The Telegram messenger, founded by the creator of VKontakte, wanted to receive a billion dollars from investors through a bond issue, Kommersant writes with reference to sources.
It is noted that the securities will be offered to a narrow circle of investors from Russia, as well as from Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The issuer will be the parent company of the messenger Telegram Group Inc.
It is known that bonds will not be listed on the exchange. At the same time, they will have the option of subsequent conversion into shares after Telegram goes public through the IPO procedure.
Telegram needs investor funds to improve infrastructure and attract new users, as well as to settle with investors who previously invested $ 1.7 billion in the TON cryptocurrency, which was never launched due to problems with the American exchange regulator.
The need for investment for infrastructure development is associated with a large influx of new users in early 2021. It happened against the backdrop of a scandal surrounding the blocking of the account of former US President Donald Trump on Facebook, Twitter and other social networks.