Evraz Regulatory News (EVR)

EVRAZ ANNOUNCES UNAUDITED INTERIM FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR H1 2012

30 August 2012 - EVRAZ plc ("EVRAZ" or "the Company") (LSE: EVR) today announces its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2012 ("the Period").

HIGHLIGHTS

Mining:

·; Production of saleable iron ore products 10.5 million tonnes (+1% vs. H1 2011)

·; Raw coking coal production 4.0 million tonnes (+11%)

·; Raw steam coal production 0.7 million tonnes (-49%)

·; Mining segment revenue1 US$1,383 million (-32%)

Steel:

·; Crude steel production 8.4 million tonnes (-2%)

·; Total external steel sales volumes 7.7 million tonnes (-3%)

·; Steel segment revenue1 US$7,019 million (-6%)

Vanadium:

·; Primary vanadium production (vanadium in slag) 11,369 tonnes (+12%)

·; External vanadium product sales volumes 9,665 tonnes (-13%)

·; Vanadium segment revenue1US$263 million (-18%)

Corporate developments:

·; Railway products division was established to further enhance customer relationships

·; Five-year contract signed with Russian Railways

·; New labour agreement in place in South Africa

·; EVRAZ plc shares included in MSCI UK Index series from 1 June 2012

Investments:

·; Capital expenditure of US$565 million (vs. US$462 million in H1 2011)

·; Rail mill modernisation at EVRAZ ZSMK well advanced to increase volumes and quality of rails from Q1 2013

·; Implementation of pulverised coal injection projects to reduce consumption of coking coal and natural gas in blast furnace production from early 2013

·; Capacity and product mix expansion in the North American tubular and rail sectors

·; Development of Yerunakovskaya VIII mine, production to commence in H2 2013

Financial:

·; US$600 million 5-year notes issued in April 2012 at 7.4% rate

·; Amendments to financial covenants in syndicated loan facilities that provide greater financial flexibility (net leverage ratio increased to 3.5, interest coverage ratio decreased to 3.0).

Dividends:

·; EVRAZ declares an interim dividend of US$0.11/ordinary share of EVRAZ plc

·; Ex-dividend date - 5 September 2012, record date - 7 September 2012; deadline for currency election - 10 September 2012; fixing of FX rate date - 20 September 2012; payment date - 5 October 2012.

1 Including intersegment revenues

Chief Executive Officer's Report

EVRAZ achieved a creditable performance in the first half of 2012 despite the volatile macroeconomic environment and negative trends in the markets for global steel and global steelmaking raw materials. At the Company's London Investor Day in June 2012 we set out our plan to maximise long term shareholder value creation by adopting five interrelated strategies which will enhance the degree of vertical integration within EVRAZ and thereby further improve our robust cost position in global steel production. Earlier in the year we were pleased to welcome Alexander Izosimov to the Board as an independent non-executive director and, through the adoption of a number of compliance initiatives, we have also strengthened our corporate governance credentials in general.

Outside the Company, the global economy is still uncertain and we therefore remain cautious about prospects for the rest of 2012, however EVRAZ's strong foundation for future growth ensures that the long term outlook for the Company remains positive.

H1 2012 market environment and business performance

The mining segment of our business is a key long term growth driver for EVRAZ, despite the short to medium term pressures on pricing. Iron ore production continued to run at full utilisation levels during H1 2012, coking coal production maintained its recovery towards target levels, while steam coal production was negatively affected by longwall repositionings in the period. The mining segment's main customer remains EVRAZ's own steel operations.

During the Period steel prices continued their slight decrease compared to the second half of 2011. Against this background of market uncertainty, we continued to run our Russian steelmaking facilities at full capacity and our major international plants in North America, Europe and South Africa at high levels of utilisation.

The steel sector in Russia has been resilient during the Period with demand driven by private sector construction activity as well as by Russian Government-financed infrastructure projects. A seasonal improvement in the Russian construction market, which has led to 9.5% higher demand levels than H1 2011, has caused supply constraints and allowed us to slightly increase prices for construction steel in the Russian market from May 2012.

Demand for rails in Russia also remained strong, but our sales volumes were negatively affected by a planned five-month stoppage to modernise our rail and beam mill at EVRAZ ZSMK which is scheduled to last until October.

Demand in North America remains strong, especially for rails, whilst margins for tubular products in the region also remain high. We have been successful in implementing our strategy of expanding into high value added steel products (such as head hardened rails, premium connection OCTG tubes and heat treated seamless pipe) and we were able to successfully increase internal supply our of our steel slabs out of Russia to serve our operations in Europe and North America.

After the end of the Period, we lost a month of production at EVRAZ Highveld Steel and Vanadium in South Africa due to industrial action in July and August 2012. This dispute has now been satisfactorily resolved and a new labour agreement has been reached.

Strategic development

As the result of a process started in 2011, we formulated five key strategies which embody our long term objective to improve returns and ensure a transition towards a stronger platform for the future of the Company. These were set out at our Investor Day in June 2012 and concern: health and safety of our employees, development of human capital, customer focus, increasing efficiency through the EVRAZ Business System, and growth of the business. During the Period we have made progress in all five elements.

Safety remains a key priority for the Company. While we have made some progress in this area over the past two years, we still have a long way to go. Our aim is to change the attitude to HSE issues of our employees at all levels and the safety programmes initiated at EVRAZ's principal sites in 2011 have been further extended in the period.

Despite these efforts and investments, our Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate, the principal measure of our safety performance, increased by 16% during the Period compared to the first half of 2011. Tragically, we have recorded 11 separate fatal accidents at our operations during the Period. The management team and I are resolute in our determination to address the underlying causes of any critical or near-miss incidents at our operations, with the ultimate objective of operating a zero harm environment.

Growth over the next five years will be largely driven by the expansion in mining which aims to produce 22 million tonnes of iron ore products and 15 million tonnes of coking coal per annum by 2016, thereby increasing our self-coverage in iron ore to 120% and to more than 130% in coking coal. We believe these iron ore and coking coal investments continue to offer an attractive rate of return in spite of the uncertain outlook for commodity prices.

Another important source of growth is through an improvement to the product mix as a result of significantly increasing the share of high value added products in our steel business' portfolio. Investments in this area include the rail mill reconstruction at EVRAZ ZSMK, the building of two new construction steel mills in the south of Russia and Kazakhstan, an upgrade of the wheel shop at EVRAZ NTMK and modernisation of rail and tubular mills North America. Each of these projects has made demonstrable progress during the Period.

The pulverised coal injection projects, scheduled for completion at the end of 2012 at EVRAZ NTMK and early 2013 at EVRAZ ZSMK, will increase our energy efficiency substantially, thereby reducing the need for natural gas and reduce our coking coal consumption by 20%. The positive impact of these projects will be significant to the Company in most market scenarios because the main driver for profitability from these investments is a sustained reduction in the consumption of natural gas usage by our operations.

Corporate Governance

Since our admission to the FTSE 100 in December 2011, we have undertaken a number of initiatives to further strengthen our corporate governance. These include the adoption of a new Code of Business Conduct which we are currently rolling out across the Group and initiatives to ensure compliance with the UK Bribery Act, such as training, more detailed policies and internal procedures for employees. Furthermore, we strengthened our Board with the appointment of Alexander Izosimov as an independent non-executive director in February 2012.

Outlook

The global economy and, in turn, the steel industry, remain very volatile and we continue to be cautious on the outlook for the remainder of 2012. Due to our low position on the global cost curve, our steelmaking capacity continues to operate at high utilisation rates and we expect our steel production volumes in Q3 2012 to be broadly in line with Q2 2012. Export prices continue to decline, while we have slightly increased prices for construction steel products in the Russian market in June-September 2012.

The volumes of export sales are currently booked for slightly over one month's production and inventories at traders and at our mills and ports remain low. Whilst we expect that 2012 will continue to provide challenging short-term headwinds for our business, we are committed to investing in our future growth through increasing mining volumes, improving product mix and reducing costs. Although the full benefit of these investments is expected to be realised in the medium to long term, we anticipate some positive impact in H2 2012.

I continue to believe that we have the right strategy for our business and, allied with our strong and experienced management team, we are well positioned for the future.

Financial Review

EVRAZ's consolidated revenues for the Period decreased by 9.1% to US$7,619 million compared with US$8,380 million for the first six months of 2011. Approximately half the decrease was a result of reduced steel sales volumes and prices.

EVRAZ's sales volumes of steel products to third parties decreased from 7.9 million tonnes in H1 2011 to 7.7 million tonnes in H12012, primarily as a result of the fall in demand for steel products in Europe. Sales volumes in Russia and Ukraine, export sales volumes from Russian and Ukrainian operations, sales volumes from South African operations and North American operations remained broadly flatin H1 2012 compared to H12011.

Average steel sales prices decreased by 3% in H1 2012 compared to H1 2011 reflecting softening demand in most of our major markets.

Geographic breakdown of consolidated revenues (based on location of customer)

Revenues from sales in Russia decreased in H1 2012 due to lower sales of mining products to third parties and lower average steel prices compared with H1 2011 (-US$16/t on average).

However, in H1 2012 Russian revenues increased as a proportion of total revenue due to relatively stable sales of Russian construction and railway products. Revenues from non-Russian sales decreased by 11.4% to US$4,462 million compared with US$5,034 million in H1 2011 and also decreased as a percentage of total revenues to 58.6%, compared with 60.1%, largely due to weakness in European sales.

In the first six months of 2012, the consolidated cost of revenues amounted to US$6,029 million compared with US$6,183 million in H1 2011. The effect of weakening of local currencies against the US dollar contributed to the decrease in costs in H1 2012 compared with the same period of 2011. This was however partially offset by a higher depreciation, depletion and amortisation charge caused by an increase in the mineral deposits depletion base following updated reserve evaluations in June 2011.

The reduction in consolidated revenues and a much smaller reduction in cost of revenue resulted in gross profit decreasing by 27.6% from US$2,197 million in H1 2011 to US$1,590 million in H1 2012.

Selling and distribution costs increased by US$68 million to US$621 million during the Period, the main reasons being a change in sales terms in Russia from FCA to CPT starting April 2011 (resulting in a corresponding increase in revenues) as well as rising rail tariffs.

Consolidated EBITDA decreased to US$1,175 million in H1 2012 compared to US$1,629 million in H1 2011, with an EBITDA margin of 15.4% and 19.4% respectively. The H1 2012 result was helped by the fact that the softening of steel selling prices lagged behind the reduction in production expenditures caused mostly by declining raw materials prices and a decrease in conversion costs resulting from rouble depreciation in Q2 2012.

Profit from operations decreased from US$859 million, or 10.3% of consolidated revenues, for H1 2011, to US$430 million, or 5.6% of consolidated revenues, for 1H 2012. The reduction in profit from operations is mainly attributable to: the drop in gross profit, the increase in selling and distribution costs, a special impairment, offset by the impact of foreign exchange movements.

Impairment of assets was US$80 million in H1 2012, compared to US$32 million in H1 2011. The larger impairment charge was mostly due to a reduction in the sales pricing outlook for EVRAZ DMZP. We consider the impairment in H1 2012 to be largely special and the result of uncertain economic conditions in the period.

Foreign exchange gains amounted to US$28 million in H1 2012, compared to a loss of US$220 million in H1 2011. These foreign exchange effects are mostly due to inter-company loans between Russian subsidiaries whose functional currency is the rouble, and other subsidiaries whose functional currency is the US dollar. These foreign exchange gains are a reflection of fluctuations in the RUB/USD exchange rate, so that the Company's accumulated profit would only be permanently affected by a long term movement in the exchange rates.

Interest expense decreased by 18.1% to US$317 million in the Period compared with US$387 million in the corresponding period of 2011, mostly due to the incentivised conversion of US$650 million of convertible bonds in June 2011, which were bearing coupons of 7.25%. Other factors in the reduction include: the effect of a weaker rouble on the rouble bond coupons, refinancing of certain bank loans at lower rates, lower average utilisation of revolving lines of credit. The reported interest expense does not include realised gains on the cross-currency swaps related to the rouble bonds issued by our Russian subsidiaries. This realised gain in H1 2012 was US$42 million, giving an adjusted interest expense of US$275 million. This realised gain was accounted for in other non-operating gains and losses.

In H1 2012, income tax expense amounted to US$136 million compared with an income tax expense of US$210 million in H1 2011. EVRAZ's effective tax rate, defined as income tax expense as a percentage of profit before tax, increased to 158% in the six months of 2012 from 44.4% in the first six months of 2011. The main reason for our large effective tax rate in H1 2012 was that deferred tax assets for stand-alone tax loss carryforwards at EVRAZ Highveld Steel and Vanadium, EVRAZ DMZP and EVRAZ Group S.A. are not recognised in the accounts as it is not currently considered probable that these tax losses will be recovered from future profits in the time frame allowed by the respective tax laws.

Cash flow and debt

The net cash inflow from operating activities during H1 2012 was US$1,089 million (H1 2011: US$1,594) and primarily reflects a weaker gross profit.

Capital expenditure was US$565 million in H1 2012 compared with US$462 million in H1 2011. The capital expenditure in H1 2012 consisted of US$320 million investment in EVRAZ's steel businesses and a further US$225 million investment in EVRAZ's mining segment. The major project in the mining segment included development of Yerunakovskaya VIII and in the steel segment the reconstruction of the rail mill in EVRAZ ZSMK and introduction of PCI at both Russian mills, which should contribute positively to the Company's results from H2 2012.

In H1 2012 there was a net cash inflow from financing activities of US$359 million. This is mostly the result of drawing on available credit lines in late June to increase the available cash balance. As a result cash and cash equivalents totalled US$1,763 million at 30 June 2012, against US$1,155 million as at 30 June 2011. This relatively large cash balance was created to reduce refinancing risk related to the repayment of approximately US$500 million equivalent of rouble bonds in March 2013 as well as US$534 million of Eurobonds due in April 2013. EVRAZ has placed the majority of the cash in excess of necessary working capital requirements in flexible interest bearing deposits with creditworthy institutions.

Free cash flow generation in H1 2012 was US$362 million (H1 2011: US$781 million), as a result of lower operating results as well as higher capital expenditure.

As at 30 June 2012, total debt amounted to US$7,833 million compared to US$7,245 million as of 31 December 2011. This was the result of drawing on available credit lines to increase the cash balance. In April 2012 we issued US$600 million of 2017 Eurobonds as a further step in extending debt maturities. As at the period end, the average maturity of our debt stood at 4.1 years.

Net debt at the end of the Period decreased 5.8% to US$6,070 million compared with US$6,442 million as of 31 December 2011, reflecting our robust cash flow despite the challenging operating environment.

EVRAZ has a longer term target net leverage ratio of below 2. The net leverage ratio is defined as net debt divided by LTM EBITDA, where LTM stands for last twelve months. The net leverage ratio as at 30 June 2012 was 2.53 (31 December 2011: 2.27). This is mainly the result of falling EBITDA. In view of this situation, in June 2012 EVRAZ agreed a resetting of the testing levels for maintenance covenants in a number of banking facilities to secure greater financial flexibility. The limit for the net leverage ratio is now 3.5.

At 30 June 2012, the Company's total debt to LTM EBITDA ratio increased above the level of 3.0, which triggered restrictions on further increasing total debt pursuant to the covenants of some of the Company's borrowings until the ratio falls to below 3.0. However, new borrowings are allowed for refinancing and other purposes defined in the facilities' documentation. Given EVRAZ's large cash balance it is not expected that the business of the Company will be affected by this restriction.

Liquidity and funding

As of 30 June 2012, EVRAZ had unutilised borrowing facilities of US$912 million, including US$163 million of committed facilities. Committed facilities consisted of credit facilities available for Russian and North American operations in the amounts of US$161 million and US$2 million, respectively. Uncommitted facilities consisted of revolving credit lines of US$539 million with international banks for export trade financing at East Metals A.G. and credit facilities available for South African, European, Russian and North American operations in the amounts of US$48 million, US$107 million, US$40 million and US$15 million, respectively.

Term debt maturities due during the period to 30 June 2014 total US$1,332 million. EVRAZ's current liquidity (as of 30 June 2012 cash of US$1,763 million and US$912 million of unutilised borrowing facilities, of which approximately US$300 million of cash is needed as working capital) is more than sufficient to cover these repayments. The Company's forecasts, taking into account possible changes in trading performance, show that EVRAZ will be able to operate within the level of its current debt facilities for the foreseeable future.

Furthermore, in an effort to diversify EVRAZ's sources of funding, the Company has requested, and the credit committee of one of its' major lenders has approved in August 2012, a project finance facility for the development of the first phase of the Mezhegey coal reserves. If finalised, this will be the Company's first non-recourse project finance facility and a possible pattern for funding future greenfield projects. The expected structure of this funding will not affect the compliance with current covenants.

Dividend

The Board has declared an ordinary interim dividend of 11 cents per share, compared to 6.7 cents per share equivalent ordinary interim dividend as paid on Evraz Group S.A. shares and GDRs for the same period last year.

This dividend reflects cash flow generation in H1 2012 and confidence in the longer-term outlook for the Company, in spite of the current challenging operating environment.

Outlook

The uncertain economic environment in Europe should not have a significant direct effect on the Company as European operations account for less than 9.7% of total revenue. However, the Company's business as a whole will be affected if the repercussions of economic uncertainty in Europe were to impact the global economy substantially.

The Company's results in H2 2012 will be affected by the delayed effect of the reduction in steel prices in Q2 2012 (due to a lag of up to two months, particularly for export sales, between the fixing of a price in a sales contract and when revenue is recognised) and the continuing softness in prices. Industrial action at EVRAZ Highveld Steel and Vanadium and a decrease in rail sales resulting from the project of modernisation of the rail mill at EVRAZ ZSMK will also negatively affect H2 2012 performance.

The Company continues to review longer-term spending plans, and expects H2 2012 capital expenditure to be in the range of US$650-$750 million. EVRAZ is continuing to invest in projects that it expects to positively impact the Company's profits from H2 2012 and 2013, giving EVRAZ confidence in achieving its' goals of growth and deleveraging.

As disclosed at the Investor Day on 19 June 2012, EVRAZ expects its net leverage ratio to increase at the end of 2012 (but within the limits set by our covenants) before falling in 2013 as the positive effects of capital expenditure investments begin to be realised.

Review of operATIONS

Mining segment

Markets performance

Iron ore

Iron ore prices during the first half of 2012 were negatively impacted by weakening steel demand and falling Chinese steel prices which in turn depressed prices for steel input materials such as iron ore.

Iron ore prices declined 8% during the H1 2012, however despite the softening demand and pricing environment, prices have remained above their October 2011 lows of $117 per tonne and remain significantly above their historic levels.

The medium to long term prices for iron ore are expected to stabilise as Chinese economic and infrastructure growth recovers, driving demand for steel as the effects of Chinese Government stimulus packages start to filter through.

Coking coal

Coking coal prices remained relatively flat in H1 2012 in spite of decreasing global demand for steel, which in turn negatively impacted coking coal consumption.

During the start of Q3 2012, coking coal prices have fallen sharply following Australian miners returning to production after industrial action and as a result of the weakening demand outlook.

EVRAZ performanceMining segment results

Mining Segment Sales*

* Including intersegment sales, excluding Mapoch mine sales to EVRAZ Highveld Steel and Vanadium Limited

Mining segment revenues decreased by 32.2% to US$1,383 million in H1 2012 compared to US$2,040 million in H1 2011. This reflected a significant fall in prices of iron ore and coking coal in the Period compared with the corresponding period of 2011.

Mining segment sales volumes of iron ore products decreased by 7.6% in H1 2012 compared to H1 2011. Sales volumes of coking coal concentrate decreased by 12.8%, while sales volumes of steam coal concentrate decreased by 62.8% in H1 2012 compared with H1 2011. Total sales volumes of coal products decreased by 39.0%, caused mostly by increased consumption of own coal in the production of concentrate and reduced steam coal mining in Q1 2012.

In H1 2012 mining segment sales to the steel segment amounted to US$1,027 million, or 74% of mining segment sales, compared with US$1,433 million, or 70% of mining segment sales, in H1 2011.

In H1 2012, EVRAZ's iron ore requirements were self-covered by approximately 101% compared with 99% in H1 2011 and with 106% in H2 2011. Self-coverage in coking coal was 69% in H1 2012 compared with 62% in H1 2011 and 49% in H2 2011. Approximately 38% and 48% of third party sales by the mining segment were to customers in Russia in H1 2012 and 2011 respectively. The increase in the percentage of third party sales outside Russia is primarily attributable to a significant reduction of iron ore and coal sales volumes to third parties in Russia.

Mining segment gross profit dropped to US$206 million in H1 2012 compared with US$949 million in H1 2011, representing a gross profit margin of 14.9% of mining segment revenues in H1 2012 compared with 46.6% in the same period of 2011. The decrease in the gross profit margin reflected lower prices for steel and mining products and higher depletion charges.

Operational update - Mining segment

Mining: Iron Ore

An investment project to build up the capacity of EVRAZ KGOK to reach 55 million tonnes of crude ore per annum (+10% capacity) is progressing according to plan. It is expected to be completed in December 2012. We are also on schedule with Sobstvenno-Kachkanarskoye ore deposit (SKD) project at EVRAZ KGOK: in Q2 2012 a cut-off parameter report (TEO of conditions) and an estimation of resources report for 6.9 billion tonnes of iron ore were approved by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources (GKZ); the SKD design and engineering works are well in progress (80% complete) and in Q4 2012 are expected to be submitted for approval by the state construction expertise.

Evrazruda, another iron ore mining company, in Q2 2012 completed a scoping study and is launching the major reconstruction of the Sheregesh iron ore mine to gradually increase its production of ore by 2.5 times and in 2016 to reach a capacity of 4.8 million tonnes per annum. At the Tashtagol mine a successfully commissioned back-fill mining process gave access to extra 32 million tonnes of iron-reach resources (44% Fe content). Evrazruda also completed the debottlenecking programme at the Abagur benefication plant, which improved the quality and reliability of the plant's operations, especially in severe Siberian winters.

Cost savings and operational improvements stayed in focus of our mining division. In H1 2012 the following positive economic effects were realised from these initiatives: US$10.5 million at EVRAZ VGOK, US$3.0 million at EVRAZ KGOK and US$4.0 million at Evrazruda. This was achieved through increase in labour productivity and more effective cost control measures. In Q2 2012 a special programme of operational improvements was developed for Evrazruda with the help of international mining consultants. Started in 2012, the programme is expected to drive up labor productivity by 15% by 2014 thus increasing production by 1.6 million tonnes per annum.

Mining: Coal

The development of the Yerunakovskaya VIII coking coal mine within EVRAZ's existing Yuzhkuzbasugol portfolio of mines is the largest ongoing investment project, aimed at increasing production capacity by 2 million tonnes per annum. Construction of the Yerunakovskaya VIII is proceeding as planned and is expected to enter production in the second half of 2013.

The coal division is also preparing to launch the first phase of the greenfield coking coal mining project at Mezhegey. It is expected that at this stage we will mine approximately 1.5 million tonnes of additional run-of-mine coking coal starting from 2014.

Assisted by US and Australian consultants, EVRAZ has initiated the programme of New Technologies for Coal Mining (NTCM-programme). From April to June the mining assets of Yuzhkuzbassugol were examined which led to a wide set of initiatives including: effective degasification and ventilation, higher rates of development, quick longwall changeovers and highly mechanised roof bolting. Programme start is scheduled for Q3 2012.

In H1 2012 EVRAZ introduced a debottlenecking programme for key mines of Yuzhkuzbasugol in order to stabilise and improve their production as compared to 2011.

Additionally in H1 2012, three full sets of longwall equipment (roof supports, shearers, face conveyors and supplementary equipment) were purchased for mines Alardinskaya and Uskovskaya. This is expected to have a major positive effect for coking coal production in H2 2012 and later periods.

Resources of the Yuzhkuzbasugol Gramoteinskaya mine grew by 220 million tonnes of steam coal by purchasing the license for Mencherepsky-Severny deposit.

Steel Segment

Markets Performance

The declining steel prices seen in H2 2011 continued into the first half of 2012, led by the economic uncertainty within the Euro zone, global Asian overproduction and weakening Chinese demand growth.

Global crude steel production grew 4.9% during H1 2012 compared to H2 2011 with Chinese output increasing by 7.6% in the first half this year. Global crude steel production is expected to remain flat in the second half of 2012. However, there have been indications that Chinese steel mills might have to begin to contract production levels due diminishing margins. A decrease in Chinese steel output is expected to have a beneficial effect on global steel prices.

The Chinese Government's stimulus package, currently estimated at up to US$1.1 trillion, would support long-term steel demand.

Given the lasting economic uncertainty within the Euro zone and traditional seasonal weakness for steel over the summer month, the market for steel globally is expected to remain challenging during the second half of the year.

Steel prices in Russia and the CIS remained steady in the first half of 2012 with billet prices rising by 0.9% and slab prices with 5.7%. Crude steel output increased by 4.7%, whereas finished steel production rose by 2.1% with finished steel apparent consumption increasing at a rate of 3.8%. Long-term consumption growth for long steel products in Russia and the CIS is expected to be underpinned by a necessity to modernise infrastructure in the region, significant residential construction potential and a number of international events in Russia over the coming years including the 2014 Winter Olympics and 2018 FIFA World Cup.

US economic indicators in the first half of 2012 have shown early signs of economic recovery, with demand for durable goods remaining strong and residential construction increasing.

North American demand for large diameter steel pipes is expected to growth at 4.0% annual growth rate between 2012 and 2016 and prices in North America for flat rolled and pipe products improved marginally during H1 2012. US crude steel production in the first half of the year increased by 5.8% with finished steel production increasing by 6.0% and apparent finished steel consumption by 4.8%. Pricing environment remained challenging with hot rolled coils price falling by 9.5% and rebar prices stable with a slight 0.3% increase.

Within Europe steel output and utilisation rates continued to decline during the first half of 2012 as a result of the on-going economic uncertainty within the Euro zone and concerns about the strength of European manufacturing. The decline in steel prices in Europe was further exacerbated by oversupply. European crude steel production increased by 4.0% with finished steel production slightly higher by 0.2% and apparent finished steel consumption marginally lower by 0.1%. Overall the environment resulted in rebar price decrease of 3.1%, however, hot rolled coils prices went up by 6.5%. Without a resolution to the European crisis, the market for European steel is expected to remain difficult during the second half of 2012 with the normal seasonal weakness.

South African crude steel production increased by 3.3% in the first half of 2012. Finished steel production rose 4.5% and apparent finished steel consumption fell by 0.9% for the same period. Pricing environment remained challenging with prices slightly down for the period.

EVRAZ performanceSteel segment results

*Segment revenues include intersegment sales

1 Includes rebars, wire rods, wire, H-beams, channels and angles.

2 Includes rail and wheels.

3 Includes plates and coils.

4 Includes large diameter, ERW, seamless pipes and casing.

5 Includes billets, slabs, pig iron, pipe blanks and blooms.

6 Includes rounds, grinding balls, mine uprights and strips.

7 Includes coke and coking products, refractory products, ferroalloys.

* Including intersegment sales

Steel segment revenues decreased by 6.3% to US$7,019 million in H1 2012 compared with US$7,492 million in H1 2011. Steel segment revenues were affected by decreasing prices for steel products and lower sales volumes during the Period. 

Consolidated crude steel production decreased by 6%, mainly due to scheduled capital repairs, maintenance work and modernisation at Russian steel mills. The proportion of revenue attributable to sales of construction products increased as the result of growth in sales volumes of beams, rebars and wires whilst sales of railway products slightly increased as a proportion of total revenue due to higher average prices and higher sales volumes of wheels and tyres.

Sales of flat-rolled products (primarily plates) decreased due to a significant decline in prices and volumes, in particular in Europe.

The proportion of revenues attributable to sales of tubular products slightly increased primarily due to higher average prices for tubular products.

The proportion of revenues attributable to sales of semi-finished products decreased primarily due to a significant reduction in sales volumes of pipe blanks, which were replaced by additional volumes of construction products sold in Russia.

Revenues from sales of other steel products (mainly rounds, grinding balls and mine uprights sold in Russia) slightly decreased as a proportion of steel segment revenues due a more than average decline in sales prices and volumes.

Revenues attributable to non-steel sales decreased as a proportion of steel segment sales primarily due to a decline in sales volumes and prices of coke.

For the six months ended 30 June 2012 and 2011, steel segment sales to the mining segment totalled US$79 million and US$89 million respectively. The decrease is attributable to lower sales prices and volumes.

Revenues from sales in Russia amounted to 43% of steel segment revenues in H1 2012, compared with approximately 41% in H1 2011. The increased share of revenues from sales in Russia is primarily attributable to the higher sales of construction products and stable sales of railway products.

Steel segment cost of revenues decreased to 81.9% of steel segment revenues, or US$5,749 million, in H1 2012 from 83.2% of steel segment revenues, or US$6,237 million, in H1 2011. The decrease in cost of revenue in monetary terms is attributable to a significant decline in prices for all main raw materials (in particular prices for coking coal and iron ore), positive effect of rouble depreciation and a decrease in production volumes of steel products (net of re-rolled volumes within the group).

Steel segment gross profit increased by 1.1% from US$1,255 million in H1 2011 to US$1,270 million in the same period of 2012. At the same time, gross profit margin increased from 16.8% to 18.1% in H1 2011 and 2012, respectively, reflecting lower cost of raw materials and the benefit of rouble depreciation.

Operational update - Steel segment

Steel: Russia

We are in the final implementation stage of the pulverised coal injection (PCI) project, which will allow EVRAZ's Russian steel operations to reduce costs by using less coking coal and natural gas in blast furnace production. PCI is expected to be launched at EVRAZ NTMK by the end of 2012 and at EVRAZ ZSMK during H1 2013.

Reconstruction of the continuous casting machine #3, along with the earlier construction of ladle furnace #4 and the revamp of blast furnace #5 at EVRAZ NTMK allowed an increase in steel products production capacity from 4.2 to 4.5 million tonnes of steel per annum.

Completion of the modernisation of the rail and beam mill at EVRAZ NTMK led to an improvement in quality, which significantly increased rail wear resistance. This quality improvement allowed the Company to achieve significant price increase for rails produced at EVRAZ NTMK from April 2012. The plant also broadened its' product range to include new types of wheels and wide beams, which included wheels that qualifies for sale on the North American market.

At EVRAZ ZSMK rail and beam mill modernisation is proceeding in line with the plan. Mill was stopped for reconstruction in April and is expected to be restarted in October. New technology will allow mastering of new rails with head hardening. It is expected that the production of homologated rails will start in the first half of 2013 and sales will start in the second half of 2013.

The EVRAZ ZSMK power plant upgrade is on track to be completed by 2014. It will allow to increase power generation by 54.6% in 2015 vs. 2011, reaching capacity of 3.75 billion kw/h per year by 2015.

Steel: International

North American steel business of EVRAZ achieved record highs both in steel output and sales of rails during the first half of 2012. Rail quality improvement project is on track, starting to positively impact EBITDA from 2013. During H1 2012, the expansion to the heat treat facility in Calgary was commenced. On operational side first pass yields gained across the North American pipe business due to a number of implemented improvements. The Portland spiral mill returned back to operations after having been idle for 3 years.

Within EVRAZ's European steel operations the loss making heavy section mill at EVRAZ Vitkovice was shutdown effective from February 2012.

EVRAZ Highveld Steel (South Africa) launched an optimisation programme to reduce fixed costs, the benefits of which are expected to be effective from Q4 2012. Starting June EVRAZ implemented a number of initiatives to improve working shift schedules which will result in increased workplace safety, reduced overtime and higher productivity. The company successfully resolved the industrial dispute which occurred during that period.

At EVRAZ Steel Ukraine a programme of operational improvements to double EBITDA was approved in the first half of 2012. At EVRAZ DMZ blast furmace production was stabilized and improved. Following implementation of the Customer Focus pillar of our strategy EVRAZ DMZ has developed new sections for European and the Middle Eastern markets.

Vanadium segment

Markets performance

Vanadium is a key element in the steel making process, with the majority of globally produced vanadium used as an alloying agent to increase steel strength. As a result, demand for vanadium is closely linked to steel production levels, in particular high strength steels.

Ferrovanadium prices continued to perform strongly during the first half of 2012, reaching $25.6 per kg V (European Fe-V price) at the end of June and registering a 10% increase during the Period. However, prices still remain 10% below the prices achieved in August-September 2011. Ferrovanadium prices follow a smooth pattern with relatively low volatility. No major price spikes have been registered since 2009-2010 as producers of high strength and specialty steel begin to substitute other material (e.g. niobium) for vanadium.

Chinese building regulations remain the potential upside driver for the industry. In mid-2011, the Chinese government instituted a directive that mandated the use of vanadium-containing Grade 3 rebar in all new building designs. Market analysts estimate that upgrading 90 million tonnes of Grade 2 rebar to Grade 3 standard using vanadium would add 27 thousand tonnes of annual demand (35% of current total global consumption).

EVRAZ performance

Vanadium segment results

* Including intersegment sales

Vanadium segment revenues decreased by 17.8% to US$263 million in H1 2012, compared with US$320 million in H1 2011, reflecting decreased sales volumes and prices of vanadium products. Sales volumes of the vanadium segment decreased from 11.5 thousand tonnes of pure vanadium in H1 2011 to 10.0 thousand tonnes of pure vanadium in H1 2012 primarily due to the shift of vanadium slag sales to the H2 2012, while sales of high-margin vanadium alloys and chemicals matched the levels of the same period of 2011.

Vanadium segment cost of revenues decreased to 92.0% of vanadium segment revenues, or US$242 million, in H1 2012 from 95.0% of vanadium segment revenues, or US$304 million, in H1 2011. The decrease in vanadium segment cost of revenues was attributable to a decrease in production volumes, lower cost of raw materials and the depreciation of local currencies against the US dollar.

Gross profit of the vanadium segment increased from US$16 million in H1 2011 to US$21 million in H1 2012, the result being a gross profit margin of 8.0 % of vanadium segment revenues in H1 2012 compared with 5.0% in the same period of 2011. The increase in the gross profit margin is explained by a higher decline of the segment costs compared to a reduction of the segment revenues.

Operational update - Vanadium segment

As a result of operational improvements EVRAZ Vanady-Tula operation achieved record productivity levels of around 40 tonnes of V2O5 per day during H1 2012, which represents a 15% improvement compared to production rates when EVRAZ purchased the asset in 2010.

Additionally EVRAZ Stratcor vanadium plant in Arkansas commenced its' project to use EVRAZ's own vanadium slag, to increase synergy levels within the EVRAZ group.

EVRAZ performance

Other operations segment results

EVRAZ's other operations include logistics, port services, power and heat generation and supporting activities.

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The principal risks and uncertainties affecting EVRAZ were set out in detail under the heading Principal Risks and Uncertainties on pages 26 to 29 of the Annual Report 2011. The principal risks of the Company are unchanged from those identified in the Annual Report but we provide the following update on those risks which impacted the Company during the Period and which we expect to be most significant for the rest of the year:

·; Global economic and industry conditions

EVRAZ Steel, Mining and Vanadium operations are highly dependent and sensitive to the global macroeconomic environment. The risk to EVRAZ operations can impact differently dependent on the regions of activity and on EVRAZ's products, finished, semi-finished or commodities. This risk has potential impact on price and volumes. As EVRAZ operations have a high level of fixed costs, global economic and industry conditions will have significant impact on operational performance. EVRAZ has a focused investment priority aimed at reducing and managing fixed costs and reducing direct costs by expanding its self-coverage of key raw material inputs with the objective of being among the lowest cost producers in the sector.  

·; Dependency on certain key markets

EVRAZ revenues are substantially derived from customers in Russia, around 40% and North America, around 24%, and as a result EVRAZ commercial success is closely aligned to the operating and economic environment in these two regions. The strategic risks and opportunities within these two regions are regularly reviewed; key risks and opportunities are the quality and nature of the Company's product portfolio, relative cost effectiveness and the sustainability of industry sector market positioning together with effective in-house and external distribution networks and developed customer awareness and anticipation, complemented by a mix of medium and long term contracts and exploring adjacent regional markets for potential development.

·; Political actions

Possible adverse consequences from specific or general political actions that may hinder the Company's long term strategic planning and business objectives with consequences that may affect access to international financial markets resulting in deterioration of EVRAZ's operational performance and financial condition. The Company's business Code of Conduct seeks to guide and enshrine proper business practice with all EVRAZ's counterparties and stakeholders and in addition promote diligent attention to all local and international regulations, laws and taxation regimes.

·; Capital expenditure financing

Steel production and mining are both capital intensive operational activities requiring both continuing maintenance and development capital expenditure, in addition to capital expenditure focused on improving the Company's cost effectiveness and increasing self-coverage of the Company's primary raw material inputs. These intended and planned investments are aligned to the Company's expectations and forward business performance with resulting Free Cash Flow before capital expenditure and planned liquidity. The risks that events or economic issues outside those factored into the Company's forward business plans, may negatively impact the Company's anticipated Free Cash Flow could cause certain elements of the planned capital expenditure to be re-phased, deferred or abandoned with consequential impact on the group's planned future performance. The Company has developed various stressed business scenarios to assess the Company's ability to meet capital expenditure requirements both for maintaining current operations as well as commissioning key projects.

·; Health, safety and environmental (HSE) issues

EVRAZ operations are subject to a wide range of HSE laws, regulations and standards, the breach of any of which may result in fines, penalties or other sanctions. Such action could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and future business prospects. Further, HSE is a functional area where there is continual introduction of new laws, regulations and sanctions New regulatory activity could result in elements of EVRAZ's operations becoming uneconomic. Given that HSE risks can be critical, HSE issues have direct oversight at Board level and HSE procedures and material priorities have primary hearing at all internal management level meetings

·; Labour & community relations

EVRAZ business depends on good labour relations with its employees. Labour disputes, restrictive labour and employment laws, and increasing costs relating to scarce skilled labour could have a major impact on EVRAZ business performance. Overall EVRAZ seeks to maintain good labour relations with its employees and where appropriate with employee representatives, including unions. The risks from industrial disputes and poor employer reputation in the communities in the vicinity of the Company's operations can be economically damaging. The Company and its local operations are generally active and visible in their localities, and timely and regular contact is maintained with employees and employee representatives at all sites and places of operation. Whistleblowing facilities are active at all locations and processes are in place to positively handle Human Resource and employment issues. Where issues develop into unavoidable industrial disputes, processes are in place to mitigate the effect of any such action, maintain the continuing communication with employee representatives and if appropriate with employees directly to ensure speedy and equitable resolution of such disputes, as demonstrated by the resolution of the recent South African industrial disruption

·; Business interruption

EVRAZ's mining, smelting, and refining operations are subject to a number of operational risks which could cause prolonged shut-downs or production delays. Any such event could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating performance, production, financial condition and future prospects. In addition, long term business interruption may result in loss of customers, competitive advantage being compromised and damage to the Company's reputation. To mitigate such risks the Company has defined and established business continuity plans, procedures and protocols. The Company carries certain business interruption insurance, except of particular mining events. These plans, procedures and protocols are subject to regular review and audit of their appropriateness and effectiveness

·; Treasury and Taxation

EVRAZ, as with many large and multi-national corporates faces a variety of treasury and taxation risks including liquidity, credit access, currency fluctuation, and interest rate and tax compliance risks. EVRAZ employs skilled specialists both internal and external to manage and mitigate such risks and the management of such risks is embedded in the established management internal controls. Oversight of the key risks is reported within the monthly Board reports and by the review of compliance of such internal controls by a management independent internal audit function, which reports to the Audit Committee as a whole and individually to Audit Committee members and senior executive management by way of monthly internal audit reports.

STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES

The Directors confirm that to the best of our knowledge this consolidated interim financial information has been prepared in accordance with lAS 34 as adopted by the European Union and that the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7 and DTR 4.2.8, namely:

An indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months and their impact on the consolidated interim financial information, and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the financial year; and material related party transactions in the first six months and any material changes in the related-party transactions described in the last Annual Report

By order of the Board

Alexander Frolov Giacomo Baizini

Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer

29 August 2012

Appendix 1

EBITDA

EBITDA represents profit from operations plus depreciation, depletion and amortisation, impairment of assets, loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment, and foreign exchange loss (gain). EVRAZ presents an EBITDA because it considers EBITDA to be an important supplemental measure of its operating performance and believes that EBITDA is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in the same industry. EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under IFRS and it should not be considered as an alternative to net profit as a measure of operating performance or to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. EVRAZ's calculation of EBITDA may be different from the calculation used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool and potential investors should not consider it in isolation, or as a substitute for an analysis of our operating results as reported under IFRS. Some of these limitations include:

·; EBITDA does not reflect the impact of financing or financing costs on EVRAZ's operating performance, which can be significant and could further increase if EVRAZ were to incur more debt.

·; EBITDA does not reflect the impact of income taxes on EVRAZ's operating performance.

·; EBITDA does not reflect the impact of depreciation and amortisation on EVRAZ's operating performance. The assets of EVRAZ's businesses which are being depreciated and/or amortised will have to be replaced in the future and such depreciation and amortisation expense may approximate the cost of replacement of these assets in the future. EBITDA, due to the exclusion of these costs, does not reflect EVRAZ's future cash requirements for these replacements. EBITDA also does not reflect the impact of a loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment.

Reconciliation of profit (loss) from operations to EBITDA is as follows:

Appendix 2

Liquidity

Liquidity is not a measure under IFRS and it should not be considered as an alternative to other measures of financial position. EVRAZ's calculation of Liquidity may be different from the calculation used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited.

Appendix 3

Net Debt

Net Debt represents long-term loans, net of current portion, plus short-term loans and current portion of long‑term loans, plus finance lease liabilities, including current portion of finance lease liabilities, less cash and cash equivalents (excluding restricted deposits). Net Debt is not a measure under IFRS and it should not be considered as an alternative to other measures of financial position. EVRAZ's calculation of Net Debt may be different from the calculation used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited.

Net Debt has been calculated as follows:

EVRAZ plc

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Six-month period ended 30 June 2012

Contents

Report on Review of Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

Selected Notes to the Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Independent Review Report to EVRAZ plc

Introduction

We have been engaged by EVRAZ plc (the Company) to review the condensed set of financial statements in the interim report for the six months ended 30 June 2012 which comprises the Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations, Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity and related notes 1 to 14. We have read the other information contained in the Interim report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the condensed set of financial statements.

This report is made solely to the Company in accordance with guidance contained in International Standard on Review Engagements 2410 (UK and Ireland) 'Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity' issued by the Auditing Practices Board. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company, for our work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have formed.

Directors' responsibilities

The interim financial report is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the Directors. The Directors are responsible for preparing the interim report in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Services Authority. As disclosed in note 2, the annual financial statements of the Group are prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union. The condensed set of financial statements included in this interim financial report has been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, 'Interim Financial Reporting', as adopted by the European Union.

Our responsibility

Our responsibility is to express to the Company a conclusion on the condensed set of financial statements in the interim financial report based on our review.

Scope of review

We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements 2410 (UK and Ireland), 'Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity' issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A review of interim financial information consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

Conclusion

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the condensed set of financial statements in the interim report for the six months ended 30 June 2012 is not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 as adopted by the European Union and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Services Authority.

Ernst & Young LLP

London

August 29, 2012

The maintenance and integrity of the EVRAZ plc web site is the responsibility of the directors; the work carried out by the auditors does not involve consideration of these matters and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred to the financial information since it was initially presented on the web site.

Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

(In millions of US dollars, except for per share information)

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

(In millions of US dollars)

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

(In millions of US dollars)

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(In millions of US dollars)

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows(continued)

(In millions of US dollars)

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

(In millions of US dollars)

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (continued)

(In millions of US dollars)