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Sistema

ssa · LSE
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Employees 201-500
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FY2018 Annual Report · Sistema
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Annual Report

 2018

SISTEMA

Contents

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

1

ONE OF THE LARGEST 
PRIVATE INVESTORS 
INTO RUSSIA’S 
CONTEMPORARY 
ECONOMY

8 
For more information 
about Sistema 
visit our website:

https://sistema.com

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Profile of Sistema

Investment Portfolio

CEO’s Statement

Key Events of 2018

Mission and Strategy

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

Financial Performance in 2018

Shareholders’ Equity

Report on Dividends

Sistema’s Credit Ratings

KEY ASSET RESULTS

MTS

Detsky Mir

Segezha Group

Medsi

Agroholding “STEPPE”

Real Estate Assets

RTI

BPGC

Hospitality Assets

Binnopharm

Other Portfolio Companies

Funds 

Ozon

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Sistema’s Corporate Governance Principles

Sistema’s Corporate Governance Structure

General Meeting of Shareholders

Board of Directors

Committees of the Board of Directors

President

Management Board

Committees Reporting to the President 
and the Management Board

Specific Characteristics of Risk Management, 
Internal Control and Internal Audit Systems

Development of the Corporate Governance System 
in 2018

Remuneration Policy

Risks

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

ESG and Corporate Responsibility Principles

Contribution to Socio-Economic Development

Social Investment in Technology and Human Capital

External Assessment of Sustainable Development

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SISTEMA
SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018
Annual Report 2018

sistema.com
sistema.com

About the Company
About the Company

Financial Performance
Financial Performance

Key Asset Results
Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility
Social Responsibility

3
3

ABOUT  
THE COMPANY

PROFILE OF SISTEMA

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

CEO’S STATEMENT

KEY EVENTS OF 2018

MISSION AND STRATEGY

4

6

8

10

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4

SISTEMA
SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018
Annual Report 2018

sistema.com
sistema.com

About the Company
About the Company

Financial Performance
Financial Performance

Key Asset Results
Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility
Social Responsibility

5
5

Profile  
of Sistema

Sistema is one of the largest private investors in the real 
sector of the Russian economy. Sistema’s investment 
portfolio comprises Russian companies in sectors including 
telecommunications, consumer retail, paper and packaging, 
agriculture, high-tech, real estate, healthcare and hospitality. 
Sistema holds controlling interests in most of its portfolio 
companies.

RUSSIA’S BIGGEST PRIVATE NON-RESOURCES CORPORATION

ONE OF RUSSIA’S 

20

LARGEST PRIVATE COMPANIES 
IN THE FORBES GLOBAL 2000

INVESTS MORE THAN 

RUB 100 billion

IN THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY 
EVERY YEAR

Top-15

RUSSIA’S LARGEST COMPANIES 
BY REVENUE

Sistema’s strategic goal is to create 
long-term growth of shareholder 
value by boosting returns on 
investments in existing assets and 
reinvesting available cash in new 
investment projects to diversify its 
portfolio and increase overall returns 
on investment.

Sistema focuses on improving the 
operational efficiency of the assets 
it acquires by restructuring and 
by working with relevant partners 
to enhance expertise and mitigate 
financial risks.

The Corporation’s shares trade on 
Moscow Exchange (ticker: AFKS) and 
on the London Stock Exchange in the 
form of global depositary receipts 
(ticker: SSA). One GDR represents 
20 ordinary shares. 

GDRS ON LSE

SSA

MOSCOW EXCHANGE  
TICKER

AFKS

1 In accordance with IFRS.
2 Here and hereinafter, consolidated results of Sistema and its subsidiaries for 2018 are presented in accordance with new accounting standards IFRS 9, 15 and 16 unless specified otherwise. Results 
for 2017 are presented without the impact of the new standards. 
3 Sistema acquired a 25% stake in Etalon Group Plc in February 2019.

INVESTMENTS 
AND COMPETENCES 

KEY HIGHLIGHTS 20181

>150 000 000

CONSUMERS

REVENUE

777.4

RUB billion2

>15 

SECTORS

ASSETS

1,465.4

RUB billion

UNIQUE PORTFOLIO OF ASSETS 
IN HIGH-POTENTIAL SECTORS 
OF THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY  

Public  
assets:

MTS, DETSKY MIR, ETALON GROUP3

ONE OF RUSSIA’S 

50

MOST VALUABLE 
BRANDS

CREDIT RATINGS 
FROM INTERNATIONAL 
AND RUSSIAN RATING 
AGENCIES

S&P

B+

FITCH 

BB-

RAEX 

RuA-

   
   
 
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SISTEMA
SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018
Annual Report 2018

sistema.com
sistema.com

About the Company
About the Company

Financial Performance
Financial Performance

Key Asset Results
Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility
Social Responsibility

7
7

Investment  
Portfolio1

BY PRODUCTION OF HIGH-QUALITY 
UNBLEACHED SACK PAPER 

No.1  IN RUSSIA  
No.3 IN THE WORLD

BY PAPER SACK 
PRODUCTION

No.1 IN RUSSIA  
No.2 IN EUROPE 

Leading Russian  
vertically integrated  
forest holding

748 stores  

IN RUSSIAN CITIES, 
KAZAKHSTAN AND 
4
BELARUS

No.1   
player in the children’s 
goods market in Russia

52.1%

DETSKY  
MIR

Leading  
Russian 
multicategory  
online retailer

One of Russia’s 
leading developers 
and manufacturers of 
high-tech products

Cosmos Group  
One of Russia’s leading 
hotel management 
companies

36.0%

96.0%

Binnopharm
One of Russia’s 
largest full-cycle 
biopharmaceutical 
companies

OBL Pharm 
One of leading 
production companies 
in the Russian 
pharmaceutical  
market

100%

OZON2 3

KRONSTADT 
GROUP

HOSPITALITY 
ASSETS

99.9%

SEGEZHA 
GROUP

74.0%

12.8%

PHARMACEU-
TICALS 

50.01%

MTS 

Leading 
telecommunications 
operator and digital 
services provider 
in Russia

LEADING  
RUSSIAN TELECOMS OPERATOR   
by subscriber base,  
revenue and OIBDA 

Over 105 million  

MOBILE SUBSCRIBERS 

RTI

87.0%

Leading  
Russian high-tech 
company

RUSSIAN MARKET

482 million chips 

MICROCHIPS 

1,381 million 

AMONG RUSSIA’S  

6 largest

LAND OWNERS

AMONG RUSSIA’S  

6 largest

GRAIN EXPORTERS

Major agriculture 
holding  
and one of the Russia’s 
largest land owners

AGRO-
HOLDING 
STEPPE

92.8%5

BPGC

91.0%

CONCEPT 
GROUP

MEDSI

43.0%

INVESTMENT 
FUNDS 

REAL ESTATE 

98.5%

Bashkirian Power Grid 
Company —  
One of Russia’s biggest 
power grid companies

TOTAL LENGTH OF POWER 

GRIDS 

Over 88,500 sqm  

1 As at December 31st 2018, Sistema’s direct stake in MTS bank was 43.24%. 
In February 2019, after the sale of MTS Bank shares to Mobile TeleSystems B.V., 
100% subsidiary of MTS, Sistema’s direct stake in MTS bank decreased to 5.0%.
2 Hereinafter Sistema’s stake refers to effective stake for MTS, BPGC and to total 
ownership for other assets. The stake in Ozon.Ru includes all shares controlled 
by Sistema Group. 
3 Sistema acquired 18.7% in Ozon Holdings Limited in March 2019.
4 As of 31 March 2019. As of 31 December 2018 Detsky Mir Group included 
743 stores in Russia and Kazakhstan.
5 84.63% as of December 31, 2018.

One of the 
largest players 
in lingerie wholesale 
and childrenswear 
monobrand stores

Private equity and asset 
management funds

Leader Invest, 
Business-Nedvizhimost, 
Etalon Group6

No.1  
Russian private 
healthcare company 
by revenue in 2018

6 Sistema acquired 25% of Etalon 
Group in February 2019.

PATIENT VISITS

8,5 million per year

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SISTEMA
SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018
Annual Report 2018

sistema.com
sistema.com

About the Company
About the Company

Financial Performance
Financial Performance

Key Asset Results
Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility
Social Responsibility

9
9

CEO’s  
Statement

DEAR SHAREHOLDERS,

Sistema delivered impressive growth of both 
revenue (up 12%) and OIBDA (up 34%) 
in the full year 2018, as our portfolio 
companies continued to consolidate their 
respective markets and expand into new 
business segments. 

Our publicly traded assets delivered 
sustained growth in revenue and OIBDA 
as both MTS and Detsky Mir continue to lead 
their respective sectors. In both the retail 
and telecoms sectors, the operating 
environment presents its own challenges. 
However, both management teams have 
shown the ability to successfully monetise 
their customer bases.

MTS posted full year revenue growth 
of 8% year-on-year, despite a 0.4% year-on-
year decrease in subscribers. Detsky Mir, 
meanwhile, saw revenue increase by 14% 
in the full year on the back of the strong 
like-for-like sales. During the year Detsky Mir 
also managed to improve profitability 
as a result of economies of scale and cost 
discipline.  

Both companies have successfully ventured 
into new markets and developed new 
revenue streams. At MTS, the contribution 
from IT and systems integration business 
is growing steadily. The company is also 
scaling up in the data centre/cloud business, 
and saw revenue from cloud services triple 
in 2018.  

REVENUE 
GROWTH  

12% 

OIBDA   
GROWTH 

34% 

Detsky Mir continues to open new stores 
in new regions of Russia and Kazakhstan. 
It has also launched operations in Belarus 
and in the promising pet supplies segment. 
And online sales almost doubled during 
the year, reaching almost 8% of sales.

Our key non-public assets, both exporters 
and domestic players, strengthened their 
market positions. 

At Segezha Group, where the top line grew 
by 32% for the full year, growth was driven 
by the paper and packaging segment, which 
accounted for 70% of total revenue. Adjusted 
OIBDA was up 83% for 2018. Growth was 
driven by: 

 Z increased prices for key Segezha’s 

products;

 Z greater capacity due to a new 

papermaking machine;

 Z currency factors.

Our agriculture business, Steppe, 
continues to grow both organically 
and through the launch of new business 
lines. Steppe’s revenue increased by 137% 
in the full year as a result of:

 Z strong growth of the field crop division;
 Z acceleration of the grain trading 

business as Steppe become one of 
Russia’s top six grain exporters;
 Z solid operating results in the dairy 

segment; 

 Z the launch of sales of sugar and produce 

under the Steppe brand.

Steppe’s OIBDA was up 22% in 2018 due 
to improved efficiency in the grain segment 
and the development of agrotrading. 

Medsi’s revenue for the year (+52%) affirmed 
its position as Russia’s leading private 
healthcare provider. Adjusted OIBDA rose 83% 
in the full year 2018, primarily driven by higher 
utilisation rates and an increase in revenue 
per square metre of medical facilities. 

Over recent months, Sistema has completed 
transactions that crystallise the value of our 
assets in real estate and the pharmaceuticals 
sector. 

In February 2019, we sold a 51% stake in our 
Moscow real estate development business, 
Leader Invest, to London-listed development 
and construction company Etalon Group. 
Subsequently, Sistema acquired 25% of Etalon 
from the company’s founder and his family. 
As a result, Sistema has become the largest 
shareholder in a significantly strengthened, 
publicly-traded real estate business. 
The combined company, a top-three player 
in Russia’s largest markets — Moscow 
and St. Petersburg — boasts an excellent 
portfolio of projects. And it has an opportunity 
to take advantage of significant synergies 
through optimisation of construction costs 
and administrative expenses. Etalon’s in-
house construction capacities and design 
bureau will accelerate the development 
of Leader Invest’s projects. As the market 
undergoes transformation with new regulation 
and changing consumer preferences, 
we believe consolidation is the key trend. 
And we are eager to embrace it and benefit 
from it. 

In pharma, Sistema partnered with VTB 
to acquire a 95% stake in OBL Pharm, which 
we plan to merge with our pharmaceutical 
business, Binnopharm, in the coming 
months. The two companies possess 
complementary assets and we have set 
a medium-term goal of building out a top-
five Russian player in the fast-growing 
commercial segment of the pharma 
industry. In April 2019, the Russian Direct 
Investment Fund, the Russia-China 
Investment Fund and the largest Middle 
Eastern funds agreed to join the project, 
which is a solid confirmation of the project’s 
investment appeal and its importance 
for the development of the industry.

Additionally, we have made a strategic bet 
on Russian e-commerce, increasing our 
holding in market leader Ozon by buying 
out MTS’s stake and acquiring stakes 
of some minority shareholders. As of April 
2019, Sistema directly holds 21.9% of Ozon, 
and another 16.3% stake via venture capital 
fund Sistema_VC. The potential in Russian 
e-commerce is huge. The market is forecast 
to grow from RUB 1tn to RUB 3.5tn in 2023 
with CAGR of 24%. And Ozon, with its 
aggressive strategy to conquer the market 
with a focus on technological development, 
a strong team, a wide range of products, its 
own logistics infrastructure, a recognisable 
brand and a developing marketplace, 
is well positioned to consolidate this highly 
fragmented industry and benefit from its 
growth.

Looking ahead, we will continue to deliver 
against the strategy adopted in 2018 that 
centres on three strategic goals: 

 Z maximising shareholder returns and 

reducing the discount between market 
capitalisation and NAV;

 Z attracting third-party capital to enhance 

our investment resources. 

Our strategic focus is on building out four 
businesses — Steppe, Segezha Group, 
Medsi and Ozon — with a target 
enterprise value per business 
of USD 1–2bn. Our ambition 
is to eventually take them 
to the public markets, opening 
up whole new sectors 
of the Russian economy 
to equity investors through 
fast-growing companies 
that become leaders in their 
respective sectors.

ANDREY DUBOVSKOV  
President of Sistema

 
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SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

11

Key Events  
of 2018

CORPORATION

EVENTS AT PORTFOLIO COMPANIES AND SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AFTER THE END OF THE REPORTING PERIOD 

ANDREY 
DUBOVSKOV  
President

VLADIMIR 
TRAVKOV  
Vice-President, 
Chief of Financial 
and Investment 
Department (CFO)

NEW PRESIDENT 
AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE 
AND INVESTMENTS APPOINTED 

In March 2018, Sistema’s Board of Directors 
approved the appointment as President 
of Sistema of Andrey Dubovskov, the former 
president of MTS. Andrey Dubovskov took 
office on 13 March 2018. 

In April 2018, Vladimir Travkov was 
appointed as Vice-President, Chief 
of Financial and Investment Department 
(CFO). Since 2003 he has held management 
positions in MTS Group, including as director 
of the Functional Control Department 
since 2016.

STRENGTHENED POSITION 
IN THE FTSE4GOOD INDEX

Sistema received a high score 
for its environmental activities and social 
responsibility practices. FTSE Russell, 
an analytical agency of the London Stock 
Exchange, upgraded Sistema’s sustainable 
development rating and confirmed its status 
of a participant of the FTSE4Good1 index 
following a revision in June 2018. The high 
rating and participation in the index confirm 
the Corporation’s commitment to responsible 
investment and asset management.

1 The FTSE4Good indices were created by FTSE Russell to assess companies’ effectiveness in environmental, social 
and governance practices (ESG).

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT 
WITH ROSNEFT AND BASHNEFT

In 2018 Sistema fulfilled in full all of its 
financial obligations under the Settlement 
Agreement that settled all litigation involving 
Sistema and Sistema-Invest relating 
to the ownership and or management 
of Bashneft and or its affiliated entities 
by Sistema and Sistema-Invest. 

ACTIVE PRESENCE IN DEBT MARKETS

In February and March 2018, Sistema 
successfully placed exchange-traded bonds 
of series 001P-07 and 001P-08 with the total 
nominal value of RUB 10bn and RUB 15bn, 
respectively. The rates for coupons 1-2 were 
set at 9.80% p.a. for series 001P-07 bonds 
and at 9.25% for series 001P-08 bonds. 
The bonds mature in 10 years with put 
options exercisable 1 year and 1.5 years after 
the dates of placement, respectively.  

INCREASED SCALE AND CRYSTALIZED 
VALUE OF PHARMACEUTICALS 
BUSINESS 

In December 2018, Sistema acquired 
a stake in a leading pharmaceutical 
company, OBL Pharm, for RUB 1.83 billion. 
Sistema made the acquisition as a member 
of a consortium of investors that also 
included VTB Bank and members of the OBL 
Pharm management team. The strategic 
aim of the transaction is the merger of OBL 
Pharm with Sistema’s pharmaceutical holding, 
Binnopharm, and utilisation of synergies 
in marketing and sales, combining R&D 
functions and reducing administrative costs. 
The medium-term goal of the combined 
company is to become one of Russia’s five 
largest pharmaceuticals producer in the non-
state segment, the fastest-growing segment 
in the Russian pharma market.

MTS:

UNLOCKING SYNERGIES 
WITH THE BANKING BUSINESS 
AND DEVELOPING NEW REVENUE 
STREAMS 

In February 2018, MTS acquired 
Ticketland.ru and Ponominalu.ru, two 
major Russian e-ticketing operators. 

In April 2018, MTS partnered up 
with Ericsson to open a research centre 
in Tatarstan that will develop innovative 
products and solutions based on 5G, IoT 
and Big Data. 

In May 2018, MTS placed Russia’s first 
commercial bonds using smart contracts 
based on blockchain. The total nominal 
value of the issue was RUB 750m.

In July 2018, MTS increased its equity 
holding in MTS Bank to 55.2%, which will 
help unlock further synergies between 
the telecom and banking businesses, 
simplify management and reduce 
the time-to-market of new fintech 
products. In February 2019, Sistema’s 
direct ownership interest in MTS Bank 
was reduced to 5.0%, while MTS’s stake 
increased from 55.2% to 94.7%.

In August 2018, MTS used the expertise 
of its subsidiary, system integrator 
NVision Group, and its 5,000+ IT 
specialists across the country to enter 
the outsourced IT services market. 

DETSKY MIR: 

CHAIN EXPANSION  
AND NEW MARKETS

In 2018, Detsky Mir entered a new 
market — pet products — in accordance 
with its expansion strategy. 
The management estimates the size 
of the pet products segment in Russia 
at RUB 200bn. In December 2018, 
the company opened four pilot pet stores 
under the Zoozavr brand. 

THE TOTAL SELLING SPACE  
OF ALL THE STORES OF THE GROUP IS 

11.6%

768 sq m 

Detsky Mir intends to enter a new 
geography — Belarus — and become a key 
player there in the medium term. The first 
store in Belarus was opened in Minsk 
(Evroopt shopping mall) in February 2019. 
Its total area is 1,690 sq m. Detsky Mir 
will develop in Belarus under the DetMir 
brand. 

THE TOTAL AREA OF THE FIRST STORE 
IN BELARUS

1,690 sq m

  
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SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

13

EVENTS AT PORTFOLIO COMPANIES AND SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AFTER THE END OF THE REPORTING PERIOD

NEW FUNDS’ INVESTMENTS AND EXITS

STRATEGIC TRANSACTIONS 

MEDSI: 

TELEMEDICINE  
AND PATIENT CARE CENTRE

In April 2018, Medsi and MTS launched 
a telemedicine platform, SmartMed, 
which will be used for developing digital 
healthcare products and services.

In July 2018, the company established 
a patient care centre, the main mission 
of which is to study customers’ 
satisfaction and preferences with regard 
to healthcare and other services provided 
at Medsi, implement best global practices 
of patient-centric medicine, and develop 
internal processes and culture aimed 
at meeting customers’ needs.

STEPPE AGROHOLDING: 

CAPACITY INCREASE

Steppe AgroHolding is actively 
increasing its capacity in the dairy 
farming segment. In March 2018, 
the company commissioned its fifth 
dairy farm for 1,800 cows. The new 
farm is expected to reach its design 
capacity of 20,000 t of milk per year 
in 2021. At the end of 2018, Agroholding 
announced its plans to build another 
dairy farm in the Rostov region. Together 
with the farm launched in March 2018 
in the Krasnodar region and another 
new enterprise under construction 
there, it will more than triple production, 
from 40,000 tonnes in 2017 to over 
120,000 tonnes in 2023, making Steppe 
Agroholding one of the top three players 
in the Russian market.

SEGEZHA GROUP: 

INCREASING OUTPUT  
AND ENHANCING EFFICIENCY

In March 2018, Mikhail Shamolin, former 
president of Sistema, was appointed 
president of Segezha Group.

In July 2018, the company launched 
the second line at the Vyatka Plywood 
Mill, which will enable it to increase its 
plywood output to 192,000 cu m and expand 
the range of high-margin products, 
including large-size long-grain plywood. 

In December 2018, a pellet plant 
with an annual capacity of 70,000 t 
of pellets was opened at the Lesosibirsk 
Woodworking Plant. Pellets are produced 
from waste (sawdust) generated 
at the woodworking facility. 

 In the fourth quarter of 2018, Segezha Pulp 
and Paper Mill commissioned a multi-fuel 
boiler that runs on bark waste, which will 
increase heat generation at the mill by 25% 
and reduce use of expensive fuel oil.

RTI: 

CREATION OF A COMBINED 
MICROELECTRONICS COMPONENTS 
COMPANY 

In February 2019, RTI Microelectronics, 
an RTI Group company, signed a legally 
binding agreement with State Corporation 
Rostec and JSC Roselectronica to create 
a combined microelectronics components 
company. The parties will combine 
under the new company controlling 
stakes in 19 microelectronics component 
development, production and design 
companies.

THE PARTIES WILL COMBINE UNDER THE NEW 
COMPANY CONTROLLING STAKES IN

19 microelectronics

component development, production and design companies

SISTEMA ASIA FUND

OZON

In May 2018, Sistema’s venture fund Sistema 
Asia Fund added HealthifyMe, an Indian 
mobile health and fitness application, to their 
portfolio.

In March 2019, Sistema Asia Fund, a Sistema 
venture capital fund, sold its holding 
of Qwikcilver, an Indian technology company 
specialising in gift cards and stored-value 
solutions. The transaction is the first exit 
for the Sistema Asia Fund. Sistema Asia 
Fund invested in Qwikcilver in 2016 and after 
three years exited, having achieved a high 
return on invested capital.  

SISTEMA VENTURE CAPITAL 

In May 2018, Sistema’s venture fund Sistema 
Venture Capital invested in TraceAir, a start-
up developing a platform for monitoring 
construction sites using unmanned aerial 
vehicles, in Connecterra, a start-up which 
deploys AI solutions for dairy farming, 
and in SQream, a company that enables 
enterprises to maximize and leverage their 
big data analytics by using GPU.

In February 2019, Sistema acquired 
18.7% of Russia’s leading multi-category 
online retailer, Ozon Holdings, from MTS 
for RUB 7.9 billion. The decision to increase 
the stake is based on Sistema’s strategic 
bet on growth prospects for e-commerce 
and market consolidation through 
investments in the market leader. 

OZON.RU GMV GROWTH IN 2018   

73% y-o-y

ETALON 

In February 2019, Sistema sold 51% 
of JSC Leader Invest to Etalon Group, while 
retaining a 49% stake in the company. 
Following this transaction, Sistema acquired 
25% of Etalon Group for USD 226.6 million. 
The transactions create a top-three 
player in the Moscow and St Petersburg 
markets, bring together complementary 
development portfolios, allow Leader 
Invest’s projects to leverage Etalon’s 
general contracting capacity and regional 
sales network to accelerate construction 
and sales, and realise significant synergies 
in construction as well as reduction 
of administrative expenses.

SISTEMA ACQUIRED

25% 

of Etalon Group

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SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

15

Mission and Strategy

MISSION  

PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT 
MODEL

ASSET MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES  

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE INVESTMENT STRATEGY

The Corporation has adopted a partnership 
management model that allows key 
executives of the Corporation (Managing 
Partners) to share the risks and returns 
from investment activities with shareholders: 

Investing in the development of existing 
portfolio assets to increase their value is one 
of the key stages of Sistema’s value creation 
model. Value creation includes a number 
of mandatory steps, starting from active 
management of a newly acquired asset. 

CURRENT INVESTMENTS

NEW INVESTMENTS

Focus: INVESTMENTS IN SISTEMA’S HIGH-
POTENTIAL PORTFOLIO COMPANIES that 
can develop be grown into businesses worth 
over USD 1 billion in the medium term 
and require investments from Sistema.

Focus: DIRECT INVESTMENTS BY SISTEMA’S 
CORPORATE CENTRE IN UNIQUE 
OPPORTUNITIES IN TRADITIONAL SECTORS 
IN RUSSIA

Focus: INVESTMENTS IN FUTURE 
TECHNOLOGIES 

Investments in large technology 
companies

1.  MANAGING PARTNERS ARE 

VALUE CREATION AT ASSETS:

Mature undervalued assets

A Board of Directors is formed at companies 
controlled by Sistema, and must have 
independent members with recognised 
industry and/or functional expertise. 

The boards supervise, coordinate 
and support the activities of portfolio 
companies’ management in decision-making 
in key functional areas: strategy and key 
transactions, budget planning, HR policy, 
internal audit; 
 Z effective managers are recruited; an 

incentive system is established that is 
aimed at creating shareholder value; 

 Z strategic and financial planning 

cycles are introduced based on best 
international practices of corporate 
governance; 

 Z new technologies are identified, with 
testing and adoption to increase 
efficiency, streamline processes, develop 
innovative products and services for 
customers, and expand current markets 
of portfolio companies.

Investment strategy: 
Investments in portfolio companies 
to increase their market share and or enter 
adjacent/synergetic business segments 

Geography of investments: in accordance 
with the approved strategy for portfolio 
companies

Industries: companies’ industries 
and adjacent/synergetic industries

Discounted payback period (DPBP) 
of 3–10 years  

Investment strategy:  
investments in significant and controlling 
stakes of large assets in attractive markets 
in Russia. Acquisition at a significant discount 
to the market value and with the possibility 
of quickly reducing the discount and selling 
within 2-3 years

Growing assets

Investment strategy:  
buy and consolidate players. Generating 
value by ousting competitors, consolidating 
the industry, using economies of scale 
and market growth. Exit in 4-5 years through 
sale to a strategic investor/IPO

Investment strategy: 
direct investment by Sistema’s Corporate 
Centre in big stakes in technology companies 
that do not meet the investment criteria 
of Sistema’s funds, with an opportunity 
to build businesses worth over USD 1 billion 
and monetisation prospects in 5-7 years

Venture projects

Investment strategy:  
investments within existing and new venture 
funds under Sistema’s management, 
monetisation of investments via closing 
of funds. Mandatory participation of outside 
investors as financial partners (share 
of outside partners: at least 20%)

Geography of investments: predominantly 
Russia

Geography of investments: no restrictions

Sectors: sectors with large markets (at least 
USD 1 billion), high growth rates, import 
substitution potential and export prospects

Sectors: Software development, e-commerce, 
e-businesses, IoT, virtual assistants, machine 
learning and neural networks, cybersecurity, 
medtech, AR/VR and others.

Sistema’s mission is to build Russia’s leading 
investment company, with diversified 
expertise and a strong track record, 
which will become an investment platform 
for managing both Sistema’s and third-party 
capital while providing access to unique 
investment opportunities in the most 
attractive sectors of the Russian economy 
and high-potential technologies, and oriented 
towards long-term growth of equity value.

SISTEMA’S STRATEGIC GOALS 

RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION 
OF PORTFOLIO COMPANIES’ 
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES. This means 
they:

1.  Maximising total shareholder return 

 Z organise asset management (mostly 

via the Board of Directors) and take full 
responsibility for the asset’s KPIs and 
financial performance;

 Z in most cases, the chair of the asset’s 
Board of Directors, bear responsibility 
for its composition and work, and 
recruit and appoint the CEO and senior 
management.

2.  INCENTIVES OF THE MANAGING 
PARTNERS ARE AIMED AT: 

 Z increasing Sistema’s capitalisation; 
 Z maximising the value of assets under 

management and monetising this value; 
 Z raising outside capital for management. 

Managing Partners co-invest in assets 
under their management.

(TSR) and reducing the discount of 
market capitalisation to net asset value 
(NAV);

2.  Raising and managing outside capital to 
expand available investment resources;

STRATEGIC FOCUS 
(COMPONENTS OF 
THE STRATEGY)

 Z Growing existing assets in high-

potential segments (private healthcare, 
agriculture, pulp & paper) into 
businesses with a valuation between h 
USD 1–2 billion

 Z Taking advantage of unique investment 
opportunities in traditional sectors in 
Russia;

 Z Focusing on investments in the high-

potential technology sector; 

 Z Ongoing generation of value in existing 
assets, including through adoption 
of advanced technologies and digital 
solutions;

 Z Ongoing improvement of management 
structures and corporate governance.

16

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

17

FINANCIAL 
PERFORMANCE

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN 2018

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

REPORT ON DIVIDENDS

SISTEMA’S CREDIT RATINGS

18

22

24

25

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SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

19

Financial  
Performance in 2018

(RUB million)

Revenue

Adj. OIBDA

Operating income

Loss attributable to Sistema

Adjusted profit/ attributable to Sistema

1
Excluding impact of new IFRS standards

2018

777,405   

265,273      

128,600      

(45,898)   

1,114      

2017

693,424   

197,558   

90,290   

(94,602)   

4,119   

Изм.

12.1%

34.3%

42.4%

—

(73.0%)

2018

770,196      

219,829         

114,003         

(46,952)     

60

Change

11.1%

11.3%

26.3%

—

(98.5%)

REVENUE, 
RUB BN

777.4

ADJUSTED OIBDA, 
RUB BN

265.3

GROWTH OF ADJUSTED  
OIBDA

11.3% 

693.4
693,4

777.4
777,4

693.4
693,4

770.2
770,2

197.6
197,6

265.3
265,3

197.6
197,6

219.8
219,8

12,1%
12.1%

11,1%
11.1%

34,3%
34.3%

11,3%
11.3%

PERCENTAGE OF BPGC’S SMART 
GRID PROJECT COMPLETED

MTS’S NEW DIVIDEND POLICY 
AT LEAST 

 78% 

 28.0 RUB/share 

MEDSI BECAME THE LEADER 
BY REVENUE AMONG PRIVATE 
HEALTHCARE COMPANIES IN RUSSIA 

1 st 

AGROHOLDING STEPPE BECAME 
ONE OF RUSSIA’S TOP-6 GRAIN 
EXPORTERS

 Top-6

GROWTH IN ETALON’S REVENUE 
IN 2018

  100.9%

1 Here and hereinafter, new standards refer to IFRS 9, 15 and 16. 

GROWTH IN ADJUSTED OIBDA 
AT SEGEZHA IN 2018, Y-O-Y

 83.4%

ADJUSTED OIBDA MARGIN 
AT DETSKY MIR IN 2018

 19.0%

AVERAGE OCCUPANCY RATE 
AT COSMOS GROUP IN 2018

 62.5%

2017
2017
Old  
Старые 
IFRS
МСФО

2018
2018
New  
Новые  
IFRS
МСФО

2017
2017

2018
2018

Old  
Старые 
IFRS
МСФО

2017
2017
Old  
Старые 
IFRS
МСФО

2018
2018
New  
Новые  
IFRS
МСФО

2017
2017

2018
2018

Old  
Старые 
IFRS
МСФО

In 2018, Sistema’s consolidated 
revenue increased by 12.1% year-on-
year as a result of increased revenue 
from key assets: MTS, as the core 
telecoms business benefitted substantially 
from a better pricing environment 
in Russia, data usage increased, revenue 
from new business lines accelerated rapidly 
and smartphone sales were strong; Detsky 
Mir, on the back of new store openings, 
growth in like-for-like sales, growth 
in the e-commerce segment and increased 
traffic at previously opened stores; 
Segezha Group, as a result of increased 
sales volumes of paper and packaging, 
higher prices for paper and sawn timber, 
and weakening of the rouble; Agroholding 
Steppe, due to growth of the field crop 
segment as wheat prices have increased, 
strong growth of the agrotrading division 

and increased milk production; Medsi, 
due to increased capacity utilisation 
and as a result in-patient revenue, higher 
revenue from the CDC at Krasnaya Presnya 
and expansion of the chain of clinics; 
and real estate assets, driven by sales 
growth and earlier revenue recognition due 
to the adoption of the IFRS 15 standard.

Group adjusted OIBDA increased by 34.3% 
on the year, reflecting strong results 
at MTS, primarily due to the new accounting 
standards, increased revenue and strong 
performance of the Ukrainian business; Detsky 
Mir as a result of the new IFRS standards, 
optimisation of buying prices, efficient 
management of the product assortment 
and increased operational efficiency; Segezha 
Group, as a result of increased prices on most 
key products as well as the commissioning 

5.6 p.p.

ADJUSTED 
OIBDA MARGIN

34.1% 

of a new papermaking machine in late 
2017; Agroholding Steppe, due to increased 
operational efficiency in the field crop 
segment and increased contributions 
from the agrotrading segment; Medsi, 
as capacity utilisation of key assets ramped 
up and revenue per square metre of medical 
facilities rose. Excluding the effect of the new 
accounting standards, Group adjusted OIBDA 
increased by 11.3% versus 2017 primarily 
as a result of growth at MTS, Detsky Mir, 
Segezha, Agroholding Steppe and Medsi. 
The adjusted OIBDA margin increased 
by 5.6 p.p. to 34.1%, principally as a result 
of the new accounting standards. Without 
taking into account the new standards, 
the adjusted OIBDA margin was unchanged 
at 28.5%.

20

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

21

GROUP SG&A EXPENSES, 
IFRS, RUB BILLION

141.6

153.2

141.6

163.5

Group selling, general and 
administrative expenses 
(SG&A) for the full year 2018 
decreased by 7.5% versus 2017 
to RUB 141.6 billion, mainly due to 
the new IFRS standards. Without 
this effect, Group SG&A increased 
by 6.8% to RUB 163.5 billion. 
The SG&A/revenue ratio declined 
year-on-year from 22.1% to 18.2%; 
excluding the impact of new IFRS 
standards the SG&A/revenue ratio 
declined to 21.2%, reflecting Sistema’s 
continued success in improving 
operational efficiency. 

GROUP CAPEX, 
IFRS, RUB BN

124.0

104.4

124.0

SG&A at the Corporate Centre 
declined year-on-year by 10.3% to 
RUB 9.0 billion as a result of cuts 
in headcount, lower compensation 
expense and reduced administrative 
expenses. 

Group capital expenditures 
increased by 18.8% year-on-
year to RUB 124.0 billion in 2018, 
mainly in connection with increased 
capex at MTS as a consequence 
of increased investments in network 
development in Russia and a focus 
on providing the best LTE coverage 
in line with the company’s strategy; 
and Detsky Mir, as the company 
executed on its expansion strategy.

CORPORATE CENTRE SG&A EXPENSES,
RUB BILLION

9.0

1.8%

12.6

1.4%

10.0

1.2%

9.0

GROUP SG&A EXPENSES 
IN 2018

7.5% y-o-y

GROUP SG&A/GROUP REVENUE

18.2% y-o-y

2017
Old IFRS

2018
New IFRS

2018
Old IFRS

2016

2017

2018

2017

GROUP SG&A EXPENSES,  
RUB BILLION

2017 
Old IFRS

2018  
New IFRS

2018 
Old IFRS

MTS

Detsky mir

Segezha Group

Corporate centre

STEPPE Agroholding

Other

Total

Group SG&A/Group revenue

91.3

22.1

6.7

10.0

2.2

20.9

153.2

22.1%

83.9

15.7

11.4

9.0

3.5

18.1

141.6

18.2%

96.7

24.1

11.6

9.0

3.5

18.6

163.5

21.2%

Corporate centre SG&A

Corporate centre SG&A/Group revenue

GROUP CAPEX,  
IFRS, RUB BN

MTS

Detsky mir

Other

Total

2018

2017

76.4

2.5

25.5

2018

92.0

3.8

28.2

104.4

124.0

22

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

23

Shareholders’  
Equity

SHAREHOLDERS’  
EQUITY

Sistema has 9,650,000,000 ordinary 
shares outstanding with a nominal value 
of RUB 0.09 each. Its authorised capital 
is RUB 868,500,000.

Sistema held an initial public offering 
in 2005. Its shares trade on the London Stock 
Exchange in the form of global depositary 
receipts (GDRs) under the ticker SSA. 
One GDR represents 20 ordinary shares. 
The Corporation’s ordinary shares are also 
listed on Moscow Exchange in the first listing 
level under the ticker AFKS. The GDRs 
traded on the London Stock Exchange 
represent about 15.9% of Sistema’s equity, 
while the shares traded on Moscow 
Exchange represent 16.5%1.

Sistema’s shares are included in Moscow 
Exchange’s two key indices, the MOEX Russia 
Index (formerly MICEX) and RTS, as well 
as its Broad Market Indices2. 

Shares of MTS, a Sistema subsidiary, trade 
on Moscow Exchange under the ticker MTSS 
and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) 
in the form of ADRs under the ticker MBT.

Shares of Detsky Mir, a Sistema subsidiary, 
began trading on Moscow Exchange 
in February 2017 under the ticker DSKY 
in the first listing level.

In February 2019, Sistema acquired 25% 
of Etalon Group. Etalon’s GDRs listed 
on London Stock Exchange under the ticker 
ETLN since 2011.

Sistema’s principal shareholder is its 
Chairman Vladimir Evtushenkov, who owns 
59.2% of the Corporation’s equity.

SISTEMA’S SHAREHOLDING 
STRUCTURE3

15.9%

8.4%

100%

16.5%

59.2%

ORDINARY SHARES  
OUTSTANDING

9,650 million

Vladimir Evtushenkov

Free-float (shares)

Free-float (GDRs)
Other4

SISTEMA TICKER  
ON MOSCOW EXCHANGE 

SISTEMA GDRS TICKER  
ON LSE

AFKS

SSA

MTS TICKER  
ON MOSCOW EXCHANGE

DETSKY MIR TICKER  
ON MOSCOW EXCHANGE 

MTSS

DSKY

1 As of December 31, 2018.
2 Broad Market Indices of the Moscow Exchange include top 100 securities selected based on the criteria of liquidity, capitalisation and the number of shares in free float and form the bases 
for calculation of the Moscow Exchange’s other indices. The calculation bases include the shares whose free float coefficient is at least 5%.
3 As of December 31, 2018.
4 Ordinary shares and GDRs owned by Sistema Group companies, members of the Board of Directors and the management of Sistema. 
5 Source: Bloomberg.

CHANGES IN SISTEMA’S GDR 
AND ORDINARY SHARE PRICES5

In 2018, Sistema’s share price fell by 35.2% 
and the price of its GDRs by 47.8%. Despite 
the strong operational and financial 
performance of Sistema’s portfolio 
companies, its share price was under 
pressure due to the absence of substantial 
monetisations.

On the first trading day of 2018, the closing 
price of one GDR on the London Stock 
Exchange was USD 4.4, for a total market 
capitalisation of USD 2,145.2 mn. On the last 
trading day of the year, the closing price 
was USD 2.3, with Sistema’s total market 
capitalisation standing at USD 1,119.4 mn. 

On the first trading day of 2018, the closing 
price of one ordinary share on the Moscow 
Exchange was RUB 12.4, for a total market 
capitalisation of RUB 119.2 bn. On the last 
trading day of the year, the closing price 
was RUB 8.0, with Sistema’s total market 
capitalisation standing at RUB 77.2 bn. 

The closing price of GDRs reached a record 
high of USD 4.5 on 26 February 2018, 
and the ordinary shares peaked at RUB 12.8 
on 15 January 2018. The lowest closing GDR 
and ordinary share prices were recorded 
on 27 December 2018 at USD 2.2 and on 26 
October 2018 at RUB 7.7, respectively. 
Average daily trading volume on the London 
Stock Exchange in 2018 was 327,489 GDRs, 
and on Moscow Exchange 15,646,315 
ordinary shares. 

30%

20%

10%

0%

–10%

–20%

–30%

–40%

–50%

01.01.2018

01.03.18

01.05.18

01.07.18

01.09.18

01.11.18

Акции АФК «Система»
Sistema’s ordinary shares 

ГДР АФК «Система»
Sistema’s GDR’s

Индекс РТС
RTSI$ Index

Индекс МосБиржи
IMOEX Index

24

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

25

Report   
on dividends declared (accrued)  
on Sistema shares1

DIVIDEND POLICY  

In April 2017, Sistema’s Board of Directors 
approved a revised dividend policy. 
In accordance with the new policy, 
the amount of dividends recommended 
by the Board for each reporting year 
will be the higher of either an amount 
equivalent to a dividend yield of at least 
6% or RUB 1.19 per ordinary share. 
The Corporation determines the final amount 
of dividends payable with due regard 
to its financial results, current cash flow 
and investment needs. 

When determining dividends for 2017, 
the Board of Directors took into account 
the priority of the strategic goal to reduce 
the Corporation’s debt and recommended 
paying dividends for 2017 in the amount 
of RUB 0.11 per share, supporting 
the Corporation’s deviation from the current 
dividend policy. 

To maintain a balance between 
the rights and interests of all shareholders 
and the Corporation’s ability to pay 
dividends, the Board of Directors, when 
determining the amount of dividends, 
will take into account the acceptable 
rate of Sistema’s debt reduction 
and the proportionality of dividends 
to the current cash flow of the Corporation. 
Sistema plans to continue to pay dividends 
in accordance with the current dividend 
policy after achieving the goal of debt 
reduction.

As of 31 December 2017, dividends payable 
to persons included in the shareholders 
register, with the exception of nominee 
shareholders and custodians who are 
professional participants of the securities 
market, were not due for payment. These 
dividends were paid in 2018.

As of 31 December 2018, the total amount 
of dividends distributed for 9 months of 2017 
equalled RUB 2,348,863,483.40. Withholding 
tax on dividends distributed to foreign 
shareholders totalled RUB 2,798,048.00.

DIVIDENDS DISTRIBUTED 
FOR THE FIRST NINE MONTHS 
OF 2017

DIVIDENDS DISTRIBUTED 
FOR THE FULL YEAR 2017

On 03 November 2017, an Extraordinary 
General Meeting of shareholders (Minutes 
No 2-17) approved the distribution 
of RUB 6,562,000,000.00, or RUB 0.68 per 
ordinary share in Sistema, as dividends.

As of 31 December 2017, the total 
amount of dividends distributed equalled 
RUB 2,121,721,383.40 (the total amount 
of dividends to nominee shareholders 
and custodians who are professional 
participants of the securities market and who 
are included in the shareholders register).

On 30 June 2018, the Extraordinary 
General Meeting of Sistema’s shareholders 
(Minutes No 1-18) approved the distribution 
of RUB 1,061,500,000.00, or RUB 0.11 per 
ordinary share in Sistema, as dividends.

As of 31 December 2018, the total 
amount of dividends distributed equalled 
RUB 1,061,461,415.52. Withholding 
tax on dividends distributed to foreign 
shareholders totalled RUB 429,305.00.

UNPAID DIVIDENDS

As of 31 December 2018, the total 
amount of unpaid dividends equalled 
RUB 4,213,722,383.52, including:

 ¡ RUB 4,213,003,658.88 not paid in 

accordance with a written request from 
a shareholder; 

 ¡ RUB 718,724.64 not paid due to absence 
of information about dividend recipients 
necessary to transfer the due amounts.

TOTAL AMOUNT OF DECLARED 
DIVIDENDS IN 2018

1,061.5 RUB mn

2013 (for the full year 2012)

2014 (for the full year 2013)

2015 (for the full year 2014)

2016 (for the full year 2015)

2016 (for H1 2016)

2017 (for the full year 2016)

2017 (for 9M 2017)

2018 (for the full year 2017)

Total amount of declared 
dividends, RUB

Dividend per share, RUB

Declaration date

Payment date

9,264,000,000

19,879,000,000

4,535,500,000

6,465,500,000

3,667,000,000

7,816,500,000

6,562,000,000

1,061,500,000

0.96

2.06

0.47

0.67

0.38

0.81

0.68

0.11

29/06/2013

28/06/2014

27/06/2015

25/06/2016

23/09/2016

24/06/2017

28/11/2017

30/06/2018

26/08/2013

31/07/2014

29/07/2015

27/07/2016

20/10/2016

28/11/2017
22/12/20172 — 19/01/20183 

31.07.2018

Sistema’s Credit Ratings

Rating agency

Date of most recent rating update

Long-term credit rating

Outlook

Standard & Poor’s

Fitch

Expert RA

30 July 2018

19 January 2018

08 October 2018

B+

BB-

ruA-

Positive

Negative

Stable

1 As of December 31, 2018.

2 Date of payment of dividends to nominee shareholders and custodians who are professional participants of the securities market and who are included in the shareholders register.
3 Date of payment of dividends to other persons included in the shareholders register.

26

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

27

KEY  
ASSET  
RESULTS

MTS

DETSKY MIR

SEGEZHA GROUP

MEDSI

AGROHOLDING “STEPPE”

REAL ESTATE ASSETS

RTI

BPGC

HOSPITALITY ASSETS

BINNOPHARM

OTHER PORTFOLIO COMPANIES

FUNDS 

OZON

28

32

36

42

49

54

60

63

66

69

72

74

80

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SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

29

PJSC Mobile TeleSystems 

PJSC Mobile TeleSystems (“MTS”)  
is a leading Russian company 
offering mobile and fixed-line services, Internet access, cable and satellite TV, digital 
services and mobile apps, financial and e-commerce services, and convergent IT 
solutions in system integration, Internet of things, monitoring, data processing 
and cloud computing.

MTS is a leader in the Russian telecom 
market in terms of key mobile business 
indicators: subscriber base, revenue 
and OIBDA. 

MTS GROUP HAS

~105 million 

mobile subscribers in Russia, Armenia, 
Ukraine and Belarus

ALEXEY KORNYA 
President,  
Chairman of the Management Board

LTE-ADVANCED  
AND LTE ADVANCED PRO 
NETWORKS WITH PEAK DATA 
SPEEDS UP TO 

1 Gbit/s

NUMBER OF GPON USERS

1.95 mn

RON SOMMER 
Chairman of the Board of Directors

SUBSCRIBERS OF CABLE,  
SATELLITE AND IP TV

3 mn

FIBER-OPTIC LINES 
LENGTH

>220 thsd km

PENETRATION OF SMARTPHONES 
IN MTS NETWORK

>70% 

ONLINE SALES 
VOLUME

~7 RUB bn

SISTEMA’S EFFECTIVE STAKE1:

MTS RETAIL OUTLETS

EMPLOYEES 

50.01%

8 
https://mts.ru

5.88 thsd 

>65 thsd

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW FOR 20182

In 2018, the telecommunications market was 
worth RUB 1.7 trillion. Revenue growth rate 
reached a five-year high of 3.4%. Growth 
was mostly driven by revenue from fixed 
telephony, with broadband and pay TV 
networks also enjoying stable growth. 
The fixed telephony and inter-operator 
services segments continued to shrink, 
though at a slower pace. 

The mobile telecommunications market 
benefited from an initiative launched by mobile 
operators in 2017 to «stabilise the market». 
The initiative provided for scrapping price 
competition and unlimited tariff plans, 
and expanding the offer of core and extra 
services. Revision of tariff plans was caused 
by changes in legislation, in particular, 
amendments to the Law on Communications 
that provided for abolition of roaming charges 
within Russia and required mobile operators 

to introduce a single tariff for all domestic 
calls. The federal law will come into force 
on 1 June 2019. 

On 1 October 2018, a new law on storage 
of the information transmitted via communica-
tion networks took effect. According to the law, 
Russian mobile operators have to store 
user Internet traffic for 30 days and increase 
storage capacity by 15% annually for the next 
five years.

The 5G standard is expected to be 
introduced in Russia in 2022 and is currently 
being actively discussed by the Ministry 
of Communications, the Federal Anti-Monopoly 
Service and mobile operators. The Union 
of LTE Operators, which comprises MTS, 
Megafon, Vimpelcom and Tele2, is against 
market monopolisation and the creation 
of a single infrastructure operator. However, 
the Union supports setting up a consortium 
for joint use of 5G frequencies in the 3.4–
3.8GHz spectrum. 

In 2019, operators will face a number 
of challenges related to the saturation 
of some market segments. However, 2017-
2018 showed that, despite the unfavourable 
environment, the market may be expected 
to grow at 2-3% p.a. in the medium term.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN 2018

In 2018, MTS achieved strong operating 
and financial results on the back of healthy 
market growth in Russia and increasing 
penetration of digital services in all 
the regions where the company operates. 
Growth of revenue in the mobile business 
enabled the company to post record OIBDA 
in 2018. The main events of 2018 are related 
to entering new markets and business 
segments. For example, MTS acquired 
Russia’s two leading ticket distributors, 
Ticketland.ru and Ponominalu.ru; bought 
a stake in YouDo, Russia’s biggest online 
service connecting customers with service 
providers for household and business 

RUSSIA TELECOM MARKET DYNAMICS2,
RUB TRILLION

1.7%

1.57

0.8%

1.59

0.6%

1.60

2.8%

1.64

3.4%

1.70

1 MTS’s stake in MTS Bank was increased to 94.72% in February 2019.  
2 According to TMT Consulting report “Russian telecommunications market in 2018-2023”. 

Income, RUB trillion

Rates of growth, %

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018E

tasks; and launched the Smart University 
educational platform and the MTS Marketing 
Expert digital platform. 

MTS and Medsi Group started strategic 
cooperation in the area of digital healthcare 
with the launch of the SmartMed 
telemedicine platform. On the basis of this 
platform the companies will develop a range 
of digital healthcare products and services. 
At the end of 2018, MTS started selling 
SmartMed services to retail customers 
in Moscow and the Moscow region. 

In Q3 2018, MTS acquired LLC Avantage, 
one of the largest data processing centres 
in Russia, which will significantly bolster 
the operator’s position in the fast-growing 
market for cloud services. This is the tenth 
data centre in MTS’s federal network. 

In July 2018, MTS acquired a 28.63% stake 
in PJSC MTS Bank for RUB 8.27 billion 
from Sistema. As a result of the transaction, 
MTS’s shareholding in the bank increased 
from 26.61% to 55.24% . The acquisition 
enabled MTS to consolidate its fintech 
business in Russia and to simplify 
operational management, making it possible 
to launch new products faster and to utilise 
MTS’s retail network more effectively 
in order to expand the bank’s footprint. In Q3 
2018, MTS started consolidating the results 
of MTS Bank, which had a positive impact 
on revenue. 

MTS continued active development of digital 
products in the retail and corporate markets 
and launched a number of strategic 
initiatives in the area of digital businesses. 
In March 2018, MTS launched an in-house 
accelerator, StartUp Hub, that enables 
technology startups to integrate their 
solutions and products with the company’s 
business. 

30

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

31

PJSC

MTS

MTS’s strategy also envisages the development of new 
business segments such as fintech, entertainment and B2B/
IoT, both organically and through M&A. 

DIGITAL BUSINESS

In order to increase the profitability 
and efficiency of its core business, MTS — 
in addition to operations in the mobile 
and fixed telephony markets — is developing 
convergent products, promoting its own 
mobile apps, and improving and expanding 
its portfolio of projects in the Big Data 
segment. It is also implementing a project 
for internal digitalisation of business 
processes. 

STARTUP HUB

Held 
2 accelerator enrollment 
programs in 2018
RUB 30 mn invested

MTS  
DIGITAL 
BUSINESSES

Entertainment

Ticketland.ru and 
Ponominalu.ru 
2 leading ticketing 
operators

Cybersport

Gambin Esports

Home  
operator

Approximately
13.7%
share in Youdo.com

BIG DATA

>300 specialists
Total economic effect from 
big data analysis in 3 years 
since Big Data department 
launch

> RUB 3.5 billion

#CloudМТS

Cloud services based  
on MTS’s  
10 data processing 
centres

Apps

E-HEALTH

14.1 million
monthly users
of My MTS app

SmartMed
telemedicine
jointly with Medsi

IоT/М2М

Segment leader  
with market share of  
42%

SMART  
EDUCATION

Smart 
University 
for distance learning

FINTECH

5.4 million users 
of MTS Money

Total debt portfolio 
RUB 21.6 billion

MTS was granted permission to use 900 MHz 
frequencies and announced that it was ready 
for commercial operation of the Narrowband Internet 
of Things (NB-IoT) network. 

IN 2018, MTS COMMISSIONED NB-IOT 
NETWORKS IN

50 cities of Russia

Adjusted OIBDA grew by 22.7% in 2018, due 
to the effect of new accounting standards, 
revenue growth, the consolidation of MTS 
Bank and strong performance of the Ukrainian 
business. The abolition of roaming charges 
within Russia and increased payments 
for frequency spectrum in Russia had 
a negative impact on OIBDA. Excluding 
the effect of the new standards, adjusted OIBDA 
increased by 5.9% in 2018. The adjusted OIBDA 
margin strengthened by 5.3 p.p. to 45.6%.

In 3Q 2018 MTS recorded a provision 
of RUB 55.8 billion as the potential liability 
in respect of an investigation by the US 
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) 
and the US Department of Justice (DOJ). 
On 7 March 2019 MTS announced a settlement 
with the SEC and DOJ under which MTS agreed 
to pay USD 850 million.

Including the provision, MTS’s net profit 
attributable to Sistema for FY 2018 was 
RUB 3.4 billion. Excluding the effect of this 
one-time factor, adjusted profit for FY 2018 was 
RUB 33.0 billion.

During calendar year 2018 MTS paid dividends 
totalling RUB 52 billion, or RUB 26.0 per 
ordinary share, in line with the company’s 
dividend policy for 2016-2018. 

MTS continued implementing its 
strategy of ensuring attractive returns 
to shareholders. In April 2018, the Board 
of Directors of MTS approved dividends 
payable for 2017 in the total amount 
of RUB 46.762 billion, or RUB 23.4 per share. 
In October 2018, the Board of Directors 
of MTS approved dividends for the first half 
of 2018 in the total amount of RUB 5.196 
billion, or RUB 2.6 per share. The total 
amount of MTS’s dividends in 2018 reached 
RUB 51.958 billion, which is in line 
with the payments made in the previous 
year.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 
STRATEGY

Since 2016 MTS has been implementing its 
3D strategy (Data, Digital and Dividends). 
In 2018, the board of directors of MTS 
approved an updated strategy for 2019-2021, 
according to which the company will offer 
its subscribers services united into one 
ecosystem. The new 3D strategy is focused 
on digital transformation and development 
of new business segments:

1.  Data
 Z Retention of core mobile revenue via 

increased penetration of services, data 
transfer and V&D tariffs, competitive 
development of 4G networks, optimal use 
of the spectrum and a competitive 5G 
spectrum;

 Z Growth of revenue from fixed telephony 
through expansion of the BB and TV 
subscriber base in Moscow and Russia’s 
regions, increasing ARPU by selling 
additional services and developing B2B 
products and IT as a service;

2.  Digital  
 Z New digital businesses: IoT, system 
integration, е-commerce, fintech, 
applications, Big Data, e-ticketing, etc.;
 Z Internal transformations: emphasis on 

interaction with customers, innovations in 
corporate culture, atomisation of product 
and business management;

3.  Dividends  
 Z High shareholder returns;
 Z Investment and operational efficiency; 
 Z Maintaning optimal amount of debt .

MTS’s investment programme includes 
nationwide projects aimed at improving 
the quality of communications, expanding 
coverage and rolling out the LTE network, 
increasing the capacity of intra-areal 
and trunk networks to enable data traffic 
growth, developing new priority business 
segments (Big Data, Cloud, IoT, OTT, financial 
technologies) and B2B projects for customers, 
and preparing communication networks 
for the commercial operation of 5G in Russia.

2018 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

In 2018 revenue at MTS rose by 8.4% year-on-
year, driven by robust performance of Russian 
operations as the core telecoms business 
benefitted substantially from a better pricing 
environment in Russia, and as data usage 
increased, revenue from new business lines 
accelerated rapidly, smartphone sales were 
strong, and as a result of the consolidation 
of MTS Bank. The new IFRS standards had 
a non-material negative effect on revenue.

FINANCIAL  
INDICATORS
(RUB million)
Revenue
Operating income
Adj. OIBDA
Profit attributable to Sistema
Adj. profit attributable to Sistema

Excluding impact of 
new IFRS standards

FY 2018
480,292   
114,245   
218,833   
3,424
32,951   

FY 2017
442,910   
94,671   
178,358   
28,038
29,926   

Change
8.4%
20.7%
22.7%
(87.8%)

FY 2018
482,469   
106,817   
188,795   
4,591

Change
8.9%
12.8%
5.9%
(83,6%)

10.1%

34,118   

14.0%

1 V&D — Voice and Data.

32

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

33

Detsky Mir 

Detsky Mir Group1 is a multi-format retail operator 
and a leader in the children’s goods segment in Russia 
and Kazakhstan. It comprises the nation-wide retail chain 
Detsky Mir, the ELC and ABC stores, and the Zoozavr chain 
of pet stores.

AT THE END OF 2018,  
DETSKY MIR GROUP HAD  

DETSKY MIR  
STORES 

743 stores

673 stores  

in 252 cities and towns  
across Russia and Kazakhstan

ELC AND ABC  
STORES

66 stores

DETSKY MIR’S BUSINESS MODEL

Detsky Mir’s retail concept combines five key components: 

VLADIMIR CHIRAKHOV  
CEO

ALEXEY KATKOV  
Chairman of the Board of Directors

5. 
Smart visual 
merchandising 
designed to appeal 
specifically 
to children 
and parents

4. 
Building long-
term customer 
relationships 
through the loyalty 
programme

1. 
A multi-category 
children’s goods 
store with 
the broadest 
and most unique 
product mix

2. 
Affordable prices 
with a focus 
on the medium/ 
and below medium-
price segments

3. 
Convenient 
stores in modern 
shopping malls and 
densely populated 
residential areas

SISTEMA’S EFFECTIVE STAKE:

ОINDUSTRY OVERVIEW FOR 20182

52.1%

8 
https://detmir.ru

Detsky Mir Group operates mainly in Russia 
and Kazakhstan, and since February 
2019 also in Belarus. At the end of 2018, 
the Company had a 23% share of the Russian 
market of children’s goods by revenue 
and a 15% share of the e-commerce segment.

The Russian children’s goods market grew 
by 0.1% YoY in 2018 to RUB 522.1 billion. 
The market’s CAGR over the last actual four 
years was 0.4%. 

1 As of 31 December 2018, the Group included PJSC 
Detsky Mir, LLC Kub-Market (ELC and ABC), LLP Detsky Mir 
Kazakhstan, JSC Detsky Mir Orel, LLC DM NORTH-WEST, 
LLC Detmir BEL and LLC DM Capital.
2 According to the research agency Ipsos Comcon.

THE TOTAL SELLING SPACE IS 

768,000 sq m

Analysts project that it will grow 
by an average of about 2% per year and will 
reach RUB 570 billion by 2023.

Clothing and footwear traditionally account 
for a substantial part of the children’s 
goods market, and in 2018 accounted 
for 38.5% of the total (29.6% and 9.0%, 
respectively). Baby products and toys 
account for 31.0% and 17.9%, respectively. 

The highest growth rate was registered 
in the baby products category, which reached 
RUB 162 billion in money terms in 2018, 
up from RUB 158 billion in 2017. The CAGR 
of this category over the last 4 years was 
9.5%.

In 2018, some specialised retailers 
left the market or shut down most 
of their stores, and the remaining national 
and regional chains lost traffic and closed 
stores following a significant decrease 
in like-for-like sales. Nevertheless, 
specialised retailers remain the main 
sales channel for children’s goods, along 
with hypermarkets and supermarkets 
(39.1% and 38.9% market share, respectively, 
in 2018). 

The share of e-commerce in the children’s 
goods market is growing steadily, reaching 
12.6% in 2018 compared to 10.1% in 2017. 
The CAGR of e-commerce channels 
in 2010–2018 was 27%. In money terms, 
sales of children’s goods through specialised 
stores increased from RUB 119 billion 
in 2010 to RUB 204 billion in 2018. Online 
sales of children’s goods in 2018 amounted 
to RUB 66 billion.

The Company’s share of the children’s 
goods market among specialised retailers 
increased from 14% in 2011 to 59% 
in 2018, driven by the opening of a large 
number of stores during this period 
and the attraction of consumer traffic 
from competing retail chains. Toys and baby 
goods were the key drivers of the Company’s 
market share growth in 2018; Detsky Mir’s 
market share in these categories increased 
from 38.9% to 45.6% and from 24.3% 
to 26.8%, respectively. The Company’s 
market share increased in all categories 
of children’s goods in 2018.

ANNUAL VOLUME OF CHILDREN’S GOODS MARKET IN RUSSIA BY CATEGORY3,
RUB BILLION

1%

0.1%

0.1%

0.5%

1.5%

515.7

521.1

521.5

522.1

524.6

532.2

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019E

2020E

Baby Products

Clothing

Toys

Stationery

Footwear

2015

123

165

110

65

52

2016

153

147

104

66

51

2017

157

151

96

66

51

2018

162

154

93

66

47

2019E

2020E

163

157

93

66

45

165

163

94

66

45

CHILDREN’S GOODS MARKET STRUCTURE BY SALES CHANNEL3, %

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Specialised stores

Grocery retail chains

Online channel

Other

3 Source: Ipsos Comcon.

2010

34.3

30.7

2.9

2011

45.2

26.9

3.6

2012

45.6

27.8

4.3

2013

46.0

29.0

5.0

2014

41.3

36.3

7.6

2015

40.8

40.0

8.1

2016

38.6

39.1

8.9

32.2

24.3

22.4

20.0

14.8

11.1

13.5

2017

39.8

39.7

10.1

10.4

2018

39.1

38.9

12.6

9.4

34

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

35

DETSKY MIR

Group

DETSKY MIR AWARDS  
AND RANKINGS 

DETSKY MIR’S BUSINESS 
DEVELOPMENT IN 2018

In 2018, Detsky Mir achieved impressive 
results in terms of business growth. 
Group revenue increased 14.3% in 2018 
to RUB 110.9 billion, from RUB 97.0 billion 
in 2017. One hundred new stores were 
opened. In addition, Detsky Mir continued 
active regional and international expansion. 
In 2018, 33 debut stores opened in cities 
of Russia and Kazakhstan that are new 
for the Company. Detsky Mir entered 
a new region — the Far East — with stores 
opened in Blagoveshchensk, Vladivostok 
and Khabarovsk.

Kazakhstan remains a promising market 
for the international expansion of the Detsky 
Mir retail chain. In 2018, the Company 
expanded its retail chain in Kazakhstan 
by eight supermarkets and almost doubled 
revenue, while growth of like-for-like 
sales in tenge was 30%. Detsky Mir has 
a total of 30 stores in 15 biggest cities 
of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In addition to retail stores, Detsky Mir 
Group offers the full range of its products 
for purchase online. The e-commerce 
business segment was launched in 2011 
and still remains the fastest growing 
sales channel. The online store had more 
than 178m visits and fulfilled over 5.1m 
online orders in 2018. The online channel’s 
revenue doubled in 2018 and amounted 
to RUB 8.8 billion.

FORBES’ RANKING OF RUSSIA’S 
TOP 200 LARGEST PRIVATE 
SECTOR COMPANIES

 12

88th place

INFOLINE RETAIL RUSSIA 
TOP-100 RANKING 
OF LARGEST RETAIL CHAINS 

3

13th place

RANKING OF RUSSIA’S TOP 100 
MOST VALUABLE PUBLICLY TRADED 
COMPANIES (BY RIA RATING)

61st place

RBC’S LIST OF RUSSIA’S 50  
FASTEST GROWING COMPANIES

37th place

LIST OF RUSSIA’S TOP 100 LARGEST 
COMPANIES BY MARKET CAP  

59th place

ONLINE BUSINESS AS A SHARE OF 
DETSKY MIR’S TOTAL REVENUE 

7.9%

ONLINE  
ORDERS 

5.1m+

ONLINE STORE  
VISITS 

178m+

One of the key drivers of revenue growth 
in 2018 was the promotion and expansion 
of the In-Store Pickup service. Now 
customers can pick up orders at a Detsky Mir 
store within 60 minutes of placing the order.

The development of logistics infrastructure 
is a key element of the Company’s strategy. 
In 2018, the Company launched a second 
distribution centre (DC) in the class A+ 
industrial park PNK Bekasovo in the Naro-
Fominsk district of the Moscow region. 
The Company now owns the Bekasovo-1 
and Bekasovo-2 DCs, with a total area 
of 132,500 sq m, and leases the Krekshino 
DC with an area of 20,000 sq m.  

The Company seeks to optimise purchase 
prices, maintain an efficient product mix 
and improve quality assurance by signing 
direct contracts with major specialist 
manufacturers or their representatives 
in Russia, and by reducing the share 
of distributors. This helps Detsky Mir get 
attractive prices and minimise currency 
risks, and also provides direct access 
to goods.

At the end of 2018, the Company opened 
four pilot stores of the Zoozavr chain — 
a new business line for Detsky Mir. 
The market of pet products is promising 
because of its volumes, expected growth 
rates and high level of fragmentation, 
as well as the opportunities it offers 
for the management to leverage their 
experience gained in the children’s goods 
market. The Company expects to open six 
more stores by the end of 2019. The decision 
regarding further development of this chain 
will be based on the results of the pilot 
stores.

OPERATING AND INVESTMENT 
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 
STRATEGIES  

The key strategic goal of Detsky Mir 
is consolidation of the children’s goods 
market in Russia and Kazakhstan. This 
will be achieved by expanding the chain, 
developing omni-channel sales and offering 
affordable and diverse products, including 
private labels. 

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT AREAS 
OF DETSKY MIR GROUP

1.  Expansion across Russia 
and internationally

2.  Development of omni-channel sales
3.  Development of private labels
4.  Enhancement of operational efficiency

There are opportunities in the markets 
of Russia and Kazakhstan to open at least 265 
new stores in the next 3-4 years, including 
at least 80 stores in 2019.

As part of its geographical expansion 
strategy, Detsky Mir made a decision to enter 
the Belarusian market. The Company’s goal 
in the medium term is to open at least 35 
stores in Belarus, including at least 10 stores 
in 2019. 

Detsky Mir’s growth potential, including 
regional and international expansion, is thus 
300 stores over the next 3-4 years. 

KEY INITIATIVES IN 2019:

2018 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 

1.  Become a number one player in the 

Kazakh market by the end of 2019, with 
35 stores of the Detsky Mir chain.

2.  Enter Belarus — a market of more than 
RUB 40 billion — and open at least 
10 stores in 2019. 

3.  Enter the pet products market — worth 
approximately RUB 212 billion — 
and open up to 10 pilot Zoozavr stores 
by the end of 2019.

4.  Retain the number one position 

in the online children’s goods market, 
and increase the share of Group revenue 
from the online segment to double 
digits in 2019 by improving service 
quality (“Ideal In-Store” and “Last Mile” 
projects).

5.  Increase the share of private labels 
and direct imports in toys to 25% 
and in diapers to 15% in 2019.

In FY 2018 Detsky Mir’s revenue grew 
by 14.3% year-on-year. Growth was driven 
by new store openings, an increase in like-
for-like1 (LFL) sales and online sales, as well 
as the continued ramp-up of stores opened 
in 2017. LFL sales in Russia increased 
by 4.3% for FY 2018. Growth of LFL sales 
in Kazakhstan increased by 30% year-on-
year in KZT terms. The online segment2 
remained the fastest-growing channel, 
with revenue almost doubling for FY 
2018 to RUB 8.8 billion. The online store 
accounted for 7.9% of total sales in FY 2018, 
compared to 4.8% in 2017.

Adjusted OIBDA increased by 98.0% year-
on-year to RUB 21.1 billion. Excluding 
the impact of new accounting standards, 
Adjusted OIBDA increased by 18.8% 
to RUB 12.7 billion, due in large part 
to optimisation of purchasing costs, 
effective management of the assortment 
and increased operational efficiency. 

Adjusted profit attributable to Sistema 
increased substantially in FY 2018 
due to increased operational efficiency 
and a reduction in SG&A to RUB 15.7 billion. 
Excluding the effect of the new accounting 
standards, profit increased by 31.1% in 2018.

FINANCIAL  
INDICATORS
(RUB million)
Revenue
Operating income
Adj. OIBDA
Adj. profit attributable to Sistema

Excluding impact of 
new IFRS standards

FY 2018
110,874
11,232
21,115
3,292

FY 2017
97,003   
8,024   
10,664   
2,871   

Change
14.3%
40.0%
98.0%
14.6%

FY 2018
110,874   
9,770   
12,666   
3,765   

Change
14.3%
21.8%
18.8%
31.1%

1 Like-for-life sales (LFL) growth was calculated based on the results of the Detsky Mir retail chain in Russia, which were in operation for 
at least 12 full calendar months preceding the reporting date. 
2 The segment includes online orders on the site www.detmir.ru including orders for collection at Detsky Mir stores.

36

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

37

Segezha Group is a leading vertically 
integrated Russian forest products holding 
with a full cycle of logging and advanced 
wood processing.

Segezha Group comprises forest, wood 
processing and pulp and paper assets in 
Russia and Europe. The main production 
facilities are located in the European part of 
Russia and EU nations.

REPRESENTATIVE  
OFFICES IN 

12 countries

SEGEZHA GROUP’S  
ENTERPRISES EMPLOY OVER

13,000 people

MIKHAIL SHAMOLIN 
President

ALI UZDENOV  
Chairman of the Board of Directors

OUTPUT OF BROWN  
SACK PAPER

No 1 in Russia
No 3 globally 

OUTPUT OF  
PAPER SACKS

No 1 in Russia
No 2 in Europe 

OUTPUT OF HIGH- 
QUALITY LARGE-SIZE  
BIRCH PLYWOOD    

No 5 globally 

OUTPUT OF  
SAWN TIMBER  

No 1 in Russia

BY OUTPUT OF  
PREFAB GLULAM HOUSES 

No 1 in Russia

SISTEMA’S EFFECTIVE STAKE:

SEGEZHA GROUP’S  
BUSINESS MODEL  

SEGEZHA GROUP’S BUSINESS 
DEVELOPMENT IN 2018

New products of Segezha Group  

Ironbirch plywood
Ironbirch plywood has unique anti-slip properties. The product was 
designed for flooring in high-capacity trailer trucks. Special particles 
in the coating ensure high wear resistance and anti-slip properties. 

Honeycomb coating
Plywood with Honeycomb coating is used for flooring in light 
commercial vehicles, warehouses, children’s and sports grounds, 
boats and yachts. This type of plywood has an attractive appearance, 
high wear resistance and anti-slip properties.

Coloured plywood
Laminated plywood of various colours (white, yellow, green, blue 
and red) is used for indoor and outdoor works, including creation 
of decorative elements for furniture, interior design, interior 
decoration of commercial vehicles, and construction of children’s 
and sports grounds.

paper are Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central 
and South America. The anti-dumping duties 
introduced by China for most producers 
from Europe, North America and Japan have 
created advantages for sack paper producers 
from Russia and Canada. 

The key event in 2018 was the completion 
of a three-year programme of upgrades 
at Segezha PPM. At the end of the year, 
a new multi-fuel boiler was installed 
with a capacity of 120 t of steam per hour. 
To reduce the environmental footprint, it was 
equipped with an electrostatic precipitator 
with purification efficiency of 99.7%. 

 In 2018, Segezha Group increased paper 
output by 18% to 375,400 t. The growth was 
mainly due to the launch and full ramp-
up of the new paper-making machine. 
Sack paper sales increased by 20%, 
to 244,000 t, mainly due to increased 
shipment volumes under current contracts 
and expansion of the client portfolio. 

99.9%

8 
https://segezha-group.com

Segezha Group’s business model 
is based on maximum vertical integration, 
with the aim of creating added value 
and ensuring business sustainability 
by diversifying risks amid a changing macro 
environment. 

High levels of operational efficiency 
and a presence in all key stages of value 
creation — from in-house logging at leased 
forest plots to selling high-margin products 
to consumers — allow Segezha Group 
to maintain market leadership in terms 
of cost of finished products in all business 
segments. 

BIRCH PLYWOOD

SACK PAPER

In 2018, Segezha Group was the world’s fifth 
biggest producer of large-size birch plywood. 
Segezha Group’s key strategic markets are 
Germany, the UK, US, Benelux and South 
Asia.   

In 2018, plywood output increased by 36% 
year-on-year to 135,700 cu m. Production 
growth was driven by the launch of a new 
plywood production line in the Kirov region 
in July 2018, which doubled the capacity 
of Vyatka Plywood Mill to 192,000 cu m 
and allowed the company to enter new 
markets with a new product — long-grained 
plywood. The share of plywood exports rose 
from 78% to 80% in 2018. 

PLYWOOD SALES,  
THOUSAND CU M

36%

120

95

120

In 2018, Segezha Group retained its position 
as the number one producer of unbleached 
sack paper in Russia and climbed to number 
three globally (from number four in 2017). 
Segezha Group’s main sack paper plant — 
Segezha Pulp and Paper Mill (PPM) — 
reached its design capacity in 2018 after 
the launch of the new paper-making machine 
at the end of 2017 and produced 355,000 t 
of high-quality paper. 

Segezha Group exports 95% of marketable 
sack paper (37% of produced paper goes 
to the company’s converting facilities 
to produce paper packaging). The key 
export markets for Segezha Group’s sack 

SACK PAPER SALES,  
THOUSAND T

20%

244

204

244

2017

2018

2017

2018

 
38

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

39

SEGEZHA GROUP

PAPER SACKS

In 2018, Segezha Group’s paper packaging 
output increased by 6% to 1,286m 
bags. Growth was driven by the launch 
of the second bag-making line (Triumph 5 QT 
SK) in Salsk, Rostov region, with a capacity 
of 25 million bags per year. The year-on-year 
increase was also driven by improvements 
to the order planning system 
and a consequent increase in productivity. 

In 2018, Segezha Packaging accounted 
for 64% of sales in the Russian market. 
Products for the construction industry 
account for more than 82% of this. During 
the year, the company continued to work 
on increasing the share of high-margin 
products in its sales portfolio.

In 2018, Segezha Packaging implemented 
priority plans to retain market share 
in the key European countries such as Italy, 
France, Germany and Spain. 

In 2018 the group planned to increase 
the output of its Russian enterprises 
to 560 million sacks. 

The company exceeded this target 
and produced a record number of sacks 
(590 million), mainly due to increased 
planning efficiency regarding utilisation 
of converting capacities, as well as expansion 
of the client portfolio.

Launch of the second production 
line for consumer paper packaging 
at LLC Segezha Packaging’s plant 
in Salsk  

One of the key events in 2018 was 
the launch of the new Triumph 5 QT SK 
bag-making line supplied by Germany’s 
GARANT Maschinenhandel. The new high-
tech equipment can produce single-layer 
paper bags and bags with twisted handles 
with a capacity of 25 million items per 
year. Products are certified in accordance 
with FSC®C-100540, EAC, ISO 9001, ISO 
14001 and OHSAS 18001. 

Segezha Packaging’s plants in the Republic 
of Karelia and the Rostov Region have 
a capacity of 800 million sacks per year, 
while the total capacity including Western 
converting assets is 1.6 billion bags per year. 

8%

PAPER SACK SALES,  
MILLION ITEMS 

1,284

1,191

1,284

THE GROUP EXPORTS  

99% 

of its sawn timber  
to more than 30 countries

SAWN TIMBER

Segezha Group exports 99% of its 
sawn timber to more than 30 countries, 
with more than 95% exported to China, Egypt 
and the EU. The Group’s products are mainly 
consumed by construction and furniture 
manufacturing industries. 

In 2018, Segezha Group’s enterprises 
increased output of sawn timber by 3% year-
on-year, to 924,000 cu m, due to increased 
production efficiency at Lesosibirsk 
Woodworking Plant (WP). Sales increased 
by 4% following the increase in output, 
as well as due to debottlenecking 
in shipment of products by rail and launching 
of new shipment channels.

In 2018, Segezha Group took a number 
of steps to ensure that its specifications 
and internal requirements for sawn 
timber quality meet market requirements. 
The company worked closely with customers 
and expanded its product range during 
the year. 

In October 2018, Lesosibirsk WP launched 
a pellet production line with a capacity 
of 70,000 t of finished products, which will 
provide additional income from waste 
processing.

SAWN TIMBER SALES,  
THOUSAND CU M

4%

931

894

931

2017

2018

2017

2018

In 2018, Segezha Group, in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, actively 
participated in the development of the Russian Forest Sector Development Strategy Until 2030, 
which was approved in September 2018. The strategy of Russia’s timber industry is aimed at 
improving the long-term competitiveness of the sector and increasing its contribution to the 
country’s socio-economic development, as well as at effective use, protection and reproduction 
of forests through sustainable forest management.

LAMINATED BEAMS AND PREFAB 
HOUSES

OUTPUT AND SALES OF PREFAB HOUSES AND LAMINATED BEAMS  
IN 2016-2018, THOUSAND CU M

In 2018, Segezha Group increased sales 
of prefab houses by 45% through working 
closely with construction dealers, product 
promotion, the launch of a new premium 
product (prefab glulam houses with a height 
of 280 mm or more) and improved product 
quality. Sokol WP, the leader in its segment, 
supplies prefab houses mainly to the Russian 
market.

Sales of laminated beams in 2018 grew 
26% year-on-year.  Growth was driven 
by increased productivity due to optimisation 
of the production process. A significant 
contribution to the increase in sales 
was Sokol WP’s entry to new markets 
such as Spain, Turkey and Israel. Most 
of laminated beams are exported.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 
STRATEGY 

Segezha Group’s development 
strategy was updated in 2018, taking 
into account the Russian Forest 
Sector Development Strategy Until 
2030, and is aimed at creating 
an industry leader in terms 
of operational efficiency using 
a vertically integrated and diversified 
business model.

PREFAB HOUSES

LAMINATED BEAMS  

  44%

  45%

  14%

  19%

18.3

26.3       

19.2

27.9       

44.4

50.6       

43.1

51.1

Output

Sales

Output

Sales

2017

2018

SEGEZHA GROUP’S STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

Wood  
resources

Manufacturing  
assets

 Z Increasing the share of own wood supply 
at all of the Group’s enterprises by 
expanding allowable cut and increasing 
utilisation of existing allowable cut
 Z High-quality reproduction of forests

 Z Modernisation of existing production 

facilities 

 Z Construction of new energy efficient 
facilities to meet growing demand for 
forest products in global markets

Sustainable  
development

Innovation

 Z Employee safety and health
 Z Reduction of environmental impact
 Z Striving for zero waste production
 Z Development of the regions of operations

 Z R&D within the Company
 Z Creation of new products, manufacturing 

processes and future solutions

 
40

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

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About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

41

SEGEZHA GROUP

REVENUE 

32.4%

57,889 RUB million

OPERATING 
INCOME 

161.1%

8,178 RUB million

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW FOR 20181  

Russian market

SAWN TIMBER

PAPER SACKS  

Products made by Segezha Packaging’s 
seven enterprises located in Europe are sold 
mainly in the European market, while its 
enterprises in the Karelia and Rostov regions 
sell to Russia and other CIS markets.

European market

The European paper sacks market is highly 
consolidated. About 50% of demand comes 
from Germany, Italy, France and Spain. 

The European paper packaging market 
in 2018 remained at the same volume 
as 2017 – about 5.4 billion items. Prices 
for paper packaging grew about 5% year-
on-year, following a sharp increase in paper 
prices during the year. Experts expect that 
the main drivers of market growth until 2021 
will be the food industry and the animal 
feed and chemicals segments. In 2018, 
the construction industry remained the main 
consumer of paper sacks with a share 
of about 60%. 

Consumption of paper sacks 
in the Russian market in 2018 remained 
at the same level as 2017 – 766 million 
units – amid a slowdown in construction, 
which as in the previous year accounted 
for the bulk of demand (88% in 2018). 
Prices for paper packaging grew about 
4% year-on-year, which was driven mainly 
by an increase in global kraft paper prices. 
Russia maintains a balance of production 
and consumption of industrial paper sacks, 
and this is expected to continue until 2023. 

SACK PAPER

Segezha Group produces more than 60% 
of all sack paper in Russia. The Company 
uses 37% of produced paper to make sacks 
at its own enterprises in Russia and Europe. 
The remaining 63% of products are sold 
in international markets (approximately 
60 countries in 2018). Key export markets 
are the Middle East and Southeast Asia. 
Significant volumes are also exported 
to the EU, Africa, and Central and South 
America. 

In 2018, the global market for sack paper 
was estimated at 7.2 million t (vs 6.9 million t 
in 2017). In 2018, there was a huge shortage 
of paper in the global market, caused by high 
demand and limited supply. The demand 
was driven mostly by a construction boom 
in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. 

IN 2018, SEGEZHA GROUP’S  
SHARE IN OUTPUT OF PAPER  
SACKS IN EUROPE WAS   

12%

The global market of sawn softwood 
timber reached 350 million cu m 
in 2018. Over the past five years, global 
sawn timber consumption has grown 
by an average of 2.5% per year due to growth 
in the construction and furniture markets 
in the US and China, which are the largest 
consumers of sawn timber in the world. 
Russia is the fourth largest producer of sawn 
softwood timber in the world after Europe, 
the US and Canada, with a market share 
of 11%. 

Russia’s output of sawn softwood 
timber in 2018 grew 3.6% year-on-year 
to 39 million cu m, while exports increased 
7% to 30 million cu m, mainly due to high 
demand in China, which is the largest 
consumer of Russian sawn softwood timber. 

PLYWOOD

Exports accounted for 88% of Segezha 
Group’s plywood sales in 2018. The main 
importers are European countries, primarily 
Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, 
Italy, Norway, Finland and Czechia. 

Global consumption of birch plywood has 
been steadily growing in recent years 
at an average rate of 2.0%-2.7% per 
year. In 2018, the global market for birch 
plywood was estimated at 4.9 million cu 
m, with Russian birch plywood accounting 
for 75%-80% of the total. In 2018, Russia’s 
plywood exports grew by 8.7% to 2.68 
million cu m, or 67% of total output. The bulk 
of demand comes from the construction, 
furniture manufacturing, transport, 
shipbuilding and packaging industries. 
Consumption growth in 2019 is projected 
at 3% in Russia and 2%-4% globally.

1 Sources: Eurosac, Rosstat, Federal Customs Service, Trade Map, RISI, Poyry, ChinaBulletin, Random Lengths, WoodMarkets, EUWID, GWMI, FAOstat, Indufor.

LAMINATED BEAMS  
AND PREFAB HOUSES

Laminated beams

Prefab houses

Segezha Group’s production of laminated 
beams at Sokol WP is export-oriented, 
primarily for the European market. 
In 2018, Italy, Germany, Austria and Spain 
accounted for 92% of the Group’s sales. 
Europe and Japan remain the main global 
consumers of laminated beams, which are 
mainly used in the construction industry. 

Segezha Group supplies prefab houses 
mainly (~98%) to the Russian market 
and is the market leader with a share of 18% 
in 2018. The Russian market for prefab 
glulam houses in 2018 was estimated 
at 155,000 cu m. Key regions for prefab 
houses in Russia are the Central, North-West 
and Volga federal districts.

2018 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

Segezha Group’s revenue grew by 32.4% 
in 2018. The main growth driver was revenue 
from the Paper and Packaging division, 
which accounted for 70% of total revenue. 
Revenue growth was driven by increased 
sales volumes and higher prices for paper. 
Revenue for the year was also positively 
affected by growth of prices for sawn timber 
through the first nine months of the year 
and the depreciation of the rouble. In 2018 
the average rouble rate decreased by 7.5% 
against the dollar and by 12.2% against 
the euro.

Adjusted OIBDA increased year-on-year 
by 83.4% for 2018. Growth was driven 
by increased prices for most of Segezha’s 
key products, as well as the commissioning 
of a new paper-making machine 
at the end of 2017, which added 
RUB 2.6 billion at the OIBDA level. 
The adjusted OIBDA margin increased 
by 6.2 p.p. for 2018 to 22.4%, due to price 
increases. The introduction of the new IFRS 
16 standard had a positive effect on adjusted 
OIBDA of RUB 894 million in FY 2018.

In 2018, global consumption of laminated 
beams did not change significantly 
and remained at about 4.1 million cu m. 
In 2019, demand for laminated beams 
is expected at the same level amid increasing 
competition.

SEGEZHA GROUP SHARE  
IN PREFAB GLULAM HOUSES 
MARKET IN RUSSIA

18%

TOTAL VOLUME OF 2018 
PREFAB GLULAM HOUSES 
MARKET IN RUSSIA

155 thsd cu m

GLOBAL CONSUMPTION  
OF PREFAB GLULAM HOUSES 

4.1 mn cu m

FINANCIAL 
INDICATORS
(RUB million)
Revenue
Operating income
Adj. OIBDA
(Loss)/Profit attributable to Sistema
Adj. profit attributable to Sistema

Excluding impact of 
new IFRS standards

FY 2018
57,889   
8,178   
12,984   
(77)
54   

FY 2017
43,725   
3,132   
7,081   
(591)   
81   

Change
32.4%
161.1%
83.4%
-
(33.9%)

FY 2018
57,889   
7,703   
12,090   
193   
323   

Change
32.4%
145.9%
70.8%
132.6%
297.2%

 
 
42

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

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About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

43

MEDSI

Medsi Group is Russia’s largest national healthcare chain, 
offering a full range of preventive, diagnostic, treatment, and 
rehabilitation services for children and adults.

NUMBER OF FACILITIES1  

NUMBER OF DOCTORS  

42  

3.3 thsd 

NUMBER OF FACILITIES

BUSINESS MODEL

CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC  
CENTRES (CDCS)

REGIONAL  
CLINICS

4

Moscow

CDC Krasnaya Presnya
CDC Belorusskaya
CDC Grokholsky

St. Petersburg

11

3

1

Perm
Barnaul 
Bryansk  
Volgograd
Nizhnevartovsk 
Nyagan

6
1
1
1
1
1

PRIMARY CARE CLINICS

19

WELLNESS CENTRES  
AND SANATORIUMS

4

CHILDREN’S CLINICS

HOSPITALS

2

REVENUE 2018

2

29%

5%

2%

27%

6%

38%

BY CLIENTS

BY ASSETS

ELENA BRUSILOVA  
President

ARTYOM SIRAZUTDINOV 
Chairman of the Board of Directors

SISTEMA’S  
EFFECTIVE STAKE:

99%

8 
https://medsi.ru

A VERTICALLY INTEGRATED 
HUB-BASED BUSINESS MODEL

An innovative medical platform with a vertically integrated system of patient 
service built on the principles of P4 medicine with exceptional scalability 
potential and unique market position with no direct competition.

1. 
 Z Comprehensive range of patient-centric healthcare services with 

cutting-edge medical equipment and care:
 ¡ Diagnostics
 ¡ Diagnosis
 ¡ Prescription
 ¡ Rehabilitation
 ¡ Health support & monitoring

2.
…based on P4 medicine 
principles  and western 
treatment protocols…

2. 
 Z Developing a patient-centric model based on a personalized approach 

to each patient:
 ¡ Predictive: targeted screenings, vaccination, etc.
 ¡ Preventive: extended diagnostics and centers of  excellence
 ¡ Personalized: targeted treatment and high-tech  medicine
 ¡ Participatory: active participation of the patient at every stage
 Z Adoption and use of the international treatment  protocols for strategic 

therapeutic areas

1.
360° full cycle of services 
for the patients…

3.
… delivered via a system 
of vertically integrated 
regional hubs

3. 
 Z Centers of excellence in Moscow for priority specialties
 Z Full cycle of care in regional hubs based on clinical diagnostic 

centers

 Z Routing of patients within and between hubs: from primary 

screening to high-tech treatment

 Z Single HR pool allowing personnel rotation and dissemination of 

the best practices

 Z Integrated IT system supporting medical and business processes

Insurance

Individuals

Corporate

Other

64%

30%

Clinics

Hospitals

CDC

Other

1 As of 31 December 2018.

 
44

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

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About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

45

MEDSI

Group

PATIENT VISITS1

8.5 mn   

SERVICES PROVIDED1

17.9 mn 

In January 2018, Medsi first launched its telemedicine platform developed 
in conjunction with MTS. In 2019, the company plans to further evolve 
the solution through new services and a special mobile app. In addition 
to telemedicine, Medsi is looking to start a «third opinion» project that would 
rely on neural decision support systems.

MEDSI’S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN 2018

FLOOR SPACE, THSD SQ M           1.7%

AVERAGE CHEQUE, RUB THSD   43.4%

235.7

231.8

235.7

2.1

1.5

2.1

THE AVERAGE CHEQUE increased 
by 43.4% to RUB 2.1 thsd, primarily due 
to the increased proportion of complex 
procedures in the in-patient segment 
and the diagnostic segment, and also 
due to the effect of higher prices in line 
with market trends.

2017

2018

2017

2018

UTILISATION, 
HOSPITALS, %

28 p.p.

UTILISATION, 
CLINICS, %

3 p.p.

71

48 

42%

71%

51%

48%

CLINIC UTILISATION is presented 
on a LFL basis. Including new clinic 
openings and M&A, clinic utilisation was 
48% in 2018, and 51% in 2017. The decrease 
was the result of refurbishment of part 
of the CDC at Belorusskaya.

2017

2018

2017

2018

SERVICES 
PROVIDED, MN

14.5 

17.6%

PATIENT 
VISITS, MN

8.5 

12.4

14.5

7.7

8.5

6.0%

2017

2018

2017

2018

1 Metrics are for 2018, where capacity is calculated 
as the number of possible out-patient visits by patients 
at Medsi facilities, and visits as the actual number 
of patient visits for the period, all including new clinic 
openings and M&A. LFL out-patient capacity in 2018 was 
14.7 mn. Visits were 7.4 mn, Utilisation was 50%. 

EXISTING ASSETS

New high-precision diagnostic equipment 
and modern surgical technology brought 
about a significant increase in the quantity, 
quality and volumes of medical services, 
with a 6% rise in visits and an almost 
18% increase in the volume of services. 
Continuing the trend started in 2017, 
the company drove up MMI revenues (+269% 
from 2017) and became a stronger player 
in the market of specialised and hi-tech 
hospital care, notably in cardiovascular 
surgery, oncology, injury treatment 
and rehabilitation of patients after surgical 
operations, injuries and strokes.

In 2018 Medsi became the absolute 
leader among private clinics across 
the Moscow region in terms of volume 
of services provided to patients with cancer, 
servicing more than 11 thousand people. 
The Botkinsky Proezd clinical hospital 
in Moscow became the seat of a specialised 
cancer centre, attracting a vast flow 
of patients and driving up the hospital’s 
occupancy rates, with more than 8,000 
patients treated in 2018 alone. 

With a view to building strong partnerships 
with leading global vendors of diagnostic 
and surgical equipment, in 2018 Medsi 
signed new memorandums of cooperation 
with Siemens and Olympus.

In 2018 Medsi started preparing 
for international JCI accreditation 
as attestation of the high standards of quality 
and safety of healthcare services provided 
across the chain.  

Moreover, Medsi became Russia’s first 
private medical company to launch patient 
experience centres, family support centres 
and a fundraising centre. The centres are 
expected to boost patient participation 
and loyalty, and serve as an important 
component of the new «P4 medicine» 
strategy.

Flagship assets
Medsi’s largest clinical & diagnostic 
centre – CDC Krasnaya Presnya, 
with a floorspace of over 20,000 square 
metres and a successful track record since 
its opening in late 2015 — is steadily evolving 
in terms of both occupancy rates (9% 
increase on 2017) and financials (revenue 
more than doubled from 2017). New centres 
of excellence launched here in 2018 use 
state-of-the-art equipment and best-in-class 
experts. Starting from Q1 2018, CDC Krasnaya 
Presnya has been using the trail-blazing 
hi-tech robotic da Vinci surgical system 
to operate on patients with gynaecological, 
urological and endocrine pathologies.

NEW ASSETS

Organic growth
In 2018 Medsi embarked on the construction 
of a flagship CDC for children and adults 
on Michurinsky Prospekt in Moscow. 
The new multi-specialty medical centre 
(MSMC) with a floor area of over 28,000 sq m 
is scheduled to open in 2020.

Inorganic growth

The large medical centre in St. Petersburg 
acquired in 2017 (formerly Medem) combines 
28 departments, a first-rate diagnostic centre, 
and a hi-tech surgery block, occupying a total 
area of 6,800 sq m. The asset is by now fully 
integrated in Medsi’s business processes. 

In Q3 2018 Medsi became the sole owner 
of LLC Medlife Health Clinics (the initial 60% 
stake was acquired in 2017), the largest 
multi-specialty medical chain in the city 
of Perm (comprising seven specialised clinics 
and a customer service centre). 

In the next few years, Medsi is planning 
to further strengthen its role in the private 
healthcare markets of both St. Petersburg 
and Perm by actively developing its local 
assets.

PLANS FOR 2019

Medsi’s priorities in 2019 are expanding 
the capacity and spectrum of services offered 
at CDC Krasnaya Presnya and launching 
the final construction stage at MSMC 
Michurinsky. In parallel, the company 
is renovating two family clinics in residential 
neighbourhoods of Moscow and the Moscow 
region (to be opened by the end of the year) 
and planning to launch new facilities 
in another two regions of Russia (also 
by the end of 2019).

Another priority item on the company’s 
agenda is inclusion in the Ministry of Health’s 
Hi-Tech Healthcare Providers List, which 
would open up access to federal financing 
and so bring hi-tech care to Medsi’s hospitals 
from 2020 onwards. At the moment, Medsi 
only provides hi-tech services to residents 
of the Moscow region, financed by OMI funds 
in Moscow and the Moscow region.

In January 2018, Medsi first launched 
its telemedicine platform developed 
in conjunction with MTS. In 2019, the company 
plans to further evolve the solution through 
new services and a special mobile app. 
In addition to telemedicine, Medsi is looking 
to start a «third opinion» project that would 
rely on neural decision support systems.

46

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

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About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

47

MEDSI

Group

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY: OPERATIONS AND INVESTMENT

Medsi’s strategy aims to build Russia’s first multi-functional national-scale 
medical operator, providing a full spectrum of services.

THIS LONG-TERM GOAL REQUIRES SPECIFIC STEPS:

1. 
Expansion of the company’s geographical 
footprint across the country.

2.  
Evolving existing large local facilities into 
regional vertically integrated hubs (to cover 
the full spectrum of services, from outpatient 
to hospital care) while referring the most 
challenging medical cases to the flagship 
assets in Moscow.

3.  
Increasing market shares in Moscow 
and the Moscow region through new 
outpatient and diagnostic clinics in 
residential neighbourhoods.

4.  
Launching a third flagship hospital on 
Michurinsky Prospekt in Moscow to widen 
the range of services (including a children’s 
hospital).

5. 
As a matter of medical strategy, establishing 
a Chief Specialists Department charged with 
implementation of unified quality & safety 
standards across all specialties and of the 
new patient routing strategy, preparation 
and introduction of innovative treatment 
methods, and education of medical staff.

6.  
Developing and implementing unified quality 
and safety standards to guarantee high 
quality of treatment in compliance with JCI 
standards.

7.  
Enhancing on-the-job education and training 
programmes provided by the Medical 
Academy, and launching international 
education programmes.

8.  
Transferring auxiliary back functions from 
the management company to a single service 
centre, while automating and/or partly 
outsourcing routine day-to-day functions 
in order to optimise the management 
company’s costs.

9.  
To progress the IT strategy, enhancing 
existing online solutions for patients (e.g., 
by introducing new options in personal 
accounts and upgrading the telemedicine 
app) and for staff (e.g., by providing reliable 
decision support systems, case conferences, 
etc.) and upgrading the ERP system to 
ensure effective management and prompt 
decision-making.

RUSSIAN PRIVATE                7.6%
HEALTHCARE MARKET 

594 RUB bn

MEDSI’S 2018 REVENUE GROWTH  
IN PRIVATE SECTOR, MOSCOW REGION 

20.6%

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW FOR 20181

In 2018, the Russian private healthcare 
market reached RUB 5942 billion 
(+7.6% from 2017). The market growth 
of recent years is fuelled by rising demand 
from individuals for quality healthcare, which 
benefits private operators.

The trend is expected to grow even stronger 
in the next few years, as the general socio-
economic situation in Russia stabilizes 
and  household earnings go up and more 
foreigners seek medical care in Russia.

Medsi has also made visible progress 
in the voluntary medical insurance market 
(VMI), with revenue growth in the segment 
that is 4-5 times greater than the average 
market rate, both in Moscow and in Russia 
more broadly.

The company’s 2018 revenue growth 
in the private sector of the market (self-pay 
patients) in Moscow and the Moscow region 
outpaced the market by almost 4 times (7.7% 
in Moscow and 20.6% in the Moscow region). 
This strong growth enabled Medsi to boost 
its share of the Moscow region market 
to 2.92% (from 2.6% in 2017).

Medsi has also become a stronger player 
in the mandatory medical insurance space 
(MMI), with market share in Moscow 
and the Moscow region increasing by over 
2.6 times (to 1.8% from 0.5% in 2017). 
This dynamic growth is in large part a result 
of Medsi becoming a provider of some 
of the most sought-after and attractively 
priced hospital services. MMI has become 
one of the main sources of customers 
for Medsi’s in-patient assets.

RUSSIAN PRIVATE HEALTHCARE MARKET3, RUB BILLION
ACTUAL PERFORMANCE            CAGR6%

PROJECTED 

CAGR8%

272

202

295

219

317

235

344

250

376

268

414

291

460

318

515

352

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Regions

Moscow and Moscow region

MEDSI’S MARKET SHARE DYNAMICS (VMI SEGMENT)

RUSSIA

MOSCOW AND MOSCOW REGION

4.35%

4.96%

7.56%

7.83%

5.79%

6.76%

18.56%

19.95%

Revenue

Patient visits

Revenue

Patient visits

2017

2018

MEDSI’S AND MARKET’S GROWTH RATES (VMI SEGMENT)

2018

2017

20.26%

5.49%

2.55%

– 0.98%

21.58%

4.08%

4.98%

– 2.32%

1 Source: BusinesStat.
2 Total revenue received from both insured and self-pay 
patients.
3 Voluntary medical insurance (VMI) market and paid 
services at the expense of individuals.

Medsi

Market

Revenue

Patient visits

Revenue

Patient visits

48

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

49

MEDSI

Group

Medsi remains the private market’s largest player in terms of geographical 
footprint and an undisputed leader in the VMI segment, which benefits both 
occupancy figures and revenue at specific assets. In the first half of 2018, 
Medsi had already outperformed the 2017 national leader by revenue, 
Mother and Child, by more than 7%.

Steppe AgroHolding 

JSC Steppe AgroHolding (“Steppe”) is one of the biggest 
agricultural companies in southern Russia with a diversified asset 
portfolio including crop farming (TOP-6 of land owners in Russia), 
dairy farming, grain trading and logistics, sugar and cereals 
trading, and fruit and vegetable growing. 

MEDSI’S MARKET SHARE DYNAMICS (MMI SEGMENT)

RUSSIA

MOSCOW AND MOSCOW REGION

0.11%

0.39%

0.01%

0.01%

0.51%

1.77%

0.05%

0.10%

Revenue

Patient visits

Revenue

Patient visits

STEPPE’S BUSINESS MODEL 

The company’s business model is designed 
to build a vertically integrated diversified 
agricultural player with a focus on crop 
farming, grain trading and logistics, sugar 
and cereals trading and dairy farming, 
and having leading positions in each 
segment of operations.

Global grain consumption grew faster than 
production, which combined with an expected 
decrease in carry-over grain supported 
a recovery in global grain prices. The average 
export price of Steppe AgroHolding’s 
wheat in 2018 grew by 15% year-on-year; 
together with the high share of quality grain 
and increased export amounts, this made up 
for a slight decrease in the gross harvest. 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN 2018

GRAIN TRADING & LOGISTICS

ANDREY NEDUZHKO  
CEO

2017

2018

2018 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 

Medsi’s revenue for 2018 increased 
by 52.1% to RUB 17.7 billion due 
to increased capacity utilisation and, 
as a result, an increase in revenue from in-
patient services of  27.7% to RUB 5.4 billion, 
higher revenue from the CDC at Krasnaya 
Presnya in Moscow as well as the expansion 
of the clinic network following acquisitions 
of clinics in St Petersburg and Perm 
and the opening of three new clinics 
in Moscow.

Adjusted OIBDA increased by 82.9% 
in 2018, due to the continued ramp-up 
of facilities and increase in revenue per sq m 
of medical space. The new IFRS standards 
had an impact of RUB 449 million in 2018. 

REVENUE 

52.1%

17,747 RUB mn

The adjusted OIBDA margin grew 
by 3.4 p.p. to 20.3% thanks to growth 
in capacity utilisation and an increase 
in efficiency per sq m. 

Adjusted profit attributable to Sistema 
increased by 26.7% in 2018. Excluding 
the effect of new accounting standards, 
adjusted profit increased by 42.1%.

ADJUSTED 
OIBDA    

82.9% 

3,600 RUB mn

ADJUSTED 
NET PROFIT 

26.7%

1,061 RUB mn

SISTEMA’S EFFECTIVE STAKE1:

92.8%

8 
https://ahstep.ru

FINANCIAL  
INDICATORS
(RUB million)
Revenue
Operating income
Adj. OIBDA
Adj. profit attributable  
to Sistema

Excluding impact of 
new IFRS standards

FY 2018
17,747   
693   
3,600   

FY 2017
11,670   
1,142   
1,968   

Change
52.1%
(39.3%)
82.9%

FY 2018
17,747   
557   
3,151   

Change
52.1%
(51.2%)
60.1%

1,061      

837   

26.7%

1,189      

42.1%

The main focus areas for Steppe 
AgroHolding’s development in 2018 were 
crop farming, dairy farming, and grain 
trading and logistics. In 2018, the company 
improved its operating and financial 
performance through both its organic growth 
strategy and M&A deals.

ALI UZDENOV   
Chairman of the Board of Directors

CROP FARMING   

Steppe AgroHolding’s land assets 
as of the end of 2018 totalled 401,000 
hectares (after an acquisition of land 
in the Rostov region in the second half 
of the year).

Yields of the main crops remained high 
in 2018, exceeding average regional yields 
despite a drought in Russia’s grain-
producing regions.

In 2018, Steppe AgroHolding began actively 
developing the grain trading segment 
and established a full-fledged trading 
structure. Grain exports by the trading 
business exceeded 1.1 million tonnes in 2018 
(up more than four-fold year-on-year), making 
Steppe AgroHolding one of Russia’s top six 
grain exporters in the first half of the crop 
year 2018.

GRAIN EXPORTS,                  314%
THOUSAND TONNES

269

1,115

STEPPE AGROHOLDING’S GROSS HARVEST (INCL. RZ AGRO),  
THOUSAND TONNES 

2017

2018

Beetroot
Wheat
Corn
Winter barley
Sunflower
Other

Total

1 84.63% as of December 31,2018.

2018
251,811
685,943
40,113
24,982
49,362
102,374

1,154,585

2017
347,900
723,600
68,900
19,200
42,700
153,000
1,355,300

Change, %
-28%
-5%
-42%
30%
16%
-33%
-15%

50

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

51

STEPPE

AgroHolding

Steppe’s assets are located in the most favourable 
regions of Southern Russia in terms of climate, crop 
yields and logistics. Steppe also owns 50% of RZ Agro, 
a major producer of grain and oil crops jointly controlled 
by Sistema and the Louis-Dreyfus family.

IN 2018, STEPPE COMMISSIONED  
A NEW DAIRY FARM 

FOR 1,800 cows

DAIRY FARMING

In 2018, Steppe AgroHolding commissioned 
a new dairy farm for 1,800 cows. 
The total number of milk cows as of the end 
of 2018 was 4,800. In the second half 
of 2018, the company started construction 
of two dairy farms: one for 3,000 cows 
in the Krasnodar region and one 
for 3,100 cows in the Rostov region. 

Steppe AgroHolding is the leading dairy 
farmer in Russia in terms of milk yield per 
cow. High milk yields are achieved through 
having highly productive cattle and using 
state-of-the-art agricultural technologies.

The operating performance of the dairy 
farming segment demonstrated a steady 
growth: gross milk yield in 2018 exceeded 
46,500 tonnes, and milk yield per cow was 
over 10,500 litres per year.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 
STRATEGY  

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW FOR 2018  

Today, Steppe AgroHolding is a big player 
in the Russian agricultural industry 
with substantial land assets (401,000 hectares, 
,making it the sixth-largest in Russia). The key 
goal of further development is to create 
a major agricultural company in Russia, 
a leader in all its key segments in terms 
of both business size and operating efficiency, 
with favourable conditions for an IPO 
or attracting a strategic investor.

Steppe AgroHolding’s development strategy 
envisages further increase of its land assets, 
intensive development of grain trading 
and logistics, achieving a leading position 
in sugar and cereals trading, construction 
of new dairy farms, and organic growth 
in the fruit and vegetable growing segments.

CROP FARMING

The output of grain and leguminous crops 
in Russia in 2018 totalled 113.3 million 
tonnes (vs 135.5 million tonnes in 2017, 
down 16% year-on-year), with wheat 
output equalling 72.1 million tonnes 
(vs 86.0 million tonnes in 2017, down 16% 
year-on-year).

The 16% decrease in gross grain harvest 
compared to the unprecedented harvest 
of 2017 was due to a reduction in the crop 
area and lower crop yields in some regions 
of Russia caused by unfavourable weather 
conditions.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWING

GROSS GRAIN AND GRAIN LEGUME HARVEST IN RUSSIA, M T

Vegetable output in 2018 amounted 
to 46,300 tonnes (up 3% year-on-year), which 
is an all-time high for Steppe AgroHolding.

113.3

The expected reduction in global carry-
over grain crops in the 2018/2019 season 
and grain consumption outpacing production 
had a positive effect on global grain 
prices, which enabled Russian agricultural 
producers to make up for the slight decrease 
in the gross harvest.

Today, Russia remains one of the world’s 
leading grain exporters, having exported 
some 29.0 million tonnes of grain 
in July-December 2018, an increase of 4% 
from the same period of 2017 (27.8 million 
tonnes).

In the medium term, prices for land assets 
in Russia are expected to continue rising, 
since land is a limited natural resource 
and global grain consumption is on the rise.

DAIRY FARMING  

Russia’s milk output demonstrated positive 
trends in 2018: total milk yield grew by 1.5% 
vs 2017 to 30.6 million tonnes, while milk 
yield per cow in the private sector exceeded 
6,000 l (+4% vs 2017), which compensated 
for a gradual decrease in livestock numbers.

In Russia, raw milk competes with dairy 
products made of milk fat substitutes, 
but the government is taking steps 
to reduce the share of counterfeit products 
in the market, including the introduction 
of the Mercury programme, which makes 
it possible to control movement of dairy 
products and their history from the field 
to the store counter.

In the region where Steppe operates, 
raw milk processing capacity is gradually 
growing, which has a positive effect 
on producers of high-quality raw milk able 
to supply it in large batches.

The milk output of Steppe’s dairy farms 
has grown due to the increase both 
in the number of milk cows and milk yield 
per cow. 

MILK YIELD PER COW,1 
KG

6,094

TOTAL MILK YIELD,
M T

30.6

94.2

70.9

92.4

105.3

104.8

120.7

135.3

113.3

5,542

5,871

6,094

30,5

30,8

30,8

30,8

30,2

30,6

14.0

16.5

14.4

16.4

14.7

16.1

15.1

15.7

15.7

14.5

16.2

14.4

In 2018, the company optimised its vegetable 
and fruit sales, developing a single brand, 
Steppe AgroHolding, for all produce sold 
to retail chains. Sales of produce under 
a single brand increases brand recognition, 
enables the company to get a price 
premium due to a broader product range, 
and strengthens its investment case as its 
products are carried by retail chains.

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2016

2017

2018

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

1 Milk yield per cow at agro enterprises.

Agro enterprises

Farmsteads of all categories

52

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

53

STEPPE

AgroHolding

FRUIT GROWING

VEGETABLE GROWING

The fruit growing segment in Russia has 
been demonstrating a gradual increase 
of the output: gross pomaceous fruit harvest 
in 2018 amounted to 1.9 million tonnes, 
according to preliminary estimates 
(up 31% vs 2017). Growth drivers included 
the planting of new orchards: the area under 
pomaceous fruit crops reached 229,000 ha 
in 2018 (+3,800 ha vs 2017). 

Despite the increase of domestic production, 
imports of pomaceous fruits remained high, 
totalling 843,000 tonnes in 2018 (+18.7% 
vs 2017).

In 2018, production of protected-ground 
vegetables continued to rise due 
to commissioning of new greenhouses. 
The total area of greenhouses now stands 
at 2,500 ha, an increase of 8% from 2017.

Total output of protected-ground vegetables 
in 2018 exceeded 1 million tonnes 
(+17% vs 2017), while imports of tomatoes 
and cucumbers reached 701,000 tonnes 
(+7% vs 2017).

OUTPUT                                                        31% 
POMACEOUS FRUIT CROPS

1.9 m t

AREA UNDER POMACEOUS 
FRUIT CROPS

229 thsd ha

POMACEOUS FRUIT                    18.7% 
CROPS IMPORTS

GROSS HARVEST OF POMACEOUS FRUIT CROPS AND APPLES 
IMPORT IN RUSSIA, M T

2.84

1.53

1.35

1.60

1.05

1.50

0.89

1.73

0.68

1.52

0.71

2.00

0.84

843 thsd t

TOTAL 
GREENHOUSE AREA

2.5 thsd ha

OPERATIONAL RESULTS

STEPPE AGROHOLDING 

(thsd tonnes)
Gross harvest, total (crop farming)
Milk production
Vegetable harvest

Tomatoes
Cucumbers

Gross apple harvest

2018
814.1
46.7
46.3
25.1
21.2
18.5

2017
973.2
39.4
44.9
23.2
21.8
21.8

OUTPUT OF STEPPE AGROHOLDING (WITH RZ AGRO)

(thsd tonnes)
Beetroot
Wheat
Corn
Winter barley
Sunflower
Other

Total

2018
            251.8   
            685.9   
               40.1   
               25.0   
               49.4   
            102.4   

         1,154.6   

2017
            347.9   
            723.6   
               68.9   
               19.2   
               42.7   
            153.0   
         1,355.3   

2018 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 

Agroholding Steppe delivered significant 
revenue growth of 136.6% year-on-year 
in 2018, to RUB 24.2 billion. The revenue 
increase was driven by growth in the field 
crop segment, the intensive development 
of agrotrading and entering the sugar 
and groceries trading segments, as well 
as increased production volumes in the Dairy 
segment. 

OIBDA grew by 22.2% year-on-year 
to RUB 4.9 billion for FY 2018 as a result 
of higher operational efficiency in the field 
crop segment and the impact of growth 
in the Agrotrading segment.

Capex increased by 18.8% to RUB 1.9 billion 
for 2018 due to the launch of new projects 
in the Dairy segment and logistics to support 
increased production and vertical integration 
of the business.

Change, %
–16%
18%
3%
8%
–3%
–15%

Change, %
−28%
−5%
−42%
30%
16%
−33%
−15%

STEPPE AGROHOLDING: CROP YIELDS

8% 

(t/hа)
Beetroot
Wheat
Corn
Barley
Sunflower

2018
45.1
4.2
3.7
6.4
1.5

2017
54.2
4.9
5.3
6.1
2.6

Change, %
–17%
–14%
–30%
5%
–43%

The increase in net debt was due 
to purchases of grain from third parties 
as part of Steppe’s agrotrading activities, 
as well as the start of financing of new 
investment projects in line with the capex 
programme.

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Production of seed crops

Import of apples

OUTPUT OF PROTECTED-           17% 
GROUND VEGETABLES

>1 m t

IMPORTS OF TOMATOES               7% 
AND CUCUMBERS

701 thsd t

FINANCIAL  
INDICATORS
(RUB million)
Revenue
OIBDA
Operating profit
Net profit attributable to Sistema

Excluding impact of 
new IFRS standards

FY 2018
24,161 
4,909
3,261 
1,095

FY 2017
10,210 
4,019 
2,647 
1,130 

Change
136.6%
22.1%
23.2%
(3.1%)

FY 2018
24,161 
4,617
3,147
1,243

Change
136.6%
14.9%
18.9%
10.0%

54

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

55

Real estate assets: 

JSC Leader Invest ( “Leader Invest”) 
is a development company carrying 
out housing and commercial real 
estate projects in Moscow. 

The company both builds 
residential complexes in a range 
of classes from Comfort+ 
to Premium and carries out large-
scale housing estate projects. 

 PORTFOLIO COMPRISES

PORTFOLIO VOLUME 

>40 projects

in developed areas  
with good ecological conditions

~3.0 million sq m

1 
MAXIM BERLOVICH
President

CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS    

19 projects

NOW SELLING 

23 projects  

BUSINESS MODEL  

MARKET SEGMENTS WHERE 
LEADER INVEST OPERATES

42%

2%

100%

56%

2 
GENNADY SHCHERBINA
Chairman of the Board of Directors

Leader Invest is growing in the segments 
of the Moscow real estate market that 
are most stable and attractive in terms 
of investment. The company’s development 
model is based on the following pillars:

Comfort

Business

Premium

the company acts in the interests of the city 

all properties are in the Comfort, 

SISTEMA’S EFFECTIVE STAKE3:

49%

and its residents, supports new initiatives in 
Moscow’s construction industry, creates 

new points of growth (residential, social 
and infrastructure facilities) and jobs, 
and looks at construction projects 

as a chance to enrich urban areas 
through comprehensive and 
sustainable development

Business or Premium class and are 
located in residential areas of “old” 
Moscow with excellent public 
transport accessibility and 

developed social infrastructure

Strong 
marketability and 
quality of assets

Social  
responsibility

A unique 
niche product

competitive 
prices, fast 
construction, 
focus on modern 

architectural 

trends

latest technologies 
and solutions in design 
and construction

Innovations

8 
http://l-invest.ru

A strong 
professional team

1 As of 31 December 2018 – Oleg Mamayev.
2 As of 31 December 2018 – Oleg Mubarakshin.
3 По состоянию на 31 декабря 2018 года: 100%.

LEADER INVEST’S BUSINESS 
DEVELOPMENT IN 2018

In 2018, Leader Invest focused primarily 
on streamlining of business processes 
and improving efficiency, specifically 
optimising project solutions, introducing 
new cost-effective procurement procedures, 
strengthening project management 
and increasing salesforce efficiency. 

 Leader Invest’s portfolio comprises over 
40 projects at various stages, the most 
on the “old Moscow” market. In 2018, it 
launched the Happiness brand to sell 
small-footprint infill properties in residential 
neighbourhoods while heavily developing 
its landmark Wings project at 120 
Lobachevskogo Street and the large-scale 
Central Park housing estate in Moscow’s 
gentrified Nagatino district. The company 
also made progress on the development 
of its other housing estate, ZIL-Yug, 
and commissioned a residential building 
at 15 Demyana Bednogo St.

The team worked hard throughout 2018 
to finalise ZIL-Yug’s marketing concept, 
phasing and cash inflow calendar; to speed 
up the launch of sales for the Wings after 
an expansive redesigning (with an upgraded 
master plan and optimised apartment 
layouts and façade solutions); and to start 
active construction of Central Park, a unique 
business-class housing estate occupying over 
450,000 square metres and using a concept 
prepared by British architecture firm AHR. 
The Phase 1 construction permit for Wings 
was granted in 2018. 

Leader Invest welcomes digitalisation as yet 
another avenue to leadership and uses it in its 
day-to-day operations. The recently adopted 
BIM system significantly enhances the quality 
of designing and makes cost control much 
easier.

In November 2018, S&P Global Ratings 
affirmed Leader Invest’s long-term 
and short-term user credit ratings 
at B/B and revised its outlook to Stable. 

Today, Leader Invest is among Moscow’s 
three highest-rated developers, and it shares 
the top position with a major mass-segment 
operator. The high international expert 
rating is primarily due to an exceptional 
new management team, a broad 
portfolio of projects, and healthy liquidity 
and leverage ratios. In April 2019, S&P 
upgraded the outlook to Positive, reflecting 
expert consensus that the ongoing 
integration with Etalon Group will improve 
the company’s operating and financial 
performance, strengthen its market standing 
and fuel revenue growth in 2019-2020.

MOSCOW DEVELOPERS  
BASED ON RATING

Тop-3

LARGEST PROJECTS  
COMMISSIONED IN 2018

Schastye Mnevniki  
13 Demyana Bednogo St.

AREA 

13.5 thsd sq m

56

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

57

Real estate assets:

LEADER INVEST

THE NUMBER OF OFF-PLAN SALES CONTRACTS       47%
SIGNED IN MOSCOW IN 2018 

80,000

The combined assets and 
expertise of Etalon Group 
and Leader Invest will create 
a leader on the residential 
market.

COMBINED PORTFOLIO 
WITH A TOTAL AREA OF 

4 million sq m

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW FOR 2018

SUPPLY OF NEW HOUSING IN MOSCOW IN 2015-20181, 
THSD APARTMENTS

8.5
6.3

8.2
6.5

10.8
9.7

12.0
14.0

12.1
15.1

11.0
15.1

11.9
17.2

12.1
17.8

12.5
19.1

15.2
21.6

16.5
20.7

15.8
19.1

17.1
17.8

15.2
14.8

14.9
14.6

14.6
15.0

2015

2016

2017

2018

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

AVERAGE PRICES IN BUSINESS- AND COMFORT-CLASS RESIDENTIAL 
SEGMENTS1, RUB

252
158

242
161

234
153

230
148

229
145

235
142

238
147

242
147

232
148

227
148

223
150

223
151

226
152

226
155

225
158

229
162

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 
STRATEGY  

In February 2019, Sistema sold a 51% 
stake in Leader Invest to Etalon Group 
for RUB 15.2 billion, and in a separate 
transaction purchased 25% in Etalon Group 
from its founder and largest shareholder 
Viacheslav Zarenkov (and his family) 
for USD 226.6 million. 

Two Sistema representatives received seats 
on Etalon’s board of directors. Sistema 
signed an agreement supporting its 
commitment to high standards of information 
disclosure and transparency and confirming 
that any and all transactions (if any) between 
Sistema and Leader Invest in the future 
should be carried out on an arm’s length 
basis, including a guarantee that Sistema’s 
representatives will abstain from voting 
on any such matters.

Etalon Group is among Russia’s largest 
and oldest residential developers, a solid 
leader in St Petersburg and a growing 
presence in the Moscow metropolitan area. 
Etalon Group’s shares have been listed 
on the London Stock Exchange since 2011, 
under the ticker “ETLN”.

The company’s portfolio is represented 
by 39 projects at various stages, mostly 
in the high-margin Comfort and Business 
class segments. The total net sellable area 
is 2.73 million square metres, with a total 
portfolio value (according to Knight Frank) 
exceeding RUB 132 billion as of 30 June 
2018. In 2018 alone, Etalon Group sold 
628,000 square metres of floorspace 
for RUB 68.7 billion. In 2017, the company’s 
revenue was RUB 70.6 billion, with EBITDA 
of RUB 13.2 billion.

BUILDING VALUE THROUGH SYNERGIES

2015

2016

2017

2018

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Comfort

Business

NUMBER OF HOUSING TRANSACTIONS IN MOSCOW, 2015-2018,  
THSD 

Q1
4.3

Q2
5.1

Q3
4.5

Q4
5.8

Q1
6.6

Q2
7.7

Q3
9.2

Q4
11.0

Q1
10.5

Q2
13.4

Q3
12.8

Q4
17.6

Q1
15.9

Q2
18.0

Q3
20.0

Q4
25.8

Focus 
on the same 
regions (Moscow 
& St. Petersburg) 
and segments 
(predominantly  
business, comfort, 
and premium 
class)

Complementary project 
portfolios: no overlap 
in projects in Moscow

Attractive profits 
and impressive returns 
on investment

2018 was a year of unprecedented buoyancy 
in the Moscow market for business-class 
residential properties. As in the mass 
segment, the spending spike here was 
primarily driven by a reduction in mortgage 
rates. 40% of all of sales in the segment 
in 2018 involved mortgage contracts, which 
is quite untypical for the business class space 
(cf. 50+% in the mass segment) . To put it 
in perspective, in 2017 mortgage penetration 
in the segment was 30%, and in 2016 just 
27%. The recent trend, in turn, is driven 
by two factors: all-time low mortgage 
rates and an abundance of new, highly 
attractively priced properties. By the end 
of the year, the average Moscow home price 
in the primary mass-segment residential 
market peaked at RUB 162,090 per square 
metre.

By the end of the year, the primary business-
class market was represented by 94 
residential complexes with some 14,550 
apartments (or 1.07 million square metres 
in total), with six projects entering the sales 
phase in Q4. The average price in the segment 
at the year-end was RUB 228,525 per square 
metre, 2.3% up from 2017. 

Like the mass market, the residential 
business class segment in 2019 will be 
affected by a number of factors, primarily 
recent legislative changes (amendments 
to Federal Law 214-FZ governing off-plan 
property development projects) that come 
into effect on 11 July 2019 and require that 
buyers’ money be held in escrow accounts 
until commissioning, which means that 
project financing will become the only source 
of funding available to developers. According 
to experts, the move will toughen competition 
and put smaller developers out of business, 
while larger professional players with broad 
expertise will consolidate their market 
shares.

2018 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE  

Leader Invest’s revenue grew by 100.9% 
year-on-year to RUB 12.7 billion in 2018. 
The main sources of revenue recognition were 
the Vsevolozhsky, Pokrovsky, Chertanovskaya 
and Michurinsky developments, as well 
as Daev, Demyana Bednogo, Kavkazky Plyus, 
Yana Rainisa and Fabritsiusa.

As of the end of 2018 the sales portfolio 
including commercial real-estate and parking 
spaces totalled 209.3 thousand square metres. 

Revenue in 2018 was driven primarily 
by an increased level of completion of projects 
under construction and higher volumes 
of NSA available for sale, primarily due to 120 
Lobachevsky, as well as previously recognised 
revenue due to the introduction of the IFRS 15 
standard. 

Excluding the effect of new accounting 
standards, revenue decreased in 2018 
due to the decrease in deliveries of new 
developments – in 2017 the premium class 
Daev and Serpukhovsky projects were 
delivered, while in 2018 one business class 
project was delivered, Schastye v Mnevnikakh 
residential complex at 15 Ul. Demyana 
Bednogo.

Positive trends in OIBDA and the OIBDA 
margin in 2018 were due to higher sales 
volumes and supply dynamics, as well 
as the impact of new IFRS standards. Factors 
driving the net loss for FY 2018 excluding 
the effect of new standards were the decrease 
in revenue due to a lower number of project 
deliveries, and also increased advertising 
spend.

2015

2016

2017

2018

1 All statistics provided in this market review are according to Metrium.
2 Source: Federal Service for State Registration.

REVENUE 

100.9% 

12,676 RUB million

FINANCIAL  
INDICATORS
(RUB million)
Revenue
OIBDA
Operating income
Profit attributable to Sistema

Excluding impact of 
new IFRS standards

FY 2018
12,676
3,129
2,990
772

FY 2017
6,308
415
221
164

Change
100.9%
654.6%
1,253.3%
372.2%

FY 2018
2,978
(1,038)
(1,178)
(2,104)

Change
(52.8%)
—
—
—

58

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

59

Real estate assets: 

Business Nedvizhimost Group is one of the largest property 
owners in Moscow. The company’s main assets are 
JSC Business Nedvizhimost (lease and sale of commercial 
real estate) and JSC Mosdachtrest (lease of cottages/sale 
of land plots).

Business Nedvizhimost’s 
operating results in 2018

PROPERTIES GENERATING  
RENTAL INCOME

TOTAL  
PROPERTY PORTFOLIO

50 units 

246.7 thsd sq m

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW FOR 2018 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN 2018  

A total of 114,000 sq m of new office space 
was commissioned in Moscow in 2018. 
The Moscow quality office space market 
reached 20.5m sq m, with class A offices 
accounting for 4.94m sq m, class B+ offices 
7.43m sq m, and class B- offices 8.43m sq m. 

Companies operating in the consumer sector 
accounted for about 17% of real estate 
market demand. Demand from the IT sector 
also increased, reaching 15% of the total. 
Trading companies continue to generate 
steady demand and account for 14% 
of the total number of bids. 

At the end of 2018, average rental rates 
grew across all property classes. Class 
A properties saw the highest growth. Overall, 
the average rental rate for class A space 
rose by 9%, reaching 26,160 RUB/sq m per 
annum (excluding VAT) by the end of 2018. 
The average weighted rental rate in class 
B+/B properties also increased and reached 
15,180 RUB/sq m per annum (excluding 
VAT). In class C the rental rate amounted 
to 11,160 RUB/sq m per annum, having 
increased by 1.1% year-on-year.

Business Nedvizhimost has a unique pool 
of properties: mansions in the centre 
of Moscow, office and commercial buildings, 
manufacturing and storage facilities, 
high-end cottages and land plots. In 2018, 
the company continued to implement its 
strategy in two core areas: 

1.  effective management of property 

portfolio under ownership, 

2.  providing professional and effective 

management services and operation of 
commercial real estate, including third-
party properties.  

In terms of designated use Business 
Nedvizhimost’s assets are divided into 
three key groups: leasing, development 
monetisation as part of the M&A programme. 
The objectives of the company 
for 2019 include creation of an IT platform 
for commercial real estate management, 
renovation of own properties jointly 
with partners and launching a programme 
for replacing existing assets, redevelopment 
of own high-potential properties 
and acquisition of investment-grade assets 
from the market.

OFFICE PROPERTY MARKET1  
AS OF THE END OF Q4 2018, 
THOUSAND SQ M

CHANGES IN VACANT SPACE1   
AS OF THE END OF Q4 2018, %

4,963

 7,433

8,430

1,227

14.5%

11.9%

6.6%

10.3%

VYACHESLAV KHVAN  
CEO 

SERGEY SHISHKIN 
Chairman of the Board of Directors

SISTEMA’S STAKE:

100%

8 
http://sistema-bn.ru

MOSDACHTREST is a subsidiary of Business 
Nedvizhimost whose operations are mostly 
related to the lease of cottages and office 
buildings in Moscow. Mosdachtrest’s 
key assets are land plots in Serebryany 
Bor and the Moscow region. In 2018, 
Mosdachtrest completed the renovation 
of 50 properties in Serebryany Bor.

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SALES 
THSD SQ M

ASSETS OF BUSINESS NEDVIZHIMOST 
AS OF 31 DECEMBER 2018, SQ M

69.3

22.3

69.3

54,667

36,626

246,670

MOSDACHTREST  
TOTAL PROPERTY PORTFOLIO

52.3 thsd sq m

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 
STRATEGY  

The development strategy of Business 
Nedvizhimost includes three key areas:

1.  Maximising the value of assets through 

renovation; 

2.  Rotation of tenants to maintain rental 

income at a minimum of 10% per annum;

3.  Replacement of assets at their peak 

value by assets from the market with 
potential for improvements and value 
growth of at least 30%.

According to its strategy for 2019–22, 
Business Nedvizhimost will conduct rotation 
of its commercial property portfolio in order 
to replace assets that have reached their 
peak value by investment-grade assets 
with growth potential, and expand the area 
of residential rental real estate in ownership 
by building new residential properties.

155,377

For rent 

For sale outside Sistema Group

For renovation

UoM
thsd m2
thsd m2
ha
ha

2018
248.7
54.7
19.3
82.7

2017
302.9
84.3
19.3
87.2

%
– 18%
– 35%
х
– 5%

thsd m2

46.7

48.3

– 3%

OIBDA increased by 59.3% year-on-year 
to RUB 4.6 billion, in line with revenue 
and due to optimisation of a number of costs. 

2017

2018

2018 OPERATING RESULTS2 

Indicator
Area of commercial real estate in Moscow,  

of which for sale 

Land area (Serebryany Bor) 
Land area (Moscow region)
Cottages for rent, (Serebryany Bor, Barvikha 
and Trudovaya)

2018 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 

In 2018 revenue from Sistema’s rental 
assets (Business Nedvizhimost and its 
Mosdachtrest subsidiary) increased by 31.0% 
year-on-year to RUB 7.9 billion, primarily 
due to sales of real estate. In FY 2018 
69.3 thousand sq m was sold. 

FINANCIAL  
INDICATORS
(RUB million)
Revenue
Operating income
OIBDA
Profit attributable to Sistema

Excluding impact of 
new IFRS standards

FY 2018
7,887
4,184
4,598
3,147

FY 2017
6,019
2,629
2,887
1,655

Change
31.0%
60.9%
59.3%
90.1%

FY 2018
7,887
4,229
4,553
3,163

Change
31.0%
59.1%
57.7%
91.1%

Class А

Class B +

Class B -

Class C

Class А

Class B +

Class B -

Average

1 Source: ILM, Becar.
2 As of 31 December 18.

60

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Annual Report 2018

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About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

61

JSC RTI 

JSC RTI (“RTI”) is a major research and production company 
that develops, produces and supplies radars, comprehensive 
automated control systems, command centres, communications 
equipment, electronic devices and microelectronics.

RTI’s products ensure border 
protection, security of air 
and maritime traffic, and safety 
in all areas of life.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN 2018

RTI is a major research and production 
holding company for more than 10 
enterprises spanning segments 
from microelectronics to radars 
and communications. JSC Mintz Radio 
Technology Institute, one of RTI Group’s 
leading research and production enterprises, 
was commissioned by Roscosmos 
to develop prototypes of on-board radars 
and fulfilled export orders for on-board 
broadband communication systems in 2018. 
The company has developed a new method 
of real-time functional control of complex 
radio systems, including early warning radar 
systems. Its algorithms can reduce the time 
required to identify and resolve problems 
and prevent the risk of incorrect operations 
of radar systems. 

PJSC Yaroslavl Radio Factory, a leading 
Russian manufacturer of professional radio 
communications equipment, conducted 
technical upgrades and launched 
an advanced assembly shop for spacecraft 
payload and drastically increased the volume 
of work on space programmes (including 
GLONASS). Following the commissioning 
of this production facility Yaroslavl Radio 
Factory became one of the key links 
in the production chain for new spacecraft. 
The enterprise will increase its competitive 
advantages by obtaining a certificate 
of compliance from its foreign partner, 
Thales Alenia Space, which will allow it 
to export products for foreign satellites.  

The company actively worked on its 
quality management system in 2018 
to increase the level of process stability 
and the traceability of order execution.

Yaroslavl Radio Factory and JSC Russian 
Space Systems also signed an agreement 
on cooperation in the development 
and production of on-board space equipment. 
Yaroslavl Radio Factory will become a centre 
of excellence in navigation and space 
communications. 

ADVANCES IN MICROELECTRONICS

For more than 30 years, Mikron has been 
the undisputed leader of the Russian 
microelectronics market. In 2018, 
the company continued to capitalise 
on growth opportunities in new markets, 
consistently updating its product portfolio 
and developing its customer base. Projects 
implemented include expansion of the client 
and distribution network, with 54 new clients 
and 38 distributors, dealers and integrators.

Automotive electronics and IoT components 
are among new segments that the company 
plans to enter in the future. In 2018, Mikron 
produced chip samples for automotive 
electronics and received a letter 
of conformance with the international IATF 
standard for its quality management system, 
which is necessary to enter the exports 
market.

MAXIM KUZYUK 
CEO 

OLEG MUBARAKSHIN 
Chairman of the Board of Directors

SISTEMA’S EFFECTIVE STAKE:

87%

8 
http://aorti.ru

In 2018, Mikron began supplies 
of microcontrollers protecting transmitted 
data of IoT devices for municipal services. 
It is expected that after pilot applications 
in 2018, supplies will grow 5x-7x in 2019. 

CJSC RTI Microelectronics, a member of RTI 
Group, signed a legally binding agreement 
with Rostec and JSC Ruselectronics (part 
of Rostec) in February 2019 to establish 
a joint venture in microelectronic 
components. The parties will contribute 
controlling stakes in 19 enterprises 
that develop, produce and design 
microelectronics components to the JV. 

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW FOR 20181 2 

2018 was marked by diverse trends in RTI’s 
areas of operations. In the surveillance 
and reporting systems market, total 
spending on armaments declined in 2018 
by 6.3% year-on-year. Spending in 2019-
2021 is expected to remain at the same 
level as 2018. In the Russian market 
for automated control systems, high 
growth rates (10%-15%) in 2019 are 
expected in the segment of service 
solutions (geoinformation platforms; 
business intelligence) and control systems 
for executive authorities. Global trends 
include an increasing role for automation 
and smartification (including artificial 
intelligence) in control and security systems. 

The global microelectronics market in 2018 
grew by 12% year-on-year to USD 462 billion. 
Production of 200 mm wafers (the segment 
in which Mikron operates) grew by 14%. 

1 Source: company data; World Semiconductor Trade Statistics.
2 Source: company data.

1,381 million   

microchips

7 million   

chip modules 

892 million  

export chips

482 million  

chips for the Russian market

GLOBAL                                                12%
MICROELECTRONICS MARKET1 
USD BILLION

RUSSIAN MICROELECTRONICS 
MARKET2  
RUB BILLION 

463

134

336

335

339

412

463

126

128

129

131

134

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Demand was driven by industrial electronics, 
automotive electronics and the Internet 
of things.

RUSSIAN MICROELECTRONICS 
MARKET 

13%

5%

3%

2%

43%

The Russian microelectronics market 
in 2018 grew by 3% to RUB 135 billion. 
The largest segment is still production 
of microcircuits for the defence industry 
and aerospace equipment, including 
for the medical and industrial sectors. 
Increasing digitalisation of business 
processes and automation of production 
facilities and infrastructure generate 
demand for microcontrollers, representing 
an additional driver of demand for Mikron’s 
products.

BY SECTOR

32%

Defense industry and aerospace

Industrial, energy and medical electronics 

Consumer electronics

ID, RFID, smart cards 

IoT 

Automotive 

Telecom

62

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

63

JSC

RTI

JSC Bashkir Power Grid 
Company 

JSC Bashkir Power Grid Company (“BPGC”) 
is one of Russia’s largest regional energy 
companies.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 
STRATEGY

RTI’s strategy is aimed at strengthening its 
market position, pursuing organic growth 
in segments in which the company operates, 
entering adjacent market segments 
and civilian markets, boosting exports 
in all segments and increasing operating 
efficiency.

In the government contracts segment, RTI 
is focused on maintaining leading positions 
in radio, surveillance and communication 
systems, as well as information systems 
for managing and supporting decision-
making. In addition to its traditional segment 
of very long-range radars, RTI is planning 
to develop sales in adjacent segments, 
increase exports and enter civilian markets.

The company’s plans in the microelectronics 
segment include consolidation of production 
and customer bases, development 
of export sales through expansion 
of the product offering to meet the needs 
of the digital economy, and partnerships 
with manufacturers of electronic equipment 
and systems integrators. The industry’s key 
growth drivers in the near future will be 
IoT and AI, which require a huge number 
of various microchips, most of which are 
produced using technologies available 
at Mikron’s facilities.

FINANCIAL RESULTS IN 2018  

In 2018 RTI’s revenue decreased year-on-
year due to the high-base effect: In 2017 
a large volume of work was done as part 
of long-term contracts under government 
contracts.

For the full year adjusted OIBDA increased 
by 168.1% as SG&A expenses declined 
by 31.5% year-on-year to RUB 3.7 billion.

In 2018 the OIBDA margin rose by 15.5 p.p. 
to 21.5% due to a decrease in SG&A expenses 
and the increased share of work done in-
house in the cost of sales structure.

As of 31 December 2018 net debt 
was RUB 29.0 billion.1 RTI also has 
on its accounts additional funds earmarked 
for government contracts amounting 
to RUB 8.6 billion that are not included 
in the net debt calculation.

REVENUE 

25.7%

22,886 RUB mn

ADJ. OIBDA 

168.1%

4,919 RUB mn

SG&A 

31.5%

3.7 RUB bn

FINANCIAL  
INDICATORS
(RUB million)

Revenue
Adj. OIBDA
Operating income / (loss) 
Adjusted loss attributable 
to Sistema

Excluding impact of 
new IFRS standards

FY 2018

FY 2017

Change

FY 2018

Change

22,886 
4,919
921 

30,793 
1,835
(5,772) 

(25.7%)
168.1%
—

22,886 
4,611 
825 

(25.7%)
151.3%
—

(531) 

(4,178) 

—

(546) 

—

1 Net debt includes financial leasing.

BUSINESS MODEL  

Electricity 
generation

ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION 
AND DISTRIBUTION

Supply Consumption

DMITRY SHAROVATOV   
CEO

Conditions and technological parameters by SO UPS (Independent System Operator)

Renewable 
energy sources 

BGC

Bashkirenergo

Transmission  
grids 

Distribution  
grids 

Bashkortostan 
Power Sale 
Company

OLEG MUBARAKSHIN 
Chairman of the Board of Directors

BGC LLC   
(Inter RAO Group) 
HPP1

TPP1

BPGC Engineering 

SISTEMA’S EFFECTIVE STAKE:

91%

BPGC’s subsidiaries include 
LLC Bashkir Grid Company 
(“BGC”) (transmission grids), 
LLC Bashkirenergo (distribution 
grids) and LLC BPGC 
Engineering (engineering).

8 
https://bashes.ru

BPGC’s activities are aimed at ensuring 
reliable, high-quality and affordable power 
supply to consumers. In addition to its core 
operating activities, the company pays 
close attention to its role in driving local 
economic growth, sustainable development 
and cooperation. 

Most of the company’s revenue is generated 
by its transmission business, which 
is a natural monopoly and therefore has its 
prices closely regulated by the government. 
Other businesses of the group include 
utility hookup services, engineering 
and construction of power lines 
and electrical substations, as well as lease, 
IT and communication services.

1 Hydro Power Plant, Thermal Power Plant.

64

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

65

JSC

BPGC

BPGC runs a chain of holding companies that transmit 
electricity between central Russia and the Urals, distribute 
power to end users in Bashkortostan (a constituent region of 
Russia and home of the company), and perform engineering, 
construction and refurbishment works at power lines and 
electrical substations.

ELECTRIC METERS

220 thsd

GRID LENGTH 

>88.5 thsd km

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW FOR 2018 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN 2018

DISTRIBUTION GRIDS

Power generation in Russia in 2018 
increased by 1.7%, to 1,091.6 billion kWh, 
while new connections grew to 4.5 GW, 
with more than 400,000 new users hooked 
up to power grids. Total consumption 
of electrical power in Russia in the reporting 
year rose 1.6%, to 1,076.1 billion kWh.1  

According to a recent forecast by the Ministry 
of Economic Development, by 2020 power 
generation volumes in Russia will have 
grown by 2.2%, and power consumption 
by 2.4%. To phase out cross-subsidisation, 
the government has scheduled 5% p.a. 
growth of electricity rates for residential 
customers and 3% p.a. growth for all other 
users throughout 2018-2020.

The electric grid services market is naturally 
monopolistic. All regional distribution grid 
companies operate under similar market 
conditions and abide by the same tariff 
policy. A leader in operational efficiency 
among Russia’s power grid companies, 
Bashkirenergo achieves high profit margins 
despite below-average prices. In 2018, 
the average straight-line “common pot” 
electricity rate in Bashkortostan reached 
RUB 1 per kilowatt hour, up 7.5% from 2017. 
The indexation of straight-line electricity 
rates effective from July 2018 averaged 
9.4% for all voltages, while the electrical 
grid maintenance rate grew by an average 
of 5.7% and the power loss coverage 
rate by 19.0%. Relatively high growth 
of the latest electricity rates was driven 
by a number of nationwide factors: growth 
of wholesale electricity prices in the past 
few years, statutory adoption of cost 
standards for default suppliers of electrical 
power, and a 20x growth of prices charged 
by PJSC FGC UES (Russia’s largest 
transmission-grid company, serving about 
half of the country’s energy consumption).

1 Source: AK&M Information Agency.

With a view to enhancing operating efficiency, 
BPGC continued its long-term programmes: 

1.  energy conservation and improvement 

of energy efficiency;

2.  overhaul of distribution grids 

in Ufa (Bashkortostan’s capital) 
and implementation of Smart Grid 
solutions;

3.  automation of business processes 
through the use of information 
technology and ERP systems;
4.  migration to a two-tier system 

of operational and technological 
management at LLC Bashkirenergo 
as an optimisation move.

LOSSES ON GRIDS, %

1.3%

8.4%

1.2%

8.2%

In 2018, LLC Bashkirenergo installed 
more than 50,000 meters designed 
specifically for state-of-the-art automated 
power control and metering systems. 
As a result, the company now operates 
some 220,000 meters and 286,000 metering 
channels across the region. Power 
losses in distribution grids decreased 
from 8.36% to 8.23% year-on-year 
as a result of a comprehensive programme 
of technological solutions.

To improve the reliability and quality 
of power supply to Ufa’s consumers, BPGC 
refurbished over a hundred distribution 
and transformer substations across 
the city and laid 15 kilometres of cable 
as part of a long-term project aimed 
at comprehensive renovation of Ufa’s 
distribution grids. In 2019, the company will 
refurbish another 87 distribution substations, 
lay another 8 kilometres of cable, and install 
another 17,000 meters.

At the end of 2018, BPGC opened 
a new subdivision near Ufa (“Novoufimsky 
Distribution Zone”) to meet growing 
demand for electrical power connections 
in the suburbs around the city. A product 
of a long multi-stage process, the facility 
includes a 110 kV substation (“Zubovo”) 
and a standalone distribution grid 
with a staff of 72 people. 

2017

2018

Transmission grids 

Distribution grids

The new facility will improve the 
reliability of power transmission, 
reduce power outages, speed up 
connections of new users, and provide 
employment to Bashkortostan’s 
people. 

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 

BPGC’s key long-term goals include:

1. 
Maintaining leadership in operational 
efficiency among Russian power grid assets

2. 
Generating stable cash flows 
for shareholders and maintaining dividends 
at the current level, while maximising 
shareholder value both organically 
and through M&A

OPERATING RESULTS 

Parameter
Power in
Power losses

New connections
Connected capacity

POWER IN INCREASE

1.6%

POWER OUT INCREASE 

1.8%

2018

2017

%

Units
m kWh
m kWh
%
connections
MW

Bashkirenergo
22,512
1,854
8.2
19,321
380.2

BGC
27,327
326
1.2
1
4

Bashkirenergo

BGC

Bashkirenergo

22,152
1,853
8.4
19,547
334

26,138
333
1.3
1
2.4

1.6%
0.04%
 – 0.13 p.p.
– 1.16%
13.8%

BGC

4.5%
– 2.3%
– 0.09 p.p.
0%
69.5%

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN 2018 

In Q4 2018 BPGC’s revenue grew 
by 8.3% to RUB 19.1 billion. Revenue growth 
in 2018 was also driven by tariff indexation 
and an increase in electricity consumption 
and capacity as consumers switched to two-
part tariffs.

OIBDA growth of 21.1% for 2018 followed 
revenue and was also due to reduced expenses 
on network losses and the introduction of new 
accounting standards.

The OIBDA margin for 2018 increased 
by 3.5 p.p. versus 2017 to 33.3% as a result 
of the new IFRS standards. Excluding 
the effect of the new accounting standards, 
the OIBDA margin for 2018 decreased 
by 0.3 p.p. as a result of an increase in costs 
for services provided by PJSC Federal Grid 
Company of Unified Energy System due 
to an increase in paid-for capacity. The net 
profit increased following OIBDA. 

In 2018 BPGC paid RUB 2 billion in dividends.

FINANCIAL  
INDICATORS
(RUB million)
Revenue
OIBDA
Operating income
Profit attributable to Sistema

Excluding impact of 
new IFRS standards

FY 2018
19,130 
6,369 
3,872 
2,930 

FY 2017
17,671 
5,259 
2,926 
2,369 

Change
8.3%
21.1%
32.3%
23.7%

FY 2018
19,569 
5,741 
3,273 
2,492 

Change
10.7%
9.2%
11.8%
5.2%

 
 
66

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

67

Hospitality assets

Cosmos Group is one of Russia’s leading hotel management 
companies, providing a full range of hotel development 
services from project consulting and preparing hotels for 
opening to cost cutting and increasing asset capitalisation.

Cosmos Group has more than 
4,000 rooms under management in 
3-5 star hotels in tourist and business 
centres: city business hotels and 
luxury resorts in Russia, Italy, 
Namibia and the Czech Republic.

COSMOS GROUP MANAGES

4 thsd rooms 

in hotels of various price segments

BUSINESS MODEL

Cosmos Group provides a broad range 
of services, from hotel concept development 
and design and construction support 
to brand selection and hotel management.

Cosmos Group specialises in managing 
existing hotels, including implementation 
of service standards, introduction of quality 
assurance systems, recruitment, training 
and regular assessment of personnel, 
administrative and business operations, 
adoption of security standards, 
improvement of sales, income management 
and centralised procurement systems.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN 2018

The main event of 2018 was the FIFA World 
Cup, which attracted more than 2.7 million 
tourists to 11 Russian cities. Sistema’s hotels 
located in host cities showed substantial 
growth of operating indicators.1

In 2018, to increase business efficiency 
Cosmos Group separated its hotel ownership 
and management functions: Cosmos Group 
is in charge of operational management, 
while Sistema Hotel Management 
is responsible for ownership.

As part of its strategy for its hotel assets 
Sistema will conduct a rebranding 
of Russian hotels. The Group’s hotels will 
start operating under the Cosmos Hotels & 
More brand, with the exception of Holiday 
Inn Express and Park Inn hotels, which 
will continue operating under international 
brands. The chain will comprise four brands: 
My Cosmos for economy-class city hotels, 
Cosmos for classical business hotels, 
Cosmos Collection for premium hotels 
and CosmosStay for serviced apartments.

ALEXANDER SHWEIN  
President

ARTYOM SIRAZUTDINOV  
Chairman of the Board of Directors

SISTEMA’S  
EFFECTIVE STAKE:

100%

8 
http://cosmosgroup.ru

In 2019, Cosmos Group aims to actively 
increase its presence in the key region 
(Russia) by taking new hotels under 
management. 

Parameter, RUB mn

2018

2017

%

HOTELS

RevPAR, incl. 

Russia

hotels abroad

Occupancy rate, incl.

Russia

hotels abroad

2,415

2,019

12,640

65%

65%

60%

1,849

1,516

9,734

56%

56%

53%

Rooms

4,049

4,049

31%

33%

30%

9 p.p.

9 p.p.

8 p.p.

0%

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW FOR 20183

In 2018, seven hotels operating under 
international brands were opened in Moscow 
(including the airports of the Moscow 
aviation hub) with total accommodation 
capacity of 1,728 rooms, leading to an 8.9% 
increase in the hotel room supply in Moscow. 
In 2018, the supply of quality hotel 
rooms grew at the same rate as in 2017. 
It is expected that 19 new hotels will be 
built in Moscow in 2019, including five 
hotels operating under international brands, 
with the total of 1,105 rooms.

The average occupancy rate of Moscow 
hotels in 2018 was 75%, which is 1.8 p.p. 

higher than in 2017. At the beginning of 2019, 
for the first time in many years occupancy 
of Moscow hotels during the New Year 
holidays reached 90%,4 which is comparable 
with occupancy during the FIFA World Cup 
in 2018.

Hotel accommodation prices increased 
by 34% year-on-year on average in all 
segments, mostly due to the Football World 
Cup. The fastest growth of 50.3% was 
recorded at the luxury Moscow hotels. 

Steady growth of demand resulted not 
only in increased occupancy rates but also 
enabled hotels to increase revenue per room 
after the FIFA World Cup. 

Following a slump in demand for hotel 
services in 2014-2015, the Moscow hotel 
market is now highly competitive. Hotels 
mostly compete for low-budget tourist 
groups. In these conditions Sistema’s 
hotel assets are diversifying their services, 
expanding sales channels and improving 
internal business processes.

Cosmos Group’s market share 
in terms of accommodation capacity 
in the medium price category is more 
than 5%. This is one of the key drivers 
of the company’s competitiveness, 
enabling it to regulate prices in accordance 
with supply.

REVPAR2
RUB THSD

2018 RESULTS: NEW BRAND HOTELS 
BY SCALE SEGMENT

1.3

1.8

1.5

2.1

9.7

12.6

0%

8%

0%

5%

56%

9%

14%

18%

9%

52%

21%

6%

Cosmos Hotel

Russia

Abroad

Luxury

Upper Upscale

Upscale

Upper Midscale

Midscale

Budget

2017

2018

1 Cosmos, HIEX Paveletskaya and Courtyard by Marriott 
in Moscow, Park Inn Sochi City Centre, Park Inn Volgograd, 
Park Inn Kazan, and Intourist Kolomenskoye in Moscow, which 
is owned by a third party and managed by Cosmos Group.
2 Revenue per available room per day. 

Moscow and Moscow region

Upscale

Upper Midscale

Midscale

Budget

3 Source: JLL Hotels.
4 Source: the Tourism Committee of Moscow.

56%

14%

9%

21%

Russian regions

Luxury

Upper Upscale

Upscale

Upper Midscale

Midscale

Budget

8%

5%

9%

18%

52%

6%

68

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

69

Hospitality assets

COSMOS GROUP

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 
STRATEGY 

Sistema’s development strategy 
in the hospitality business envisages 
growing the “asset light” business segment 
(a model based on hotel management 
as opposed to hotel ownership) through 
expansion of the portfolio of assets under 
management by adding hotels owned 
by third parties. Cosmos Group’s expertise 
enables the management company to win 
contracts for managing both independent 
and international branded hotels.

The company intends to focus primarily 
on developing the segment of 3-4 star 
business hotels. Hotels in this segment enjoy 
the highest demand in Russia, which makes 
it possible to increase the speed of business 
expansion and its further capitalisation.

The main strategy for developing the 5-star 
Altay Resort and Izumrudny Les recreational 
hotels aims to improve their operating 
results. These hotels have been rebranded 
as Cosmos Collection (a premium brand 
of the Cosmos Hotels and More brand line). 
The overall social and economic situation 
in Russia is expected to have a favourable 
effect on implementation of this strategy.

2018 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

Revenue growth from hospital assets 
of 22.8% year-on-year was driven 
by higher occupancy rates and an increase 
in the average daily rate (ADR), as well 
as by the World Cup. 

Revenue from hotels outside Russia 
accounted for 20.7% of the total in 2018, 
down by 2.1 p.p., due to the faster pace 
of revenue growth at Russian assets. 

OIBDA in the hospitality segment in 2018 
increased by 54.7% compared to 2017 
on the back of revenue growth and due 
to effective cost control. The OIBDA margin 
for the year increased by 5.1 p.p. to 24.8%. 
The hospitality assets achieved profitability 
at the OIBDA level in 2018 compared 
with a loss in 2017.

The average occupancy rate in 2018 
was 62.5%, an increase of 6.3 p.p. 
on the previous year. The leader in terms 
of growth was the Cosmos hotel, where 
the rate increased by 11.1 p.p to 69.8%.

REVENUE 

22.8%

5,301 RUB mn

SHARE OF HOTELS              2.1 p.p.
OUTSIDE RUSSIA

20.7%

OIBDA 

54.7%

1,314 RUB mn

INCREASE IN AVERAGE    69.8%
OCCUPANCY RATE  
AT COSMOS HOTEL

11.1 p.p.

FINANCIAL  
INDICATORS

(RUB million)

Revenue

OIBDA

Operating profit

Loss attributable to Sistema

Excluding impact of 
new IFRS standards

FY 2018

FY 2017

Change

FY 2018

Change

5,301 

1,314 

555 

(532) 

4,318 

849 

198 

(517) 

22.8%

54.7%

5,301 

1,272 

22.8%

49.7%

180.3%

530

167.7%

—

(524) 

—

JSC Binnopharm ( “Binnopharm”) 
is one of the largest Russian full-cycle 
biopharmaceutical complexes with an in-house 
R&D division.

BUSINESS MODEL

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW FOR 2018  

Binnopharm is a full-cycle company 
from development and registration 
of drugs and production of finished products 
to marketing and promotion of drugs 
and sales to distributors and pharmacy chains. 

The company is focused on expansion 
in the commercial segment of the market, 
while maintaining limited sales of hospital 
products. An in-house sales service has 
been established to promote commercial 
prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) 
drugs.

The target segments of Binnopharm’s portfolio 
are pulmonology, neurology, and antiviral 
and immunomodulating drugs. Modern 
production facilities allow the company 
to produce a wide range of dosage forms, 
including tablets, capsules, ampoules, 
suppositories, syringes and solutions.

The Russian pharmaceuticals market 
in 2018 grew by 6.1% to RUB 1,329 
billion.2 The share of the commercial 
segment – the core of Binnopharm’s 
business – increased to 73%. At the same 
time, the commercial segment’s CAGR 
(8%) is faster than the market as a whole 
(7%). The growth forecast for 2019 is 1.8% 
for the pharmaceutical market and 3.5% 
for the commercial segment.

The continuing trend in the market 
is growing demand for cheaper generic 
drugs3 preferred by consumers over 
more expensive original drugs. The share 
of generics in total commercial market 
volumes increased by 1 p.p. in 2018 
compared with 2017 and amounted to 62% 
in monetary terms and 84% in physical 
terms4. 

In money terms, imported drugs continue 
to lose market share, and account for less 
than 70% of the total.

1 
ANDREY MLADENTSEV
CEO 

DMITRY ZUBOV   
Chairman of the Board of Directors

SISTEMA’S EFFECTIVE STAKE:

RUSSIAN PHARMACEUTICALS MARKET DEVELOPMENT,                                 6.1%
RUB BILLION 

74%

1,022

1,123

1,207

1,252

1,329

1,354

715

307

786

337

855

352

907

345

964

365

998

356

8 
https://binnopharm.ru/

Commercial segment

Hospitals segment

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019П

1 Since 5 February 2019. As of 31 December 2018 – Alexey Chupin.
2 According to the analytical agency AlphaRM.
3 Generic drugs are drugs that are equivalent to brand-name products in composition and effect. Generic drugs may differ 
from brand-name products in presentation and trade name, and they generally have a lower price.
4 According to the analytical agency DSM Group.

70

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Annual Report 2018

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About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

71

JSC 

BINNOPHARM

The company produces biotechnological 
drugs, including a hepatitis B vaccine, a line 
of pulmonology and neurology drugs, infusion 
solutions, and anti-viral and immunomodulating 
drugs.  

BINNOPHARM MANAGES

2 modern pharmaceuticals facilities in Moscow region

Legislative initiatives aim to further clear 
the market of poor-quality and illegal 
products and to simplify and speed up 
procedures for registering new drugs. 
For example, the Ministry of Education 
and Science has developed a bill 
allowing the federal government to make 
decisions on issuing compulsory licences 
for the release of generics while patents 
on original drugs are still valid. When the bill 
is passed, it will be easier for Russian 
companies to bring generics to the market, 
while the level of localisation of foreign 
drugs may decrease.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN 2018

In 2018, Binnopharm continued 
to implement the strategy of strengthening 
its positions in the commercial segment 
and diversifying its proprietary drug 
portfolio. The company set its own record 
by completing the registration of 14 new 
drugs, including Hydroxyethyl Starch, 
Moxifloxacin, Levofloxacin, Inspirax in two 
dosage forms and a combination of Lidocaine 
and Tolperisone. A total of over 30 drugs 
are in development and are expected to be 
released in 2019-2021, further strengthening 
the company’s market presence. 

The company continued to develop direct 
partnerships with pharmacy chains, as this 
promotion channel has the highest efficiency. 
Several low-margin projects in commercial 
distribution of third-party products were 
terminated. 

The merger with OBL Pharm under 
an agreement reached at the end of 2018 will 
be a logical step in implementing the strategy 
to increase capacity utilisation and business 
profitability. 

NEW DRUGS

14 items

UNDER DEVELOPMENT

>30 items

BINNOPHARM’S REVENUE STRUCTURE IN 2018

7.8%

2.8%

34.0%

BY PRODUCTS

BY SEGMENT

89.4%

66.0%

Own products 

Commercial distribution 

Other

Commercial segment 

Hospital segment 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 
STRATEGY  

OBL Pharm acquisition

OBL Pharm and Binnopharm 
development strategy

At the end of 2018, Sistema announced 
a deal that significantly strengthens its 
position in the Russian pharmaceutical 
market with the acquisition of a stake 
in JSC Obolenskoye Pharmaceutical 
Enterprise (“OBL Pharm”), one of the leading 
Russian pharmaceutical companies. 

The transaction aims to create a leading 
pharmaceutical group and a top-10 player 
in the Russian market by merging OBL Pharm 
and Binnopharm. The combined diversified 
product portfolio currently includes about 
200 drugs. Leaders in their segments are 
Venarus (venotonic drugs), Maxilac (probiotic 
supplements) and Urdoxa (hepatoprotective 
drugs). The combined company’s production 
facilities will include four pharmaceutical 
plants in Moscow and the Moscow region. 
The establishment of the combined company 
is expected to be completed in 2019. 

2018 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 

Revenue in 2018 declined by 10.2% year-on-
year to RUB 2.1 billion, after Binnopharm 
ceased commercial distribution of some 
low-margin third-party products. Sales 
of Binnopharm’s own products grew 
by 18.5% in 2018. Binnopharm is continuing 
to pursue its strategy to reduce the share 
of the hospital segment in revenue.

OIBDA growth in 2018 of 5.3% was driven 
by the launch of sales of new products, 
as well as savings on commercial expenses. 
This was reflected in OIBDA margin growth 
of 3.5 p.p. to 23.9%.

In December 2018, Sistema, in partnership 
with VTB Bank and the management of OBL 
Pharm, acquired a stake in the leading 
pharmaceuticals company, OBL Pharm 
though Ristango Holding Limited. 

JOINT INTEREST IN OBL PHARM

95.14%

SISTEMA INVESTMENT

1.83 RUB bn

Sistema and VTB signed an agreement 
whereby Sistema will acquire VTB’s stake 
in Ristango Holding Limited within three 
years of the initial transaction.

Complementary business models, assets:

PHARMA FACILITIES IN MOSCOW 
AND MOSCOW REGION

4 facilities

PRODUCT PORTFOLIOS

~200 items

Effective utilisation of Binnopharm’s 
capacities for production of OBL Pharm 
drugs.

Substantial synergies in sales and  
marketing, combined R&D competencies, 
cost saving.

FINANCIAL  
INDICATORS
(RUB million)
Revenue
OIBDA
Operating income
Profit/(loss) attributable to Sistema

FY 2018
2,122 
508 
342 
(10) 

FY 2017
2,363 
482 
323 
14 

Change
(10.2%)
5.3%
5.8%
—

OIBDA 

5.3%

OPERATING INCOME    5.8%

508 RUB million

342 RUB million

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About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

73

Other assets

LLC Concept Group is one of the leaders 
in the Russian market for children’s 
and women’s clothes and underwear. 

Other assets

LLC Kronstadt Group is a Russian high-tech company that 
engineers and manufactures knowledge-intensive products 
and solutions for the production, deployment and safe use 
of sophisticated air-, sea-, and land-based systems.

ELENA BOGOMOLOVA 
CEO

The company has successfully developed 
retail chains under the Acoola and Concept 
Club brands with an aggregate of over 380 
stores, many of which are franchised.

Concept Group’s portfolio includes such 
brands as Acoola (clothes for children aged 
0-14), Concept Club (clothes for women, men 
and children, home textiles1) and Infinity 
Lingerie (underwear). Concept Group’s 
business is based on a multi-brand 
and multi-channel model that allows 
the company to diversify its revenue. 
A significant portion of revenues is generated 
by the nationwide retail chain.

The company operates in Russia (in more 
than 130 cities), Belarus, Kazakhstan, 
Armenia, Azerbaijan and India both through 
its own retail chain and in partnership 
with franchise and wholesale partners. 

In 2018, the company signed 
an agreement with key lenders 
on restructuring the Group’s loan 
portfolio. The shareholding structure 
improved after Sberbank became one 
of its shareholders. In 2018, the company 
appointed Elena Bogomolova, who has 
strong expertise in the clothing retail 
segment, as its new CEO. 

The key objectives of Concept Group 
for 2019 include active development 
of online sales and enhancement 
of the company’s operational efficiency. 
Another important goal is development 
of a new strategy that will enable 
Concept Group to become one of the top 
five market players by opening new-
format retail outlets, strengthening 
its design expertise and changing 
the marketing policy for its brands.

SERGEY BOGATIKOV 
CEO

SISTEMA’S EFFECTIVE STAKE:

SISTEMA’S EFFECTIVE STAKE:

43%

8 
https://conceptgroup.ru

1 All lines except for women’s clothing were introduced in 2018.

96%

8 
http://kronshtadt.ru

The Group’s substantial intellectual 
and engineering potential, its portfolio of key 
technologies and competences and state-of-
the-art manufacturing resources enable it 
to create high-tech products and solutions 
that are in demand in Russia and are also 
able to successfully compete on international 
markets.

In 2018, Kronstadt Group continued to fulfil 
a government contract for development 
of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) – 
the Orion project. The company also started 
developing a new business segment: 
provision of commercial services using 
drones. It also conducted active operations 
in the maritime solutions segment 
and provision of modern equipment 
for museums.

In 2018, Kronstadt created and updated 
electronic navigation maps for 10,000 
kilometres of internal water routes in Russia, 
signed three contracts with the government 
for supplying state-of-the-art hydrographic 
on-board equipment for Rosmorrechflot 
(the Russian Federal Agency for Maritime 
and River Transport), supplied seven 
sets of equipment for correcting stations 
ordered by Rosmorrechflot, and obtained 
a patent for the development of a unique 

automated hydrographic trawling system. 
Moreover, the company carried out work 
on implementation of hardware and software 
designed to generate and update digital 
terrain data, and supplied four sets 
of interactive shooting ranges. 

Kronstadt Group continued 
making a substantial contribution 
to the development of culture and provision 
of cutting-edge equipment to museums. 
In 2018, the company supplied an interactive 
5D unit for the Memorial Museum of Space 
(Moscow), equipment for the Space 
and Aviation Pavilion at VDNKh (Moscow), 
and started providing high-tech equipment 
for the largest car museum in Russia 
(Yekaterinburg). 

Kronstadt continued pursuing its CSR 
policy by participating in national Donor’s 
Days, enhancing cooperation with cancer 
charitable foundations, and organising 
volunteer work. 

The priority area of the company’s business 
is development of high-tech services using 
UAV systems as a platform for additional 
monetisation of existing technological 
competences.

74

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

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About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

75

Sistema’s investment funds
SISTEMA  
VENTURE  
CAPITAL

Sistema continues to develop a range of funds specialising in venture and 
PE investments. Sistema’s funds and investment companies offer investors 
exposure to a unique portfolio of hi-tech assets, as well as assets in real estate, 
manufacturing and healthcare.

NEW INVESTMENTS MADE IN 2018

Sistema Venture Capital (Sistema_VС) focuses 
on investments in tech companies.

SISTEMA’S STAKE 

80%

TARGET SIZE

10 RUB billion

INVESTMENT TARGETS 
AND FOCUS

Sistema VC invests in fast-growing Internet 
projects with potential to become industry 
leaders, as well as in early-stage deep tech 
projects.

Priority investment areas include:

 ¡ Projects leveraging AI and machine 

YEAR ESTABLISHED

learning technologies;

 ¡ Computer vision;

 ¡ Next-generation infrastructure solutions 

(SDN, NFV);

 ¡ Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform 
as a Service (PaaS) and marketplace 
solutions, including advertising 
technologies, fintech and e-commerce.

In 2018, the fund continued to pursue its 
dynamic strategy by investing in three new 
companies:

 Z ТraceAir (Russia/USA) 
 Z Connecterra (Netherlands)
 Z SQream (Israel)

2016

GEOGRAPHY

Russia, US,  
Europe, Israel

INDUSTRY FOCUS

Growth-stage Internet projects 
and technology

LIFE

No fixed term  

TARGET RETURNS

25–30% (in RUB)

Pentech and US fund Propel Venture 
Partners (in Datasine), as well as Alibaba 
Group (in SQream).  

Some of the transactions closed 
in the reporting year (YouDo, Gosu.ai, 
TraceAir) were among the top venture capital 
deals of 2018 in a ranking published by Inc. 
Russia. 

Sistema_VC also organised a number 
of events involving both large corporations 
and startups from the fund’s own portfolio, 
such as a big data conference dubbed Big 
Data, Meet Big Brother!, the international 
computer vision and machine learning 
summit Machines Can See (co-hosted 
with VisionLabs), and #public_tech, a series 
of open discussions of modern technology’s 
role in various industries.

TraceAir (USA) is a startup that helps 
construction companies reduce errors 
through automation. It uses data collected 
with drones and other sensors (including 
GPS receivers) to create accurate cloud 
copies of actual construction sites. 
The platform greatly speeds up design 
work and reduces contracting costs. 
The product has already attracted some 
large development companies in the USA, 
such as ENGEO (geotechnical engineering) 
and Independent Construction (construction), 
which are now co-investors in TraceAir along 
with some business angels.

SQReam (Israel) is a developer of a leading 
GPU-accelerated database for massive 
data. The company’s core product 
is a data warehouse that relies on machine 
learning algorithms and makes it possible 
to process terabytes of data 100 times 
faster and 10 times cheaper than CPU-
based solutions. The product is already 
used by some major companies in telecom, 
advertising, media, and other industries 
(Orange, Cellcom, Amdocs, PubMatic). 
The company received the prestigious Big 
Data Excellence Award 2018 for providing 
the technology for a large-scale cancer 
research programme.

Connecterra (Netherlands), founded 
by the former Microsoft executive Yasir 
Khokhar, specialises in AI solutions 
for the food industry and agriculture. 
The technology uses artificial intelligence 
to increase the productivity of dairy farms, 
and relies on wearable tracking devices 
that monitor cow health. The company’s 
core product is the Connecterra IDA 
platform, which analyses and predicts 
behavioural patterns based on data collected 
from neck sensors. IDA informs farmers 
about behavioural changes, provides 
early diagnosis, gives recommendations 
about optimising fertility cycles 
of cattle, etc. The solution is already used 
by Danone and ZLTO (a large farm chain 
in the Netherlands).

KEY INVESTMENTS MADE  
IN 2016-2017

It also supported new financing rounds 
by existing portfolio companies including 
Ozon, VisionLabs, YouDo, Web Technologies, 
MEL Science, DataSine and GOSU, bringing 
in new partners including French fund 
Ventech (a co-investor in GOSU), UK fund 

AS AT THE END OF 2018,  
THE FUND WAS 

 85% INVESTED

VisionLabs, 
is a developer 
of computer vision 
and machine learning 
solutions;

YouDo, is an online 
marketplace for personal 
services;

MEL Science, 
is an international 
company offering 
scientific and educational 
products based on VR/
AR technologies;

Luden.io, is a developer 
of educational games;

Segmento, is a platform 
that uses machine 
learning technologies 
for target advertising.

76

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

77

Sistema’s investment funds
SISTEMA 
ASIA  
FUND

Sistema Asia Fund is a venture capital fund, and an active 
and recognisable player in the Indian VC market that has 
become integrated into the country’s entrepreneurial 
ecosystem.

NEW INVESTMENTS MADE IN 2018 

The fund’s goal is to efficiently place investors’ money 
in promising projects in the fast-growing Indian tech market.

SISTEMA’S STAKE 

100%

TARGET SIZE

USD 120 million 

with potential increase to USD 150 million 

YEAR ESTABLISHED

2015

GEOGRAPHY

India, Southeast Asia

INVESTMENT TARGETS 
AND INVESTMENT FOCUS

Sistema Asia Fund invests in tech startups 
in India (predominantly) and Southeast Asia 
(in exceptional cases) that meet the following 
criteria:

1.  a proven business model and/or loyal 

audience;

The new Sistema Business Scalerator, 
a product of cooperation between Sistema 
Asia Fund and MTS India, is a business scale-
up platform solution designed for organising 
sales for retail and B2B companies 
and streamlining operations in marketing, 
brand management and customer service. 
In March 2018, the platform joined forces 
with LendingKart Finance, a non-bank 
finance arm of LendingKart.

2.  solutions specific for the Indian market;
3.  startup founders heavily involved in 

FIRST EXIT 

business management;

4.  co-investors..

In 2018, Sistema Asia Fund team reviewed 
over 150 projects, thoroughly studied 
over 70 companies, made three new 
successful investments, and participated 
in follow-on investments in portfolio 
companies. The investment rounds were 
done at valuations exceeding the pre-money 
valuation, which testifies to the strong quality 
of the fund’s investments.

In March 2019, SAF completed its first 
monetisation by selling a stake in Qwikcilver, 
an Indian end-to-end service provider 
of gift card and prepaid solutions. Sistema 
Asia Fund invested in Qwikcilver in 2016 
and exited three years after with solid 
returns on the invested capital. With the first 
exit in the bag, Sistema Asia Fund remains 
an investor in nine businesses.

INDUSTRY FOCUS

Consumer tech (e-commerce, healthcare, 
transport, media, finance and education) 
and enterprise tech (IoT, VR/AR, platform 
solutions, big data, AI and machine learning)

LendingKart, one of the fund’s earliest 
projects, maintains a presence in the Fintech 
100 – a collaboration between fintech 
investment firm H2 Ventures and KPMG 
Fintech – for a third consecutive year, 
and is the only Indian lender in the list. 

LIFE

8 years mandatory   
+ 2 years optional,

with an investment stage of 4 years

TARGET RETURNS

3х cash-on-cash

Faasos — is India’s biggest “food on demand” 
company, using cloud kitchen technology. 
It is also the world’s biggest company 
operating in this format. It currently 
manages five brands and aims to further 
diversify its products.

Kissht — is an online consumer lending 
platform based on a proprietary algorithm 
for assessing creditworthiness with AI 
elements.

HealtifyMe is India’s biggest digital fitness 
platform (4 milion users and over 200 sports 
instructors and nutritionists) that allows 
users to monitor calorie consumption, 
set personal fitness goals and monitor 
their progress. What makes it really 
effective is access to online consultations 
with nutritionists and instructors. At the end 
of 2017, the company launched a new 
service, Ria, which is the world’s first virtual 
AI-based nutritionist. The company’s biggest 
corporate customers include P&G, Unilever, 
Accenture, Cognizant, Shell, and Philips.

INVESTMENTS MADE IN 2016-2017

Wooplr —  
is a web platform 
for online 
communication 
and sales of women’s 
clothes

Lendingkart — 
is a fintech lender 
that has created its 
very own data-based 
lending algorithm 
to provide loans 
to SMEs

Licious —  
is a brand operating 
in the meat-
selling business 
and leveraging 
a full value chain, 
from sourcing 
suppliers to processing 
to delivering 
to customers

Mobikon —  
is a marketing 
platform 
for restaurants 
to attract customers

Netmeds.com — 
is India’s biggest 
online pharmacy, 
present all over 
the country

Seclore —  
is a developer 
of an EDRM 
(Enterprise Digital 
Rights Management) 
system that enables 
corporations 
to control the usage 
of electronic 
files both within 
and outside 
the company

78

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Annual Report 2018

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About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

79

Investment platform 
SCP/ 
SISTEMA  
FINANCE

Sistema Finance S.A. (SF) is an investment platform focusing 
on Europe and the United States.

Sistema Capital Partners (SCP) is an arm of SF that invests Russian institutional 
capital in developed real estate markets in Europe and the United States.

LLC 
SISTEMA  
CAPITAL MC

Sistema Capital is a leading Russian asset manager, with more than 17 years 
of experience in asset management on global financial markets for individual 
and corporate customers.

In 2018 SCP and SF were restructured to improve the efficiency 
of both businesses. Starting in 2019, the funds operate under 
a single brand, The SCP Group. SCP’s strategic goal is to build 
an integrated and diversified investment company focusing 
on scalable investments in capital-intensive assets in mature 
markets.

INVESTMENT TARGETS 
AND FOCUS

29 assets

 ¡ Industries that benefit from restructuring 

ACQUIRED BY BVK IN GERMANY

or rapid growth

SISTEMA’S STAKE 

100%

GEOGRAPHY

Mature economies

INDUSTRY FOCUS

 ¡ Assets that acutely need capital 

ASSET AREA 

Residential, retail and hotel  
rental properties, etc.

IRR 

>15%

>120 thsd sq m

IRR

28–36% in EUR

but are often beyond the scope of 
interest of institutional investors due 
to the relatively investment required 
(typical transaction amount from 
EUR 10 million to EUR 100 million)

Since 2015, SCP has created a strong 
track record both in Europe and in Russia. 
It completed a full round of deals involving 
German properties — Highstreet IV and HS 
Prime I, comprising a total of 29 assets 
in various towns in Germany with a total 
area of 120,000 sq m — which were sold 
to the Bayerische Versorgungskammer 
(BVK), Germany’s largest pension fund, 
bringing an IRR of 28-36% in EUR.

At the same time, Sistema Capital remains 
an active player in the personal wealth 
management market. In cooperation 
with MTS, the company has already launched 
MTS Investments, a “mass-market” app, 
with another collaborative B2C project — 
integration of an option to purchase 
investment fund units in the widely popular 
MTS Money Wallet app – also underway.

In 2019, Sistema Capital expects to see 
growth in its assets under management, 
driven by a general trend for investors 
to favour managed investments over bank 
deposits with ever-decreasing interest rates.

The strategic goal of Sistema Capital 
is to develop as a leading asset management 
company oriented towards private 
and institutional investors (retail online, 
HNWI, non-government pension funds) while 
continuing as a manager of Sistema Group’s 
liquidity and the vehicle for investment 
of Sistema’s funds in marketable securities 
with varied risk levels.

The company offers investment products 
in both Russian and foreign markets. 
These include bonds of Russian 
and foreign issuers in various segments 
and geographies, shares of companies 
from various countries, and derivatives.

As of the end of 2018, the company’s 
assets under management (AUM) stood 
at RUB 68.3 billion, 1.3 times higher than 
in 2017 and an increase of 6.4 times 
on 2014. The company ranks ninth in Russia 
by the net asset value (NAV) of its mutual 
investment funds (MIFs), with an aggregate 
NAV of RUB 11 billion as of the end of 2018. 

Sistema Capital’s MIFs were among 
the highest yielding in the Investfunds 2018 
ranking of open-end mutual bond funds 
with NAVs of over RUB 50 million.

In 2018, ratings agency RAEX (Expert RA) 
confirmed Sistema Capital’s rating at A+, 
with a Stable outlook. The agency praised 
the company’s high-quality IT system, 
strong investment process, reliability 
of counterparties and sound quality of AUM. 

The company acts as a trust manager 
for three non-government pension funds, 
including Sberbank’s Pension Fund. 

6.4Х

AUM,1 
RUB BN

68.3

10.7

22.3

23.7

51.7

68.3

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

SISTEMA’S EFFECTIVE STAKE:

70%

RATED 

А+ 

«Very high level of reliability»2

Top-10

RUSSIA’S LARGEST  
ASSET MANAGERS

YIELDS OF MUTUAL INVESTMENT FUNDS

SC Rezervny. Foreign currencies (Eurobonds)
SC Mobile. Bonds. Foreign currencies (Eurobonds)
SC Rezervny (bonds)
SC Mobile. Bonds (bonds)
SC Mobile. Equity (equity shares)

1 AUM means Assets Under Management.
2 By the RAEX (Expert RA) rating agency.

Currency

Yield/year, in specified currency

USD
USD
RUB
RUB
RUB

2015
+20.4%
n/a
+17.3%
n/a
+56.3% 

2016
+7.2% 
n/a
+12.1%
n/a
+23.4% 

2017
+5.2%
+5.8%
+14.3%
+15.1%
+4.2%

2018
+2.0%
+0.8%
+7.4%
+7.5%
+13.9%

80

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Annual Report 2018

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About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

81

Online retailer

Ozon is a leading Russian multi-category 
online sales platform, ranked fourth by revenue 
in the E-Commerce Index Top 100 for 2018 and among 
the top five most valuable Russian Internet companies 
according to Forbes.

RECORD NUMBER  
OF PROCESSED ORDERS

138 thsd per day

SISTEMA’S DIRECT STAKE:1

21.9%

In March 2019, Sistema acquired 18.7% 
of equity shares in Ozon Holdings Limited 
from PJSC MTS for RUB 7.9 billion, bringing 
Sistema’s total stake in Ozon’s equity 
to 19.3%. In April 2019, Sistema further 
increased its stake in Ozon to 21.9% following 
the acquisition of shares from a number 
of Ozon minority shareholders. 

In addition, Sistema_VC, a venture capital 
fund that is part of Sistema Group and invests 
in growth-stage tech companies, also holds 
16.3% in Ozon.

4 player 

1.5 m

IN THE RUSSIAN E-COMMERCE 
MARKET BY SALES TURNOVER 

UNIQUE CUSTOMERS  
DAILY 

1.6 m

15.5 m orders  

SKUS OFFERED,  
ACROSS 24 CATEGORIES

IN 2018  
(29 ORDERS PER MINUTE)

1 st

40% 

E-COMMERCE BRAND 
BY AWARENESS 

OF RUSSIA’S POPULATION  
HAVE ACCESS TO NEXT-DAY DELIVERY

73%  

OZON.RU GMV2 GROWTH  
IN 2018 Y-O-Y

115% 

GROWTH OF WAREHOUSE AREAS 
EXPECTED IN 2019 
(new fulfilment centre in the Moscow region 
and in Tver)

8 
https://ozon.ru

E-commerce is among Russia’s most 
promising markets. Even though online 
orders in Russia have more than doubled 
in the last 5 years3, the market has yet 
to reach its full potential. The world’s seventh 
largest country by number of Internet users, 
Russia still lags far behind leading economies 
in terms of e-commerce penetration, at just 
5% of total retail revenue in Russia, compared 
to 10-15% in mature economies and more 
than 20% in China and South Korea. By 2023, 
e-commerce penetration in Russia is expected 
to reach 10%, with the market growing 
from RUB 1.1tn in 2018 to RUB 3.5tn, which 
corresponds to a CAGR of 24% p.a4. 

Russia’s e-commerce market is heavily 
fragmented, there is clear potential 
for achieving leadership through 
consolidation, which Sistema believes Ozon 
has every chance of doing. 

In 2018, the company grew at a faster pace 
than at any point during the past 10 years. Its 
GMV4 growth in the reporting year reached 
73% YoY, with GMV totalling 42.5 billion 
roubles including VAT. In some categories, 
such as clothing and groceries, the growth 
rate exceeded 100%. 

As of the end of 2018, the company operated 
eight fulfilment centres with a total floor area 
of around 100,000 sq m, enabling next-day 
deliveries to 40% of the Russia’s population. 
In December 2018, Ozon hit an all-time 
high by number of processed orders 
(138,000 per day). 

8 fulfilment centres

In 2019, the company plans to stick to its 
aggressive strategy, aiming to conquer 
the wider market. Immediate initiatives 
include large-scale investments 
in logistics infrastructure, the expansion 
of a distribution centre in Tver, 
and the launch of a new fulfilment centre 
near Moscow with a total floorspace of over 
100,000 sq m.

NEW FULFILLMENT CENTRE AREA

>100 thsd sq m

1 Since April of 2019.
2 Gross Merchandise Value, or total revenue (including marketplace) net of loyalty programme effects.

3 Source: Russian Association for Electronic Communications (RAEC)
4 Source: Morgan Stanley

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Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

83

CORPORATE 
GOVERNANCE 
SYSTEM

SISTEMA’S CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 
PRINCIPLES

SISTEMA’S CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 
STRUCTURE

GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD  
OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT

MANAGEMENT BOARD

COMMITTEES REPORTING 
TO THE PRESIDENT AND 
THE MANAGEMENT BOARD

SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF RISK 
MANAGEMENT, INTERNAL CONTROL 
AND INTERNAL AUDIT SYSTEMS

DEVELOPMENT OF THE CORPORATE 
GOVERNANCE SYSTEM IN 2018

REMUNERATION POLICY

RISKS

84

85

86

88

92

94

95

96

98

100

102

104

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SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

85

Corporate  
Governance System

Sistema believes that high-quality corporate 
governance and information transparency 
are important elements of the Corporation’s 
strategy as an investment company. 

Sistema aims to meet best international standards 
of corporate governance and transparency, and improve 
its corporate governance practices on an ongoing basis 
through timely implementation of required changes 
and high efficiency of managerial decision-making. 

SISTEMA’S CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES

CLEAR AND EFFECTIVE  
PROCEDURES  
 for taking investment decisions

A DIVIDEND POLICY  
that takes due account of both 
the reasonable expectations of investors 
and Sistema’s financial resources

SPECIAL FOCUS   
of the Board of Directors on related-party 
transactions and potential conflicts of interest

SISTEMA’S CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE 
AS OF 31 DECEMBER 2018

Sistema’s corporate governance bodies: 

 ¡ General Meeting of shareholders;
 ¡ Board of Directors;
 ¡ President;
 ¡ Management Board.

GENERAL MEETING 
OF SHAREHOLDERS

Corporate Secretary

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Committees  
of the Board of Directors

PRESIDENT,  
CHAIRMAN  
OF THE MANAGEMENT 
BOARD

Internal Control  
and Audit Department 

MANAGEMENT BOARD

PROFESSIONALISM  
of the Board of Directors and its active 
involvement in strategic planning, management 
and oversight of business processes

REASONABLE TRANSPARENCY   
of management processes for investors 
and partners

Sistema is guided by these principles 
in all of its activities, including strategic 
and financial management, HR and social 
policy, preparation of financial statements, 
control and audit, and risk management. 
These principles form the foundation 
for strengthening the Corporation’s 
investment case.

In its corporate governance practices 
Sistema abides by applicable legislation, 
the Listing Rules of Moscow Exchange, the 
recommendations of the Russian Corporate 
Governance Code1 and the guidelines set out 
in the UK Corporate Governance Code2 3.  

In accordance with Russian legislation and 
best international practice, the Corporation’s 
Charter and internal regulations define 
its corporate governance principles 
and procedures, as well as the composition, 
procedures and powers of its governance 
and control bodies.

1 The text of the Corporate Governance Code recommended by the letter of the Bank of Russia No 06-52/2463 dated 10 April 2014 
is available at: http://www.cbr.ru/Queries/XsltBlock/File/48285?fileId=-1&scope=1518 (in Russian).
2 The conformity of Sistema’s corporate governance practices with the standards set out in the Corporate Governance Code of 
Russia and the UK Corporate Governance Code is analysed in Annexes 5 and 6 to this report. If Sistema’s corporate governance 
practices diverge from the standards recommended in the above documents, the Corporation provides an explanation of how it 
ensures that the balance of interests envisaged in applicable corporate governance standards is observed.
3 The text of the UK Corporate Governance Code is available at: https://www.frc.org.uk/getattachment/88bd8c45-50ea-4841-95b0-
d2f4f48069a2/2018-UK-Corporate-Governance-Code-FINAL.pdf.

The Corporate Governance and Ethics 
Code of Sistema sets out the additional 
commitments of the Corporation, its top 
management and employees in terms 
of social responsibility, transparency 
and ethical business principles.

Managing Partner 

Managing Partner 

Managing Partner 

Finance and investment  
Department

External Relations  
Department

Corporate Governance and legal 
Department

Security  
Department

Strategy  
Department

GR Department 

Managing Partner 

HR Department

Managing Partner 

Managing Partner 

 
 
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Annual Report 2018

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About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

87

Each shareholder is entitled to take part 
in General Meetings of shareholders 
and to vote on agenda items either in person 
or through a representative (if the General 
Meeting is held as an in-person meeting 
of shareholders).

Shareholders may complete ballot 
papers and send them to Sistema 
ahead of the General Meeting. Sistema’s 
shareholders may also use 
the e-voting system available on the website 
of the Corporation’s registrar, JSC Reestr. 
To use this service, shareholders should 
apply for access to a personal shareholder 
account on the website of JSC Reyestr. 
If a shareholder has a personal account 
on the e-government portal, they may get 
access to the service without applying 
to the registrar. 

8 
More detailed information on the procedure 
for connecting to the e-voting service 
is available on the website 
of the Corporation’s registrar http://www.
aoreestr.ru/shareholders/e-voting. 

Holders of Sistema’s global depositary 
receipts (GDRs) may vote on General 
Meeting agenda items by a proxy vote 
in line with the established procedure via 
a depositary bank servicing Sistema’s GDR 
programme. In 2018, Sistema’s depositary 
bank was Citibank, N.A. 

8 
For more information 
on the depositary bank and voting 
procedures please visit the bank’s website 
www.citiadr.idmanagedsolutions.com.

GENERAL MEETING  
OF SHAREHOLDERS

OBSERVANCE OF SHAREHOLDERS’ 
RIGHTS

The General Meeting of shareholders 
is the supreme governing body 
of the Corporation. The activities 
and powers of the General Meeting 
of shareholders are governed 
by Russian legislation, the provisions 
of Sistema’s Charter and the Terms 
of Reference of the General Meeting 
of shareholders. The Corporation 
seeks to create the most favourable 
conditions for shareholders 
to participate in the General Meeting.

8 
All materials relating to the General 
Meeting’s agenda items are published 
on the Corporation’s website in Russian 
and in English (www.sistema.ru  
and www.sistema.com, respectively)

Proposing agenda items 
for the General Meeting 
of shareholders and nominating 
candidates to the Corporation’s 
governance bodies

Shareholders who own at least 2% 
of the Corporation’s voting shares 
are entitled to propose items 
for the agenda of the Annual General 
Meeting of shareholders (AGM) and nominate 
candidates to the Corporation’s governance 
and control bodies. Such proposals should 
be submitted to the Corporation no later than 
100 days after the end of the reporting year, 
in accordance with the Terms of Reference 
of the General Meeting of shareholders 
and other internal regulations 
of the Corporation.1 Candidates nominated 
by shareholders to the governance 
and control bodies of the Corporation are 
provisionally reviewed by the Nomination, 
Remuneration and Corporate Governance 
Committee of the Board of Directors.

Participation in General Meetings 
of shareholders and voting 
on agenda items

Sistema aims to ensure maximum protection 
of the right of shareholders to take part 
in the governance of the Corporation 
by participating in the General Meetings 
of shareholders, voting on agenda 
items and receiving income in the form 
of dividends.

To ensure shareholders have the right 
to take part in the General Meeting, all 
materials relating to the General 
Meeting’s agenda items are published 
on the Corporation’s website in Russian 
and in English (www.sistema.ru and www.
sistema.com, respectively) at least 30 days 
before the date of the meeting. The notice 
of the General Meeting of shareholders, 
ballots and all other materials are also 
sent by mail to shareholders whose rights 
to the shares of the Corporation are recorded 
in the shareholder register, and to nominee 
shareholders in electronic form.

After the end of the reporting period, 
the Board of Directors, taking into 
account the need to maintain a balance 
between reducing debt, continuing 
investment activities and ensuring returns 
for shareholders, recommended that 
the General Meeting of shareholders approve 
dividends for 2018 in the amount of RUB 0.11 
per share.

To maintain a balance between 
the rights and interests of all shareholders 
and the Corporation’s ability to pay 
dividends, the Board of Directors, when 
determining the amount of dividends, 
will take into account the acceptable rate 
of debt reduction and the proportionality 
of dividends to the Corporation’s current 
cash flows. After achieving the goal 
of reducing the debt burden, the Board 
of Directors plans to return to consideration 
of dividend payments as a means 
of strengthening Sistema’s equity investment 
case.

Shareholders’ access 
to the Corporation’s documentation  

An important guarantee of the right 
of shareholders to participate in managing 
the company is the right to access 
documents that the Corporation is obliged 
to provide to shareholders in accordance 
with article 91 of the Federal Law on Joint-
Stock Companies. To exercise this right, 
shareholders should send a written request 
for access to the relevant documents 
to Sistema’s Corporate Secretary. After 
the time for providing the documents 
is agreed upon, the requested documents 
will be provided to the shareholder. 
When shareholders are granted access 
to confidential documents, they sign 
a written non-disclosure obligation, 
thereby guaranteeing the rights 
of all the Corporation’s shareholders are 
protected. If shareholders require any 
copies of documents, the shareholders 
bear the costs incurred by the Corporation 
(RUB 10 per page).

Votes of GDR holders about whom 
information has been disclosed 
to the depositary are collected 
by the depositary bank via clearing systems 
and are included in the general ballot along 
with all votes cast for and against proposed 
draft resolutions, as well as abstentions.

The results of voting on agenda items 
of General Meetings of shareholders held 
as in-person meetings are announced before 
the close of the meeting. After the minutes 
of the meeting are drafted, shareholders 
may also view the voting results 
on the Corporation’s website.

Dividend policy

The Corporation announces the amount 
of dividends recommended by the Board 
of Directors and the record date in advance. 
Shareholders are thus able to take informed 
decisions with respect to disposing of their 
shares.

In determining the recommended 
amount of dividends for 2017, 
the Board of Directors took due account 
of the priority of the strategic goal 
of reducing the Corporation’s debt, 
and recommended that the General Meeting 
of shareholders approve dividends totalling 
RUB 1,061,500,000, or RUB 0.11 per share, 
thus supporting the Corporation’s deviation 
from the current dividend policy2. 

INFORMATION ABOUT GENERAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS IN 2018
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

Date and venue

Form of the meeting

30 June 2018, Moscow, 13/1 Mokhovaya St

Meeting (in-person)

Items reviewed and decisions taken

 ¡ Annual report and financial statements for 2017 were approved; 

 ¡ Dividend for 2017 of RUB 1,061,500,000, or RUB 0.11 per ordinary share (RUB 2.2 per GDR), 

was approved;

 ¡ The Board of Directors and the Audit Review Commission were elected; 

 ¡ Auditors were appointed for RAS and IFRS audits for 2018.  

Attended

Shareholders holding a combined 78.5% of votes

Date and reference number of the minutes

4 July 2018, No 1-18

1 If an Extraordinary General Meeting of shareholders is conducted and its agenda contains an item on election of the Board of Directors, shareholders who own a sufficient number of shares are 
entitled to nominate candidates to the Board of Directors. Proposals to this effect must be received by the Company no later than 30 days before the date of such a meeting.

2 The current version of the Dividend Policy was adopted in April 2017.

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Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

89

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors 
is a collective governance body 
in charge of oversight and strategic 
management of the Corporation.

Under Sistema’s Charter the responsibilities 
of the Board of Directors include:

 ¡ Supervising the operations 

of the Corporation in general;
 ¡  Formulating strategic and financial 

development plans; 

 ¡  Determining investment principles 

and criteria;

 ¡  Assessing management’s performance; 
 ¡  Defining corporate governance 

principles;

 ¡  Approving transactions and strategic 

projects in accordance with applicable 
legislation and the Corporation’s internal 
regulations.

THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD

The Board of Directors effective 
as of 31 December 2018 was elected 
at the AGM held on 30 June 2018. 
Independent directors account for 45% 
of the Board of Directors.

9%

45.5%

Composition of the Board of Directors of Sistema PJSFC in 2018  
(re-elected on 30 June 2018)1 

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD 
OF DIRECTORS

Sistema’s Board meetings are held 
on a regular basis in accordance 
with the approved annual work plan 
of the Board of Directors, which is made 
based on Sistema’s strategic planning 
and reporting cycle.

12 meetings

Over the reporting period the Board 
of Directors considered the following key 
items:

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HELD 

4.  Managing and creating value for 

VLADIMIR 
EVTUSHENKOV
Board Chairman2

ANNA  
BELOVA3 

SERGEY  
BOEV 
Deputy Chairman of the Board 
of Directors until 31 March 2018

In 2018, the Board of Directors held 
12 meetings: eight scheduled in-person 
meetings and four unscheduled meetings 
with absentee voting. The Board of Directors 
reviewed a total of 74 agenda items in 2018.

1.  Sistema’s development strategy;
2.  Sistema Group’s strategic planning cycle;
Investment policy, strategy of Sistema’s 
3. 
investment funds and priority areas for 
investment in 2018-2019;

ANDREY  
DUBOVSKOV

FELIX  
EVTUSHENKOV 
Deputy Chairman of the Board 
of Directors until 12 October 2018

RON  
SOMMER

NUMBER OF IN-PERSON  
MEETINGS

NUMBER OF ABSENTEE  
VOTES

8

4

8

8

7

4

ROBERT  
KOCHARYAN4

JEANNOT  
KRECKÉ3

ROGER  
MUNNINGS5

2017

2018

2017

2018

NUMBER OF ITEMS IN ACCORDANCE  
WITH THE BOARD’S WORK PLAN

ACTUAL NUMBER OF ITEMS 
REVIEWED BY THE BOARD

48

74 

46

48

81

74

Sistema’s investments in the following 
areas:

 Z Telecom assets;
 Z Consumer (retail) assets, including 

e-commerce assets;
 Z Agricultural assets;
 Z Timber processing and pulp and paper 

assets;

 Z Banking assets;
 Z Assets in financial services and 

investment management in capital 
markets;

 Z High-tech assets;
 Z Real estate assets;
 Z Healthcare assets;
 Z Power grid assets;
 Z Hotel assets.
5.  Sistema’s results and performance 

against budget;

6.  Budget planning, approval of the 

consolidated budget of Sistema PJSFC 
and management’s KPIs for 2018-2019;

7.  Functional strategies (for financial 

management and financial planning, 
human resources management, 
corporate security, etc);

8.  Management of the Corporation’s risks;
9.  Report of the Internal Control and Audit 

Department;

10. HR matters and employee incentive 

systems;

11. Assessment of corporate governance 
including the results of assessment of 
the Board of Directors and Committees 
of the Board of Directors of Sistema 
PJSFC;

12. Corporate Social Responsibility;
13. Mandatory corporate procedures, 

including calling the AGM and developing 
the work plan of the Board of Directors;

14. Composition of Board Committees 

and determining the status of Board 
members;

15. Approval of internal regulations;
16. Approval of transactions, including 
acquisition of equity stakes.  

11 MEMBERS

MIKHAIL  
SHAMOLIN

DAVID  
IAKOBACHVILI6

45.5%

Independent directors 

Non-Executive directors

Executive directors

1 Short bios and information on Members’ stakes in Sistema’s authorized capital is available in Appendix 1.
2 Chairman of the Board and the Deputies were elected at the first Meeting of the Board on June 30th 2018.
3 A. Belova was elected to the Board of Directors based on the proposal of minority shareholders.
4 In line with Moscow Exchange listing rules, R. Kocharyan was deemed independent by Sistema. Information pertaining  
to the decision is available on Sistema’s website. 
5 In line with Moscow Exchange listing rules, R. Munnings  was deemed independent by Sistema. Information pertaining  
to the decision is available on Sistema’s website. 
6 In line with Moscow Exchange listing rules, D. Iakobachvili was deemed independent by Sistema. Information pertaining  
to the decision is available on Sistema’s website. 

2017

2018

2017

2018

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SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

91

SUBJECTS OF THE ITEMS  
CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN 2018

10%

8%

5%

3%

32%

11%

15%

16%

Business strategies, investments and new business segments 

Approval of transactions

Appointments and HR policy

Financial reporting, planning and audit

Corporative governance and securities

Shareholding in portfolio companies, groups, JVs; branches

Functional strategies

Approval of internal documents

Most of the items considered by the 
Board of Directors in 2018 related to 
the Corporation’s business strategy, 
value creation by its investments 
in various industries, HR policy and 
approval of transactions (including 
shareholdings in companies). In light 
of the goals of the Corporation for 
strategic and structural optimisation, 
a substantial proportion of items 
regarding business strategy and 
HR policy also focused on corporate 
governance at Sistema Group.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  
REVIEWED A TOTAL OF

74 agenda items

30

24

11

12

4

11

7

8

14

7

8

6

5

4

2

2

Business strategies, 
investments and new 
business segments

Approval of 
transactions

Appointments  
and HR policy

Financial reporting, 
planning and audit

Corporative 
governance 
and securities

Shareholding 
in portfolio 
companies, groups, 
JVs; branches

Functional  
strategies

Approval of internal 
documents

 ¡ Organisation of the work of the Board 
of Directors: content of agendas of 
the meetings, quality and timeliness of 
submission of materials, and quality of 
discussion at the meetings.

 ¡ Functional areas of the Board’s work, 

including strategic management, finance 
and internal control, HR policy and 
corporate governance.

As a result of the analysis of the Board’s 
performance the total score on a 5-point 
scale was 4.33 an improvement compared 
to  4.16 score in 20161). Further increase 
in the quality of work with proposals 
and initiatives from the executive 
management team was indicated as an area 
for improvement.

PREPARATION FOR MEETINGS 
AND QUORUM OF THE BOARD 
OF DIRECTORS

ASSESSMENT OF THE WORK 
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 
AND ITS COMMITTEES

Current preparation procedures for Board 
meetings are designed to ensure best use 
of the experience and expertise of Board 
members. Materials on the agenda items 
are published on the Board’s electronic 
portal at least 10 days before the meeting, 
which gives members sufficient time 
to form an informed opinion on all agenda 
items. Most agenda items (including 
approval of transactions) undergo 
a mandatory preliminary review at meetings 
of the Board’s Committees.

The Corporation has introduced a procedure 
of challenging speakers on key items 
of the Board’s agenda to enable Board 
members (as a rule, independent members) 
to conduct an in-depth review of materials 
and hold discussions with management. 
This makes it possible to increase 
the involvement of Board members 
in the development of the Corporation’s 
strategy.

Meetings of Sistema’s Board of Directors 
usually have a high attendance rate: 
the average quorum of meetings in 2018 was 
95.5%.

Assessment of the Board of Directors’ 
performance is an important tool that helps 
identify areas where the work of the Board 
of Directors may be improved.  

In 2018, Sistema continued the practice 
of an annual comprehensive assessment 
of the work of the Board of Directors and all 
its Committees. The assessment was carried 
out in the form of a survey of members 
of the Board covering the following areas:

 ¡ Composition and structure of the Board 
of Directors: number of Board members 
and balance of their knowledge, skills 
and industry experience;

THE AVERAGE QUORUM 
OF MEETINGS 

95.5%

PARTICIPATION OF BOARD MEMBERS  

IN MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES IN 2018

Board of Directors

Strategy Committee

Audit, Finance and 
Risk Committee

Nomination, 
Remuneration and 
Corporate Governance 
Committee

Ethics and Control 
Committee 

Investor Relations 
and Dividend Policy 
Committee

V. Evtushenkov

A. Belova

S. Boev

A. Dubovskov

F. Evtushenkov

R. Sommer

R. Kocharyan

J. Krecké

R. Munnings

M. Shamolin

D. Iakobachvili

12/122

12/12

11/12

12/12

9/12

12/12

11/12

12/12

12/12

11/12

12/12

12/12

8/12

10/12

9/12

5/12

6/12

10/12

5/12

Attendance

13/14

14/14

14/14

14/14

13/14

10/10

10/10

9/10

10/10

8/10

7/8

8/8

6/8

7/8

8/8

5/5

5/5

5/5

5/5

1 In 2016 and 2018, the Board of Directors was assessed according to the same methodology, which makes it possible to compare the results of analysis. 
2 The first number shows the number of meetings attended by the Board member, the second number is the total number of meetings.

 
92

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Annual Report 2018

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About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

93

COMMITTEES  
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Strategy  
Committee

Audit, Finance  
and Risk Committee

Nomination, Remuneration 
and Corporate Governance 
Committee3

Ethics and Control  
Committee

Investor Relations  
and Dividend Policy Committee

SISTEMA HAS 

5 committees  
of the Board of Directors:

 ¡ Strategy Committee;
 ¡ Audit, Finance and Risk Committee;
 ¡ Nomination, Remuneration and 

Corporate Governance Committee;

 ¡ Ethics and Control Committee;
 ¡ Investor Relations and Dividend Policy 

Committee.

The main role of the Committees is to assist 
the Board in preparation and adoption 
of decisions in specific functional areas, 
as well as to ensure prior in-depth scrutiny 
of matters put forward for consideration 
by the Board of Directors. 

8 
The status, procedures for nominating 
members, responsibilities and decision-
making processes of the Board’s 
Committees are regulated by the Terms 
of Reference of the relevant committees 
as approved by the Board of Directors 
and published on the Corporation’s website 
in the Corporate Documents section http://
www.sistema.ru/o-kompanii/korporativnoe-
upravlenie/korporativnye-dokumenty/. 

1 R. Munnings and J. Krecke, both part of the Committee, are 
experts in finance and audit with many years of experience 
in the sector.
2

Independent

Non-Executive

Executive

Functions 

Functions 

 Z Analysis of strategic management issues 

 Z Facilitating and supervising the processes 

of Sistema Group;

 Z Reviewing the strategy planning 

methodology;

 Z Reviewing M&A transactions with a value 

exceeding USD 100m;

 Z Reviewing Sistema Group’s investment 
projects related to entry into new 
geographies or industries and projects 
with significant state ownership.

of preparing and auditing the Company’s 
financial statements;

 Z Assessing the quality of audit services 

based on the audit of Sistema’s financial 
statements and making preliminary 
recommendations to the Board of 
Directors with respect to the selection of 
RAS and IFRS auditors;

 Z Assessing the risk management system 
and ensuring compliance with applicable 
legal requirements in financial reporting, 
audit and planning;

 Z Provisional appraisal of transactions 

submitted to the Board of Directors;
 Z Budgeting and financial modelling.

V. Evtushenkov (Committee Chairman)
S. Boev
A. Dubovskov
F. Evtushenkov
R. Sommer
R. Kocharyan
M. Shamolin
D. Iakobachvili

Composition

R. Munnings (Committee Chairman)1
A. Belova
R. Sommer
J. Krecké1
D. Iakobachvili

 Z Forming an efficient system of economic and 

 Z Strengthening the Corporation’s 

corporate security;

investment case;

 Z Monitoring compliance with the 

 Z Supporting effective relations with the 

requirements of the Ethics Code of the 
Corporation;

 Z Introducing a system for preventing 

corruption and fraud and other misconduct 
related to violations of applicable legislation 
at Sistema Group companies.

financial community;

 Z Developing Sistema’s dividend policy, 
including recommendations for the 
Corporation’s Board of Directors with 
respect to the amount of payable 
dividends;

 Z Protection of the rights and interests of 

Sistema’s shareholders.

 Z Facilitating the development of an efficient 
corporate governance system meeting 
international standards at the Corporation 
and its portfolio companies;
 Z Preliminary review of candidates:
 ¡ for the Board of Directors of Sistema 

PJSFC;

 ¡ for the boards of directors of portfolio 

companies; 

 ¡ for senior management positions at the 
Corporation and its portfolio companies; 

 ¡ for the position of the Corporation’s 

Corporate Secretary;

 Z Development of the Corporation’s 

incentive and remuneration policies;

 Z Organising the assessment of the 

performance of the Board of Directors.

R. Kocharyan (Committee Chairman)
S. Boev
R. Sommer
R. Munnings
D. Iakobachvili

Composition

F. Evtushenkov (Committee Chairman)
A. Belova
S. Boev
R. Kocharyan
R. Munnings

A. Belova (Committee Chairwoman)
J. Krecké
R. Munnings
D. Iakobachvili

Director participation2

Director participation2

25%

62% 13%

80%

20%

60%

40%

60%

40%

100%

Number of meetings in 2018

12

14

Topics discussed

 Z Value creation by the Corporation’s 
investments in various industries;

 Z Investment projects;
 Z Strategic management and planning 

system. 

 Z Assessment of the quality of audit 
services, results of the tender 
for provision of audit services, 
recommendations for the Board of 
Directors on appointing an external 
auditor;

 Z Review and approval of the Corporation’s 
quarterly and annual financial reports, the 
annual report, annual budget and report 
on performance against the Corporation’s 
budget;

 Z Review of management’s reports on risk 
management at Sistema, risk maps and 
mitigation plans;

 Z Preliminary review and evaluation of 

transactions to be submitted to the Board 
of Directors.

10

 Z Development of corporate governance at 
Sistema Group, including the structural 
transformation of the Corporate Centre;
 Z Incentive system and key parameters, 
performance assessment and bonuses 
for the key managers and employees of 
Sistema;

 Z HR process and preview of candidates to 

top management positions at Sistema and 
nominees to the boards of directors of the 
key portfolio companies.

Number of meetings in 2018

8

Topics discussed

5

 Z Performance of the Internal Control and 

 Z Communications and interaction with 

Audit Department in 2017 and work plan for 
2019;

minority shareholders;

 Z Amount of dividends and dividend policy 

 Z Results of ethics assessment of the 

of the Corporation;

Corporation’s employees;
 Z Compliance system at Sistema;
 Z System for preventing fraud and corruption 

at Sistema.

 Z The Corporation’s charity strategy
 Z Market analysis and monitoring, 

perception of Sistema by the investment 
community.

3 The President of Sistema PJSFC attends Committee meetings in the capacity of a permanent invitee and does not vote on the matters submitted for consideration of the Committee.

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PRESIDENT

The President is a permanent chief 
executive officer whose main tasks 
include managing the current 
operations of the Corporation 
and dealing with matters outside 
the remit of the General Meeting of 
shareholders, the Board of Directors 
and the Management Board, with the 
aim of ensuring the Corporation’s 
profitability and safeguarding 
the rights and legitimate interests 
of its shareholders. The President 
reports to the Board of Directors 
and General Meeting of shareholders 
of Sistema PJSFC. The President 
performs the functions of chairman 
of the collective executive body 
(Management Board).

On 13 March 2018, the Board 
of Directors approved Andrey Dubovskov’s 
appointment as President and Chairman 
of the Management Board of Sistema PJSFC 
for a three-year term.

Andrey Dubovskov

Born in Alma-Ata (now Almaty) in 1966. 

In 1993, graduated from the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography.

Has extensive experience in telecoms companies: since 1993, held 
multiple managerial positions at Millicom International Cellular S.A., 
Millicom International Cellular B.V., LLC Regional Cellular 
Telecommunications, CJSC 800, and other companies in Moscow, 
Alma-Ata, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, Perm and Kiev. 

2002–2004 – CEO, Tele2 (Nizhny Novgorod). 

In 2004, joined OJSC MTS as head of the company’s Nizhny 
Novgorod branch. 

2006–2007 — Director of the MTS Ural Macroregion. 

In 2007, became First Deputy CEO of CJSC UMS (MTS Ukraine); 
in 2008, appointed head of the MTS Ukraine business unit.

2011–2018 — President of PJSC MTS. 

On 13 March 2018, appointed President of Sistema PJSFC 
following approval by the Board of Directors.

Member of the Board of Directors of Sistema PJSFC and the Board 
of Trustees of Sistema Charitable Foundation.

MANAGEMENT BOARD

The Management Board of Sistema PJSFC 
determines methods for implementation 
of the Corporation’s development strategy, 
formulates development plans, determines 
and monitors investment processes 
and previews most matters subsequently 
submitted to the Corporation’s Board 
of Directors.

MEMBERS OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD OF SISTEMA PJSFC  
AS OF 31 DECEMBER 2018  

Andrey Dubovskov

President, Chairman of the Management Board

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Igor Alyoshin

Alexey Guryev

Artyom Zasursky

Alexey Katkov

6. Oleg Mubarakshin

7.

8.

9.

Andrey Pilipenko

Vsevolod Rozanov

Artyom Sirazutdinov

Vice President for Security

Vice President for HR

Vice President for Strategy

Managing Partner

Managing Partner

Vice President for Government Relations

Managing Partner

Managing Partner

MANAGEMENT BOARD CONSISTED OF 

11. Vladimir Travkov

Vice President for Finance and Investment

10. Joshua Tulgan

Vice President for External Relations

14 members

12. Ali Uzdenov

13. Sergey Shishkin

14. Maxim Yanpolsky

Managing Partner

Vice President for Corporate Governance and Legal Matters

Managing Partner

In 2018, the Management Board held 
11 meetings and reviewed 43 agenda items 
in the following key areas:

1.  Sistema’s development strategy;
2.  Management strategy and structure of 

Sistema’s investment funds;

3.  Sistema Group’s strategic planning cycle;
4.  Development strategy, value creation 

and monetisation of Sistema’s 
investments in various industries;

5.  Sistema’s functional strategies;
6.  Budget execution, budget planning and 

key performance indicators;
7.  Debt and liquidity management;
8.  Sistema’s corporate social responsibility;
9.  Review of specific transactions.

THE MANAGEMENT BOARD HELD 

In April 2018, the powers of the previously 
elected Management Board were terminated, 
and the Board of Directors approved a new 
Management Board for a three-year term. 

11 meetings 

and reviewed 43 agenda items 

CHANGES TO SISTEMA’S MANAGEMENT BOARD IN 2018

12 March  
M. Shamolin 
terminated

13 March  
A. Dubovskov
appointed

01.01

01.02

01.03

01.04

01.05

01.06

01.07

01.08

01.09

01.10

01.11

President, Chairman of the Board

01 April  
A. Gorbunov
F. Evtushenkov
L. Monosov
M. Cherny
E. Chuikov
V. Shukshin
terminated
01.03

01.01

01.02

Members of the Board

02 April  
I. Alyoshin
A. Katkov
V. Travkov
appointed

24 July  
J. Tulgan
appointed

07 September  
A. Pilipenko
appointed

24 September  
M. Yanpolsky
appointed

01.04

01.05

01.06

01.07

01.08

01.09

01.10

01.11

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COMMITTEES REPORTING 
TO THE PRESIDENT AND 
THE MANAGEMENT BOARD

To improve management decision-
making, Sistema has committees 
that report to the President 
and the Management Board, 
namely the Finance and Investment 
Committee, the Risk Committee 
and the Tender Committee.

These committees are permanent 
consultative collective bodies tasked 
with detailed analysis of current 
affairs and processes within their 
remit and with assisting the President 
and the Management Board 
in decision-making.

FINANCE AND INVESTMENT  
COMMITTEE

The responsibilities of the Finance and Investment Committee include:

Expert Council  

 Z Review of the Corporation’s investment 

 Z Recommendations regarding feasibility 

projects at different stages from 
conception to completion;

of projects, exit scenarios and sources of 
financing;

 Z Approval of financial models, business 

 Z Review of external financing terms.

plans and key performance indicators of 
investment projects;

An Expert Council reports to the Finance 
and Investment Committee and considers 
all of the Corporation’s new investment 
ideas and projects for acquisitions of assets 
in new and related industries, as well 
as in industries where Sistema already has 
a presence.

RISK  
COMMITTEE

TENDER  
COMMITTEE

The Risk Committee’s responsibilities 
include:

The responsibilities of the Tender Committee 
include:

 Z Assessment of risks facing the 

 Z Organising tenders for goods, works, 

Corporation and its portfolio companies;
 Z Ensuring preparation of a risk register 
and a generalised risk map of Sistema;

 Z Preparation of proposals regarding 
acceptable risk level for Sistema 
(Sistema’s risk appetite);

 Z Coordination of risk management 

and services;

 Z Ensuring acquisition of goods, 

works, and services and sale of the 
Corporation’s property on the best terms 
available;

 Z Ensuring transparency of purchasing 

procedures;

action plans and monitoring of their 
implementation.

 Z Facilitating prevention of corruption 
and other wrongdoing in purchasing.

THE COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF 

THE EXPERT COUNCIL CONSISTS OF 

THE COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF 

THE COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF

10 members

13 members

10 members

7 members

As of 31 December 2018, the Chairman 
of the Committee was the Corporation’s 
President ANDREY DUBOVSKOV  

The Deputy Chairman was  
VLADIMIR TRAVKOV,  
Vice President for Finance and Investment 

As of 31 December 2018,  
the Chairman of the Expert Council was  
ARTYOM ZASURSKY,  
Vice President for Strategy.

As of 31 December 2018,  
the Chairman of the Committee was  
VLADIMIR TRAVKOV,  
Vice President for Finance and Investment.

As of 31 December 2018,  
the Chairman of the Committee was chaired 
by VLADIMIR TRAVKOV,  
Vice President for Finance and Investment. 

IN 2018,  
THE COMMITTEE HELD 

30 meetings

IN 2018,  
THE EXPERT COUNCIL HELD 

IN 2018,  
THE COMMITTEE HELD 

12 meetings

5 meetings

IN 2018,  
THE COMMITTEE HELD

24 meetings

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SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF 
RISK MANAGEMENT, INTERNAL 
CONTROL AND INTERNAL AUDIT 
SYSTEMS

RISK MANAGEMENT

Sistema’s risk management system employs 
a two-level approach, under which the risks 
identified at Sistema and its portfolio 
companies are consolidated to assess their 
impact on Sistema Group as a whole.

The enterprise risk management system 
(ERM) used in the Corporation addresses 
the following tasks:

 Z Identification of risks at all levels of 

the management (from the top to line 
management), which includes identifying 
risk owners and making risk passports;
 Z Primary assessment of the materiality of 
identified risks and their analysis (VaR 
methodology);

 Z Ranging risks by management levels;
 Z Assessment of the aggregate influence 
of material risks on the Corporation’s 
key financial indicators (Monte Carlo 
modelling);

 Z Development of plans to mitigate 

identified risks at all management levels;

 Z Regular monitoring of performance 

against mitigation plans and assessment 
of their effectiveness; 

 Z Risk monitoring, quarterly reports on 

risks facing the Corporation.

Sistema’s risk management procedures are 
carried out by a dedicated risk management 
unit.

The Corporation’s risks are monitored 
on a quarterly basis by Sistema’s 
Management Board and Risk Subcommittee, 
which review the effects of mitigation 
and response measures taken and reassess 
persisting and/or new risks.

Sistema’s senior executives make 
regular reports on risk management 
at the Corporation to the Audit, Finance 
and Risk Committee. The annual report 
is submitted to the Board of Directors 
of Sistema PJSFC.

INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM  

 ¡ The Finance and Investment Committee 

3.  Enhancing awareness among the 

The Internal Control Policy was approved 
by the Corporation’s Board of Directors 
and is an internal top level document 
describing the key principles of internal 
control as a continuous and integrated 
process that involves all units 
and governance bodies of the Corporation. 

The key objectives of the internal control 
system are:

1.  Creating control mechanisms that will 

ensure efficient business processes and 
the implementation of the Corporation’s 
investment projects;

2.  Ensuring the safety of the Corporation’s 
assets and efficient use of its resources;

3.  Protecting the interests of the 

Corporation’s shareholders and 
preventing and resolving conflicts of 
interest;

4.  Creating conditions for timely 

preparation and submission of reliable 
reports and other information that is 
legally required to be publicly disclosed;
5.  Ensuring the Corporation’s compliance 
with applicable laws and requirements 
of regulators.

In accordance with the «three lines 
of defence» principle, the efficiency 
of the Corporation’s internal control 
system is ensured at three levels 
(in addition to the Board of Directors 
and the Corporation’s senior management):

 Z Level 1: 
Heads of subdivisions and employees 
of the Corporation are responsible 
for assessing and managing risks 
and building an efficient internal control 
system within their remit;

 Z Level 2: 
At this level, the function is performed 
by several subdivisions and Committees 
of the Corporation. For example:
 ¡ The risk management function and the 
Risk Subcommittee are responsible 
for developing and monitoring the 
implementation of an effective risk 
management practice; 

of the Corporation approves and 
monitors the implementation of 
investment projects;

 ¡ The Discipline Committee reviews 

matters related to breaches of the Ethics 
Code and disciplinary offences; 

 ¡ The Security Department is responsible 

inter alia for economic security, 
prevention of corruption, and information 
security.

 Z Level 3: 
The Internal Control and Audit Department 
conducts independent assessments 
of the efficiency of the internal control 
system, as well as risk management 
and the corporate governance procedures. 

All of the Corporation’s employees 
in charge of various control procedures 
bear responsibility for the efficiency of such 
controls and risk management activities 
as prescribed in their job descriptions 
and internal regulations.

INTERNAL AUDIT

The body in charge of internal control 
at the Corporation and the companies 
of Sistema Group is the Internal Control 
and Audit Department, which reports 
to the Board of Directors (functionally) 
and Sistema’s President (administratively). 
The head of the Department is appointed 
and dismissed by the President based 
on resolutions passed by the Corporation’s 
Board of Directors following preliminary 
approval by the Board’s Ethics and Control 
Committee.

The main objectives of the Internal Control 
and Audit Department are:

1.  Helping shareholders and management 
improve the internal control system 
by performing regular audits of the 
efficiency of the Corporation’s internal 
control, risk management and corporate 
governance systems;

2.  Supplying management and 

shareholders with objective information 
on existing internal risks and their 
probability;

Corporation’s management team about 
the performance of Sistema Group 
companies;

4.  Monitoring achievement of the goals 

of shareholders of the Corporation and 
Sistema Group companies.

To meet these objectives, the Internal 
Control and Audit Department carries out 
the following functions:

 Z Performing independent audits of 

individual operations, processes and 
units;

 Z Assessing the effectiveness of the 

internal control system;

 Z Assessing the effectiveness of the risk 

management system;

 Z Assessing the effectiveness of the 
corporate governance system, 
preventing violations of legislation 
and the Corporation’s regulations, 
ensuring observance of professional 
and ethical standards and preparing 
recommendations for improving them;
 Z Developing recommendations to remedy 
deficiencies identified and monitoring 
execution of remedial actions;

 Z Monitoring compliance with procurement 

procedures;

 Z Administering the Hotline and ethics 

assessment.

The Internal Control and Audit Department 
has all the resources and powers required 
to perform the above functions.

The Internal Control and Audit Department 
works closely with independent 
auditors, coordinates audits and offers 
consultations in the course of preparing 
the Department’s annual audit plans 
with regard to assessment of the efficiency 
of internal controls applied to financial 
statements, as well as during discussions 
and assessment of identified risks.

Ethics assessment makes it possible 
to identify and manage conflicts of interests 
in a timely manner, thus preventing 
shareholders’ interests from being 
compromised.

EXTERNAL AUDIT

In compliance with the decision 
of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee, 
the Corporation uses the following 
procedures to appoint the independent 
auditors of Sistema’s financial statements. 
The Committee performs an annual 
assessment of the quality of audit 
services received. If the quality of services 
provided by the current auditor is deemed 
insufficient, the Audit Committee organises 
a tender to hire a new auditor. If the quality 
is deemed sufficient, Sistema negotiates 
the price of services with the current 
auditor for the following period. According 
to the decision of the Audit, Finance and Risk 
Committee, a tender for external audit 
services should be held at least every five 
years to ensure the auditor’s impartiality 
and objectivity.

In 2018, the Internal Control and Audit 
Department conducted 49 audits to assess 
the effectiveness of the Corporation’s 
internal control, risk management 
and corporate governance systems. Audits 
performed by the Internal Control and Audit 
Department did not uncover any weaknesses 
or risks that could affect the sustainability 
of the Corporation’s business as a whole. 

Regular reports on the results of the work 
of the Internal Control and Audit Department 
are reviewed by the Audit, Finance 
and Risk Committee and Ethics and Control 
Committee of the Board of Directors, 
and are also submitted for consideration 
by the Board of Directors at the end 
of the year.

RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS 
OF INTEREST

Matters related to conflicts of interest 
are governed by the Corporation’s Code 
of Ethics. The Corporation has an ethics 
assessment procedure: all top managers 
of the Corporation annually (or as conflicts 
of interest arise) fill out Ethics and Conflict 
of Interest Declarations. All new employees 
must complete the training course and learn 
the requirements of the Code of Ethics 
and the procedure to fill out the Declaration.

In 2018, the Corporation held its 
ethics assessment for the third time. 
The results were reviewed by the President 
and the Ethics and Control Committee 
of Sistema’s Board of Directors. In most 
cases, declared conflicts of interest were not 
confirmed and did not require any resolution 
measures. However, action plans on conflict 
resolution were implemented with respect 
to several declarants in accordance with best 
corporate governance practice.

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Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

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Social Responsibility

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MANAGING PARTNERS

INCENTIVE SYSTEM

In 2018, a new long-term incentive 
programme (over one year) 
for the Corporation’s employees was 
developed and approved — the Option 
Plan. The main focus of the Option Plan 
is increasing the Corporation’s market 
capitalisation, and the remuneration of key 
employees is linked to this.

Participants in the Option Plan are granted 
the right to receive a certain share 
of the amount of any increase in market 
capitalisation. The programme is designed 
for four years and represents a mechanism 
that directly links the goals of Sistema’s 
shareholders and managers.

A new version of the Policy on Remuneration 
and Compensations for Members 
of the Board of Directors will be submitted 
for consideration by the General Meeting 
of shareholders in 2019, and will link 
the amount of additional remuneration 
of members of the Board of Directors to any 
increase in Sistema’s market capitalisation 
in the reporting year.

In 2018, Sistema adopted a partnership 
management model that allows key 
executives (Managing Partners) to share 
the risks and returns from investment 
activities with shareholders. Managing 
Partners are fully responsible 
for implementation of the investment 
strategies of their portfolio companies, 
including the creation and maintenance 
of effective corporate governance systems. 
In most cases, Sistema’s Managing Partners 
chair the boards of directors of their 
respective portfolio companies.

Incentives offered to Managing Partners 
are linked to increasing Sistema’s market 
capitalisation, maximising the value of assets 
under management and monetisation, 
and raising outside capital under 
management. Managing Partners co-invest 
in their portfolio assets, thereby sharing 
risks with the Corporation.

RELATIONS WITH MINORITY 
SHAREHOLDERS

A page for shareholders’ questions has 
been created on the Corporation’s website 
in the Investors & Shareholders section. Any 
shareholder or potential investor interested 
in information about the Corporation can 
submit questions using the electronic form 
and get answers. That page also provides 
answers to frequently asked questions.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 
ACROSS SISTEMA GROUP

The quality of strategic planning 
and investment appeal of Sistema’s portfolio 
companies depends, inter alia, on the quality 
of the corporate governance procedures. 
To increase the value of its investments 
Sistema pays special attention to improving 
the quality of corporate governance at its 
portfolio companies.

The Corporation aims to carry out 
strategic management of its key portfolio 
companies through their boards of directors 
by including professional independent 
members with expertise in the companies’ 
industries, as well as in strategy, 
finance, audit and corporate governance. 
Independent directors account for about 
one-third of members of the boards of key 
portfolio companies (depending on the level 
of the company’s organisational maturity).

The Corporation continuously improves 
its corporate governance system 
in order to increase efficiency and remain 
in line with best practice. Improving 
the quality of corporate governance 
processes at portfolio companies 
and attracting competent professionals 
to their boards of directors is designed 
to increase the quality of decision-making 
and the shareholder value of Sistema’s 
portfolio assets.

Boards of directors of portfolio companies 
ensure control and coordination, 
and support management in decision-making 
in the following functional areas:

 Z Strategy and key transactions; 
 Z Budget planning; 
 Z HR policy; 
 Z Internal audit. 

DEVELOPMENT OF 
THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 
SYSTEM IN 2018

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS 
ON THE CORPORATION’S BOARD 
OF DIRECTORS

In 2018, 11 members were elected 
to the Corporation’s Board of Directors. Five 
of them qualify as independent directors 
or are recognised as independent according 
to Moscow Exchange’s Listing Rules 
and the Russian Corporate Governance Code. 

The current Board includes the following  
independent directors:

 ¡ Anna Belova;
 ¡ Robert Kocharyan;
 ¡ Jeannot Krecké;
 ¡ Roger Munnings;
 ¡ David Iakobachvili.

All of the Corporation’s independent 
directors have extensive experience 
in managing large organisations and strong 
professional reputations. They are therefore 
able to exercise independence in their 
judgements and freedom from the influence 
of the Corporation’s management 
and shareholders when making decisions.

Roger Munnings and Jeannot Krecké, 
as members of the Audit, Finance and Risk 
Committee, are experts in finance and audit 
with extensive relevant experience. 

Independent directors are directly involved 
in discussing and formulating the strategy 
of the Corporation. For this purpose, working 
groups headed by independent members 
of the Board and including representatives 
of the Strategy Function and the Finance 
and Investment Function are established 
to formulate substantiated positions 
of the Board of Directors on strategic issues 
related to development of the Corporation.

PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT 
OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The Nomination, Remuneration 
and Corporate Governance Committee 
of Sistema’s Board of Directors each 
year develops and approves an action 
plan for improving corporate governance 
at Sistema in the following year. The plan 
for 2019 envisages the following activities:

2. 

1. 

Introducing changes to the system of 
remuneration payable to members 
of the Board of Directors in order to 
harmonise it with the incentive system 
for senior management (in the first half 
of 2019);
Introducing changes to the Corporation’s 
internal documents regulating the 
activities of its governing bodies in order 
to integrate new provisions of corporate 
law (in the first half of 2019);
Improving the management structure of 
the Corporation’s investment funds and 
determining the remuneration policy for 
the funds’ management (during 2019);
4.  Formalising a succession plan for key 
managers of the Corporation (during 
2019).

3. 

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REMUNERATION POLICY 
APPLIED TO BOARD MEMBERS 
OF SISTEMA PJSFC

Remuneration for the work of members 
of the Board of Directors is calculated 
and paid in accordance with the Policy 
on Remuneration and Compensations 
Payable to Members of the Board 
of Directors of Sistema PJSFC1. 

BASIC REMUNERATION OF MEMBERS 
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Basic remuneration of members 
of the Board of Directors amounts 
to RUB 13.7m or RUB 17.8m per year 
depending on whether a director is a tax 
resident of Russia. Basic remuneration 
is paid to Board members in cash in equal 
quarterly instalments.

SUPPLEMENTARY REMUNERATION 
OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD 
OF DIRECTORS

In accordance with the Policy 
on Remuneration and Compensations 
Payable to Members of the Board 
of Directors of Sistema PJSFC effective 
in 2018, additional remuneration of members 
of the Board of Directors is paid once 
a year in the form of ordinary shares 
of Sistema PJSFC subject to achievement 
of the Corporation’s investment targets 
in the reporting year: (i) the arithmetic mean 
of TSR and iTSR exceeds or equals CoE2, 
or (ii) TSR exceeds or equals the amount 
of change of the MSCI index (ΔMSCI), 
provided that iTSR exceeds or equals 
CoE. The number of ordinary shares 
to be provided to members of the Board 
of Directors is calculated using the following 
formula:

Amount of remuneration in monetary terms

Weighted average price of one share

For the purpose of calculating the number 
of shares to be transferred to members 
of the Board of Directors, the amount 
of remuneration in monetary terms is equal 
to the amount of basic remuneration less 
applicable taxes, and the weighted average 
price of one share is calculated based 
on the price of the Corporation’s global 
depositary receipts during the month 
preceding the date of the Annual General 
Meeting of shareholders.

In 2019, the General Meeting of shareholders 
of the Corporation will be asked to approve 
a new version of the Policy on Remuneration 
and Compensations Payable to Members 
of the Board of Directors of Sistema 
PJSFC in which the terms of payment 
and the amount of additional remuneration 
are harmonised with the long-term 
management incentive scheme. Additional 
remuneration will be payable only 
subject to growth of Sistema’s market 
capitalisation in the relevant financial year. 
The amount of additional remuneration is set 
as a variable amount equal to 0.1% or 0.125% 
(depending on tax residency) of the increase 
in capitalisation for the financial year, but 
in any case not higher than the amount 
of basic remuneration less applicable taxes.

REMUNERATION FOR PERFORMANCE 
OF ADDITIONAL DUTIES

Board members who perform additional 
duties, i.e., the Chairman of the Board, 
Deputy Chairman of the Board and Chairmen 
of the Board Committees, receive 
remuneration on a quarterly basis 
in the amount stipulated by the Policy 
on remuneration and compensations payable 
to members of the Board of Directors 
of Sistema PJSFC. 

COMPENSATIONS AND OTHER 
CONDITIONS 

Members of the Board of Directors are 
reimbursed for expenses incurred during 
performance of their duties, including 
participation in meetings of the Board 
of Directors and Board Committees.

Sistema PJSFC insures the liability 
of members of the Board of Directors.

Sistema PJSFC does not provide loans 
to members of the Board of Directors.

REMUNERATION POLICY APPLIED 
TO SENIOR MANAGEMENT OF 
SISTEMA PJSFC

SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE SYSTEM

The short-term (up to 1 year) incentive scheme 
for the top managers of Sistema PJSFC 
in 2018 consisted of:

 ¡ A fixed monthly salary determined in line 
with the internal system of job categories 
(grades);

 ¡ Bonuses paid for project implementation 

and generating cash income. 
Remuneration is paid based on employees’ 
individual performance and positive cash 
flow generated by projects implemented 
by the teams of Managing Partners and 
Departments of Sistema. Payments may 
amount to up to 20% of cash income.

For the purpose of calculating bonuses, cash 
income means the increase in the value 
of an asset (in case of an asset sale or an IPO) 
or the amount of dividends (in case of dividend 
payment), net of the following amounts:

 ¡  A hurdle rate determined by the Finance 

and Investment Committee of the 
Corporation prior to the commencement of 
a project or the acquisition of an asset;
 ¡ Investment in an asset and project costs.

1 Approved by the General Meeting of shareholders on 27 June 2015.
2 This investment target was not achieved in 2018, since TSR was -32.9% and iTSR was -7%, while CoE was 17% and ΔMSCI was -5.5%. CoE represents the minimum level of return that a company 
must provide to its shareholders for the expectation of profit and risk. CoE is calculated as the sum of risk-free returns (such as government bonds) and the risk premium associated with investing 
in the stock market, taking into account the capital structure of the asset in question and country risk.

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE SYSTEM

In 2018, a new long-term (more than 
1 year) incentive programme for Sistema’s 
employees was developed and approved – 
the Option Plan. The main focus of the Option 
Plan is increasing the Corporation’s market 
capitalisation. Participants of the Option 
Plan are granted the right to receive 
a share of the amount of increase in market 
capitalisation. The programme is designed 
for four years and represents a mechanism 
that directly links the goals of Sistema’s 
shareholders and managers.

of the Corporation’s shareholders 
and senior executives in terms of long-term 
management and development of portfolio 
companies by granting rights to acquire 
participation interests in the Corporation’s 
privately held portfolio companies 
with growth prospects.

The Co-Investment Programme is designed 
for the President, heads of departments, 
as well as employees of the Corporation 
who hold positions not lower than Executive 
Director or Senior/Chief Investment Director.

Other terms and conditions  

No extra compensation above the level 
stipulated by Russian labour legislation is paid 
to the President or other senior executives 
in case of termination of employment.

Sistema does not pay remuneration 
to executive management for serving 
on the Management Board.

The Corporation does not provide loans 
to senior executives.

Co-investment programme

Participants of the Co-Investment Programme 
use their own funds to acquire:

In 2016, the Board of Directors approved 
a programme enabling Sistema’s senior 
managers to co-invest in the Corporation 
and/or its portfolio companies (“the Co-
Investment Programme”). The Co Investment 
Programme is designed to align the interests 

 ¡  Shares/interests in Sistema’s portfolio 

companies; and/or

 ¡ Ordinary shares in Sistema PJSFC.

The amount of co-investment is limited by one 
average annual income of a participant.

REMUNERATIONS PAID TO SISTEMA’S BOARD MEMBERS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT IN 20183 

Members of Sistema’s Board of Directors received the following remuneration in 2018: 

Cash remuneration

Remuneration for work on the Board of Directors and fulfillment of additional duties, as well as salary 
and bonus following the results of 2018 for those members of the Board of Directors who were also 
Sistema employees in 2018.4

Remuneration in the form of ordinary shares of Sistema PJSFC

Remuneration to members of the Board of Directors based on the results of work in the 2017-2018 
corporate year, as well as remuneration under the long-term incentive program for those members 
of the Board of Directors who were also Sistema employees in 2018.4

2018

2017

RUB 432,497,258

RUB 320,193,625

5
—

RUB 218,287,983

Reimbursement of expenses incurred by Board members in connection with their duties

RUB 1,191,028

RUB 2,477,710

Members of Sistema’s Management Board6  received the following remuneration in 2018:

Cash remuneration

7
The amount includes fixed salaries and bonuses.

Remuneration in the form of ordinary shares of Sistema PJSFC

The shares transferred under the long-term incentive programme.

2018

2017

RUB 1,705,947,9278

RUB 1,768,437,846

9
—

RUB 245,821,873

3 All figures in this section are given before the applicable income tax.
4 Excluding members of Sistema’s Board of Directors who were members of its Management Board.
5 Additional remuneration in the form of shares was not paid to members of the Board of Directors in 2018 due to non-compliance with the conditions for its payment established by the Policy on 
Remuneration and Compensations Payable to Members of the Board of Directors of Sistema PJSFC.
6 Including the President of Sistema PJSFC.
7 Bonuses for 2018 were paid to Sistema’s employees in February 2019.
8 In February 2019, members of the Management Board spent part of their cash bonuses for 2018 to purchase ordinary shares of the Corporation, which is consistent with Sistema’s strategy to 
increase the shareholding of its employees in the Corporation. Members of the Management Board and other employees of Sistema PJSFC purchased a total of 19,669,389 shares in the Corporation.
9 Remuneration in the form of shares was not paid to members of the Management Board in 2018 due to non-compliance with the conditions for its payment established by the Corporation internal 
regulations.

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Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

105

Risks

 ¡ the Group must maintain high credit 
ratings as assigned by international 
rating agencies.

Risk management reports are submitted 
for review to the relevant collective 
governance bodies of the Corporation 
at least once a quarter. Each risk 
management report contains a revaluation 
of risks and their impact on the Corporation’s 
financials, an assessment of the effectiveness 
of risk mitigation and response plans, 
and potential risk areas (areas of concern) 
identified for future periods. 

The Corporation’s long-established common 
compliance system serves to mitigate anti-
corruption, anti-monopoly, stock exchange 
and sanctions compliance risk, as well 
as risks relating to security of personal data, 
confidential information, and prevention 
of money laundering and financing 
of terrorism. 

Below is provided a description of key risks 
covered in Sistema’s ERM system. 

ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT 
AND RISK APPETITE

Sistema defines risks as adverse processes 
and factors over which it has little or no 
influence. However, the Corporation can 
take measures to reduce the negative 
consequences of such factors should 
a certain risk occur. This makes 
efficient assessment of existing risks 
and the probability of their occurrence, 
as well as efficient risk management, 
an important part of Sistema’s strategy.

Risk management is part of all 
processes at Sistema, and is integrated 
into strategy planning and execution, 
the investment process, budgeting, 
procurement and day-to-day operations. 
The enterprise risk management (ERM) 
system operating at Sistema was built 
in compliance with international standards 
and recommendations, as well as best risk 
management practices. It is designed to keep 
risks at a level acceptable to Sistema’s 
shareholders and management. 

As part of quarterly ERM procedures, 
the risk managers of Sistema Group:

 ¡ compile risk registers for subsidiaries 
and a consolidated risk register for 
the Group;

 ¡ prioritise risks and aggregate them into 

portfolios;

 ¡ assess the probability and materiality of 

all risks;

 ¡ study the impact that material risks 

have on the financial results of specific 
subsidiaries and Sistema Group as 
a whole, using simulation and financial 
modelling methods.

One of the key principles of risk management 
in Sistema Group is to take proper account 
of risk appetite. This approach implies 
identifying and monitoring the Corporation’s 
target risk profile in accordance 
with its strategic goals and in the context 
of their integration into risk management 
procedures.

Sistema Group’s risk appetite determines 
the level of risk that is acceptable 
for shareholders, and includes the following 
basic provisions:

 ¡ the amount of potential losses 

under the risks accepted by Sistema 
Group must not reach a level leading 
to the termination of the Group’s 
operations, including under stressed 
conditions;

 ¡ the cash flows of Sistema Group 
companies must be sufficient to 
guarantee timely fulfilment of obligations 
to counterparties in the short and long 
term;

 ¡ in its operations, the Group aims to avoid 
any increased concentration of risk by 
counterparty, industry and region;

 ¡ the Group must be able to support 
sustainable growth and economic 
efficiency in the long term;

 ¡ all members of the Group must comply 
with the requirements of national 
regulators in countries where they 
operate, as well as the standards and 
recommendations of international 
authorities;

 ¡ the Group must maintain an impeccable 

reputation;

 GLOBAL AND COUNTRY 
RISKS

INDUSTRY  
RISKS

These are risks associated with changes 
in Russia’s political and economic 
environment. Although most of Sistema’s 
business is carried out in Russia, some 
companies are also present in other 
countries of the CIS, as well as the EU, 
Turkey and India. Many of their products 
are sold in other CIS markets, Southeast 
Asia, Eastern Europe and North Africa. 
In the event of any major political turmoil 
in these regions, the Group’s business may 
be discontinued or put on hold, which may 
lead to material losses. The company’s 
businesses may also potentially suffer 
from the imposition of additional sanctions, 
a full freeze on imports and/or exports 
in the event of political changes, and military 
conflicts involving Russia.

Recent developments in Ukraine have 
caused Western countries to impose 
sanctions on several Russian individuals 
and companies. The potential remains 
for the sanctions list to be extended 
to include more names or introduce new 
categories of sanctions, which could 
affect some companies of the Group 
or their management. Any further increase 
in tensions between Russia and other 
countries, as well as any escalation 
of related conflicts, potential new sanctions, 
or continuing uncertainty as to the scale 
of any such sanctions, may adversely impact 
Russia’s economy, the financial status 
of the Group’s partners and suppliers, 
the Group’s ability to undertake commercial 
and financial activities and obtain funding 
on commercially reasonable terms, 
and the volatility of Sistema’s securities.

These are risks related to Sistema’s 
involvement in various industries. The most 
material risks in this category are those 
associated with the telecoms business, 
power generation, retail, hospitality, 
healthcare, pharma, the forest products 
industry, agriculture and real estate.

SISTEMA’S  
EXTERNAL RISKS

FINANCIAL RISKS

Sistema’s business is inextricably connected 
to the global economy and financial markets, 
and is sensitive in particular to movements 
in prices for oil, gas, and other commodities 
that Russia exports. Further weakening 
of the rouble against the US dollar 
and the euro amid a slump in the oil prices 
and sanctions being imposed on Russia 
may result in a rise in costs and a drop 
in revenues or impede the achievement 
of financial targets and repayment of debt 
by Sistema Group companies.

An exodus of foreign investors from Russia, 
as well as restrictions introduced on foreign 
companies in Russia as a result of sanctions, 
may have a negative impact on Sistema 
Group’s joint ventures (partnerships) 
and new investment projects. 

A rise in inflation may result in higher 
expenses and therefore put pressure 
on profit margins, and also affect demand 
in Russia for products and services 
of Sistema Group companies.

Servicing of the Corporation’s current 
and future debt may require substantial 
amounts of cash. If sanctions are maintained 
over the medium term and Russian 
banks and businesses continue to have 
restricted access to foreign debt, this 
may significantly increase the current 
liquidity deficit in the market and result 
in a further increase in interest rates, 
making it difficult for Sistema Group to raise 
funding for its operations and to refinance 
the debt of the Corporation and its portfolio 
companies. Should the Corporation prove 
unable to obtain sufficient funding when 
and how required, it may face significant 
barriers to business development as well 
as to its operating and investment activities.

An unfavourable macroeconomic 
environment in many countries where 
Sistema’s assets operate may make it 
necessary to re-evaluate goodwill at some 
of the assets.

Currency control and restrictions on capital 
repatriation may adversely affect Sistema’s 
business by posing barriers to capital 
flows, and reduce the value of Sistema’s 
investments in Russia.

The bankruptcy of any of the Russian banks 
with which Sistema routinely cooperates may 
result in a reduction in sources of borrowing 
for the Corporation and portfolio companies, 
and may lead to direct losses of funds 
deposited in the accounts of such banks.

  
   
 
  
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SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

107

POLITICAL, SOCIAL, 
AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS

LEGAL RISKS

The influence of geopolitical risks 
on the Corporation and its portfolio 
companies remains strong, as protectionism 
and economic sanctions are increasingly 
being used as a tool for achieving 
geopolitical goals.

The imposition of sanctions against Russia 
as a state or against individual Russian 
companies and Russian citizens may result 
in disruptions to international payment 
systems, which in turn may prevent 
the Corporation and its portfolio companies 
from properly making payments and reduce 
Sistema’s investment appeal.

Decreasing living standards and a potential 
rise in social unrest in the regions where 
Sistema Group companies operate may 
threaten the Corporation’s profits. 

The operational activities of a number 
of Sistema’s portfolio companies involve 
potential threats to employees’ health 
and safety.

Emergencies and incidents at Sistema 
Group’s production sites may have 
a significant impact on the environment, such 
as pollution of land and water, emissions 
above allowable limits, discharge of waste 
waters or leaks of hazardous substances.

Irrational use of natural resources (land, 
forest) by Sistema’s portfolio companies may 
deplete their raw materials/production base 
and compromise economic performance.

In view of the increased threat of global 
and regional terrorist attacks, any such 
incidents at the Group’s enterprises 
and infrastructure facilities may cause 
significant economic damage and affect 
health and life.

There is a risk of unpredictable court rulings 
and administrative decisions with respect 
to Sistema Group’s business. Such rulings 
or decisions may have an adverse effect 
on the Group’s business as a result 
of numerous factors including:

 ¡ possible discrepancies and ambiguities 
in: (i) federal and other laws; (ii) bylaws 
issued by executive authorities in 
states where Sistema Group operates; 
(iii) regional and local laws, rules and 
requirements;

 ¡ gaps in legislation and a lack of court 

and administrative guidelines regarding 
the interpretation of some laws, as 
well as conflicts between some court 
guidelines and rulings;

 ¡ influence of political, social and 

commercial factors on the judicial 
system;

 ¡ potential selective or arbitrary actions of 

government authorities.

international trade and investments that 
may be introduced by foreign states 
or international organisations. 

Since Russian corporate law makes 
shareholders liable for the obligations 
of a company’s affiliates, Sistema may incur 
financial losses related to the liabilities of its 
portfolio companies.

Minority shareholders of Sistema’s 
subsidiaries may contest or vote against 
related-party or other transactions, 
which may limit Sistema’s ability 
to close investment deals and restructures 
businesses.

If the Russian Federal Anti-Monopoly Service 
concludes that Sistema PJSFC or one 
of its material subsidiaries has violated 
existing anti-monopoly legislation, this may 
result in serious administrative sanctions 
involving losses for the Corporation. 
The Federal Anti-Monopoly Service may also 
prevent the Corporation and its portfolio 
companies from closing and/or undertaking 
certain transactions, which may also limit 
Sistema’s capacity to do investment deals 
and restructure businesses.

Gaps in Russia’s existing corporate 
and securities legislation may create barriers 
to raising funds in the future.

TAX RISKS

A lack of clarity about the applicability 
to Sistema’s business of the Federal Act 
on the Procedure for Foreign Investment 
in Companies of Strategic Importance 
to the National Defence and State Security 
and the regulations of the Eurasian Customs 
Union (EACU) may have a negative impact 
on Sistema Group’s business, as the Group 
has foreign shareholders.

There is a risk of legislative amendments 
being adopted in countries where Sistema 
Group companies operate, due to potential 
changes in laws and regulations governing 

Tax laws, regulations and practices 
of jurisdictions where Sistema’s assets 
operate are intricate, opaque and prone 
to frequent modifications and ambiguous 
interpretations. If the Corporation’s 
actions are interpreted as being in breach 
of tax law, this may have an adverse effect 
on the business of Sistema Group.

Russian law on transfer pricing may make it 
necessary to introduce adjustments to price-
setting practices used at Sistema Group’s 
companies and result in additional tax 
liabilities related to some transactions.

On 1 January 2015, new rules were 
introduced relating to the taxation of retained 
profits of controlled foreign companies 
and gains on indirect sales of Russian real 
estate properties, along with a new concept 
of beneficiary owners and tax residency 
for foreign companies in Russia. These rules 
have undergone a series of revisions, with all 
the amendments having retroactive effect. 
As a result of the need to apply new taxation 
rules, the Group’s companies may face new 
tax liabilities arising due to uncertainty 
around interpretation of tax law and a lack 
of relevant precedents.

CAPITAL MARKET RISKS

A deterioration of the geopolitical 
situation, the imposition of sanctions 
on Russian companies, a worsening 
of the macroeconomic environment, 
and capital and investor flight 
from the Russian market led to a reduction 
in market valuations of Russian companies 
in 2014-2018. In view of these circumstances 
Sistema’s access to investor funding 
through capital markets may be restricted 
further as a result of the introduction 
of sectoral sanctions against Russian 
companies in business segments where 
Sistema operates and/or due to a cautious 
approach among investors to Russian 
companies in general. In particular, 
Sistema’s ability to raise funding via bond 
issues may be limited, potentially leading 
to a lack of working capital and cash 
available for investment and affecting 
the Corporation’s financial performance.

 RISKS RELATED 
TO ACTIVITIES  
OF SISTEMA PJSFC

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BUSINESS 
STRATEGY

The Corporation’s strategy aims to develop 
a balanced and diversified asset portfolio 
in sectors and regions where Sistema PJSFC 
has expertise and competitive advantages, 
and to attract leading international 
and Russian partners. Despite having 
a clearly formulated strategy, Sistema 
PJSFC cannot guarantee the achievement 
of its stated goals, efficient management 
of portfolio companies, or benefits from new 
investment opportunities. This is due 
to a variety of reasons, including a high level 
of debt and a constrained investment budget. 
Sistema’s failure to achieve goals set out 
in its strategy may undermine its financial 
results.

The development of Sistema Group 
companies depends on numerous factors, 
including receipt of necessary permits 
from state authorities, sufficient demand 
from consumers, successful development 
of technologies, efficient risk and cost 
management, timely completion of R&D 
and the introduction of new products 
and services. Weaknesses in any of these 
areas may have a detrimental effect 
on the development of Sistema Group 
companies and on the Corporation’s financial 
performance.

ACQUISITION, INTEGRATION, 
DISPOSAL OR RESTRUCTURING 
OF ASSETS

Sistema PJSFC implements its strategy via 
acquisitions, disposals, and restructuring 
of assets. New investment opportunities 
come with certain risks, including failure 
to find relevant targets or their not being 
available for acquisition, inadequate due 
diligence of the target company’s operations 
and/or financial situation, and potential 
overvaluation of assets. These risks can also 
affect Sistema’s financial performance.

Acquisition of assets may increase pressure 
on the Corporation’s cash position and create 
a need to raise external funding. 

Delays to the completion of investment 
deals or failure to close them may obstruct 
the achievement of Sistema’s strategic goals 
and affect its performance, financial position 
and investment case.

Sistema may struggle to construct 
an efficient system for managing 
and controlling new assets. The top risks 
in this area include: 

 ¡ inability to efficiently integrate operating 
assets and personnel of an acquired 
company;

 ¡ inability to establish and integrate 
necessary control mechanisms, 
including those related to logistics and 
distribution;

 ¡ conflicts among shareholders;

 ¡ hostility and/or unwillingness 
to cooperate on the part of the 
management and staff of an acquired 
asset;

 ¡ loss of customers by the acquired asset.

If one or several of the above risks 
materialise, the relevant asset may 
lose part of its value and/or experience 
in deterioration in its financial performance.

When disposing of its assets the Corporation 
may face the following risks:

 ¡ delays or failure to close the transaction 
due to an inability to obtain corporate or 
state approvals;

 ¡ mistakes in asset valuation;

 ¡ assumption of excessive obligations 

towards the buyer;

 ¡ loss of synergies with other assets 

remaining in the portfolio. 

If one or several of the above risks 
materialise, the Corporation may lose 
potential profit and thus see poorer financial 
performance.

 
 
108

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

109

MANAGEMENT AND KEY PERSONNEL

LOAN COVENANTS

PRIVATISED COMPANIES

BRAND QUALITY AND REPUTATION

The implementation of Sistema’s strategy 
in many respects depends on the efforts 
and professionalism of the management 
team. Failure to hire a sufficiently competent 
and motivated management team can 
jeopardise Sistema’s business, performance, 
financial position and development 
prospects.

CASH FLOW FROM SISTEMA GROUP 
COMPANIES

The Corporation’s financial performance 
depends on the ability of Sistema Group 
companies to generate the cash flows 
needed to service the Corporation’s financial 
liabilities, including repayment of debt 
and interest, and to make other investment 
activities in the future. This cash-generation 
capacity may be restricted due to regulatory, 
tax or any other barriers, which may have 
an adverse effect on the financial position 
and liquidity of the Corporation.

BORROWINGS

Cash flows from portfolio companies may be 
insufficient to absorb all of the Corporation’s 
expenses scheduled for a particular time. 
This can make it necessary to borrow more 
funds, increasing the Corporation’s debt 
burden, which in turn can compromise 
the credit ratings of Sistema and its portfolio 
companies. A downgrading of a credit rating 
can lead to a rise in the cost of servicing 
of existing loans, higher interest rates, 
barriers to borrowing, and in some cases 
even demands for early repayment 
of credit facilities. The risk of downgrades 
or withdrawals of credit ratings correlates 
with reputational and liquidity risks.

Loan and debt securities agreements signed 
by Sistema and its portfolio companies 
contain certain restrictive covenants. These 
covenants restrict further borrowings, 
encumbrance of property with pledges, sale 
of assets, and transactions with affiliates. 
They may also restrict certain aspects 
of Sistema’s operations, such as financing 
of capital expenses, or limit its capacity 
to repay debts and service other liabilities. 
Breach of covenants, however inadvertent, 
may entitle creditors of the Corporation 
and/or its portfolio companies to demand 
early repayment of loans, which represents 
a threat to the Corporation’s financial 
performance.

LICENCES AND PERMITS

The operations of Sistema Group’s 
companies are regulated by different 
government bodies and agencies that 
issue and renew licences, approvals 
and permits, and also depend on applicable 
laws, regulations, and standards. 
Regulating authorities to a large extent rely 
on their own judgment when interpreting 
and implementing legal requirements, 
issuing and extending licences, approvals 
and permits, and monitoring compliance 
with such licences. There is no guarantee 
that the existing licences and permits, 
including those issued to the Group’s 
companies, will be extended, that new 
licences and permits will be issued, or that 
the companies will be able to comply 
with the terms of such licences. Any of these 
circumstances can have material negative 
consequences for the business of Sistema 
PJSFC.

Sistema’s portfolio contains several 
privatised assets. It is also probable 
that the Corporation will take part 
in privatisations in the future. Since Russia’s 
privatisation-related legislation remains 
somewhat unclear and inconsistent, 
and contradicts some other legal provisions, 
the privatisation of many companies can 
potentially be contested, however selectively, 
which may have a material adverse effect 
on the Corporation’s business, financial 
status, performance and development 
prospects.

ANTI-CORRUPTION RULES

Sistema’s operations are regulated by anti-
corruption law of relevant jurisdictions, 
including Russian legislation, the UK Bribery 
Act and/or the US Foreign Corrupt Practices 
Act (FCPA). Any investigation into potential 
violations of the FCPA, Bribery Act or other 
anti-corruption laws of the US, UK or other 
jurisdictions may affect the reputation, 
business, financial position and performance 
of Sistema PJSFC.

COMPETITION

All business segments in which Sistema 
PJSFC operates are open to competition. 
The telecom, retail, media, tourism, 
private healthcare, pharma, property 
development, forestry and agricultural 
markets in Russia and elsewhere are 
highly competitive. Any inability of Sistema 
Group’s companies to compete efficiently 
may have a material negative impact 
on the business, performance, financial 
situation and development prospects 
of the Corporation.

Developing and maintaining brand 
awareness for the Group’s companies 
is crucial to shaping public opinion 
around their existing and future products 
and services. Sistema believes that company 
brand is becoming increasingly vital in highly 
competitive markets. 

Successful development and improvement 
of brand awareness depends in large part 
on the efficiency of marketing and ability 
to provide quality products and services 
at competitive prices. Effort and money spent 
on brand development may prove greater 
than the income yielded, which means 
potential financial losses for the Group’s 
companies.

Sistema’s reputation may be damaged 
in the event of unethical business conduct, 
professional errors (including medical), 
gross negligence, abuse of human rights, 
leakage of inside information and corrupt 
practices at Sistema and/or its portfolio 
companies.

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SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

111

CORPORATE  
SOCIAL 
RESPONSIBILITY

ESG AND CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY 
PRINCIPLES

CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIO-ECONOMIC 
DEVELOPMENT

SOCIAL INVESTMENT IN TECHNOLOGY 
AND HUMAN CAPITAL

EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT OF SUSTAINABLE 
DEVELOPMENT 

112

113

113

115

112

SISTEMA

Annual Report 2018

sistema.com

About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

113

Responsible  
Investment  

Sistema’s responsibility as a strategic investor in Russia’s 
socio-economic, innovative and technological development 
is in efficiently managing portfolio assets and funds with 
a view to growing their value, contributing to the sustainable 
development of industries and regions where Sistema 
operates, and building shared value for the state, business, 
society and the environment.

ESG AND CORPORATE 
RESPONSIBILITY PRINCIPLES  

Sistema shares the international financial 
community’s commitment to integrating 
principles for responsible investment 
in asset valuation and decision-making 
practices. The Corporation does business 
in conformity with the UN Global Compact 
and the Social Charter of Russian Business, 
taking due account of environmental, 
social, and governance (ESG) factors 
when choosing industries and assets 
to invest in and interacting with all 
stakeholders: shareholders, investors, 
employees, partners, suppliers, consumers, 
the government, nonprofits and local 
communities. When making investments 
or carrying out social programmes, 
Sistema draws upon its versatile 
expertise and synergistic partnerships 
with the government, academia, and civic 
and nonprofit organisations. 

5.  Promotion of transparency and 

implementation of uniform corporate 
governance standards, best practices, 
advanced digital technologies, and 
certified management systems across 
the entire Sistema Group; 

6.  Helping portfolio companies and funds 
in raising funds, finding partners, 
structuring deals and developing 
businesses; 

7.  Enhancement of operating efficiency and 
financial performance by refining critical 
business processes (procurement, 
supply chain management, prevention of 
corruption, risk management, corporate 
communications and CSR initiatives);   
8.  Building synergies between assets and 

funds across the group via joint business 
and social projects, with and without 
outside partners;

9.  Consolidated management of the 

social investment portfolio through the 
corporate charitable foundation and by 
means of general corporate initiatives 
in CSR1;

10. Monitoring compliance with sustainable 
development requirements put forward 
by shareholders and investors by 
regular publication of corporate non-
financial reports.

Sistema sees its primary responsibility 
in creating and maintaining a level 
of strategic planning, corporate governance 
and controls conducive to a reasonable 
balance of the financial and non-financial 
(environmental, social, technological, 
etc.) risks and opportunities required 
to support the sustainable development 
of the Corporation’s investment portfolio 
in terms of its impact on the economy, 
society and the environment.

SISTEMA IMPLEMENTS ESG 
AND RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS 
PRINCIPLES THROUGH:

1.  Choosing industries and assets for 

investment in accordance with the UN 
Sustainable Development Goals as well 
as national and regional priorities;
2.  Fair competition, non-discrimination, 

strict adherence to business ethics and 
human rights, and compliance with 
shareholder, antitrust, anti-corruption, 
employment, and environmental law;  
3.  A multi-level system of selection and 
examination of investment projects 
based on both financial and non-financial 
parameters and involving a collective 
transaction approval mechanism;

4.  Assessment of the potential effect of key 
industrial, regional and other ESG risks 
on the financial stability of certain assets 
and Sistema’s investment portfolio as 
a whole; 

CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIO-
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 

Sistema and its portfolio companies 
make a significant contribution 
to forming a competitive labour market 
and procurement market (including 
purchases from small and medium-sized 
businesses); modernising infrastructure, 
industry and agriculture; increasing 
the affordability of housing and essential 
products, goods and services; improving 
technological, social, food and drug security; 
developing the healthcare and education 
systems; and ensuring regional social 
and environmental well-being through large-
scale investment programmes, digitalisation 
of businesses and support for innovative 
projects, as well as social, charitable, 
educational and volunteer programmes that 
contribute to building up intellectual capital, 
adapting and humanising new technologies, 
and increasing digital literacy, social activity 
and quality of life. 

 To learn more, please refer 

to the table “Contribution to Socio-Economic 
Development” in the Annex.

SOCIAL INVESTMENT 
IN TECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN 
CAPITAL 

In the past three years, the Corporation has 
made approximately RUB 4 billion in social 
investments. Of this, about a third was spent 
by Sistema Charitable Foundation ( “SCF”), 
which accumulates funds from Sistema 
Group companies for the Corporation’s 
infrastructure programmes.

In 2018, Sistema Charitable Foundation 
thoroughly revised its strategy of charitable 
activities in accordance with the general 
development strategy of the Corporation, 
shifting the focus to technology-related 
projects, i.e., development and adoption 
of modern digital tools that can improve 
the efficiency of social sector practices. 
The foundation’s activities were aimed 
at achieving two global objectives 
at once: development of human capital 
and creation of technologies that improve 
quality of life. Over RUB 200 million was 
allocated for the implementation of three 
key programmes: Lift to the Future, 
Culture and Arts, and Social Projects 
and Volunteering. Meanwhile, Sistema 
Group companies spent more than 
RUB 840 million on charity in 2018, including 
30% as contributions to SCF and 70% 
to implement their own social programmes..

The flagship corporate programme Lift 
to the Future, created seven years ago 
to support modern engineering education 
in Russia, has been transformed into a whole 
range of technological and educational 
initiatives. For instance, in partnership 
with Sistema Group’s Mikron, the largest 
Russian microelectronics enterprise, SCF 
established its own supplementary education 
programme for student teams from Russia’s 
nine leading technology universities. 

Publishing and literary projects in the field 
of technology have become a logical step 
for Lift to the Future. Almost 2,000 authors 
from 32 countries took part in the new 
project Future Time, which supports talented 
science fiction writers. The best sci-fi 
stories selected in this contest with a prize 
fund of RUB 1 million were published 
as an anthology, and part of the proceeds 
will be used towards SCF’s new literary 
projects. Also in 2018, the foundation, 
in partnership with the publishing house 
Delo, translated into Russian and published 
three foreign bestsellers about the way 
technology affects our lives. Educational 
and cultural institutions can get books 
from SCF’s collection for free.

IN 2018, SISTEMA GROUP SPENT 
OVER 

NUMBER OF AUTHORS THAT TOOK 
PART IN FUTURE TIME PROJECT

RUB 1.1 billion

on charitable and social programmes, including 
social programmes of individual companies 
and their donations to the corporate charitable 
foundation

~2 thsd

FROM 32 COUNTRIES

1 Corporate Social Responsibility.

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About the Company

Financial Performance

Key Asset Results

Corporate Governance

Social Responsibility

115

In the Year of Volunteers in Russia, Sistema 
started a project to help volunteer search 
and rescue teams. A lack of effective 
technologies to search for missing people 
in the natural environment prompted SCF 
to launch a large-scale research initiative, 
Odyssey, in the charitable sector’s first 
attempt to engage the tech community 
in solving social problems. Contestants 
with the best technical solutions to find 
a person lost in a forest without any means 
of communication in less than 10 hours — 
rain or shine, day or night — will be able 
to receive funding of up to RUB 75 million. 
More than 120 engineering teams 
from 40 cities of Russia are already willing 
to offer their ideas to complete this socially 
significant task.

Support for volunteering also forms part 
of the Social Projects and Volunteering 
programme. SCF launched two national 
contests with a total grant pool 
of RUB 3 million: Search Trajectory 
for volunteer rescuers across the country 
and Good Cause System for corporate 
volunteers to support the most relevant 
and socially important projects initiated 
by the Corporation’s volunteer movement, 
which has been in development for several 
years. 

SCF received an award from the Russian 
national contest Good Cause Champions 
for its contribution to the development 
of corporate volunteering, while Medsi won 
in the Competence Volunteering category 
with its Volunteer Ambulance project, 
in which its doctors provided volunteer 
ambulance services to the elderly, supported 
by the Ageing Gracefully Foundation. 
In two years of cooperation between Medsi 
and the foundation, volunteers performed 
off-site medical examinations of over 
300 people and organised several corporate 
charitable events around the International 
Day for Older Persons, during which Medsi 
employees collected over 400 kilograms 
of humanitarian supplies for nursing homes. 

SCF has been supporting development 
in the key areas of the country’s cultural 
life for many years. Last year, one-third 
of the total funds allocated for charity 
(or 2% of all investments in culture, 
sports and entertainment in the country) 
went to the Culture and Art programme, 
which includes support for the Russian 
State Museum and the new Cultural 
Weekend outreach project. As part 
of the long-term partnership programme 
with a budget of up to RUB 500 million 
to be disbursed through 2023, Sistema 
assisted the museum with organising 
large-scale exhibitions, which were visited 
by more than 220,000 people last year. 
The Cultural Weekend national project, which 
seeks to make museums more affordable 
and promote culture and art, gathered 
an unprecedented amount of visitors, 
with 70,000 people in 10 Russian cities.

In 2018, SCF and Medsi continued 
to provide high-tech medical aid to war 
veterans under a programme developed 
in conjunction with the Moscow city 
government and the Moscow City Council 
of Veterans. Since 2015, over 2,000 WWII 
veterans and similar categories of citizens 
have received free outpatient care 
and rehabilitation services. Segezha Group 
annually gives drugstore certificates to war 
and labour veterans: in 2016-2018, almost 
1,000 people received financial support 
from the company to buy medicines.

PARTICIPANTS OF COUNTRY-WIDE 
OUTREACH PROJECT CULTURAL 
WEEKEND

>70 thsd

IN 10 CITIES

EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT OF 
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 

Information openness and a continuous 
dialogue with stakeholders are the basic 
principles of Sistema’s operations as a public 
company, reducing potential reputational 
risks and increasing the Corporation’s 
attractiveness for investors and partners, 
with due consideration of sustainable 
development efforts and independent ESG 
assessments. 

Sistema views public non-financial reporting 
under GRI standards as an important 
component of its CSR and sustainable 
development management system. 
Since 2015, it has annually received 
public assurance of its consolidated 
reports on sustainable development 
from the Russian Union of Industrialists 
and Entrepreneurs (RUIE). In accordance 
with the best practices of responsible asset 
management, Sistema encourages its key 
portfolio companies and funds to disclose 
significant non-financial information. 
As of 2018, reports on CSR and sustainable 
development have been issued 
by MTS, Detsky Mir, Segezha Group, BPGC 
and Sistema Charitable Foundation.   

In June 2018, FTSE Russell, an analytical 
agency of the London Stock Exchange, 
upgraded Sistema’s ESG rating 
and confirmed its status as a constituent 
of the FTSE4GOOD Index Series, which 
measures the ESG performance of public 
companies across more than 110 criteria, 
including labour relations, adherence 
to human rights, impact on local 
communities, anti-corruption practices, 
responsible supply chain management, 
and climate and environmental impact. 

Since 2016, Sistema has invariably 
been among leaders of RUIE indices 
related to sustainable development, 
which became stock market indices 
in 2019. In 2018, the Corporation was one 
of the top five companies in the national 
corporate transparency ranking1 of private 
and strategic Russian companies, 
getting maximum scores for disclosure 
of information on anti-corruption efforts 
and procurement and high scores 
for corporate and strategic governance 
and sustainable development practices. 
The AK&M rating agency included Sistema 
in the first-ever social efficiency ranking 
of major Russian companies judged 
to be of highest value to society per unit 
of ecosystem load. The Corporation was 
also ranked among the top 20 companies 
for information openness. In addition, 
Sistema was declared Leader in Corporate 
Charity 20182.

Sistema was the only private listed 
Russian company to be included 
in the list of 250 best regarded 
international companies among the 
Forbes Global 2000 for reliability, 
work ethics, socially responsible 
conduct, quality of products and 
services, and as an employer. The list 
is compiled based on assessments 
of 15,000 respondents from 
60 countries3.

Тop-5

NATIONAL CORPORATE 
TRANSPARENCY RANKING1 

№ 1

LEADERS IN CORPORATE  
CHARITY RANKING, 20182

1 According to the annual survey conducted by the Russian Regional Network for Integrated Reporting.
2 According to the Russian national ranking of the Donors’ Forum, PwC and the Vedomosti newspaper.
3 Global 2000: Best Regarded Companies 2018.

 
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DISCLAIMER

Certain statements in this report may 
contain assumptions or forecasts in respect 
to forthcoming events within Sistema. 
The words “expect”, “estimate”, “intend”, 
“will”, “could” and similar expressions 
identify forward-looking statements. We wish 
to caution you that these statements are 
only predictions and that actual events 
or results may differ materially. We do not 
intend to update these statements to reflect 
events and circumstances occurring after 
the above-mentioned date or to reflect 
the occurrence of unanticipated events. 
Many factors could cause Sistema’s actual 
results to differ materially from those con-
tained in our projections or forwardlooking 
statements, including, among others, deteri-
orating economic and credit conditions, our 
competitive environment, risks associated 
with operating in Russia, rapid technological 
and market change in our industries, as well 
as many other risks specifically related 
to Sistema and its operations.

CONTACTS

INVESTOR RELATIONS DEPARTMENT:
+7 495 730-66-00
+7 495 692-22-88

PRESS CENTER:
+7 495 228-15-32

INQUIRY DESK:
+7 495 737-01-01

ADDRESS:
13, Mokhovaya Str., Moscow 125009

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INQUIRY DESK:
+7 495 737-01-01

ADDRESS:
13, Mokhovaya Str., Moscow 125009