{{Infobox company | name = ICT Group<br />Группа ИСТ | type = [[Privately held company|Private]] | logo = IST Logo.svg | logo_size = 150px | founded = 1991<ref name="f"/> | founder = [[Alexander Nesis]] | hq_location_city = [[Moscow]] | hq_location_country = [[Russia]] | industry = [[Private equity]], <br> financial services, <br> precious metals and mining, <br> heavy engineering and [[logistics]], <br> [[Construction]], <br> industrial development | num_employees = | footnotes = | website = [http://www.ict-group.ru www.ict-group.ru] }} The '''ICT Group''' ({{langx|ru|Группа ИСТ}}), also spelt '''IST Group''', was an investment venture based and operated in [[Russia]] from 1991 until 2013.<ref name="f">{{citation| url = http://www.ict-group.ru/english/about/| title = Profile| work = www.ict-group.ru| access-date = 4 April 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120317103016/http://www.ict-group.ru/english/about/| archive-date = 17 March 2012| url-status = dead}}</ref>
The ICT ('Investments, Construction, Technologies') Group, founded by Alexander Nesis and his partners in the early 1990s, for years used to be one of the largest privately owned investment and industrial companies in Russia. It was headquartered in Moscow and in [[St. Petersburg]]. It invested in, developed and managed assets in wide range of industries, including the banking and financial industry, metals and [[mining]], precious metal production, heavy engineering, [[logistics]], construction and development.<ref name="The Telegraph">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/mining/8612140/Billionaire-Alexander-Nesis-reveals-why-Polymetal-is-listing-in-London.html|title=Billionaire Alexander Nesis reveals why Polymetal is listing in London|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|date= 2011-07-03|accessdate=2012-05-08}}</ref>
The portfolio of assets under the Group's management included NOMOS-BANK, Khanty-Mansi Bank, Polymetal and United Wagon Company. From 2010 till 2013 the Group also held large equity stakes in the potash producer Uralkali and Baltic Leasing.<ref name="RBC Daily">{{cite web|url=http://www.rbcdaily.ru/2011/04/20/industry/562949980108028|title=RBC Daily|publisher=RBC Website|accessdate=2012-05-08}}</ref> The group's assets were located primarily in Russia, but it also had interests in [[Kazakhstan]] and developing markets.<ref name="The Telegraph"/> In 2013 ICT Group (Russia) ceased its operations. Following the restructuring of assets a new private equity firm ICT Holding Ltd (Cyprus) was founded. The company focuses on equity and venture investments in international public companies from the following industries: energy, metals and mining, autos and transportation, medtech.
Key shareholder of the ICT Holding Ltd is [[Alexander Nesis]].<ref>{{citation| url = http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=2949| title = RUSSIA'S RICHEST MEN SHOW THEIR METAL| journal = The St. Petersburg Times| date = 8 March 2005| issue = 1050| access-date = 31 January 2009| archive-date = 5 June 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110605054351/http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=2949| url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/75/2004/LIR.jhtml?passListId=75&passYear=2004&passListType=Person&uniqueId=SN3U&datatype=Person | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628234559/http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/75/2004/LIR.jhtml?passListId=75&passYear=2004&passListType=Person&uniqueId=SN3U&datatype=Person | url-status=dead | archive-date=June 28, 2011 | title = Russia 100 > Alexander Nesis (2004)|work=Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/business/articles/2015/04/22/aleksandru-nesisu-prinadlezhit-lish-50-gruppi-ist | title=Александру Несису принадлежит лишь 50% группы ИСТ }}</ref>
==Overview== ICT was founded as group of private investors by [[Alexander Nesis]] and five other colleagues. Nesis was president and major shareholder of the group until 2013.<ref>{{citation| url =https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/mining/8612140/Billionaire-Alexander-Nesis-reveals-why-Polymetal-is-listing-in-London.html| title = Billionaire Alexander Nesis reveals why Polymetal is listing in London| work = www.telegraph.co.uk| author= James Quinn| date = 3 July 2011}}</ref>
===Finance=== The group established [[NOMOS-BANK]] in 1993, a 49.99% stake was sold to the Czech [[PPF Group]] and the Slovakian [[J&T]] in 2007/8.<ref>{{citation| url = http://www.ict-group.ru/english/assets/finance/nomos/| title = NOMOS BANK| work = www.icy-group.ru| access-date = 4 April 2012| archive-url = https://archive.today/20120802142138/http://www.ict-group.ru/english/assets/finance/nomos/| archive-date = 2 August 2012| url-status = dead}}</ref> ''Khanty–Mansi Bank'', an investment bank operating in the [[Khanty–Mansi Autonomous Area]] came under the groups control in 2009. In 2011 ICT Group completed an IPO at MICEX and LSE having offered 22% in NOMOS BANK's share capital In 2013 a controlling stake of NOMOS BANK Group was sold to Otkritie Financial Corporation.
The company acquired a stake in road vehicle and industrial equipment leasing company ''Balting Leasing Company'' in 2010, and sold it in 2012,<ref>{{citation| url = http://www.ict-group.ru/english/assets/finance/| title = Finance| work = www.ict-group.ru| publisher = [[ICT Group]]| access-date = 1 February 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120319195143/http://www.ict-group.ru/english/assets/finance/| archive-date = 19 March 2012| url-status = dead}} , company webpage and subpages</ref> a rail wagon leasing company "Rail1520" (''ООО «Рейл1520»'') was formed in 2011 which received financial backing by [[Sberbank]],<ref>{{citation|url = http://www.lenta.ru/news2/2011/12/12/sberbank/| title = Сбербанк России и RAIL1520 подписали генеральное соглашение| language = ru| date = 12 December 2011| work = www.lenta.ru}}</ref><ref>{{citation| url = http://www.trans-port.com.ua/index.php?newsid=27810| script-title = ru:Группа "ИСТ" собирается инвестировать $2 млрд в лизинговую "дочку"| date = 30 May 2011| work = www.trans-port.com.ua| language = ru}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> a rail leasing joint venture with [[Mitsui]] was formed in 2012. Both companies were operating under the management of United Wagon Company.<ref>{{citation|url = http://www.kurs.ru/kompanii/2012/01/19/10926.html|title = Японская Mitsui и группа ИСТ займутся лизингом вагонов в России|date = 19 January 2012|work = www.kurs.ru|language = ru|access-date = 2 February 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120121131000/http://www.kurs.ru/kompanii/2012/01/19/10926.html|archive-date = 21 January 2012|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{citation| url = http://www.bfm.ru/articles/2012/01/18/gruppa-ist-postavila-mitsui-na-rossijskie-relsy.html| title = Группа ИСТ поставила Mitsui на российские рельсы| date = 18 January 2012| author = Дмитрий Ланин| language = ru|work = www.bfm,.ru}}</ref>
===Mining and extraction=== Precious metal extraction company [[OJSC Polymetal|Polymetal]] was founded by the group in 1998, sold in 2005, and a controlling stake reacquired by ICT group together with [[Alexander Mamut]] and [[PPF Group]] in 2008. The ICT group increased its shareholding to 40% in 2009. In 2011 Polymetal completed IPO at LSE, as a result, free-float exceeded 50%.<ref>{{citation| url= http://www.ict-holding.com.cy/assets/polymetal/| title = Polymetal| work = www.ict-holding.com.cy| access-date = 19 October 2015| publisher = ICT Holding Ltd}}</ref>
In 2010 ICT group acquired a 13.2% stake in [[potash]] mining company [[Uralkali]]. In 2013 ICT Group sold its stake in Uralkali to a strategic investor.<ref>{{citation| url = http://business.highbeam.com/436259/article-1G1-230170887/interfax-russia-amp-cis-food-and-agriculture-weekly| archive-url = https://archive.today/20120708131513/http://business.highbeam.com/436259/article-1G1-230170887/interfax-russia-amp-cis-food-and-agriculture-weekly| url-status = dead| archive-date = 8 July 2012| title = New Uralkali owners mull major holding| journal = Russia & CIS Food and Agriculture Weekly|date = 16 June 2010| publisher = Interfax}}</ref>
===Engineering=== In 2001 the group acquired an engineering plant specialising in rail vehicle component and tank track manufacture based in [[Tikhvin]], [[Leningrad Oblast]], Russia. The ICT owned [[Titran-Express Assembly Plant]] (''Титран-Экспресс'') was formed.
ICM (''Инвестиции Строительство Менеджмент'' Investment Construction Management) was founded as a joint venture in 2006 with Israeli civil and manufacturing engineering company [[Baran Group]] (in which ICT also acquired a 22% stake, 2006) to provide engineering services to the group.<ref>{{citation| url = http://www.ict-group.ru/english/assets/engineering/| title = Engineering| work = www.ict-group.ru| publisher = [[ICT Group]]| access-date = 1 February 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120319195002/http://www.ict-group.ru/english/assets/engineering/| archive-date = 19 March 2012| url-status = dead}}, company webpage and subpages</ref>
In 2008 the group began construction of a rail wagon manufacturing plant [[Tikhvin Railway Car Building Plant]] (''Тихвинский вагоностроительный завод'' TVSZ), at its Tikhvin manufacturing site,<ref>{{citation| url = http://www.ict-group.ru/english/assets/transport/tvsz/| title = Tikhvin Freight Car Building Plant| work = www.ict-group.ru| publisher = [[ICT Group]]| access-date = 1 February 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924032642/http://www.ict-group.ru/english/assets/transport/tvsz/| archive-date = 24 September 2015| url-status = dead}}</ref> the plant, representing an investment of over $1billion (36billion rubles), became operational in 2012. TVSZ was managed by [[United Wagon Company]]. In 2015 United Wagon Company has completed an IPO at Moscow Exchange, the free-float exceeded 12%. By 2019 ICT completely exited from the asset by selling stakes of shares to the financial and strategic investors.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.vedomosti.ru/newspaper/articles/2013/09/24/gosudarstvo-obnovit-vagony | title=Государство обновит вагоны }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.vedomosti.ru/business/articles/2015/08/03/603144-gruppa-ist-prodala-131-aktsii-obedinennoi-vagonnoi-kompanii | title=Группа ИСТ продала 13,1% акций Объединенной вагонной компании }}</ref>
===Other=== The company were also involved in real-estate development in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as at the former [[Transmash, Tikhvin|Transmash]] site in Tikhvin.<ref>{{citation| url = http://www.ict-group.ru/english/assets/development/| title = Commercial and industrial development| work = www.ict-group.ru| publisher = [[ICT Group]]| access-date = 1 February 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130610162229/http://www.ict-group.ru/english/assets/development/| archive-date = 10 June 2013| url-status = dead}} , company webpage and subpages</ref>
In 2011 The group became majority shareholder in Italian national wireless communication company ARIA S.p.A. which later merged with Tiscali S.p.A..<ref>{{citation| url =http://www.akm.ru/eng/news/2011/august/30/ns3692587.htm| title =ICT Group acquires stock of Wi-MAX, Italy| date = 30 August 2011| work = www.akm.ru}}</ref>
ICT Group also owned 22.35% stake of a private equity fund EMMA Delta, which acquired 33% stake of [[OPAP]], the Greeklottery. In 2015 the stake held by ICT was sold to [[KKCG]], another investor of EMMA Delta.
===Former investments=== ICT acquired shares in Alexander Nesis's former employer "[[Baltic Shipyard|Baltic shipyards]]" (''Baltiyskiy Zavod'') in 1999 (15%) and 2000 (raised to 50%+1). (Nesis was also director of the plant from 1993-7).<ref>{{citation|url = http://www.dp.ru/?ArticleID=1dfc1a7c-94b2-41d7-a62d-007e02e975e9| script-title=ru:ГРУППА "ИСТ" ВОЗВРАЩАЕТСЯ НА "БАЛТИЙСКИЙ"| date = 6 September 2000| work = www.dp.ru| language = ru}}</ref> ICT's stake in Baltic Shipyards was sold for ~$1billion by 2005.<ref>{{citation| url = http://www.ict-group.ru/media/media/archive/25/| script-title = ru:Александр Несис: Мой продукт — не золото и не корабль, а предприятие| date = 29 November 2005| language = ru| journal = Ведомости (Vedomosti)| access-date = 2 February 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024212/http://www.ict-group.ru/media/media/archive/25/| archive-date = 4 March 2016| url-status = dead}}</ref>
In 2001 the group acquired a majority stake in the development company for the [[Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant]].<ref>{{citation|url = http://www.dp.ru/?ArticleID=eea1a48f-1fc0-4882-a5cd-722ad1e86ed9| script-title=ru:Тихвин гонит ферросплавный завод| language = ru| work = www.dp.ru| date = 9 April 2004}}</ref> The company was merged into vertically integrated ferroalloy producer [[Oriel Resources]] in 2006,<ref>{{citation| url = http://www.ict-group.ru/english/media/news/49/| title = ICT closes deal with UK's Oriel Resources| date = 6 December 2006| work = www.ict-group.ru| access-date = 4 April 2012| archive-url = https://archive.today/20120801235055/http://www.ict-group.ru/english/media/news/49/| archive-date = 1 August 2012| url-status = dead}}</ref> and was sold to the [[Mechel Group]] in 2008<ref>{{citation| url = http://www.ict-group.ru/english/assets/projects/oriel/| title = Tikhvin Ferroalloy Smelting Plant / Oriel Resources| work = www.ict-group.ru| access-date = 4 April 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160212133017/http://www.ict-group.ru/english/assets/projects/oriel/| archive-date = 12 February 2016| url-status = dead}}</ref> (re-sold to Yildirim Group in 2013).
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|ICT Group}} *{{citation| url = http://www.ict-group.ru/| work = www.ict-group.ru| script-title = ru:Группа "ИСТ"| language = ru, en| access-date = 2009-01-31| archive-date = 2010-01-31| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100131123226/http://www.ict-group.ru/| url-status = dead}}, company website
{{Portal|Companies|Russia}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ict Group (Russia)}} [[Category:Privately held companies of Russia]] [[Category:Private equity firms of Russia]] [[Category:Companies based in Moscow]]