MMC Norilsk Nickel was awarded in The Best Corporate Project nomination at the ceremony of awarding laureates of the annual national The Company of the Year Award, one of Russia’s most important national business awards.

RIA RosBusinessConsulting that hosted the award marked MMC Norilsk Nickel’s performance very high recognizing the successful spin-off by Open Joint Stock Company Mining and Metallurgical Company Norilsk Nickel of its gold mining assets – OJSC Polyus Gold – as an independent market player in March 2006. Released in stock market in mid May 2006, the shares of Polyus Gold instantly turned into blue chips of the Russian stock market. MMC Norilsk Nickel performed the spin-off as a completely simple, clear and transparent transaction. In accordance with the plan two shares (Norilsk Nickel + Polyus) quote higher after the spin-off than one share of Norilsk Nickel quoted before. MMC Norilsk Nickel Deputy General Director Denis Morozov oversaw the project.

In conformity with the rules, the award targets the most prominent and active players on the Russian market, i.e. the companies that are building the new image of Russian business.