ESG ratings and rankings update

Press Release 18 November 2021

PJSC Polyus

ESG ratings and rankings update

PJSC Polyus (LSE, MOEX: PLZL) ("Polyus", or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has scored 57 out of 100 in the 2021 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment. This marks an improvement from the previous score of 54 in 2020 and represents the third consecutive year of Polyus' ESG score increase. Polyus performed in the 84th percentile in the Metals and Mining industry, meaning 84% of companies achieved an equal or lower ESG Score.[1] Among other factors, the upgrade credited Polyus' progress in risk and supply chain management, water management and disclosure, and health and safety programs.

This follows the Company receiving an upgraded Sustainalytics ESG Risk Rating of 25.0 at a 'Medium Risk' following an annual rating update earlier this month, which is an improvement from 29.4 at last year's assessment.[2] The Company was also included in Vigeo Eiris' Best Emerging Market Performers Ranking, part of the Moody's ESG Solutions Group, which biannually recognizes companies in developing markets for their performance and approach to sustainable development.

Pavel Grachev, Chief Executive Officer of PJSC Polyus, commented:

"We are delighted to have been recognized by three important independent sustainability rankings and reports. They are a testament to the hard work of many Polyus employees and to our strategic commitment to sustainability. The Company continues to enhance its approach and processes in order to remain an ESG leader among both Russian and global metals and mining peers. We are currently working on an extensive Climate Strategy which is due to be released in the first half of 2022."

Polyus

Polyus is the world's fourth-largest gold mining company by production volumes and the largest gold miner in terms of attributable gold Ore Reserves. The Company demonstrates the lowest production costs among major global gold producers. Its principal operations are located in Siberia and the Russian Far East: Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk and Magadan regions and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

Investor and Media contact

Victor Drozdov

Director, Communications & Investor Relations Department

+7 (495) 641 33 77

[email protected] 

Forward-looking statements

This announcement may contain "forward-looking statements" concerning Polyus and/or Polyus group. Generally, the words "will", "may", "should", "could", "would", "can", "continue", "opportunity", "believes", "expects", "intends", "anticipates", "estimates" or similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to future capital expenditures and business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of Polyus' and/or Polyus group's operations. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond Polyus' and/or Polyus group's ability to control or estimate precisely and therefore undue reliance should not be placed on such statements which speak only as at the date of this announcement. Polyus and/or any Polyus group company assumes no obligation in respect of, and does not intend to update, these forward-looking statements, except as required pursuant to applicable law.