Son of Russian Railways Chief Goes Into Health Care Business
The son of Vladimir Yakunin, long-time head of state-owned rail monopoly Russian Railways, has gone into the health care business.
Venture Investments & Yield Management, an investment firm co-founded by 39-year-old businessman Andrei Yakunin, has bought a stake in the Semeiny Doktor chain of medical clinics, Vedomosti reported Monday.
Nadezhda Nesterova, head of VIYM's investor relations department, and Semeiny Doktor co-owner Alexei Vetrov confirmed the purchase, but refused to disclose the deal's amount, citing a confidentiality agreement.
Last year, Semeiny Doktor reported revenue about 400 million rubles ($11 million), Vetrov said. David Melik-Guseinov, head of the Center for Social Economics, estimated the company's value at 600 million rubles. (MT)
Hungarian Opposition Pledges Referendum on Russian Nuclear Plant Deal
Hungary's left-wing opposition parties are promising that if they win April 6 elections, they will hold a referendum on a government deal with Russia to expand the country's only nuclear power plant.
Last month, Prime Minister Viktor Orban and President Vladimir Putin agreed that Russia will build two new reactors at the Soviet-constructed plant in the southern city of Paks, which now supplies about 40 percent of Hungary's electricity.
Politicians in a left-wing electoral coalition, including former prime ministers Ferenc Gyurcsany and Gordon Bajnai, said Sunday at a rally that voters deserve more information about the deal and accused Orban of selling out to Russia.
Russia is also expected to provide a 30-year loan of some 10 billion euros ($13.5 billion), covering about 80 percent of estimated construction costs. (AP)
Sistema Mass Media Chief to Become Gazprom Media Deputy CEO
Vladimir Khanumyan, head of AFK Sistema's media arm Sistema Mass Media, will be appointed deputy CEO of Gazprom Media, Vedomosti reported Monday.
Sistema Mass Media's board of directors accepted Khanumyan's resignation Friday, and Khanumyan confirmed his move.
Khanumyan will primarily be responsible for television entertainment and other content at Gazprom Media, a subsidiary of state-owned Gazprom that owns numerous media assets including the television channel NTV, a source in Gazprom Media said.
The company's television entertainment division was bumped up by the acquisition of Gazprom Media of Profmedia from billionaire Vladimir Potanin's Interros last year. Profmedia's three television channels — Pyatnitsa, TV-3 and 2*2 — will likely be bolted on to Gazprom Media's TNT to form an expanded unit. (MT)
Ukraine Owes $3.35Bln Gas Debt to Russia
Crisis-hit Ukraine currently owes Russia about $3.35 billion in unpaid natural gas bills and is falling behind with repayments despite a large discount on the fuel granted by Moscow last year, Vedomosti reported Monday.
The former Soviet nation is unlikely to pay Russia's state-owned Gazprom on time for the $650 million worth of gas it imported in January, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said. (RIA Novosti)
For the Record
Manufacturing Decline Picks Up Speed
Russia's Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index fell to 48 points in January, down from 48.8 in December and well below the 50 point threshold, values below which signify shrinkage, HSBC said in a report Monday. (MT)
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