Last checked at 22 Nov 2012 15:47
EVRAZ announces an agreement to sell EvrazTrans to NefteTransService
22 November 2012 - EVRAZ plc (LSE: EVR) ("EVRAZ") announces that it has today signed an agreement for disposal of its Russian railcar operating subsidiary EvrazTrans to Russian freight rail operator NefteTransService ("NTS") for RUB 9,450 million (approximately US$300 million) cash consideration on the basis of RUB 150 million (approximately US$4.8 million) of working capital, no cash and no debt. Completion is subject to receipt of certain customary corporate approvals and delivery by NTS of relevant authority approvals and is expected to take place by the end of 2012.
EVRAZ will apply the sales proceeds for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, the repayment of some of its debt.
Under the contract with NTS, EVRAZ has agreed to sell its participatory interest in the share capital of EvrazTrans, the owner of 4,114 gondola cars with an average age of 5.5 years. EVRAZ will retain ownership of and continue to operate hoppers previously owned by EvrazTrans.
As at 31 October 2012, EvrazTrans had gross assets, which are the subject of the transaction, of US$243 million (under Russian GAAP). For the financial year ended 31 December 2011, EvrazTrans gondola business produced a profit before tax of US$49.8 million, according to EVRAZ management estimates. This figure reflects results of operation of EvrazTrans gondola business as a captive rail freight operator to EVRAZ and is not representative of EvrazTrans gondola business operations on a stand-alone basis.
EVRAZ has also signed a five-year off-take service contract with NTS in respect of approximately 30% of EVRAZ's rail transportation requirements. The services provided by NTS to EVRAZ will be at market prices negotiated quarterly.
Alexander Frolov, EVRAZ's CEO, said,
"The sale of EvrazTrans is in line with EVRAZ's strategy of divesting non-core assets. The recent transactions in the rail cargo transportation sector in Russia are evidence that this market is now undergoing consolidation. The divestment of EvrazTrans will unlock the value of the asset for EVRAZ while the long-term off-take service agreement will guarantee continuity of services for transporting EVRAZ's products."
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For further information:
Media Relations:Oleg KuzminVP, Corporate CommunicationsLondon: +44 207 832 8998 Moscow: +7 495 937 6871media@evraz.com
Investor Relations:London: +44 207 832 8990 Moscow: +7 495 232 1370
ir@evraz.com
EVRAZ is a vertically integrated steel, mining and vanadium business with operations in the Russian Federation, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy and South Africa. EVRAZ is among the top 20 steel producers in the world based on crude steel production of 16.8 million tonnes in 2011. In 2011 EVRAZ sold 15.5 million tonnes of steel products. A significant portion of the company's internal consumption of iron ore and coking coal is covered by its mining operations. The company's consolidated revenues for the year ended 31 December 2011 were US$16,400 million and consolidated EBITDA amounted to US$2,898 million. The H1 2012 consolidated revenue was US$7,619 million and the H1 2012 EBITDA was US$1,175 million.