This morning, February 28, it was officially announced that ownership of two popular Russian gaming resources has changed hands. Media manager Gadji Makhtiev transferred the general management of "Kanobu" and "Igromania" to Vasily Ovchinnikov, co-founder of the Organization for the Development of the Video Game Industry (RVI). The App2Top editorial team discussed the deal with him.
Alexander Semenov, App2Top: Can you name the amount of the deal?
Vasily Ovchinnikov
Vasily Ovchinnikov, RVI: The amount of the deal has been decided not to be disclosed as per the agreements between the parties. In Russia, there's no real point in doing so. However, I can mention that the structure of the agreements includes both cash-in (investments in the development of both media) and cash-out to the owner. Thus, a portion of the funds will be directed towards the further development of the gaming media, while another portion will be used to reward the current owner for the sold asset.
What motivated the acquisition of these assets?
Vasily: The acquisition was driven by the fact that the previous owner was looking for a buyer, having decided to focus on developing new projects, including AG.ru. At the same time, we were looking for opportunities to acquire a media asset that would organically fit into our new gaming holding. Due to this, we reached an agreement quite quickly—this played an important role in the transaction process as well.
Wait, what holding are you talking about?
Vasily: About "IFSI." This is a new video game holding that will include Russia's first private specialized video game investment fund, which I am the CEO of. It was created by combining the financial capabilities of non-core investors and entrepreneurs with our industrial expertise, which we intend to continue developing. Therefore, our investments are not just financial support but also assistance to studios in creating games: economically, with quality, considering the current situation, with proper marketing and support in case of unforeseen difficulties. We are pioneers in this field and are confident that others will follow our lead.
The structure we are creating will be open to other non-core investors. We are ready to act as LP and GP in projects from the video game sector and open to unconventional forms of collaboration, willing to help other non-core investors form their structures, share projects, and support them in managing them. We plan to offer this format of partnership to systemic players and industrial groups.
We are open to collaboration with other investors and accelerators, eager to mutually select appropriate projects that align with our profile. Moreover, we intend to strengthen each other's expertise, including attracting RVI specialists to provide additional support and consultations.
What changes should we expect in these media with the change of ownership?
Vasily: We are currently actively collaborating with both editorial teams to develop a strategy that not only preserves each publication's uniqueness but also creates new opportunities for their growth and development, including creating new directions and formats. Our goal is to integrate accumulated experience and knowledge to offer the audience quality and relevant content that meets modern demands and expectations.