Russia-based e-commerce company Ozon Holdings has closed a $150m funding round from diversified holding company Sistema and mobile network operator Mobile Telesystems (MTS).
The two investors each took a 10.8% stake in Ozon for $75m. A representative from each company will join Ozon’s board, and MTS plans to collaborate with Ozon through a sales partnership.
Ozon secured $100m from Japan-based conglomerate Rakuten, Ru-Net, Index Ventures and Alpha Associates in a previous round in 2011, and has now raised about $270m in total, with early investors including networking equipment producer Cisco Systems, HV Holtzbrinck Ventures and Baring Vostok Capital Partners.
“Our partnership with MTS will seamlessly merge MTS’s vast telecommunications experience with Ozon’s thriving e-commerce platform,” said Maelle Gavet, Ozon Group’s chief executive. “Together with our new partners we will seek to further develop our delivery system while keeping our eyes open to potential acquisitions and global partnerships to further enhance the business, ultimately better serving our customers.”
Andrei Dubovskov, CEO of MTS, added: “Upon completion of the transaction, we intend to establish a partnership with Ozon to provide exclusive access to the company’s sales channels for MTS’s products and services.
“To further enhance our online presence, MTS will leverage Ozon’s logistical infrastructure, its proprietary delivery services, IT capabilities and industry expertise to improve MTS’s own online store. Our partnership will also enable both companies to realize scale benefits in critical e-commerce categories, such as smartphones, tablets and consumer electronics devices.”