Access Industries

{{Short description|British-American conglomerate holding company}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Access Industries, Inc.

| logo = Access Industries logo 2023.svg

| logo_caption = Logo used since 2023

| type = Private

| foundation = {{Start date and age|1986}}

| founder = Len Blavatnik

| location_city = New York City, United States
London, England

| area_served =

| key_people = Len Blavatnik

| industry = Conglomerate

| products = {{Flatlist|

}}

| services =

| revenue =

| operating_income =

| net_income =

| assets =

| equity =

| owner = Len Blavatnik

| num_employees =

| parent =

| divisions =

| subsid = {{Plainlist|

}}

| homepage = {{Official URL}}

| footnotes =

}}

Access Industries, Inc. is a United States–based{{Cite news |date=2024-07-15 |title=Bloomberg Billionaires Index |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}} privately held multinational investment company which was founded in 1986 by businessman Leonard "Len" Blavatnik. Access Industries' focus is in seven sectors:{{Cite news |date=2021-08-13 |title=How the 'Madonna' of Billionaires Is Playing His Fourth Act |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-13/blavatnik-piles-into-biotech-to-build-on-38-billion-fortune |access-date=2024-07-15 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}} biotechnology, entertainment, external funds, global media, strategic equity, technology ventures, and real estate. The group invests in the United States, Europe, Israel, and Latin America. It is headquartered in New York, with offices in London and Mill Valley, California.{{Citation |title=Company Overview of Access Industries, Inc |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=2447151 |access-date=December 16, 2017 |publisher=Bloomberg}}

Access Industries has stakes in companies including Warner Music Group, LyondellBasell, DAZN,{{cite news |date=6 November 2024 |title=Bloomberg Billionaires Index-Len Blavatnik |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/leonard-blavatnik/ |publisher=Bloomberg}} Calpine Corporation,{{cite news |last1=Chediak |first1=Mark |date=18 August 2017 |title=Energy Capital Investors to Buy Calpine for $5.6 Billion |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-18/energy-capital-to-buy-power-generator-calpine-for-5-6-billion?sref=B0Y81EZP |publisher=Bloomberg}} A24,{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Daniel |date=19 November 2023 |title=Leonard Blavatnik's entertainment empire plans media acquisition spree |url=https://www.ft.com/content/da994d5f-b1bd-4643-8e37-bc05f0ada293 |publisher=Financial Times}} Deezer,{{cite news |last1=Khalaf |first1=Roula |date=20 January 2016 |title=Deezer secures €100m from Access Industries and Orange |url=https://www.ft.com/content/6727081e-bed7-11e5-846f-79b0e3d20eaf |publisher=Financial Times}} and Spotter.

History

File:Access Industries logo.png

Len Blavatnik founded Access Industries in 1986 as an investment company.{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.accessindustries.com/about/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=Access Industries |language=en-US}} He attended Harvard Business School while running the company on the side,{{Citation |last=Yenikeyeff |first=Shamil |date=November 23, 2011 |title=BP, Russian billionaires, and the Kremlin: a Power Triangle that never was |publisher=Oxford Energy Comment |url=http://www.oxfordenergy.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BP-Russian-billionaires-and-the-Kremlin.pdf |access-date=December 15, 2017 }} graduating with an MBA in 1989. Among its early investments, Access Industries helped form the large aluminum producer SUAL in 1996, which later became part of UC RUSAL. In 1997, Access acquired a 40% stake in the Russian oil company TNK.{{Citation |title=Len Blavatnik |publisher=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/len-blavatnik/|access-date=December 15, 2017 }} Half of TNK was sold to BP to form TNK-BP in 2003, in what was the largest-ever foreign investment in a Russian company.{{Citation |date=July 26, 2008 |title=Battle for TNK-BP turns into all-out war |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/jul/27/bp.oil |access-date=December 15, 2017 }} In 2013, Rosneft acquired TNK-BP for $55 billion, with Access Industries selling its stake and Blavatnik collecting US$7 billion for his share of the oil venture.

Access Industries purchased a large stake in the fashion label Tory Burch in 2004.{{Citation |date=February 25, 2016 |title=The rise of billionaire Len Blavatnik, one of Wall Street's greatest dealmakers |publisher=Business Insider |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/the-rise-of-billionaire-dealmaker-len-blavatnik-2016-2|access-date=December 16, 2017 }} In 2005, Access acquired Basell Polyolefins which, after Basell's acquisiton of Lyondell in 2007, became LyondellBasell Industries. The transaction was described by Forbes as "the greatest private equity deal of all time."{{cite news |last1=Vardi |first1=Nathan |date=30 July 2014 |title=How One Billionaire's Bet On LyondellBasell Turned Into The Greatest Deal In Wall St. History |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2014/07/30/the-greatest-deal-of-all-time/?sh=2e5df3c6503a |publisher=Forbes}} LyondellBasell Industries was the third largest chemical manufacturer in the US as of 2023.{{cite news |last1=Tullo |first1=Alexander H. |date=7 May 2023 |title=C&EN’s top 50 US chemical producers for 2023 |url=https://cen.acs.org/business/finance/CENs-top-50-US-chemical-producers-for-2023/101/i15 |publisher=C&EN}} In 2006, Access Industries took an estimated 70% stake in Top Up TV, a pay TV service in the United Kingdom{{Citation |date=June 13, 2011 |title=Property and industrial mogul Len Blavatnik puts his money in music |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jun/13/len-blavatnik-warner-music|access-date=December 15, 2017 }} which sold its subscriber business to Sky in 2013.{{Citation |date=June 2015 |title=Top Up Tv |publisher=Top Up TV |url=http://www.topuptv.co.uk/topuptv/ |access-date=December 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217014749/http://www.topuptv.co.uk/topuptv/ |archive-date=December 17, 2017 |url-status=dead }} In 2007, Access Industries purchased a majority stake in the sports media company Perform Group. Also that year, Access became an owner in Acision, a software company focused on messaging systems.{{Citation |date=October 4, 2010 |title=Acision's backers give mobile firm $100 mln more |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/acision-blavatnik/acisions-backers-give-mobile-firm-100-mln-more-idUSLDE69326920101004|access-date=December 15, 2017 }} Acision was acquired by Comverse in 2015.{{Citation|date=June 15, 2017 |title=Comverse Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Acision; Combined Company to Extend Global Leadership in Next-Generation Digital Service Solutions |publisher=Xura |url=https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2015/06/15/744526/10138408/en/Comverse-Signs-Definitive-Agreement-to-Acquire-Acision-Combined-Company-to-Extend-Global-Leadership-in-Next-Generation-Digital-Service-Solutions.html |access-date=December 15, 2017}} As of 2010, Access retained ownership in companies such as Icon Film Distribution UK, Perform Group, Top Up TV, Amedia, RGE Group, and Warner Music Group (WMG).{{Citation |date=October 11, 2010 |title=UPDATE: Weinstein Co Making Film Deal With Len Blavatnik/Stewart Till's Icon UK |publisher=Deadline Hollywood |url=https://deadline.com/2010/10/is-len-blavatnik-to-invest-in-weinstein-co-74343/|access-date=December 16, 2017 }} On July 20, 2011,[http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/access-industries-completes-acquisition-1005283602.story "Access Industries Completes Acquisition of Warner Music Group", by Ed Christman] Billboard, July 20, 2011 Access acquired Warner Music Group for US$3.3 billion.Smith, Ethan, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703859304576306993963966516 "Deal Values Warner Music at $3.3 Billion"], The Wall Street Journal, May 6, 2011, 12:39 P.M. EDT. Retrieved May 6, 2011. WMG listed on the Nasdaq in 2020.{{cite news |last1=Aswad |first1=Jem |date=3 June 2020 |title=Warner Music Valued at Nearly $15 Billion After IPO |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/warner-music-group-ipo-initial-public-offering-pricing-1234623943/ |publisher=Variety}}

In May 2016, Access Industries launched Access Entertainment, a division headed up by former BBC Television boss Danny Cohen which specialises in investing in the entertainment media sector.{{cite news|last1=Szalai|first1=Georg|title=Former BBC TV Boss Danny Cohen Joins Len Blavatnik to Launch Access Entertainment|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/danny-cohen-oversee-access-entertainment-892395|access-date=April 26, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 12, 2016|language=en}} After investing in Facebook before its IPO, Access exited its Facebook holdings in late 2015.{{Citation|date=May 30, 2017 |title=Meet the $2.5 Billion Venture Firm You've Never Heard Of |publisher=Fortune |url=http://fortune.com/2017/05/30/access-technology-ventures-len-blavatnik/|access-date=December 16, 2017 }} Since 2016, Access has been the majority owner of online sport-streaming service DAZN, and Deezer, the French music streaming service.{{cite news |last1=Flanagan |first1=Andrew |date=9 August 2016 |title=Warner Music’s Parent Company Now In Control of Deezer Following French Approval |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/deezer-access-industries-french-approval-len-blavatnik/ |publisher=Billboard}} In 2018, Access, alongside a consortium of investors, acquired Calpine Corporation for $5.6 billion.{{cite news |date=8 March 2018 |title=Calpine to be acquired by investor consortium |url=https://www.torys.com/en/work/2017/08/a55a223e-e6a0-4d2b-aa16-971cee105c32 |publisher=Torys}} In 2018, Access bought the Theatre Royal Haymarket, the third oldest theatre in Britain.{{cite news |last1=Hershberg |first1=Marc |date=9 August 2018 |title=Billionaire Takes Over West End Theater In Record-Breaking Deal |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marchershberg/2018/06/19/len-blavatnik-takes-over-west-end-theater-in-record-breaking-deal/?sh=62c06adb7176 |publisher=Forbes}} In the second half of 2022, Access sold its stake in UC Rusal, thereby divesting of its last major asset in Russia.{{cite news |last1=Pendelton |first1=Devon |date=19 May 2023 |title=Billionaire Len Blavatnik Unloads Last Major Russia Asset With Rusal Sale |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-18/billionaire-blavatnik-said-to-unload-last-major-russia-asset-with-rusal-sale?sref=B0Y81EZP |publisher=Bloomberg}}

Holdings

=Natural resources and chemicals=

Among Access Industries' current holdings are businesses in oil, petrochemicals, power generation,{{Citation |date=August 18, 2017 |title=Calpine Agrees to be Acquired by Investor Consortium Led by Energy Capital Partners |publisher=Calpine |url=http://investor.calpine.com/news/press-release-details/2017/Calpine-Agrees-to-be-Acquired-by-Investor-Consortium-Led-by-Energy-Capital-Partners/default.aspx|access-date=December 17, 2017 }} aluminum and biotechnology.{{Citation |date=June 23, 2013 |title=Access Industries offers to buy rest of Clal Industries |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/clalindustries-access-idUSL5N0EZ09M20130623|access-date= December 17, 2017}} Access helped form the large aluminum producer SUAL 1996 with a combination of mergers and acquisitions. In 2007, SUAL merged with RUSAL and the alumina business of Glencore International AG{{Citation |date=September 8, 2017 |title=Bain, SK Hynix group ups bid for Toshiba chip unit to $22 billion: sources |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-toshiba-accounting/bain-sk-hynix-group-ups-bid-for-toshiba-chip-unit-to-22-billion-sources-idUSKCN1BK06B|access-date=December 15, 2017 }} to form UC RUSAL. RUSAL raised $2.24 billion in a 2010 IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange,{{Citation |date=December 31, 2009 |title=Rusal is first Russian company to list on Hong Kong exchange |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/dec/31/rusal-oleg-deripaska-hong-kong-flotation|access-date=December 15, 2017 }} and in 2017 it was the world's largest aluminum producer. Access Industries is no longer a shareholder in UC Rusal, having fully divested of its shares in the company in the second half of 2022. This represented the last of its major assets in Russia.

In 2005 Access acquired Basell Polyolefins, a Dutch company{{Citation |date=December 21, 2007 |title=Basell Closes Lyondell Chemical Deal |work=The New York Times |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/basell-closes-lyondell-chemical-deal/?mcubz=0|access-date=December 15, 2017 }} specializing in polyolefins.{{Citation |date=July 30, 2014 |title=How One Billionaire's Bet On LyondellBasell Turned Into The Greatest Deal In Wall St. History |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2014/07/30/the-greatest-deal-of-all-time/#5738d195503|access-date=December 15, 2017 }} On December 20, 2007, Basell acquired the commodity chemicals company Lyondell for approximately $20 billion. The resulting company, LyondellBasell Industries, was impacted by the 2008 financial crisis, and in 2009, the US operations of LyondellBasell Industries filed for bankruptcy. With financing in part from Access Industries,{{Citation |date=April 30, 2010 |title=Lyondell Chemical emerges from bankruptcy |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN3018504120100430|access-date= December 15, 2017}} in 2010, LyondellBasell emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a significantly improved financial position. With a value of $15 billion, it was subsequently ranked as the world's third-largest chemical company based on net sales.{{cite news |title=LyondellBasell May Seek Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/business/02chemical.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=blavatnik&st=cse |access-date=March 21, 2022 |work=The New York Times |agency=Bloomberg |date=January 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224050200/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/business/02chemical.html?_r=1&sq=blavatnik&st=cse&scp=1&pagewanted=all |archive-date=February 24, 2015}} Access Industries repurchased a large stake in the company in 2013. As of 2017, Access owned approximately 18% of LyondellBasell.{{Citation |date=April 6, 2017 |title=SEC report |publisher=LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) |url=https://seekingalpha.com/filing/3495347|access-date=December 15, 2017 }}

Since 2013, Access Industries has owned Clal Industries Ltd. (CII), an Israeli industrial investment group.{{Citation |date=November 13, 2013 |title=Negotiations Underway to Sell Control of Channel 10 to Jewish Billionaire Len Blavatnik |publisher=Haaretz |url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/.premium-1.557831|access-date=December 17, 2017 }} Among CII's main investments are Nesher Israel Cement Enterprises, Hadera Paper, Golf & Co., Clal Biotechnology, and the logistics group Taavura.{{Citation |date=June 23, 2013 |title=Blavatnik Offers to Buy Rest of Clal Industries |publisher=Jewish Business News |url=http://jewishbusinessnews.com/2013/06/23/blavatnik-offers-to-buy-rest-of-clal-industries/|access-date=December 17, 2017 }} Also since 2013, Access has owned a significant interest in EP Energy, a North American oil and natural gas producer with a portfolio of fields in the United States and Brazil.{{Citation|date=September 4, 2013 |title=Apollo's EP Energy files for IPO a year after buyout |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-epenergy-ipo-idUSBRE98318V20130904|access-date=December 17, 2017 }} On August 18, 2017, Access Industries and a consortium of investors agreed to acquire the energy company Calpine Corporation for $5.6 billion.

=Media and telecommunications=

Access Industries previously held stakes in a number of companies in the media and telecommunications industries including Ice (Norway),{{Cite news |last=Fildes |first=Nic |date=November 26, 2018 |title=Len Blavatnik's Norwegian telecoms group Ice set to float |url=https://www.ft.com/content/9b4e961e-eda7-11e8-8180-9cf212677a57 |access-date=November 17, 2021 |work=Financial Times}} RGE Group (Israel), Channel 10 (Israel), Noga Communications and the Sports Channel (Israel).{{Citation |date=April 30, 2010 |title=Blavatnik Increases Stake in RGE Media Group |publisher=Haaretz |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/business/blavatnik-increases-stake-in-rge-media-group-1.287491|access-date=December 17, 2017 }} Access previously owned a majority{{Citation |title=Amedia |url=https://www.accessindustries.com/holdings/amedia/ |access-date=December 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223042555/https://www.accessindustries.com/holdings/amedia/ |archive-date=December 23, 2017 |url-status=dead |publisher=Access Industries}} stake in Amedia, a large Russian film and TV studio{{Citation |title=Amedia, Russia's Largest Privately Owned TV Studio, Reportedly Seeks Buyer |date=October 23, 2014 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/amedia-russias-largest-privately-owned-743365 |access-date=December 17, 2017}} known for shows such as Poor Nastya. Amedia gained exclusive rights to premiere HBO content in Russia in July 2017.{{Citation |title=HBO, Russia's Amedia Strike Exclusive Deal |date=July 25, 2017 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hbo-russias-amedia-strike-deal-1024142 |access-date=December 17, 2017}} More recently, the company has invested in major media companies including Warner Music Group and DAZN. In 2021, Reshet 13, an Israeli free-to-air television channel operated by Reshet Media, received investment from a group of investors that included Access Industries.{{cite news |date=25 January 2021 |title=Discovery to begin investing in Israel's Channel 13 |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/discovery-to-begin-investing-in-israels-channel-13-656616#google_vignette |publisher=Jerusalem Post}}

Access invested in Warner Music Group (WMG) in 2004 with various co-investors.{{Citation |date=May 6, 2011 |title=Is new Warner Music buyer a sucker or savant? |publisher=San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-is-new-warner-music-buyer-a-sucker-or-savant-2011may06-story.html|access-date=December 15, 2017 }} After a partial sale of WMG was completed through an IPO on the NYSE in May 2005,{{Citation |title=Warner Music IPO, but who's buying? |date=March 11, 2005 |url=https://money.cnn.com/2005/03/11/news/midcaps/warner_music.dj/ |access-date=December 15, 2017 |publisher=CNN}} Access continued as a significant shareholder with a 2 percent stake prior to 2011.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} Access acquired WMG for US$3.3 billion, including $320 million in cash and the assumption of $2 billion of WMG debt.

Access Industries owns AI Film in London, a film finance and executive production company established in 2013.{{Cite web |title=Who We Are |url=https://ai-film.com/information/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=AI Film |language=en-GB}} Since November 2014, Access Industries has owned a majority stake in DAZN Group Limited, a sports media company{{cite web|url=http://www.sbcnews.co.uk/technology/2014/11/13/perform-group-to-de-list-as-access-industries-takes-over/|title=Perform Group to de-list as Access Industries takes over|author=Ted Menmuir|work=SBC News|date=November 13, 2014|access-date=September 21, 2015}} which Access formed in 2007{{Citation |date=November 13, 2014 |title=Perform Group to de-list as Access Industries takes over |publisher=SBC News |url=https://sbcnews.co.uk/technology/2014/11/13/perform-group-to-de-list-as-access-industries-takes-over/|access-date=December 17, 2017 }} by merging Inform and Premium TV.{{Citation |date=September 1, 2014 |title=Perform Group surges on offer from Access Industries |publisher=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/01ca78ac-31b1-11e4-b377-00144feabdc0|access-date=December 17, 2017 }} Perform Group owns the sports website Sporting News{{Citation|title=Perform|url=https://www.accessindustries.com/holdings/perform/|publisher=AccessIndustries|access-date=July 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627132825/https://www.accessindustries.com/holdings/perform/|archive-date=June 27, 2019|url-status=dead}} and launched the sports streaming video service DAZN in 2016.{{Citation|date=August 20, 2016 |title=Blavatnik's Perform Group rebuffs tech investors to build 'Netflix for sport' |publisher=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/08/20/blavatniks-perform-group-rebuffs-tech-investors-to-build-netflix/|access-date=December 15, 2017 }} As of 2019, Access held over 85% of the group.

In May 2015, Access Entertainment was established with the hiring of its president, Danny Cohen, BBC's former director of television. They took a 25% stake in the Bad Wolf international TV firm, and have a financing venture for drama programming with BBC Worldwide/Lookout Point and a development slate deal with House Productions.{{Cite web|last=Barraclough|first=Leo|date=March 27, 2017|title=Len Blavatnik, Danny Cohen's Access Entertainment Backs Bad Wolf (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/global/len-blavatnik-danny-cohen-access-bad-wolf-1202016848/|access-date=November 17, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}} In April 2017, Access Entertainment purchased James Packer's ownership share of RatPac Entertainment, which includes the joint venture, RatPac-Dune Entertainment.{{cite magazine|last=Hipes |first=Patrick |url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/len-blavatnik-ratpac-entertainment-stake-brett-ratner-1202071393/ |title=Len Blavatnik's Access Acquires RatPac Entertainment Stake |magazine=Deadline |date=April 18, 2017 |access-date=April 24, 2017}} In December 2021, Access Entertainment sold their stake in Bad Wolf to Sony Pictures Television.{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=December 1, 2021 |title=Sony Confirms Acquisition of 'His Dark Materials' Producer Bad Wolf, Buys Out Sky/HBO Minority Stake |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/global/sony-bad-wolf-acquisition-his-dark-materials-1235122744/ |access-date=March 27, 2022 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

Access Entertainment has financed several A24 productions, including the 2023 film The Zone of Interest, which was executive produced by Len Blavatnik and Danny Cohen.{{cite news |last1=Balaga |first1=Marta |date=17 March 2023 |title=Access Entertainment Invests in Israeli Series ‘Red Skies,’ Co-Created by ‘Euphoria’s’ Ron Leshem |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/len-blavatnik-danny-cohen-ron-leshem-1235557236/ |publisher=Variety}}{{cite news |last1=Scorziello |first1=Sophia |date=17 October 2023 |title=‘The Zone of Interest’ Trailer: A24 Unveils Brutal, Gut-Wrenching Holocaust Drama |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/the-zone-of-interest-trailer-jonathan-glazer-a24-1235698176/ |publisher=Variety}} The film won the awards for Best International Feature{{cite news |last1=Lattanzio |first1=Ryan |date=10 March 2024 |title=‘The Zone of Interest’ Wins Best International Feature Oscar |url=https://www.indiewire.com/awards/results/the-zone-of-interest-wins-best-international-feature-oscar-1234960578/ |publisher=IndieWire}} and Best Sound at the 96th Academy Awards.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Jeremy |date=11 March 2024 |title=The Actual Best Movie Sound Of 2024 Won The Oscar (Not The Loudest) |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1536482/the-zone-of-interest-best-sound-oscar/ |publisher=Slashfilm}}

=Technology=

In 2015, Access Industries launched Access Technology Ventures, a venture and growth technology investment arm focused on pre-IPO "unicorns". As of 2017, it had investments in companies including Snapchat, Square, Yelp, Alibaba, Rocket Internet, Deezer,{{Citation |date=September 8, 2016 |title=Warner Music's Parent Company Now In Control of Deezer Following French Approval |publisher=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7502855/deezer-access-industries-french-approval-len-blavatnik|access-date=December 17, 2017 }} Gett,{{Citation|date=May 24, 2016 |title=VW invests $300M in Uber rival Gett in new ride-sharing partnership |publisher=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/24/vw-invests-300m-in-uber-rival-gett-in-new-ride-sharing-partnership/|access-date=December 17, 2017 }} Spotify, Zalando, and DigitalOcean. In August 2017, Access Technology Ventures led a $300 million round of funding for the smartphone maker Essential Products, investing $100 million in the company.{{Citation|date=August 9, 2017 |title=Access Technology Ventures Leads $300 Million Investment Round for Essential Products Inc. |publisher=BusinessWire |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170809006226/en/Access-Technology-Ventures-Leads-300-Million-Investment|access-date=December 17, 2017 }} Access Industries formed First Access Entertainment in October 2015, which focuses on talent development and representation in music, entertainment, and fashion.{{Citation|date=October 28, 2015 |title=Sarah Stennett Partners with Len Blavatnik's Access Industries To Launch Joint Venture "First Access Entertainment |publisher=WMG.com |url=http://www.wmg.com/news/sarah-stennett-partners-len-blavatnik-s-access-industries-launch-joint-venture-first-access|access-date= December 17, 2017}} Access Industries invested $137 million into Opendoor.{{cite web|url=https://therealdeal.com/national/2021/01/05/here-are-the-big-winners-from-opendoors-ipo/|title=Here are the big winners from Opendoor's IPO|website=TheRealDeal|date=January 5, 2021}}

=Real estate=

Access owns a portfolio of hotels and other commercial and residential properties in the United States, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean, including:{{Citation|title=Industries|publisher=Access Industries|url=https://www.accessindustries.com/industry|access-date=December 16, 2017|archive-date=March 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331104844/https://www.accessindustries.com/industry/|url-status=dead}}

  • Faena Group (Buenos Aires, Argentina[http://www.faenaproperties.com/pressroom/articles_07.php?sitio=properties "The Dream of Creating Another Buenos Aires"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311203002/http://www.faenaproperties.com/pressroom/articles_07.php?sitio=properties |date=March 11, 2012 }} Faena Properties, December 13, 2003. Retrieved January 12, 2012. and Miami Beach, Florida)
  • Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat (French Riviera, France){{Citation |date=April 23, 2015 |title=Grand-Hôtel Du Cap-Ferrat On Mediterranean Coastline To Become Four Seasons Property |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyamohn/2015/04/23/grand-hotel-du-cap-ferrat-on-mediterranean-coastline-to-become-four-seasons-property/#112a02182d53|access-date=December 16, 2017 }}
  • Grand Peaks (Denver, Colorado)
  • Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort (Paradise Island, The Bahamas){{Citation|date=June 10, 2014 |title=Len Blavatnik's Access Industries Buys One&Only Ocean Club Resort in Bahamas From Brookfield|publisher=Jewish Business News |url= http://jewishbusinessnews.com/2014/06/10/len-blavatniks-access-industries-buys-oneonly-ocean-club-resort-in-bahamas-from-brookfield/ |access-date=December 16, 2017 }}
  • Sunset Tower Hotel (Los Angeles, California){{Citation |date=May 24, 2017 |title=The new Shahs of Sunset: Behind Jeff Klein's deal to bring in Len Blavatnik as partner on Sunset Tower Hotel |publisher=The Real Deal |url=https://therealdeal.com/la/2017/05/24/the-new-shahs-of-sunset-behind-jeff-kleins-deal-to-bring-in-len-blavatnik-as-partner-on-sunset-tower-hotel/ |access-date=December 16, 2017 }}
  • One High Line (Manhattan, New York City){{cite news |last=Walter-Warner |first=Holden |date=9 January 2024 |title=One High Line unit asking $49M snags contract |url=https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2024/01/09/witkoff-access-industries-one-high-line-snags-49m-contract/ |publisher=The Real Deal}}
  • Aman Miami Beach (Miami Beach, Florida){{cite news |last=Kallergis |first=Katherine |date=12 May 2020 |title=Developer of Aman-branded towers in Miami Beach scores $35M loan |url=https://therealdeal.com/miami/2020/05/12/developer-of-aman-branded-towers-in-miami-beach-scores-35m-loan/ |publisher=The Real Deal}}

Political activities

Access Industries has made a variety of contributions to political candidates in local, state and national elections in the United States.{{Citation |title=Access Industries |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/totals.php?id=D000031282&cycle=2014 |access-date=December 16, 2017 |publisher=OpenSecrets.org}}{{cite news |date=August 25, 2015 |title=Million-Dollar Donors in the 2016 Presidential Race |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/us/elections/top-presidential-donors-campaign-money.html |access-date=October 14, 2015 |newspaper=The New York Times}} In 2015, the company donated $1.8 million to Super PACs supporting Republican presidential candidates Scott Walker and Lindsey Graham.

References