G.M. Lianozov Sons

[2][3] The family started its business investments through Martin Lianozov, who invested heavily in the fisheries of the Caspian Sea and in 1873 signed a contract with the government of Persia through which he acquired the rights to the entire fishing industry of the southern Caspian Sea.

[4] The company, which exported caviar and fish, eventually was reported to have received a net profit of half a million rubles by 1913.

[2][4] The success of the company sparked new investments into other major business opportunities such as the newly founded oil in Baku.

In 1912 Stepan Lianozov and Levon Mantashov (Son of Alexander Mantashev), sold most of their stock to Petersburg banks which ultimately led to the foundation a new corporation, Russian General Oil Corporation or OIL on July 28, 1912, in which 2,500,000 million pounds were used as founding capital in London.

[1] The chairmanship included Russian prominent businessman P. Lejdnovsky and A. Putilov, and the chairman was Stepan Georgievich Lianozov.