Step' agricultural holding, owned by AFK "Sistema" of Vladimir Yevtushenkov, can go for an IPO as early as 2017. This was the businessman said in an interview to television channel "Russia 24" at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"Next, we're going to do IPO or at the end of this year or early next. This [IPO] agricultural holding our "Steppe", because we believe that it is developing rapidly ", - he said.

According to the billionaire, it was decided to achieve the doubling of all parameters in "The Steppe" and the pharmaceutical business, in the case, if we can achieve this, the agricultural holding will be displayed on the IPO.

He noted that this goal requires a "great work", improving corporate standards, operational management and PR, as well as, perhaps, the acquisition of some assets, but in the "System" are ready.

"If we reach the figures, we have set ourselves, then we will be ready either at the end of this year or early next enter the IPO», - concluded Yevtushenkov.

He also promised that the expansion of its holding in the agricultural market will continue, and "virtually every province," he negotiations. The owner of "systems" explained that the range of interests, "Steppe" is broad, since the holding is a diversified, in particular, it is a major producer of apples, occupies about 30% of the market of Moscow "for tomatoes and cucumbers', also produces milk, meat, wheat.

"Therefore, in these sectors, and we are going to build up competence. If you see something more interesting, perhaps, it will buy, "- said Yevtushenkov.

The billionaire also touched on the possible lifting of the embargo of the product. "It is absolutely clear that if they lifted sanctions on kontrsanktsii as said Shuvalov (First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov), it will be quite a serious blow to a number of Russian agricultural producers," - he said, noting that "everything will determine the cost of products. "

In the middle of January 2017 its intention to hold an IPO on the Moscow Stock Exchange announced GC "Detsky Mir", also owned by Evtushenkov. Now the "System" owns 72.57% shares of the company. As assured businessman after a public offering of the AFC will retain a controlling stake.

Business AFK "System" in the agricultural sector agricultural holding is represented by "The Steppe" and RZ Agro, one of the largest producers of grains and oilseeds in the south of Russia. The total land bank of agricultural assets of the group is 247 000 hectares.

In October 2016 FAS allowed Agroholdings buy four more agricultural assets in the Stavropol Territory, Rostov Region and Kabardino-Balkaria.