Nebius Announces Share Buyback Following Corporate Restructuring

Nebius, formerly Yandex, plans a share repurchase using proceeds from its Russian exit, focusing on AI and offering an exit for minority shareholders.

Nebius, the company formerly known as Yandex N.V., has unveiled plans for a share repurchase initiative. This strategic move represents one of the first major capital allocation decisions since the firm finalized its complete divestiture of Russian operations in July 2024.

A New Strategic Direction Emerges

With the sale of its former Russian business now complete, Nebius has received a combination of cash and stock as consideration. The company is channeling these proceeds toward funding its renewed international strategy. This strategy is centered on four core projects, with a pronounced emphasis on developing artificial intelligence infrastructure for the global marketplace.

The planned buyback program serves a dual purpose. Primarily, it offers minority shareholders a clear exit option, allowing them to either maintain their investment or liquidate their holdings. Concurrently, it functions as a mechanism to return a portion of the divestiture proceeds directly to the company's investors.

Capital Allocation in a New Era

Positioning itself purely as an AI and cloud services provider, Nebius views the share repurchase as a logical step in its post-restructuring capital management. The decision underscores a shift in focus toward optimizing shareholder value following the extensive corporate realignment.

The announcement, made public yesterday, confirms the board's intent but did not provide further specifics regarding the precise structure, timing, or volume of the upcoming buyback program. The initiative highlights the company's transition into its next phase of growth, funded by the historic sale of its prior assets.