Norilsk Nickel MMC’s gold mining assets are spun off as Polyus Gold, a new company which in record time becomes a leading blue chip on the Russian stock exchange and one of the five largest gold mining companies in the world. At the launch of over-the-counter trading, the market values Polyus Gold at $12.9 bln, approximately 25 times more than the amount Norilsk Nickel spent on consolidating its gold mining assets. Interros and Société Générale (SG), a French banking Group, agree to partner in banking. In June, SG acquires a 10% stake in Rosbank for $317 mln from Interros, and in September an additional 10% for the same amount with an option to buy a 30% stake for $1.7 bln. Siemens acquires a 20.61% stake in the Power Machines Consortium. The 2005 and 2006 deals amount to $194 mln in total. RAO UES Russia and Siemens consolidate a 25% + 1 share stake each, with Interros keeping 30.4% of the Consortium.