A Brief Timeline

2012

December

IFC "Metropol" was awarded the Cbonds Awards-2012 in the category "Best team in the futures market for the bonds"

November

The company Putnik and Metropol-Express Travel Agency Chain have taken part in the 19th Annual Moscow International Ski & Board Salon.
Metropol-Express Travel Agency Chain has taken part in the 23rd exhibition Tour Salon 2012.
The National Rating Agency has affirmed the AAA reliability rating of IFC METROPOL LLC.
METROPOL Group of Companies has taken part in the Russian-Japanese Economic Forum organized within the framework of the official visit to Tokyo of I. I. Shuvalov, the first deputy prime minister of the Russian Federation.
The National Rating Agency has affirmed the AA reliability rating (very high reliability, the second highest level) of Management Company METROPOL LLC.

October

The MBC Corporation has decided against investing in OJSC Russian Magnesium.
IFC Metropol has received an award of the Flagship of the Federal Loan Bond Basket Futures Market on the occasion of the 11th anniversary of FORTS futures and options market.
The MBC Corporation has supported a visit of children from the rural community of Kholodnoye Evenkiyskoye in the Severobaikalskiy District of Buryatia to Svetliy Republican Rehabilitation Center for a full medical check-up.
Metropol-Express Travel Agency Chain has organized an advertising tour of Buryatia assets, including hotels Baikal Riviera and Lukomorye and motor vessel Atlant, for leading Russian and international tour operators.
An International M&A Advisor Award ceremony, an annual event within the framework of M&A Advisor Summit, was held in New York, NY, USA on 10 October 2012. IFC METROPOL Chief Executive Officer Aleksey Rodzyanko has received an award in the nomination of the Leading International M&A Advisors.
Investment and Financial Company METROPOL announces the refocusing of its Debt Instruments and Derivatives Department. The company is intensifying its public debt market trading activities and discontinuing its corporate bond operations.
METROPOL Group of Companies has supported the publication of a book by Tsyren-Khandy Daribazarova entitled “A Question to Myself” recognized at the 17th Book Salon as the Best 2012 Buryat Language Edition.
A presentation of a novel by Russian writer Victor Slipenchuk, “Zinziver”, published in the French language by L`age d`Homme publishers was held on 25 October in Paris at the 6th Russian Book Salon in the Russian Science and Culture Center with support of the Russian Embassy to France, French-Russian Dialog association and METROPOL Group of Companies.

September

Evgeny Golosnoy joined the analyst team of IFC METROPOL. He will be in charge of IT, media and telecommunications sector of the Russian equity capital market.
The Metropol-Express travel agency chain has published information regarding its assets in Buryatia, Baikal Riviera and Lukomorye hotels by posting it in global online hotel booking systems booking.com, hrs.com and oktogo.ru.
8 September marked the fifth anniversary of the Varyag Cruiser Memorial Complex in the Lendalfoot village (Scotland). This event was arranged with organizational and financial support of the Varyag Cruiser Charity Fund (President – M.V. Slipenchuk) and METROPOL Group of Companies.
The concert of contemporary French music from the series “Spectra of Time. French Music Today” took place in the Rakhmaninov Hall of the P. I. Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory on 12 September 2012. The concert was held with the assistance of METROPOL Group of Companies and with the participation of the French-Russian Dialogue Association and French Institute in Moscow.
On 13 September, at the meeting that took place as part of the International Economic Conference “New Economics – New Approaches” of the VII Baikal Economic Forum, the Head of the Republic of Buryatia Vyacheslav Nagovitsyn presented a letter of gratitude to Director for Regional Activities of IFC METROPOL Bair Tsyrenov, appreciating his cooperation in the development of the «Baikal harbor» Special Economic Zone of tourism and vacation type in the Republic of Buryatia.
METROPOL Group of Companies acted as a Strategic Partner of the VII Baikal Economic Forum. The status of the Forum’s Strategic Partner reflects the endeavor of METROPOL Group of Companies to fully support the development of the Republic of Buryatia in shaping its economic infrastructure based on innovative strategies in science and industry.
15 September was the last day of the International Economic Conference as part of the VII Baikal Economic Forum (BEF IEC). Its participants visited the «Baikal harbor» Special Economic Zone of tourism and vacation type and got acquainted with the work of its residents.
On 13-14 September 2012, IFC METROPOL organized the first annual conference for investors: “Beyond the Blue Chips: Growth and Value in Russian equities.” The main objective of the Conference is to open up opportunities for the top managers of the leading Russian small and mid-equity companies to tell investors about their market strategies, growth potential and risks.
On 18 September, the Baikal Fight – an IBO boxing tournament – took place in the Moscow Center of Martial Arts in the “Varshavka SKY” center. Russia’s Alexander Bakhtin confirmed his title of the best boxer in junior featherweight (to 55.3 kg). METROPOL Group of Companies was the organizer of the fight.
METROPOL Group of Companies rendered assistance in the translation and publication of the book of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia entitled Freedom and Responsibility: In Search of Harmony. Human Rights and Personal Dignity in Japanese, as well as the book by A.A. Khlopetskiy The Perpetual Fight…
IFC METROPOL acted as a co-organizer of OJSC Moscow United Electric Grid Company (OJSC MOESK) bonds Series BO-01 issue amounting to 5 bln RUB with 3 years’ maturity.
The second concert of contemporary French music from the series “Spectra of Time. French Music Today” took place in the Rakhmaninov Hall of the P. I. Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory on 21 September 2012. Like the first concert, the event was arranged with the support of METROPOL Group of Companies, with the participation of the French-Russian Dialogue Association and French Institute in Moscow.
On 28 September Budva, Montenegro, hosted the regular meeting of the Committee on Law, Banking and Finance of the European Business Congress. The meeting discussed the current problems and prospects of complex oil and gas projects in the context of financial fragility of the global markets. Investment and Financial Company METROPOL organized the event.

August

Lufthansa Consulting will elaborate a strategy for the development of Baikal Airport for the next 15 years and provision of consulting assistance after that period.
On 17 August, the First Environment Marathon “Let’s Preserve Baikal Together!” was held at the Central Stadium in Ulan-Ude as part of the Day of Baikal. The Marathon was organized by the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal and METROPOL Group of Companies.
A box fight between Russia’s Alexander Bakhtin and Philippines’ Roli Gasca will be held with the support of METROPOL Group of Companies. The fight is to be held on 18 September on the boxing ring of Moscow Martial Arts Center at Varshavka SKY.

July

The METROPOL Group of Companies started entering the FOREX/CFD foreign exchange market as the main FXCM introducing broker in Russia. The cooperation agreement between the companies was signed in March 2012.
Russian clients can get access to FXCM products through Metropol (UK) Ltd., a member of the METROPOL Group of Companies.
On 11 July 2012, at The Ritz-Carlton, the METROPOL Group of Companies presented to the press a new direction in its activities – services for entering the Forex market. The press conference was attended by Aleksey Rodzyanko, Executive Director of IFC METROPOL, Arthur Plaude, Managing Director, Fixed Income Department, and Vera Morgatskaya, Metropol-FOREX Project Manager.
On 24 July 2012, the 4th International Chess Festival for the Center Corporation Cup ended in Izhevsk. Anton Shomoyev, an international grandmaster from Ulan-Ude representing Shatar-Metropol Club team, became the winner of the Festival.
On 28 June 2012, the Metropol-Express Network of Travel Agencies received a certificate of registration with the Unified Federal Register of Tour Operators.
The METROPOL Group of Companies presented the Baikalskaya Gavan (Baikal Harbor), an international art forum. The forum will first take place in 2013 in the Republic of Buryatia at the initiative of the METROPOL Group of Companies and the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal.
On 17 July the Bolshoi Theatre hosted a farewell benefit performance of Morihiro Ivato with the support of the METROPOL Group of Companies.
The METROPOL Group of Companies was a partner of the Golos Kochevnikov (Voice of the Nomads) IV International Music Festival that started in Ulan-Ude on 11 July.
The traditional annual celebration of Zandan Zhuu (buddhist relic Sandal Buddha) was held at the Egituysky Datsan with the support of METROPOL Group of Companies.
METROPOL Group of Companies was one of the partners of Moya Provintsiya (My Province), a festival of regional mass media. The Festival took place on the shore of Lake Baikal in the Maksimikha village of the Barguzinsky District on 17-20 July.

June

IFC METROPOL Participates in 9th CIS and Baltic Region Bond Congress The event was attended by Petr Kadysh, Head of Fixed Income Research, Fixed Income and Derivatives Department of IFC Metropol. He made a presentation, Influence of the European Crisis on Russia’s Debt Market.
On 6-7 June 2012, representatives of Investment and Financial Company METROPOL attended the Russian-Japanese Investment Forum in Kazan. At the round table discussion of Investment Cooperation in Banking and Finance, Oleg Velikoredchanin, Director for International Activities, IFC METROPOL, made a presentation on the Experience of IFC METROPOL in Attracting Japanese Investments to the Financial Sector of the Russian Economy.
METROPOL Group of Companies, in cooperation with the Republican Agency for Physical Education and Sports and the Russian Lapta Federation, organized the Zolotaya Bita (Golden Bat) All-Russian Mini-Lapta Tournament. The Asian phase of the tournament took place in Ulan-Ude on 18-20 June.
METROPOL Group of Companies arranged accommodation in the Republic of Buryatia for participants of the Beijing-Moscow 2012 motor rally as part of the Year of Russian Tourism in China.
On 16 June 2012, the Baikal Airport (Ulan-Ude, Buryatia) admitted the first regular international Ulan-Ude - Beijing flight.
On 18 June 2012, the Stock Market Elite 2011 award ceremony took place in Moscow. Investment and Financial Company METROPOL won the Business Development award.
On 21 June 2012, the exhibition of Zorikto Dorzhiyev opened in Moscow with the support of METROPOL Group of Companies and the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal.

May

M.V. Slipenchuk, the founder of the METROPOL Group of Companies, participated in the Global Strategy Conference on 9-10 May 2012. The conference was organized by a Japanese company SBI Holdings. During the conference the participants spoke about current financial and economic situations in their countries and also shared their views regarding further development of the global economy.
A presentation of the Republic of Buryatia to Japanese businessmen took place in the Embassy of Japan in Moscow, with the participation of the METROPOL Group of Companies. The event participants have presented investment projects regarding industry, manufacture of environmentally friendly products, logistics, mineral resources exploitation and tourism industry.
Obibank acted as a partner of the Russian Family Businesses Association in the organization of an all-Russian contest “Family Business-2012” held among enterprises, owners and key employees that have family relations.
The representatives of the METROPOL Group of Companies participated in panel discussion “Russian innovative projects and the possibilities of French participation in their implementation”. The experience of clusters foundation and support of innovative enterprises in France”. The discussion took place in the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Paris on 22 May 2012.
A presentation of the tourism opportunities of the Republic of Buryatia took place in France on 24 May 2012. The event was held under the auspices of the “French-Russian dialog” Association and with the support of the Embassy and the Trade Representative Office of the Russian Federation in France. The organizers of the event were Russian Railways OJSC and the METROPOL Group of Companies. A.K. Orlov, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation, V.V. Bushuev, the Head of the Administration of the Russian Railways OJSC President, V.V. Nagovitsyn, the President of the Republic of Buryatia and M.V. Slipenchuk, the deputy of the State Duma, have delivered speeches on the event.
The 6th Annual Asia Mining Partnering Forum 2012 took place in Beijing on 24-25 May 2012. Denis Paletskiy, the General Director of Metropol China Co., Ltd. presented his report “Complex development of major zinc, led, gold, silver and beryllium deposits in the Republic of Buryatia. Construction of a mining and metallurgical complex.”
A traditional children chess festival “Wunderkind-2012” for the prizes of Bair Tsyrenov, the president of Shatar chess club, took place on 26-28 May in the Republic of Buryatia under the patronage of the METROPOL Group of Companies. This is the 15th championship of this kind. Gifted young participants of the competition are considered the hope of Buryat chess sport.
A long-awaited exhibition of the works by artist Bato Dashitsyrenov was opened in the Ulan-Ude Art Museum named after Ts.S. Sampilov on 29 May 2012 with the support of the METROPOL Group of Companies.
Maxim Zotov was appointed the head of the Stock Capital Department of IFC METROPOL. Mr. Zotov will be responsible for brokerage and dealer's activities of the company in the stock market.

April

The Fund for Protection of the Lake Baikal (FPLB) joined the membership of Russian Geographic Society at the meeting of the Guardinaship board of RGS that took place on April 10, 2010 in Saint-Petersburg. V.V. Putin, the chairman of the RGS Guardianship Board, handed in a certificate to confirm that the Fund became a member of the Society to M.V.Slipenchuk, the chairman of the FPLB Board of Guardians.
The Bank of Russia registered a new version of the Articles of Association of CB Obibank LLC. The provisions of the Articles of Association were brought in compliance with Federal law No. 162-FZ dated June 27, 2011 “On making amendments to certain regulatory acts of the Russian Federation in connection with the adoption of Federal law “On the national payment system”.
A presentation of economic and investment potential of the Republic of Buryatia took place in China in the framework of the Year of Russian tourism that has recently started in Beijing. The wide-scale presentation was officially organized on April 10, 2012, by the embassy of the Russian Federation in China and Metropol China company.
METROPOL Group of Companies participated in XI Republic exhibition and fair “Tourism and recreation in Buryatia-2012”. In the framework of the event METROPOL-Express company, a member of METROPOL Group of Companies, presented its tourist facilities: hotel complexes “Baikal Riviera” and “Lukomoriye”. METROPOL Group of Companies also gave a presentation of its cruises around the Lake Baikal on Atlant steam-ship owned by the company, as well as spoke about its tourist assets in France, Serbia and Montenegro.
A delegation of METROPOL Group of Companies participated in the Third festival of real estate investments FREI 2012 that took place in Budva, Montenegro, on April 23-26, 2012. METROPOL Group of Companies was treated as an exclusive participant of the Festival and presented its own investment project “The Island of Saint Mark” — the first European de Luxe island-based resort.
A meeting of the Coordination board for the implementation of investment projects in the Republic of Buryatia and the Baikal Territory took place in Ulan-Ude in the presence of V.A.Talokonskiy, authorized representative of the President of the Russian Federation in Siberian Federal District. B.D.Tsyrenov, director of IFC METROPOL for regional activities, in the course of the meeting suggested the construction of a thermal power plant to resolve the issues of power supply to Ozerny GOK and Ulan-Ude. Viktor Tolokonskiy stated that the suggestions of METROPOL Group of Companies regarding the construction of thermal power plant in Ulan-Ude were the most realistic and interesting, because their implementation would reduce the production cost of energy supply to the complex and would increase the reliability of heat supply in Ulan-Ude.
IFC METROPOL acted as leading co-organizer of the 12th issue of OJSC UES FGC bonds amounting to 10 billion roubles with a 7-year maturity and an offer in 4 years. The placement of the bonds took place on April 27, 2011.
The MBC corporation and China Nonferrous Metal Industry’s Foreign Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd. entered into a framework agreement. The document stipulates that the Chinese partner will participate in the industrial development of Ozernoye complex deposit located in the Republic of Buryatia and in the construction of Ozerny GOK. In accordance with the agreement, NFC will purchase a 50% stake in the Ozernoye project.

March

A meeting of K.G. Kornilyev, the General Director of IBM in East Europe/Asia, L.R. Sorkin, the General Director of Honeywell in Russia and I.A. Okhtyrskiy, the General Director of the MBC Corporation took place on 1 March 2012. The participants discussed the issues of mutual participation in the projects of Skolkovo Innovations Center, creation of a R&D center in MPTI and the participation in the design and construction of Ozerniy mining and metallurgy complex in the Republic of Buryatia.
A meeting of the Board of Directors of Russian Magnesium OJSC took place on 1 March 2012 in Yekaterinburg. The participants have discussed a number of issues pertaining to the activities of the company. The participants have discussed as well the current situation regarding the MBC Corporation's preparation of an application for loan financing from the Vneshekonombank State Corporation in accordance with the agency contract of 27 January 2012. Alexander Neveseliy, a representative of the MBC Corporation Ltd, was appointed Deputy General Director of Russian magnesium OJSC for the attraction of finances from the Vneshekonombank State Corporation.
Investment Financial Company METROPOL developed Metropol Second Tier Stock Index that shows the dynamics of the quotations of shares issued by the most prospective small-cap and medium-cap companies. The index is expected to help market players follow the dynamics of shares issued by Russian "second-range" companies, to make investment decisions and to develop trade strategies.
GLOBE 2012 Conference and Trade Fair was held in Vancouver, Canada, on 13-16 March 2012. The conference was dedicated to sustainable regional development and environment protection. Within the scope of this event, the Canadian-Russian Business Association staged a separate conference concerning Russia. Aleksey Chernov, CEO, IFC METROPOL CANADA, delivered a report on the METROPOL Group of Companies business activities in the Republic of Buryatia. He spoke about the Group of Companies’ projects in Buryatia and successful experience of complex regional development.
10th international chess festival “Sagaalgan-2012” took place in Buryatia on 16-18 March. The festival has been a stage in the Rapid Grand Prix of Russia - Russian Rapid Chess Cup for two years now. The METROPOL Group of Companies has been the festival’s general partner since 2006. Among the participants of the championship were chess players from different cities of Russia and other countries of the world.

February

METROPOL Group organized visiting the Republic of Buryatia by the delegation of major Japanese travel agencies JTB and JATM. The delegation included Mr Tosio Uruno, GAC Inc. general director (JTB subsidiary) and Ms Saori Takidzava, sales department deputy chief of the Japanese Air Travel Marketing company (JATM). The main purpose of the visit was survey of the tourist objects of Baikal Harbor free economic zone in Buryatia.
IFC METROPOL received the award from the Moscow Interbank Stock Exchange-RTS Group at the awarding ceremony of market makers at the federal loan bonds futures’ market.
The Project “Development of a hardware-software platform for construction of digital models of "smart" industrial complexes and intellectual control systems of manufacture” on the basis of Ozerny processing enterprise in Buryatia received a positive response of the Skolkovo Fund Expert Board. This gives the MBC Corporation and its partner – Moscow Physics and Technical Institute - right to create the project company with the status of a participant of Skolkovo Innovative Centre.
The first session of the Ermakovsky mining and metallurgical company (EMMC) Board of directors and meeting of shareholders of was held. Sergey Garichev, the East Siberian Metals Corporation deputy general director, was approved General Director of the newly formed company. Irek Salimov, both member of the Board of Directors of the East Siberian Metals Corporation and Ermakovsky mining and metallurgical company, was appointed chairman of the tender commission.
METROPOL Group hold a meeting with contractors under the project of creation of the Baikal Harbor multifunctional tourist complex. During the meeting further architectural and project decisions of the objects’ construction concept, volume and schedule of work were on the agenda.
The national Rating Agency confirmed an individual rating of credit status to Obibank Commercial Bank at level «A -» - high credit status, the third level.
METROPOL Group took part in the International linguistic Expolang show that was held in Paris. Lake Baikal Protection Fund’s exposition and METROPOL Group regional projects’ exposition became the key part of the Russian exhibition hall. With the support of METROPOL Group and Lake Baikal Protection Fund the winter expedition of the Moscow State University Geographical Department Scientific student's society to the Buryatia Republic was organized. Expedition’s main objectives – to study Ozerny polymetallic deposit’s influence on environment, acquaintance to prospects of tourism development and a recreation in Baikalsk region.
With the support of METROPOL Group the book of a famous Buryat artist Zorikto Dorzhiev ZORIKBOOK was published and its presentation held in the National Museum of Buryatia.
METROPOL Group became partner of a romantic youth Buryat comedy To Baikal distribution and exhibition in more than 20 Russian cities.

January

East-Siberian Metals Corporation (MBC) and OJSC Russian Magnesium came to an understanding to enter into an agency agreement, under which Russian Magnesium is to grant MBC the authority to provide a Vnesheconombank credit facility in the amount of 13 billion roubles.
East-Siberian Metals Corporation was paid a business visit by delegation of 11 technical specialists from Chinese company NFC, led by Mr Chen Zhenghai, Head of Mining Department.
CB Obibank Ltd. declared that starting from the year 2012 it is going to substantially expand the list of currencies quoted on a permanent basis.
Investment Financial Company METROPOL acted as a sponsor of the session of the Central and Eastern European Forum that took place 17-18 January 2012 in Vienna, Austria.
A Japanese Parliament delegation consisting of 9 deputies from both chambers of the Japanese Parliament paid an official visit to METROPOL Group in Moscow.