OREANDA-NEWS. Yandex (NASDAQ:YNDX), one of the largest European internet companies and the leading search provider in Russia, today announced that it has entered into an agreement, pursuant to which it will become the sole owner of a newly-created company which will hold title to the office complex in central Moscow that houses the Yandex group's Russian headquarters. The complex is spread across approximately 4 hectares and includes 7 buildings with around 80,000 square-meters of Class A and B office space, 65% of which is currently occupied by the Yandex group. Yandex will continue to lease a portion of the space to third-party tenants in the medium-term, while securing access to additional space for long-term growth as the Yandex group expands.

Yandex has entered into a Framework Agreement with Krasnaya Roza 1875 Limited, a Cypriot company ("KR1875"), pursuant to which Yandex will issue 12,900,000 new Class A ordinary shares to KR1875 in exchange for a 100% interest in a newly-created company that will hold title to the office complex and that will have approximately USD 490 million of debt at closing.  KR1875 has agreed to enter into a lock-up agreement in respect of these Yandex shares for a period of 90 days from closing.

"We believe that this transaction is an effective use of capital and a prudent approach to managing our operating expenses in the current environment. It will improve our operating margins and will be immediately accretive to our earnings per share upon closing in the range of high-single digits," comments Greg Abovsky, Chief Financial Officer of Yandex.  "In addition, the Company will have a unique opportunity to create a high-tech campus right in the heart of Moscow."

The closing of the transaction remains subject to certain conditions, including required regulatory approvals, and is anticipated to occur in the second half of 2016.

Yandex is being advised by Sberbank CIB, the investment banking division of Sberbank of Russia, acting as financial advisor, by White & Case, Morgan Lewis and Van Doorne, acting as legal advisors, and JLL, acting as real estate advisor in connection with the acquisition. 

Today management will hold a conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (4:30 p.m. Moscow time, 1:30 p.m. London time) to discuss the transaction.

Conference Call Details

Friday, February 19, 2016
8:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (4:30 p.m. Moscow time, 1:30 p.m. London time)
Live Call
US: 1877 280 1254
UK/International: +44(0)20 7136 2051
Russia: 8 800 500 9311
Passcode: 9144614
 

Replay

US: 1866 932 5017
UK/International: +44 (0)20 3427 0598
Russia: 810 800 2870 1012
Passcode: 9144614