Meet Your Buyer-Len Blavatnik

KNOW YOUR BUYER I: Len Blavatnik is a Russian-American businessman who has emerged as a possible buyer for WMG or EMI. Currently with homes in New York and London, Blavatnik has made his estimated $7.5 billion fortune through the diversified company Access Industries, primarily from investments in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union. He emigrated from Russia with his family in 1978, receiving a Masters in computer science from Columbia and an MBA degree from Harvard. Access has a controlling stake in the Russian oil company TNK, then sold 50% to British Petroleum in 2003 to form TNK-BP, now Russia’s largest. Blavatnik also has interests in UC RUSAL, the world’s largest producer of aluminum, and Warner Music Group. He is a member of the Global Advisory Board of the Centre for International Business and Management at Cambridge University and a member of the academic board at Tel Aviv University. His foundation serves as the primary benefactors for a number of cultural institutions, including British Museum, Tate Modern, Royal Opera House, National Portrait Gallery and Museum of Modern Art. Early last year, he was reported to be one of several unsuccessful bidders for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. (3/21p)