Victor Remsha

Financial activities

Remsha became involved in finance in 1993 at Bauman Moscow State Technical University. At that time, the Russian securities market was still in its infancy.

Remsha decided in 1994 to provide stock market investors with real-time and accurate information on issuers, stock quotes and urgent stock market news. Finance-Analytic began to issue a special daily bulletin (“The Investor’s Portfolio” ). Investors executed most transactions on the exchange in 1994 based on information provided in The Investor’s Portfolio.

By the end of the 1990s Remsha’s business interests were focused on brokerage services. Finance-Analytic obtained a license from the Federal Securities Commission and gained membership in NAUFOR, the Moscow Stock Exchange, MICEX and RTS. Later the ticker that was assigned to Finance-Analytic in the trading system operated by RTS, FINAM (Finance-Analytic and the letter M, standing for Moscow), became the name of the investment holding. The company was one of the first in Russia to serve retail investors en masse and roll out online trading services, a move that helped the company evolve into a leader on the Russian securities market.

In 2002 Remsha reorganized Finance-Analytic into Finam Investment Holding, which comprises Finance-Analytic Investment Company, Finam News Group, Finance-Analytic Terra Investment Company, Trade Communications and insurance broker Finam Insurance. In a year’s time all of the holding’s divisions were united under the single Finam brand.

In 2002 Remsha set up a new division at Finam Investment Holding, management company Finam Management, in order to roll out the asset management business. At present, the company manages reserves accumulated by private pension funds, mutual funds, resources of institutional investors and households.

In 2004 Remsha bought Joint Stock Commercial Bank Megawatt-Bank . Megawatt-Bank went through rebranding in 2006. The bank was renamed CJSC Finam Investment Bank.

Internet investments

Since the beginning of the 2000s Remsha has made major investments in IT projects, acquired 80% of context ad firm Begun, owned by Andrei Andreev (Ogandzhanyants). He purchased dating network Mamba from him in 2005. In subsequent years, Remsha, directly and through the funds he controlled, purchased equity stakes in over 60 IT firms, including Ashmanov & Partners (the leader of the Russian online marketing market), Badoo (a global rapidly growing dating network), E-generator (an interactive agency specialized in creative ad development), Creditcardsonline (the project offers detailed and urgent information on credit cards, the opportunity to apply for bank cards without visiting banks), Marketgid (an Internet project offering users the concept of a virtual entertainment and retail center), Delta Telecom (a payment system enabling payments to be accepted on behalf of over 600 operators and providers in Russia), Banki.ru (Russia’s largest bank-focused portal) and many others.

Finam also launched Comon, a social network for neophyte investors. A new version of the social network for neophyte investors, WhoTrades, was launched in autumn 2012, with a focus not only on Russian, but also foreign users.

Media investments

In August 2007 Remsha wrapped up the acquisition of radio station Bolshoye Radio (which was later renamed Finam FM) . At present, Finam FM is a radio station covering Moscow and the Moscow region, broadcasting in the 99.6 FM frequency. Finam FM offers daily signature programs with experts from various sectors (business, science and culture). The radio station’s musical content mainly includes classical Western rock music from the 1960-80s. In addition, Victor Remsha invested in Germany’s Deluxe Television (a musical TV channel for adults).

Investments in the aircraft business

In the second half of the 2000s Remsha bought Bolshoye Gryzlovo, an airfield in the Serpukhovo district of the Moscow region . Nowadays, airfield Bolshoye Gryzlovo is a modern base, offering a wide range of aircraft services, hangar storage solutions for airplanes, and also maintenance services for planes and helicopters.

Awards

Was awarded the Wassily Leontief Nobel prize medal for “Outstanding achievements in Economics”.