Moscow, Russia - 9 June 2008 - Concern "RTI Systems" has acquired 74.9% of the WATT DRIVE group's shares. 

The Watt Drive Group (with headquarter in Austria) is a large European producer of gear units, geared motors, ac motors, and frequency inverters as well as an expert in drive application and system solution.

The Watt Drive Group's revenue in 2007 was $51,987 million, OIBDA $5,725 million, OIBDA margin 11%, net profit $2,745 million.

The assets were acquired in conjunction with the development strategy of one of Concern's areas of activity - the Mechatronics division.  Concern "RTI Systems"' aim in this area is to create a systems integrator in the field of automating production and technical processes based on effective engineering. 

 "Concern is purposefully creating a position in the market for the automation of technical processes based on effective drive mechanisms.  Today the WD assets have been added to the existing production capacity for electrical machinery and equipment, together with unique technology, implemented in Europe and South East Asia" - noted the vice-president of JSFC "Sistema", Chairman of the Board of Directors of Concern "RTI Systems" Sergei Boev. 

The Joint Stock Company "Concern "Radiotechnical and Informational Systems", of which JSFC "Sistema" is the main shareholder, unites leading Russian enterprises which have high scientific and production potential, and experience of implementing uniquely complex projects in the high-tech sphere.  "Concern "RTI Systems", JSC was founded in 2000.  Currently Concern comprises: the "Academician A.L. Mints Radiotechnical Institute" (RTI), JSC and the "Scientific Research Institute of Long-Range Radio Communication", Research and Production Complex, JSC (NPK NIIDAR, JSC), "DMZ-Kamov", JSC, the Yaroslavl Radio Plant, JSC, "Uralelectro", JSC, the Saransk Television Plant, JSC, OKB "Planeta", JSC and a number of other enterprises. Concern's sector specialisations are:  radio engineering, aerospace and ground-based control systems, and mechanical engineering.  Concern is one of the world leaders in the over-the-horizon radar field.  Concern is the leading Russian developer in the field of above-the-horizon radars; many of Concern's developments have no equivalents in the world.  Concern is in the Top 20 enterprises of the Russian Military Industrial Complex (MIC).  For further information:  www.rtisystems.ru

JSFC "Sistema" is the largest public diversified corporation in Russia and the CIS, managing fast-growing companies in service sectors of the economy and serving more than 80 million customers.  Sistema develops and manages leading enterprises in specific service sectors, including telecommunications, high technology, banking, property, retail and the mass media.  Founded in 1993, the company reported revenue of $13.7 billion in 2007 (unaudited), and its total assets as of 31 December 2007 were $28.4 billion (unaudited).  JSFC "Sistema"'s shares are listed under the symbol SSA on the London stock market, under the symbol AFKS on the Russian Trading System (RTS), under the symbol AFKC on the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange (MICEX), and under the symbol SIST on the Moscow Stock Exchange.     

Watt Drive is the Austrian specialist in drive technology and concentrated on the development, manufacture and sales of machine drive systems, in particular geared motors, AC motors, frequency inverters and complete drive systems.

The company was founded as engineering office by Mr. Hans Wustinger 35 years ago. During the last 4 decades the company grew from a small company to an enterprise and manufacturer which is active worldwide. The headquarter is in Austria, besides this you can find WATT subsidiaries in Germany, Singapore and Malaysia. All other major industrial countries in Europe, USA and Asia are covered by authorized WATT distributors. 

The technical know how of the WATT drive experts together with the long time experience in motion and drive application is the clear answer for the continuous success of WATT Drive world wide. Different leading companies and groups  of steel-, environmental, food-, packing-, cement- and other industries count and trust on the application know how and reliability of WATT. With its own R&D the customers feel save that WATT is always able to offer products and solution state of the art. For more information about Watt Drive, the products, the sales net work or drive solution see the website www.wattdrive.com.