In April 2023, we entered into a series of agreements with Emirates Telecommunication Group Company (“e&”) whereby e& will contribute $400 million into the Careem non-ridesharing business (“Careem Technologies”) in exchange for a majority equity interest. Upon closing of the transaction in December 2023, e& acquired a majority stake in Careem Technologies and we retained a minority ownership interest. Careem Technologies is considered a related party to us upon the closing of the transaction. We continue to fully own the ridesharing business of Careem.

Upon closing of the transaction, we recognized a gain of approximately $204 million during the fourth quarter of 2023, in other income (expense), net on our consolidated statement of operations. Additionally, we received two seats on Careem Technologies’ board and retained an approximately 42% equity ownership interest consisting of common stock in Careem Technologies. The initial fair value of our equity method investment in Careem Technologies is $300 million. The investment was determined to be an equity method investment due to our ability to exercise significant influence over Careem Technologies.

Included in the initial carrying value of $300 million was a preliminary estimated basis difference related to the difference between the cost of the investment and our proportionate share of the net assets of Careem Technologies. As of December 31, 2023, this basis difference was not material. The carrying value of the equity method investment will be primarily adjusted for our share in the income or losses of Careem Technologies on a one-quarter lag basis and amortization of basis differences.

During 2018, we closed a transaction that contributed the net assets of our Uber Russia/CIS operations into a newly formed private limited liability company (“MLU B.V.” or “Yandex.Taxi joint venture”), with Yandex and us holding ownership interests in MLU B.V. In exchange for consideration contributed, we received a seat on MLU B.V.’s board and an initial 38% equity ownership interest consisting of common stock in MLU B.V. The investment was determined to be an equity method investment due to our ability to exercise significant influence over MLU B.V. As of December 31, 2022, our equity ownership interest in MLU B.V. was 29% on a fully-diluted basis.

We review for impairment whenever factors indicate that the carrying value of the equity method investment may not be recoverable. During the first quarter of 2022, we determined that our investment in MLU B.V. was other-than-temporarily impaired, and recorded an impairment charge of $182 million in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statement of operations. The impairment was primarily due to consensus projections of a protracted recession of the Russian economy as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. To determine the fair value of our investment in MLU B.V., we utilized a market approach referencing revenue multiples from publicly traded peer companies.

On August 30, 2021, we entered into an agreement with Yandex (the “Framework Agreement”) to restructure our joint ventures, MLU B.V. and Yandex Self Driving Group B.V. (“SDG”) and we would sell to Yandex (i) our 4.5% equity interest in MLU B.V. and (ii) our entire equity interest in SDG (the “Initial Closing”). Subsequent to the Initial Closing, Yandex spun-off, by way of demerger from MLU B.V., its delivery businesses: Yandex.Eats, Yandex.Lavka and Yandex.Delivery (collectively, “Demerged Businesses”). Immediately following the demerger, Yandex acquired all of our equity interest in the Demerged Businesses (“Demerger Share Closing”). In connection with the Framework Agreement, we granted Yandex an option (“MLU B.V. Call Option”) to acquire our remaining equity interest in MLU B.V. during the two-year period following the Initial Closing. The total consideration paid by Yandex to us for the transaction was $1.0 billion in cash allocated as follows: (i) $276 million for our 4.5% of equity interest in MLU B.V.; (ii) $412 million for our equity interest in the Demerged Businesses; (iii) $230 million for the MLU B.V. Call Option; and (iv) the remaining immaterial amounts to our interest in SDG.

During the third quarter of 2021 and pursuant to the Framework Agreement, we completed the sale of our entire equity interest in SDG and 4.5% of equity interest in MLU B.V. to Yandex. At the initial closing, we derecognized 4.5% of equity interest in MLU B.V. and recognized a gain of $106 million in other income (expense), net on our consolidated statement of operations. The consideration allocated and gains recognized for the sale of our entire equity interest in SDG were not material.

During the fourth quarter of 2021 and pursuant to the Framework Agreement, MLU B.V. completed the spin-off of the Demerger Businesses and Yandex acquired all of our equity interest in the Demerged Businesses. As a result, we derecognized our entire equity interest in the Demerged Businesses and recognized a gain of $242 million in other income (expense), net in our consolidated statement of operations.

On April 21, 2023, we entered into and closed on a definitive agreement to sell our remaining 29% equity interest in MLU B.V. to Yandex for $703 million in cash and recognized an immaterial loss from this transaction recorded in other income (expense), net in our consolidated statements of operations during the year ended December 31, 2023. After this transaction, we no longer have an equity interest in MLU B.V.

The MLU B.V. Call Option was recorded as a liability in accrued and other current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets, initially valued at $230 million and measured at fair value on a recurring basis with changes in fair value recorded in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations.

As of December 31, 2022, the fair value of the MLU B.V. Call Option was $2 million. We recorded a $191 million net gain for the fair value change during the year ended December 31, 2022. To determine the fair value of the MLU B.V. Call Option as of December 31, 2022, we used a lattice model which simulated multiple scenarios of the exercise behaviors and the corresponding strike prices over the term of the call option. Key inputs to the lattice model were: the underlying business value; option term of 0.7 years; volatility of 65%; risk-free interest rates; and strike price (Level 3).

As part of our sale of our remaining interest in MLU B.V. to Yandex during the second quarter of 2023, the MLU B.V. Call Option was extinguished and we recognized a gain that was not material in other income (expense), net in our consolidated statement of operations during the year ended December 31, 2023.