Money is sent to Russian Post by transfer – Kommersant FM
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Senators again proposed to collect money from marketplaces in favor of Russian Post. We are talking about transferring 0.5% of the quarterly turnover of online platforms to the state company, writes RBC. The publication refers to a package of amendments sent to the government by the head of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy, Andrei Kutepov. Russian Post itself made such a proposal a year ago, explaining the idea by its difficult financial situation. But then it was rejected, fearing that marketplaces would shift the losses to buyers. Details from Daniil Babkin.
Despite the negative feedback from the government, the idea of actually taxing marketplaces in favor of Russian Post returned to the Federation Council. Moreover, there are no fundamental differences between it and the already rejected initiative. There was no clear explanation as to why marketplaces should pay for the losses of the state-owned company, noted Artem Sokolov, president of the Association of Internet Trade Companies:
“This is a precedent. Let’s abstract from the e-commerce segment, imagine that the banking industry decided to take money from one credit institution and transfer it to another. This is a non-market mechanism for resolving the issue.
By trying to “treat” one infrastructure, we become hostage to a situation in which another will not develop. 0.5% of online trade turnover is a lot of money, with which you can build a large number of logistics centers and open new order pickup points. I don’t see any room for compromise here.”
Initially, the collection from marketplaces was justified by the fact that Russian Post needs, if not rescue, then serious help. In 2022, the company received more than 30 billion rubles. losses, and the debt exceeded 130 billion rubles. Separately, there were complaints about the deep unprofitability of regional branches. According to the law, Russian Post cannot close them, but it is not even able to achieve payback, unless it raises tariffs several times.
Cross Insights partner Boris Ovchinnikov believes that the amendments cannot be adopted in their current form, but theoretically a compromise is still possible: “There is a specific problem and task of preserving infrastructure in remote settlements, but this is still the task of the state, not private companies . We should think not about taking money from marketplaces, but about motivating them to actively increase sales in such areas by providing some benefits, preferences, and so on.”
In October 2023, Russian Post announced an independent audit of the company’s expenses and announced government support measures, including additional capitalization and debt refinancing using funds from the National Welfare Fund. Last year was much more successful for the state operator than 2022; maybe it can cope without the help of marketplaces, noted Sergei Novikov, partner of the GRM legal group:
“If we look at the financial indicators of Russian Post, then over nine months, according to accounting standards (not according to International Financial Reporting Standards), the company’s net loss decreased from 19 billion rubles. up to 2.5 billion. Progress is obvious.
Of course, additional money from the state-owned company will not interfere with its further development. And as an option, for example, I see an opportunity after some time to change the ownership structure and carry out privatization actions that will attract private investors.
You just need to give the team time and wait for the end of the processes that are currently underway, and then draw any conclusions about whether or not to save the company.”
According to AKIT, over the 11 months of 2023, online retail turnover in Russia increased by a quarter and exceeded 5.5 trillion rubles. At the same time, Ozon, for example, still does not make money: according to the latest data, in the third quarter, losses of the marketplace increased to 22 billion rubles. The company explains this with a long-term strategy and an emphasis on scaling the business.
Everything is clear with us – Telegram channel “Kommersant FM”.
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