Acquisition
July 14 2006 - 3:01AM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:2019G
Evraz Group S.A.
14 July 2006
JOINT ANNOUNCEMENT BY ANGLO AMERICAN PLC, EVRAZ GROUP S.A. AND CREDIT SUISSE
July 14, 2006, Johannesburg - Anglo American plc ("Anglo American"), Evraz Group
S.A. ("Evraz") and Credit Suisse ("Credit Suisse") are pleased to announce that
agreement has been reached in relation to the sale by Anglo American of its
shares in Highveld Steel and Vanadium Corporation Limited ("Highveld"). Evraz
and Credit Suisse have each acquired 24.9% of Highveld's share capital from
Anglo American. These sales have closed.
Evraz has an option to increase its stake in Highveld once regulatory approvals
are received, including from competition authorities in South Africa and
elsewhere. Evraz intends to file for such regulatory approvals as soon as
possible. Subject to Evraz receiving such regulatory approvals, Evraz will be
entitled to purchase Anglo American's remaining 29.2% shareholding as well as
the 24.9% holding of Credit Suisse through separate option agreements. Should
Evraz increase its interest beyond 35%, it will be obliged to make an offer to
all shareholders of Highveld.
On implementation of the Anglo American option arrangement, the aggregate amount
that will have been realised by Anglo American for its 79% interest in Highveld
is R4,885m (US$678m converted to ZAR at R7.20/US$, the rate of exchange
prevailing at the date of this announcement), equivalent to an average of R62.36
per Highveld share. This represents a 13% premium to the volume weighted average
price of R55.15 per share for the 30-day period preceding Anglo American's
announcement on 26 October 2005 in which it recorded, inter alia, its intention
to dispose of its shareholding in Highveld.
Anglo American and Credit Suisse have agreed that Anglo American will retain the
voting rights in respect of the shares acquired by Credit Suisse. Anglo American
will retain representatives on the Highveld board until such time as Anglo
American disposes of all its shares in Highveld.
Evraz's Chairman, Alexander Frolov, said: "Evraz has great confidence in the
South African steel industry and is excited by its new investment in Highveld
and by the outlook for steel and vanadium markets. The South African steel
market is experiencing strong demand growth driven by an upswing in new mining,
infrastructure and industrial projects. We have high expectations of Highveld's
internal growth plans for both its vanadium and steel businesses, including the
expansion plan in excess of R1bn which will increase steel output by more than
20%. Evraz is committed to advancing black economic empowerment at Highveld."
Tony Trahar, Chief Executive of Anglo American, said: "This represents another
important step in the execution of the Group's strategy as announced in October
last year. This substantial foreign direct investment by Evraz and Credit Suisse
in South Africa is a strong vote of confidence in the country's prospects and
will ensure that Highveld remains an efficient competitor in the South African
and global markets."
Citigroup has acted as exclusive financial adviser to Anglo American with
respect to the transaction. Credit Suisse and ABN Amro have acted as joint
financial advisers to Evraz.
Notes to editors:
Highveld Steel and Vanadium is a leading vanadium producer and also produces
steel, ferroalloys, and carbonaceous products. Ore for the steelworks and
Vanchem is obtained from Highveld's Mapochs mine near Roossenekal in Mpumalanga.
Hochvanadium is a wholly owned subsidiary in Austria which processes and sells
vanadium products. Transalloys and Rand Carbide produce manganese alloys,
ferrosilicon and carbonaceous products.
Anglo American plc is one of the world's largest mining and natural resource
groups. With its subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, it is a global
leader in platinum group metals, gold and diamonds, with significant interests
in coal, base and ferrous metals, industrial minerals and paper and packaging.
The group is geographically diverse, with operations in Africa, Europe, South
and North America, Australia and Asia. (www.angloamerican.co.uk )
Evraz is one of the world's largest vertically integrated steel and mining
businesses with operations in Russia, Italy and the Czech Republic. Evraz has
extensive experience and technical expertise in the production of steel and, in
2005, produced 13.9 million tonnes of crude steel. Evraz is listed on the London
Stock Exchange with a market capitalisation close to $9bn. (www.evraz.com)
Credit Suisse. As one of the world's leading banks, Credit Suisse provides its
clients with investment banking, private banking and asset management services
worldwide. Credit Suisse offers advisory services, comprehensive solutions and
innovative products to companies, institutional clients and high-net-worth
private clients globally, as well as retail clients in Switzerland. Credit
Suisse is active in over 50 countries and employs approximately 40,000 people.
Credit Suisse's parent company, Credit Suisse Group, is a leading global
financial services company headquartered in Zurich. Credit Suisse Group's
registered shares (CSGN) are listed in Switzerland and, in the form of American
Depositary Shares (CSR), in New York. Further information about Credit Suisse
can be found at www.credit-suisse.com.
Contacts:
Anglo American
London: Johannesburg:
Investor Relations Investor/Media Relations
Charles Gordon Anne Dunn
+44 20 7968 8933 +27 11 638 4730
Media Relations +27 82 448 2684
Pam Bell Media Relations
+44 20 7968 8568 Fiona Wrench
+27 11 638 2273
Evraz
Irina Kibina Nikolay Kudryashov
Vice President, Corporate Affairs Director Media Relations
and Investor Relations
+7 (495) 232-13-70 +7 (495) 232-13-70
ir@evraz.com ir@evraz.com
Credit Suisse
Jeremy Fletcher Hugh Richards
Managing Director Director
+44 20 7888 1347 +44 20 7888 7885
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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