OR GROUP and Navigator Acquisition Corp. announced the signing of a share purchase agreement on Arifmetika MCC
The CPC will operate under the new name of Arifmetika Financial Solutions Corp. The ticker of shares on the exchange will also change.
The footwear of the enterprise being the part of OR GROUP was honored with two highest awards within the nationwide competition of the “100 Best Products of Russia” program.
This is a voice assistant developed by the company based on artificial intelligence technologies and allowing to increase the efficiency of the call center. Arifmetika will offer a robot operator to small microfinance organizations.
For this purpose, a legal entity will be established — O2 LLC, which will be a 100% subsidiary of ORG PJSC, the issuer of shares and the parent company of the Group.
MCC Arifmetika LLC, the part of OR GROUP, will develop online loans under the DaemDengi (Eng. GiveMoney) brand. This digital platform comprises a web-site and a mobile application.
As a result of the transaction, MCC Arifmetika may become the first company on the Russian market to use the CPC instrument as an alternative to IPO.
The company acquired a license for the right to produce and sell footwear under the brands Minions, Jurassic World, Trolls, Spirit in Russia and the CIS countries for a period of 2.5 years.
The Group renamed the parent company, the issuer of OR PJSC shares. The new full name is OR GROUP Public Joint-Stock Company, and the abbreviated name is ORG PJSC.
The updated ticker of the share issuer is ORUP.
The main task is to convey to the target audience the idea of the updated format, to tell about the changes in Westfalika positioning and to attract new customers.
At the first stage parcel lockers will be located in 98 OR GROUP’s sales points in such cities as Novosibirsk, Ekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk and Ufa with the perspective to increase the number of lockers till 200 over the year.
OR GROUP got the prize in the «Best regional project» nomination.
The site has new filters and sorts for easy search for the desired products, Instashop instrument is available (the purchase of the needed goods via Instagram post). The catalogue of products has been redesigned as well, so it can be scaled with partner products.
On 26 November, the Board of Directors of OR PJSC approved the Group's business rebranding program. The Group is changing its positioning: it goes beyond the fashion segment and becomes a universal retailer by developing a modern trading platform and an online marketplace. The Group has excluded the word «Obuv (Footwear)» from its name. The retailer’s new name is OR GROUP. This is the first corporate rebranding in the history of the Group.
The updated version allows to increase the conversion rate from mobile traffic since it will speed up the choice of products and order placing.
The first partnership pick-up points started to operate in 100 OR GROUP’s sales points in Siberia and the Far East.
The project is the part of Company’s strategy of integration into the logistic infrastructure of Russian e-commerce market.
The Company uses the technology for personal data protection of the clients engaging services of installment payments and cash loans. For the period from May, 2018 until January, 2019 the Company issued more than 500 ths. contracts on the financial services using blockchain.
The Westfalika brand of Obuv Rossii Group became one of the winners in the category «Best Online Private Label». Private Label Awards is organized by Reed Exhibitions within International Private Label Show (IPLS).
RAEX (Expert RА) rating agency has increased the creditworthiness rating of Obuv Rossii Group to ruBВB+. The outlook is stable. Previously, the Company had a rating at the ruBBB level, with stable outlook.
Obuv Rossii Group raised 5.9 bln rubles in IPO at MICEX having become the first public company on the Russian fashion market.
Director of Obuv Rossii Group, Anton Titov, was awarded in the “Chief of Shelves” nomination for successful big projects in retail.
General director of Obuv Rossii, Anton Titov, was included in TOP-250 top managers which is a part of annual rating Top-1000 Russian Managers prepared by the Russian Association of Managers and Kommersant Publishing House.
In the beginning 2017, Obuv Rossii significantly expanded its range of shoes made of superlight EVA material produced at the factory in Novosibirsk. To produce it, new technologies and materials were used: production of boots with galoshes made of EVA using injection moulding, combining EVA and textile materials.
Obuvrus LLC that is a part of the Obuv Rossii Group placed 3-year exchange traded bonds series BО-01 (identification number 4B02-01-16005-R) at MICEX in the volume of 1.5 bln rubles. BCS Global Markets is the lead underwriter, AO GLOBEXBANK is the co-underwriter.
The expansion territory includes towns and small settlements all over Russia, both in the regions of Obuv Rossii’s presence and in the regions where Obuv Rossii does not have any stores yet, for example, the North-Caucasian Federal District.
The contract was concluded for three years and provides for the production of over 80 thousand pairs of shoes for the collection service and security of the bank. The financial organization got the first shipment in June.
Obuv Rossii won “Best Own Trade Mark in Its Segment: Clothing, Shoes” (Snow Guard brand) nomination, and came second in “Best Own Trade Mark in Online” and “Wide Assortment of Own Trade Mark” categories.
Obuv Rossii Group has reconstructed the assembly department and combined assembling of shoes made with the help of the cement shoe method, the cementing and welt-sewing method and the vulcanized construction method on one site in Berdsk. With this purpose, the Company moved the conveyor line to assemble shoes using the cement shoe construction method from rented premises in Novosibirsk to own premises in Berdsk. Having combined the workshops, the Company optimized the technological process, which will make it possible for it to do all works quicker and with smaller labour effort.
The shoe line includes footwear with colourful soles, bright-coloured strings, floral prints as well as shoes of mat rubber. Only two weeks following the launch, sales levels in some regions reached nearly 80%.
Obuv Rossii was awarded a diploma in the category “IT Project in Real Sector” for the establishment of a regional centre for data processing in Khabarovsk in 2016.
Obuv Rossii and Orisol, a world leader in the production of automated sewing systems, opened a joint training centre in the Novosibirsk Region. The centre is the first and only specialised hub for footwear specialists in Russia and the CIS countries.
More than 200 delegates from the Siberian Region took part in this event. Representatives of Katod, TekhnoNIKOL-Sibir, SovPlim-Sibir, ENERGOPROM-NovEZ, branch of PAO Kompaniya Sukhoi of V.P. Chkalov Aviation Plant in Novosibirsk and other companies were among some of the experts participating the forum.
In November 2016, Obuv Rossii was awarded a prestigious prize in category “Import substitution” at the PRIORITY 2016 Awards. The Company also received a nomination in the PRIORITY “Light Industry” category.
Obuv Rossii presented more than 80 items of special, tactical, and military footwear.
In summer 2016, Obuv Rossii Group introduced a range of shoes of the new Medelista brand available in the Westfalika chain. The new brand is specifically designed to suit young women aged 20 -30.
In 2016 the company produces the first batch of special purpose footwear. In 2017 the Company plans to increase the volume of production of special purpose footwear and deliver it to the corporate clients.
Obuv Rossii started the re-equipment programme of its cutting and sewing workshop at Berdsk factory located in the Novosibirsk Region.At the first stage of the program, two sets of Orisol automated sewing machines were purchased.
In March 2016, Obuv Rossii produced its first batch of footwear for arctic conditions. To provide a high level of protection from slipping, the Stop Ice technology is utilized during production. What is more, a special sole and a protector are attached to make Pioneer of Arctic Travel shoes ideal for harsh conditions.
Westfalika Medica foot care products with minerals of Crimea pink salt won a prize at the prestigious PRIVATE LABEL AWARDS. The brand was also awarded in category “Best Own Trade Mark in the Segment: Cosmetics and Perfumery”.
This is the first time Obuv Rossii has ever entered the RBС rankings. From 2011 to 2014, the Company increased its profits fourfold - from 2.2 to 8.1 bln rubles.
Obuv Rossii acquired 100% of the S-TEP Shoe Company including a shoe factory and a wholesale department located in the town of Berdsk, Novosibirsk Region.
In early September, Obuv Rossii expanded its list of insurance products by introducing compulsory third party car insurance . From now on, one can get a target-specific loan to obtain the insurance . To provide the new service, Obuv Rossii partnered with Ingosstrakh, a major insurance company.
Obuv Rossii won an award in “Responsible Business” category at the prestigious Retail Grand Prix. The company was recognised for the implementation of its import phase-out programme and rationalization of its production.
Anton Titov received an award in category “Regional Promotion”. Titov was praised for the expansion of the Obuv Rossii chain of shoe stores and accompanying products as well as the rationalization of production and sales methods, in particular.
he company launched an online store www.rossita.com. With one click, customers can now buy shoes, clothes and accessories.
In July 2015, Obuv Rossii expanded its Westfalika Home line by introducing a brand new loungewear collection. The new line includes women’s and men’s loungewear sets made of natural materials.
Another successful evening for Obuv Rossii at the “Company of the Year” awards. Based on results of the company’s operation in 2014, Obuv Rossii became the winner of the “High Profit and Profitability Indices” category.
Obuv Rossii Group won the award in the “Best Insuring Party with Employee Number of Over 500” category.
Leading experts in online sale gathered in Novosibirsk for the “New Online Sale Strategies” conference. Over 150 specialists including top managers of successful online stores, digital and marketing agencies and web-studios from all over Russia took part in this exclusive event hosted by Obuv Rossii.
From May 2015, customers of the Obuv Rossii chain stores can make instalment or microloan payments using QIWI payment terminals located in the Obuv Rossii retail outlets. No commission is charged for the service.
Obuv Rossii welcomed the new spring/summer 2015 season by expanding its line of textile products. Now customers can find Westfalika seamless undergarments available in 5 different models including T-shirts and A-shirts.
“Obuv Rossii” starts making women’s and men’s training shoes under the All.go brand at the factory in Novosibirsk. The pilot lot of 4,000 pairs is already being made at the enterprise.
In spring 2015, Obuv Rossii expanded its Westfalika Home line by introducing a children’s collection of textile products. The collection includes sets of bed linen and towels made of natural materials.
In the beginning of September 2014, Obuv Rossii announced the acquisition of 100% of Rossita shoe company which controls the Rossita and Lisette retail brands operating in the mid-price segment. Rossita manages 83 stores in total, 42 of which are franchises.
In July 2014, Obuv Rossii launched a new brand – Snow Guard (outerwear). What is more, the first store under the same name was officially opened in Tomsk.
The Obuv Rossii Group won an award for “Successful business developing in Siberia”. The company was also officially given the status of a “Reliable partner'.
In summer 2014, Obuv Rossii expanded the line of Westfalika Medical products by 1.5 times. The new cosmetics line included facial scrubs, accessories as well as 5 creams with different active ingredients such as extracts of chamomile, calendula, ginseng, wheat germ and vitamin complex. Moscow enterprise Adelaide which specialises in cosmetics made of natural ingredients is responsible for the development of the line and its production.
Obuv Rossii opened a new factory for All.go footwear production based on the injection method. The new factory will allow to implement a complete cycle of a footwear production, including tide mould, shrinkage on the block, etc.
The first three Obuv Rossii flagship stores were opened in Vladivostok, Omsk, and Tyumen. These will be the main stores in each of the three regions offering the widest range of footwear and related goods across the Obuv Rossii network. In addition, they will be the first stores to release a new collection. The new stores are also impressive by size – a standard flagship store is three times larger than a standard Westfalika store (350-450 sq. m.).
In March 2014, the Obuv Rossii launched the westfalika.ru online shop selling footwear and accessories. By entering the online market, Obuv Rossii is expecting to expand its sales geography and attract customers that could now save time and effort by shopping online.
In February 2014, Obuv Rossii launched a new brand named All.go offering summer, beach and garden shoes made of modified ultralight EVA-material. The All.go shoes are manufactured at the Obuv Rossii factory in Novosibirsk. Obuv Rossii is planning on expanding the All.go line to include sport and hiking shoes.
On 1 October, an independent jury determined the list of finalists for the "Entrepreneur of the Year - 2013" award. The Director of Obuv Rossii Anton Titov was included in the list. Titov is amongst 30 Russian entrepreneurs praised for successful company management and development over the last few years.
In September 2013, the total number of Obuv Rossii stores increased to over 250. In summer 2013, the Company opened a record number of shops - more than 50. The most productive month for Obuv Rossii was August, when the Group opened one store per day.
Obuv Rossii entered the Association of Companies of Retail Trade (ACORT). ACORT is an industry association including the largest retail trade companies. The decision for Obuv Rossii to enter the Association was announced at the end of May by the Presidium of ACORT.
The Westfalika brand won a prestigious award at the GEMMA-2012. After review by an independent expert commission, the Westfalika women's range was recognised for its high quality.
In April 2013, Obuv Rossii announced that it entered the microfinance market. Management of the project is fully automated, implementing the "1C Enterprise" system. In 2012, Obuv Rossii entered into 45,000 loan contracts for a total of 580 mln rubles.
In September 2010, the Westfalika autumn-winter advertising campaign starring popular singer Valeriya was first broadcast on leading TV channels in 50 Russian cities. In 2012, Obuv Rossii invested more than 120 mln rubles in advertising the Westfalika brand.
In June 2012, Obuv Rossii presented the new format of its Westfalika stores specifically adapted to shopping centres. The new format allows the company to develop it chain in central Russia and attract younger and more active customer base.
In January 2012, the Expert RA rating agency increased the credit rating of Obuv Rossii (LLC) to level A (a high level of credit solvency).
The Obuv Rossii Group opened over 80 new shops, thus entering 19 new cities.
In November 2011, Obuv Rossii announced collaboration with Thomas Frank. The German designer joined the Obuv Rossii team as a chief designer responsible for overseeing all Westfalika collections.
In October 2011, Obuv Rossii chain stores introduced a specialized line of Westfalika Medicine foot care creams. The range includes 15 creams with various properties.
In July, the company successfully placed its debut bond in the amount of 700 mln rubles. The money that the company raised from the placement of the bond loan were used to implement the investment programme up to 2015.
"Comfort 24" foot care cream by Westfalika won several awards at one of the most prestigious international award competitions for producers of white cosmetics “Cognis Formulation Award 2010” The ceremony took place on 15 March 2011 as part of the II International Cosmetic Symposium devoted to relevant topics of the modern cosmetics market.
The Rating agency "Expert RA" confirmed the credit rating of Obuv Rossii GC at level "B++".
In December 2010, the popular Russian singer Valeriya agreed to become the face of 2011 Westfalika advertising campaign.
In 2010, Obuv Rossii invested more than 70 mln rubles in chain development. Over a single year, more than 20 new stores were launched.
According to "Delovoy Kvartal” magazine, "Westfalika” is one of the three most valuable brands in the Novosibirsk Region.
Obuv Rossii expanded its range of related products and shoe care products by introducing a new line of Westfalika products.
Obuv Rossii becomes the first footwear manufacturer to run its own programme of footwear sale by instalments.
Acquiring system was launched in “Westfalika" and "Peshekhod".
Obuv Rossii was awarded a golden medal and a diploma at the "Best Goods and Services of Siberia — GEMMA-2009" awards. Westfalika’s women's shoes were recognised as best in their category after an independent expert commission gave them the highest mark out of all contestants— 92 out of 100 points.
Sales Business Awards are awards for sales, marketing and advertising established by the Sales Business journal. Every year, the best companies according to sales of goods and services to consumers are chosen across 30 categories, Obuv Rossii was awarded two diplomas, one of which for "Regional Retailer", and the other – for “Shoes” (awarded to the Westfalika brand).
Anton Titov, Director of Obuv Rossii Group, won "Entrepreneur of the Year" award in category "Young Entrepreneur". ”Entrepreneur of the Year" is an award competition, in which directors and owners of various Russian companies take part. An independent jury determines the winners across 12 different categories. This year, the list of finalists included more than 30 businessmen and businesswomen from various cities in Russia.
"Expert-Siberia" business journal held the contest for the first time in Siberia this year. Newspapers and journals published by some of the largest companies in the region took part in the event. Winners were determined in several categories: "Best Corporate Publication for Customers", "Best System of Corporate Publications", "Best Corporate Publication Design", etc. The results of the competition were summed up at the regional PR conference "New PR for Business: Instruments and Cases" held in Novosibirsk in autumn.
In autumn 2008, the company revised its strategy: from rapid growth, focus moved to qualitative development and efficiency improvement.
Obuv Rossii hosts the Cup of Show Jumping "Silver Spur" in Novosibirsk.
The "Westfalika" chain began its brand transformation. In autumn, the new advertising campaign of Westfalika with Julia Menshova was launched.
Obuv Rossii won the XII regional competition "Successful business development in Siberia." The award is granted by the administration of Novosibirsk Region.
In 2007, Obuv Rossii was included in the list of 400 largest companies of the Siberian Federal District published by Expert Siberia magazine.
Obuv Rossii became the first Russian footwear retailer to enter the open capital market by placing a promissory note.
Obuv Rossii launched a new brand of footwear for young women Emilia Estra.
In 2007, Obuv Rossii became the first Russian footwear retailer to provide cashloans.
At the beginning of 2007, the Obuv Rossii chain consisted of about 60 stores.
The company created a wholesale line across Russia.
Obuv Rossii launched a new format of specialized footwear discount centres "Peshekhod".
In 2006, “Westfalika" re-branding started.
In 2005, Obuv Rossii established a close relationship with enterprises in China and opened a company office there.
In 2004, Obuv Rossii ran 30 Westfalika stores in several cities in the Siberia and Urals regions.
In February 18, 2003 Obuv Rossii began operation as a footwear retailer in the first few Westfalika stores.
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