The retailer entered a new market — retail sale of pet supplies — in line with its strategy to expand its business. The company opened four pilot pet stores under the 'Zoozavr' brand.

The company launched the second line at the Vyatka Plywood Mill (Kirov region), increasing plywood output to 192,000 cu m and expanding the range of high-margin products, including large-size long-grain plywood. А pellet production from sawdust waste generated at the woodworking facility was launched at the Lesosibirsk Woodworking Plant in Krasnoyarsk area. The Segezha Pulp & Paper Mill commissioned a multi-fuel boiler that runs on bark waste, which will increase heat generation at the mill by 25% and reduce use of expensive fuel oil.

MTS acquired a 28.63% stake in MTS Bank from Sistema for RUB 8.27 bn. In February 2019, Sistema divested an additional 39.5% stake in MTS Bank to MTS for RUB 11.4 bn, which reduced its ownership in MTS Bank to 5.0% and increased MTS’s stake to 94.7%. The transaction enabled MTS to consolidate its fintech business in Russia and to simplify operational management, making it possible to launch new products faster and to utilise MTS’s retail network more effectively in order to expand the bank’s footprint.

Sistema acquired a 13% equity interest in Pharmaceutical Enterprise Obolenskoe JSC (OBL Pharm). The stake was acquired jointly with VTB Bank and management of OBL Pharm. Later this year, the Russian Direct Investment Fund, the Russia-China Investment Fund and leading Middle Eastern funds joined the project. Total investment of the consortium amounted to RUB 15.5 bn. The strategic goal of the deal is to create Russia's leading pharma holding and a top-5 player in the commercial segment of the Russian pharmaceutical market by merging OBL Pharm and Binnopharm under the Alium brand. The companies' aggregate diversified product portfolio comprised about 200 drugs, and Alium’s total production facilities included four high-tech plants in Moscow and the Moscow region.

Sistema in partnership with a consortium of investors consisting of the Trinfico Group and the National Investment Company made its first investment in the textile industry by acquiring Vologda Textile, a flagship of the Russian light industry with an 80-year history, planning to launch manufacturing of high-tech fabrics.

The development company successfully placed RUB 5 bn worth of bonds.