MOSCOW. The companies RESO-Garantiya, Ingosstrakh , Voenno-Insurance Company, ROSNO, Rosgosstrakh and Interros-Soglasie have created a pool for reinsuring the risks of terrorist attacks. The creation of the pool should help avoid the difficulties with reinsuring these risks in the West that arose after the September 11 terrorist attacks. (INTERFAX-AFI)

In the article “90% of NPFs can be closed” (No. 15 from 01.02.2002, p. B3) the name of the head of the NPF inspection at the Ministry of Labor, Vladimir Mudrakov, was incorrectly indicated. The editors apologize.

Many trading companies create their own production facilities as a support for the trading business. And the shareholders of the trading network "Starik Khottabych", having understood what there is a demand for, create an entire industrial holding. As the heads of the company "Nex", which owns the retail chain, told Vedomosti, the founders of "Nex" Grigory Kozhemyakin and Igor Sosin stepped away from managing the "Starik Khottabych" stores last year and created several industrial enterprises.

Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods (WBD)'s largest shareholder, Gavriil Yushvaev, served nine years in a Soviet prison camp, according to a prospectus prepared by WBD ahead of its public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. The company is fair in warning investors that Yushvaev's criminal past could later have a negative impact on the price of WBD's American depositary shares. Yushvaev was convicted of robbery in 1980.

The name of a debutant director is not the kind of kalach that will lure the viewer to "Beast Nature". Well, he is a French music video director, well, he produced videos - music videos, commercials, whatever they ordered. Now he has made a film. You won't surprise us with this - our Yuri Grymov has already produced two of them and threatens with a new idea. The name of the screenwriter C is another matter.

Moscow has moved up to 3rd place in Europe in terms of maximum rental rates for retail space. In this indicator, the Russian capital is now second only to Paris and London. However, realtors are not feeling euphoric. According to analysts, the market has turned out to be overheated and a decline in prices should be expected throughout 2002. According to Colliers International , by the end of 2002, rental rates in new shopping centers may decrease by approximately 10%.

ROSTOV-ON-DON. The board of directors of Rostovugol OJSC plans to make a decision on Tuesday to liquidate the joint-stock company and create a new coal company on its basis, Vladimir Semkin, head of the company's analytical center, told Interfax. The corresponding decision was made at an interdepartmental commission on the socio-economic problems of coal mining regions under the leadership of Energy Minister Igor Yusufov.

MOSCOW. Rosneft is not satisfied with the conditions proposed by Transneft for the construction of a crossover between the pipeline systems of Transneft and the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. According to Rosneft President Sergei Bogdanchikov, the company is not satisfied with the proposed take or pay mechanism, as well as the tariff that, according to preliminary calculations, will apply to pumping oil through the crossover. (PRIME-TASS)

In January, business activity indicators in Russia fell to their lowest levels in three years. But industrialists are still looking to the future with optimism. According to market surveys, captains of industry had a good rest during the Christmas holidays and hope that production and employment at their enterprises will start to grow again in the spring. In January, the so-called seasonal factor makes a loud statement.

Last week, the Minister of Railways signed an order to create the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Directorate of Russian Railways". All economic activities of the Ministry of Railways are being transferred to the new agency. The Ministry of Railways calls the creation of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise the first step in the reform of the Ministry of Railways. I believe that we should not expect any drastic changes in the work of the ministry for now.

Evgeny Yakovlev: "The current competition between Russians is a competition between gnomes." Evgeny Yakovlev, CEO of the Power Machines concern, created by the Interros group and its partners in November 2000, has worked in the banking sector for many years. Having started his career in 1982 as an inspector at Vneshtorgbank, by 1994 he had risen to the position of senior banker at the EBRD. But in 1996, Yakovlev left the banking business.

FRANKFURT - Mercedes-Benz, always considered a model of engineering sophistication, is facing complaints about the quality of its cars. Recent studies have shown that the venerable German brand is losing out to its competitors in some areas. Last week, the results of a survey commissioned by car companies in Europe emerged. The New Car Buyer Survey (NCBS) is a highly confidential survey, usually intended for the car makers themselves.

However, not all brokers think the same way. Thus, Alfa-Bank and BC "NIKoil" did not change their recommendations for MGTS shares - respectively "hold" and "reduce/hold". The publication of the Moscow City Telephone Network (MGTS) report on its financial results in the GAAP standard for 2000 pushed up the quotes of its shares. They have grown by 6% over the last two trading sessions.

One of the first issues that a person starting his own business faces is renting an office. Recently, the task has been complicated by the fact that the share of unoccupied premises of almost all categories has decreased to a minimum.

Deputy Minister of Railways Sergei Grishin ordered all freight car lease agreements to be terminated by February 15 and renegotiated on a general basis. Perhaps the MPS is trying to put carriers on equal terms and deprive companies close to the former management of the department of their privileges. However, leases have ceased to be direct income for the MPS - revenues from them will go to the budget in 2002.