The Ministry of Economy does not support the Ministry of Finance’s proposal to increase the minimum dividend for state-owned companies to 35% from 25% of profits, but considers it possible to calculate these payments according to international rather than Russian reporting standards.

Photo: Dmitry Lekai, Kommersant / buy photo

The position of the Ministry of Economy on the topic currently being discussed by the government of increasing the level of dividends from state-owned companies going to the state budget was announced by the head of the department, Andrei Belousov. “I think this is wrong,” he said, answering the question whether the ministry supports the corresponding proposal of the Ministry of Finance. “This will have a bad impact on investment programs.” At the same time, the minister supported the idea of the advisability of calculating dividends from profits according to IFRS, and not RAS, as is currently established, adding, however, that not all state-owned companies yet report according to international standards. In any case, he said, the final decision on this issue will be made by the government.

Let us recall that earlier the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation proposed two options for establishing the size of dividends for state-owned companies - this was reported by the First Deputy Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation Tatyana Nesterenko. The first option is to maintain the current norm of 25% of net profit. At the same time, it is proposed to clarify that profits should be calculated according to IFRS, and also to exclude the possibility of benefits for individual companies. The second option is to increase the dividend threshold to 35% of profits, but maintaining benefits. These proposals from the Ministry of Finance have not yet been agreed upon with other ministries; the issue will be discussed at a meeting in the government today, May 15.

Vadim Visloguzov

Ministries did not share dividends