Kompaniya (Moscow) - September 15, 2008.

For its anniversary celebration, the company had a solid 15 years of outstanding performance to show. What once used to be a small information agency specializing in financial information has now become a media holding with capitalization of over $1bn. Today, RBC is not only the leading provider of financial information, but also an important player in the online entertainment resources segment. Along with the rbc.ru portal, the media holding owns the only business TV channel in Russia - RBC TV, a business newspaper and a monthly magazine - as well as about several dozen Internet resources, an online payment system, and certain assets on the web hosting market. The company estimates its revenue for 2008 at $265m-$275m, with an increase in revenue from advertising and services at 50-60 percent. Print media is expected to demonstrate a 35-percent rise in revenue and RBC TV - about 25-30 percent. Consolidated EBITDA is projected to amount to roughly $75m-$85m.

Meanwhile, the company's most valuable asset is the trust of its several million audience members. RBC's business websites are read by nearly 8 million people, and the overall audience of the media holding's online resources has already reached 35 million unique visitors per month. At the same time, RBC TV's audience exceeded 12 million people per month, and the total circulation of print media stood at over 1 million copies. The company's role in society was given special mention in the governmental and presidential greetings that were read at the opening of the celebration in Manezh. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev used his greeting to point out RBC's great contribution in forming a positive image of Russia abroad and in the development of business ties between Russian and foreign partners. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin noted the high professionalism of RBC's team, and State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov emphasized RBC's role in "a comprehensive and professional analysis of matters relating to the problems the country is facing in the social sector and economy."

For one evening, Manezh was converted into an unusual pier where RBC's ship - the symbol of its long and successful sailing in the sea of media business - moored. Just a few steps away from the ship, one could see pyramids composed of Moet & Chandon champagne bottles. The organizers of the venue decided against breaking the bottle on the board of the ship, but the sparkling drink itself was in great abundance that evening. Waiters dressed in marine uniforms distributed glasses with champagne, Hennessy cognac and gourmet Japanese food. Land Rover acted as the General Partner for the celebration. The guests were certainly captivated by the marine theme. "RBC used to be a small spring, which turned into a wide, full-flowing river," observed member of the Public Chamber of Russia Leonid Roshal. "RBC has covered us with a massive flow of information," agreed Chairman of the Board of Directors of MDM Bank Oleg Vyugin.

Nearly 2,000 guests were invited to the celebration in Manezh: Moscow's business elite, senior management of top Russian companies, politicians, public officials, show business celebrities and sportsmen, the majority of whom had many nice things to wish the company. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mirax Group Sergei Polonsky, for instance, announced that he would gladly celebrate the company's 20th, 30th and 40th anniversary, as RBC "is a great information channel, an information system always keeping us in the loop of things." Meanwhile, the government's representative in the Constitutional Court of Russia Mikhail Barshchevsky pointed out that RBC symbolized a new epoch: "RBC is dominating the information market, because this is the company for business people, for the middle class, and the middle class should be extensive." Member of the Board of Directors of Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods Sergei Plastinin observed that he enjoyed RBC and had even had rbc.ru as the start page on his computer for many years. The Moscow State University journalism department's head Yasen Zasursky noted: "I subscribe to the RBC Daily newspaper and watch RBC TV. RBC works really well; it is a modern, progressive company. I believe it will be able to retain its leadership position thanks to its continuous modernization. New publications and resources appear every year, so the existing resources also expand."

Among RBC's guests was Russian Presidential Aide Arkady Dvorkovich, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia Vladimir Zhirinovsky, President of the Association of Russian Banks Garegin Tosunian, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods David Yakobashvili, General Director of Transaero Airlines Olga Pleshakova, Х5 Retail Group CEO Lev Khasis, President of Micex Alexander Potyomkin, General Director of the Center for Political Technologies Igor Bunin, President of the Finance Academy Alla Gryaznova, President of the National Association of TV and Radio Broadcasters Eduard Sagalayev, lawyer Anatoly Kucherena, cosmonaut Georgy Grechko, poet Vladimir Vishnevsky, TV presenters Mikhail Leontyev and Yelena Khanga, to name just a few. RBC's birthday celebration was a nice mix of an informal party and a business meeting, as the majority of those attending were business people. With this in mind, conversations rapidly shifted from summer tans to business, the upcoming stagnation of the stock market, the consequences of the war in the Caucasus, and mortgage lending problems.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky was the most optimistic, insisting that the upcoming business season would bring about, "normal conditions for the development of Russian business." "Only improvement, strengthening and enhancement lay ahead," he said. He also explained, "Revenue will continue to grow. Certainly, there are risks, but they will balance out. Europe has trillions of free dollars, and the Europeans do not know what to do with all that money. Where would they get fertilizers, natural gas, oil, or bread? Only from Russia. Moreover, we purchase 30-40 percent of what they produce, so if not for us, what would they do?"

The other experts were more cautious in their forecasts. Igor Bunin indicated that Russia was facing a period of uncertainty, as no one knew whether the country's authorities would choose the mobilization or modernization scenario for economic development. Meanwhile, Mikhail Leontyev pointed out that Russian businesses were likely to face 'forced loyalty' and legal consistency.

Meanwhile, the festivities gained momentum, and serious talk gradually subsided. The presentation of RBC's Children Charity Fund and a charity auction for everyone were both held before the entertainment program. Two lots were auctioned off - Nikas Safronov's picture and designer Yelena Yarmak's exclusive hand-made toys.

The concert program was opened by the Presidential Orchestra of the Russian Federation. Guests later enjoyed performances by Anita Tsoi, Oleg Gazmanov, Dima Bilan, the Turetsky choir, and A-Studio. Performances by Konstantin Raikin's Satirikon Theater and the rendition of songs from the new musical Monte-Cristo by soloists of the Moscow Operetta Theater both greatly impressed the public.