Snippet from recent Potanin interview - Sep 2913 Oct 2021 23:54
Can be hit or miss as to whether these articles auto translate but link below:
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.interfax.ru/amp/794251
Last paragraph:
“In addition to the growth of MET, the Ministry of Finance considered an increased income tax for companies whose dividends over the past five years have exceeded investments. If a retrospective income tax was introduced, Norilsk Nickel could receive the maximum possible rate of 30% (instead of the current 20%) due to the ratio of capex and dividends over the past five years, according to Boris Sinitsyn of Renaissance Capital. According to BCS estimates, the introduction of such a tax would primarily affect Norilsk Nickel, which would cost 15 to 20% of EBITDA.”
NN’s 2020 EBITDA was $7.7B so the possible change in tax could cost them an extra $1.54B if it happened and I’m reading this right (need to adjust for up to date EBITDA at time of implementation).
I don’t know if this tax change will happen but could this potentially provide an incentive to increase capex and the tax saving would offset some of the costs of buying part of EUA? Just a thought while we wait!