And Groupon Makes Three. What’s Russian Firm DST’s Secret Sauce?

http://www.nytimes.com/external/venturebeat/2010/04/23/23venturebeat-and-groupon-makes-three-whats-russian-firm-ds-6124.html

by sound • 16 years ago

28 12 16 years ago

nytimes.com

vaksel3• 16 years ago

from what a few people posted in other threads, DST is basically a way for some shady russian outfits to launder money.

That's the reason they don't mind overpaying a lot for their investments

Just read up on the guy who owns 32% of DST: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alisher_Usmanov#Legal_action_ov...

madrix• 16 years ago

I was about to say the exact same thing...

falsestprophet• 16 years ago

What evidence is there of this?

vaksel3• 16 years ago

no idea, like I said I'm just reposting what others said, but you can just look at their investments, it's obviously they don't care about money since they consistently overpay by a huge number for their investments.

No real investment fund that gets it's money from legit investors would consistently overpay...i.e. they "valued" facebook at 10 billion...at a time when facebook had problems raising funds at even a lower valuation. Why would you overpay when you don't have to?

zackattack• 16 years ago

None.

mahmud• 16 years ago

What? 60 years of anti-Soviet fear-mongering propaganda isn't good enough for you?

meterplech• 16 years ago

I think a better takeaway is that they are attacking a unique niche in Venture Capital. Allowing for people to cash out before IPO, as well as allowing those who understand the company to run it.

waxman• 16 years ago

shady oligarchy money. that's their secret sauce.

sjasmin• 16 years ago

I bet they announce a deal with foursquare pretty soon too. Just goes to show you have to be in it to win it. I realize they are overpaying for these opportunities, but this trend of what I call, private IPO's, seems to be the new hot thing and DST is going to run the table while everyone else catches on. I personally think they will be successful so long as they diversify their risk enough.

And Groupon Makes Three. What’s Russian Firm DST’s Secret Sauce?

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