Kyivstar was allowed to buy Ukrainian taxi service Uklon: how much is the deal valued at

The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) has authorized Kyivstar to acquire Uklon, which gives the mobile operator access to the taxi, delivery, and online advertising markets. The deal is estimated at USD 72-75 million, and Uklon will continue to operate under the new owner.

This was announced by Pavlo Kyrylenko, Chairman of the AMCU. This decision concerns five applications filed in December 2024, which provide for control over "Tech Uklon" LLC, "Uklon Corporation" LLC, "Uklon Ukraine" LLC, and Cyprus-based UKLON LT.

Analysts estimate that the deal may be worth between USD 40 and 80 million, although some sources say that the final purchase price will be USD 72-75 million. According to the official position of the AMCU, the merger will not lead to significant structural changes in the taxi, delivery, or online advertising markets in which Uklon operates. However, experts see this deal as an important strategic step for Kyivstar, which is seeking to expand its services beyond the telecommunications business.

Kyivstar President Oleksandr Komarov has repeatedly stated that the company plans to make money not only on mobile communications. For this purpose, the company created the ADWISOR-targeted SMS service in 2019 and launched its IT subsidiary Kyivstar.Tech in 2022.

The acquisition of Uklon allows Kyivstar not only to enter a new market but also to create a super-application – an ecosystem of services that will integrate mobile communications, taxis, delivery, and other digital services. Analysts note that Kyivstar has sufficient financial resources, as the operator does not pay dividends abroad due to the war.

Thus, the funds are accumulated and the company can invest in new business areas. In addition, Kyivstar is considering entering the Nasdaq stock exchange, and diversifying its assets will make it more attractive to investors.

Uklon continues to develop actively, even in a difficult economic environment. In the first half of 2024, the company increased the number of trips by 30%, and according to Monobank, it ranks first in the Ukrainian taxi market. However, Uklon's international expansion is still limited – at the moment, the company operates only in Ukraine and Uzbekistan, and in 2024 it was forced to leave the Azerbaijani market due to regulatory restrictions.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, Uklon taxis have previously agreed with the authorities in Lviv to resume work during the curfew, said the company's co-founder Dmytro Dubrovskyi. After Lviv, they also hope to get such decisions in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Odesa.

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