The state corporation Rosatom has closed its purchase of 51% of the logistics group Delo from its founder, Sergei Shishkarev. The two sides announced the completion of the deal on Wednesday and did not disclose the sum. Before the transaction, Rosatom held 49% of the holding.
Shishkarev had previously valued his stake at 77 billion rubles and the state corporation's stake at 74 billion. According to RBC, the businessman's stake was valued at 77 billion rubles (over $900 million). Forbes estimates Shishkarev's fortune at $1.7 billion; the Delo group was his main asset.
In his Telegram channel, Shishkarev wrote that he would direct a "significant portion" of the funds received from the sale "to the needs of national security." He did not provide details. The businessman also promised to continue "serving his country where my experience and knowledge can bring the greatest benefit," and said he intends to tie his future to Russian logistics, sports and Novorossiysk, where he was born.
Rosatom's press service said the financial terms of the deal are not being discussed and that the price "corresponds to the conditions established when the procedure provided for by the agreement was launched." This refers to the "Russian roulette" mechanism: at the beginning of the year, the state corporation initiated a mutual buyout procedure amid disagreements with its partner, and in July announced its readiness to buy 51% after Shishkarev himself declined to buy out Rosatom's stake. In March, the businessman said he intended to buy the state corporation's stake for 74 billion rubles, counting on a loan from a Russian bank.
Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev said the state corporation will complete the consolidation of all logistics assets under its control. According to him, the largest national logistics company will emerge. Likhachev described the strategic goals as strengthening the country's transport sovereignty, ensuring stable international shipping and developing the Northern Sea Route with the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor.
Rosatom estimates that consolidating the assets will save up to 100 billion rubles over the next 10 years by eliminating duplication of investments. The state corporation's combined share of the container transshipment market is now 50%, and 44% in rail container transport. The state corporation also controls the transport group Fesco and acts as operator of the Northern Sea Route as owner of the icebreaker fleet. "We work in all of Russia's sea basins, and own port facilities in Vladivostok, Kaliningrad, Novorossiysk, St. Petersburg and Nakhodka," Likhachev said.
The Delo group specializes in container logistics and owns sea and dry terminals, a container fleet with a capacity of more than 220,000 TEU, rail platforms, and the country's largest sea terminal for grain transshipment at the port of Novorossiysk, with a capacity of up to 10 million tonnes.
Shishkarev did not provide details about "national security needs," but it previously emerged from a draft budget that large Russian businesses have already made record voluntary donations this year to support the state treasury, which is under strain from rising defense spending.