LONDON, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Kazakh miner ENRC saidon Wednesday its first-half underlying core profit dropped 17percent, in what could be its final set of earnings as a listedcompany.
Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation andamortisation (EBITDA) totalled $944 million for the six monthsto the end of June, weighed down by a poor pricing environment,higher finance costs and an impairment at Boss Mining.
That compares to a consensus forecast of almost $970 millionaccording to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
ENRC is in the final throes of a $4.6 billion buyout by itsfounders and the Kazakh government, a move that will take thecompany private and draw a line under almost six turbulent yearsin London, marred by boardroom rows and corruption probes.
The buyout is widely expected to succeed after rival and topshareholder Kazakhmys backed the offer, despite what itsaid was a lower than desired price. ENRC's independent boardmembers have told minority investors to seriously consider theoffer, due to a lack of alternative options.