AST (Russian: АСТ) is one of the largest book publishing companies in Russia,[2] headed by Oleg Bartenev (Олег Бартенев). It owns a bookstores chain "Bukva" (Russian: Буква, lit. A Letter).
Parent company | Eksmo (since 2012)[1] |
---|---|
Founded | 1993 |
Founder | Andrey Gertsev, Sergei Derevianko and Tatiana Derevianko |
Country of origin | Russia |
Key people | Oleg Bartenev (general director) |
Official website | Official website |
Among AST partners are publishing companies Astrel, Zebra E, Molodaya Gvardiya, CenterCom, bookstores Moscow and Biblio Globus and online shops, such as Ozon.ru.[3] It also owns comic book and manga publisher Comics Factory.[4]
The company was established in 1990 by Andrey Gertsev, Sergei Derevianko and Tatiana Derevianko as "Creative Cooperative Association AST" (Russian: Творческое кооперативное объединение «АСТ»). AST is an abbreviation meaning Andrey-Sergei-Tatiana. In 1993 the company was divided into AST itself, headed by Andrey Gertsev, and AST-PRESS.
As of 2007, AST and its rival (later parent company) Eksmo together published approximately 30% of all Russian books.[5] In 2008 AST purchased Avanta+.[6]
On April 19, 2012 the commercial subdivision of AST "Pyaty okean" filed for bankruptcy, as their debts exceeded 7,5 billion roubles.[7] Eksmo stated that they had plans for AST purchase. In June 2012 Oleg Novikov , the general director of Eksmo, reported that Eksmo gained control on several subdivisions of AST, with an exception of "Bukva" bookstores chain.[8]