the sale of assets from “unfriendly countries” exiting the local market. This discount is a direct consequence of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which led to the exit of numerous international companies from their Russian operations.

Yandex’s decision to exit the Russian market comes after a turbulent 18 months influenced by geopolitical factors. Russian lawmakers implemented measures that resulted in censorship of news and independent information related to the war in Ukraine. This censorship forced Yandex to alter its search results and direct users towards specific news outlets, undermining its commitment as a reliable source of information.

The company faced internal challenges during this period as well, with board members and top executives resigning, along with the freezing of its American Depositary Receipts on the U.S. Nasdaq exchange. To adapt to this changing landscape, Yandex opted to sell its news and entertainment channels and initiate discussions regarding a potential reorganization and exit from Russia.

Ultimately, Yandex’s decision to sell its assets in Russia represents a new chapter for the renowned technology company. By parting ways with its dominant search engine and other revenue-generating businesses in the country, Yandex is primed to explore fresh possibilities and expand its global presence in fields such as cloud computing and self-driving cars.

Une section FAQ basée sur les principaux sujets et informations présentées dans l’article :

Q : Qu’est-ce que Yandex ?
R : Yandex est le moteur de recherche en ligne dominant en Russie et est considéré comme l’équivalent de Google.

Q : Pourquoi Yandex quitte-t-il le marché russe ?
R : Yandex quitte le marché russe en raison de facteurs géopolitiques et de la censure imposée par les autorités russes sur les informations relatives à la guerre en Ukraine.

Q : Quels secteurs Yandex continuera-t-il à contrôler ?
R : Yandex conservera le contrôle de ses activités dans le cloud computing, les voitures autonomes et les licences de propriété intellectuelle.

Q : Pourquoi le prix de vente tient-il compte d’une remise de 50% ?
R : La loi russe exige une remise de 50% pour la vente d’actifs provenant de pays considérés comme “hostiles” et quittant le marché local.

Q : Quelles sont les raisons de la décision de Yandex de diversifier ses activités ?
R : Yandex souhaite explorer de nouvelles opportunités au-delà du marché russe et diversifier son portefeuille d’activités.

Définitions des termes clés ou jargon utilisés dans l’article :

– Cloud computing : Le cloud computing est un modèle permettant d’accéder à distance à des ressources informatiques (stockage, traitement, applications) via internet, sans avoir à les posséder physiquement.
– Voitures autonomes : Les voitures autonomes sont des véhicules capables de se déplacer sans intervention humaine grâce à des systèmes de pilotage automatique.

Liens suggérés vers le domaine principal :
Site web officiel de Yandex