This awards season proved a successful one for our Russian and CIS clients, NMLK and Kazakamys with both companies being recognised at two national Annual Report contests in Moscow on the 17th and 18th of November.

NMLK’S 2010 Annual Report was triumphant at the first of these prestigious award ceremonies held in Russia’s capital on the 17th of November. The world class steel producer was recognized in five categories at the 14th Yearly Federal Contest of Annual Reports and Corporate Websites organised by Securities Market magazine and Investor.ru in cooperation with the Federal Service for Financial Markets. They outshone all other shortlisted nominees by coming first place in ‘Best all-round representation’ and ‘Best interactive Annual Report' whilst picking up second place for Best Annual Report in the metals and mining sector’, ‘Best Annual Report among Central Federal District public companies' and 'Best level of information disclosure in an issuer's Annual Report'.

Their highly commended Annual Report also won two categories at the 14th Yearly Contest of Annual Reports organised by the RTS and MICEX Stock Exchanges the following day, where it was acclaimed ‘Best presentation of the company’s investment case in an Annual Report’ and ‘Best Annual Report among Central Federal District companies’.

Kazakhmys was also recognised at this ceremony by coming 3rd place in the ‘Best Annual Report by a foreign company nomination’.

We would like to congratulate both NLMK and Kazakhmys for receiving such high standards of recognition for their hard work and dedication to developing their Annual Reports and leading the way in terms of evidencing their adherence to international best practice reporting standards.