The Committee will take into account the uncertainty of the stock price that might occur on December 30th, 2005. The closing price as of December 29th, 2005, will be used in index calculation until the end of January 10th, 2006, trading session. The share price determined at the end of that trading session will be used to calculate the correcting coefficient in accordance with the RTS Index calculation methodology.
"Norilsk Nickel" sources report that "Polus Zoloto" shares will be distributed among "Norilsk Nickel" shareholders registered as of January 1st, 2006, in the following proportion: 1 "Polus Zoloto" share per each "Norilsk Nickel" share. The price of "Norilsk Nickel" stock after the spin-off might fall by 10-30% leading to the 1,5 – 4% drop in RTS Index. Usually the restructuring of this kind is taken into consideration while calculating stock market indices but at this point there is no way to predict the potential price change.
The RTS Information Committee decision is subject to the approval by the non-profit partnership Board of Directors.