Its companies are active in coal mining, railway transportation, chemicals, machine building and radio stations.

The largest shareholder in SBU is the Russian billionaire Vladimir Gridin and his sons.

[1] Its subsidiaries are involved in coal mining, railway transportation, chemicals, machine building and radio stations.

[2] SBU is Russia's third-largest producer of coal for power stations[3] SBU was a partner with Kuzbassrazrezugol in plans to build a coal export port in the Barents Sea, but withdrew in 2013.

[2][6] In June 2011, SBU enlisted its entire workforce in the All-Russia People's Front, an organisation created by Vladimir Putin and associated with the United Russia party.