Russia’s Positive Technologies launches secondary share offering

Maxim Pustovoy, Chief Operating Officer of Positive Technologies cybersecurity firm, poses for a picture during an interview at an office in Moscow, Russia April 30, 2021. Picture taken April 30, 2021. REUTERS/Alexander Marrow/File Photo

SummaryCompaniesThis content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine

MOSCOW, Sept 19 (Reuters) – Cybersecurity firm Positive Technologies on Monday said it was launching a secondary public offering (SPO) of up to 2.6 million common shares, the first share sale by a Russian company since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in February.

Positive Technologies will not be offering any new shares in the SPO, it said, setting a price in the range of 1,200-1,320 roubles ($19.90-$21.89) per share.

The SPO could take the company's free float to as high as 14%.

Moscow's role in the conflict in Ukraine has thwarted listing plans for Russian companies this year.

Sources told Reuters last week that e-scooter company Whoosh was planning to raise about $170 million in a Moscow IPO this year, in what would be the first public listing since the conflict began.

Positive Technologies owner Positive Group (POSI.MM) listed shares on Moscow Exchange in December with the price rising around 69% since trading began at 770 roubles despite a slump in February.

On Monday, its shares were down 1.7% by 0740 GMT.

The U.S. Treasury in April blacklisted Positive Technologies and other IT firms for supporting Russian intelligence services, which the company described as "groundless accusations". Chief Operating Officer Maxim Pustovoy has said the blacklisting was based on "a misunderstanding and a mistake".

($1 = 60.3000 roubles)

Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka in Gdansk and Alexander Marrow in Moscow; Editing by Kirsten Donovan

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Source:www.reuters.com