• 2017 May 3 11:02

    EVRAZ enters into agreement to dispose of Nakhodka Port to Lanebrook Limited

    EVRAZ plc announces today that it has signed an agreement to dispose of the entire issued share capital of its fully owned subsidiary Joint Stock Company EVRAZ Nakhodka Trade Sea Port (the “Nakhodka Port”) to its majority shareholder Lanebrook Limited (“Lanebrook”) for consideration of US$354.4 million (the “Transaction”). As part of the Transaction, the Company and Nakhodka Port have also entered into a transhipment agreement (the "Transhipment Agreement"), pursuant to which the Group has agreed to supply and Nakhodka Port has agreed to tranship cargoes of coal and metals in specified volumes and at specified tariffs for a period of five years.     

    Financially and strategically attractive transaction enabling EVRAZ to further optimise its asset portfolio and focus on its core business by divesting a non-core asset and realising value for it today.

    The consideration of US$354.4 million (which is comprised of $339.7 million in respect of the sale of the shares of Nakhodka Port, the repayment of debt net of working capital adjustments and the payment of dividends from the Nakhodka Port to the Group) will generate US$295 million of net proceeds for EVRAZ (after deductions of applicable taxes, transaction fees and other related costs). The Transaction proceeds will principally be applied to reduce the outstanding indebtedness of the Company, thereby improving its overall financial position by reducing leverage.

    The Transaction removes the medium-term risks to EVRAZ of owning a stevedoring company, including the market risks associated with the potential over-supply of stevedoring capacities in the Far East of Russia as a result of new projects being implemented over the next several years as announced by several industry players, the costs of ensuring compliance with environmental requirements, and the exposure to potential capital expenditure costs to upgrade Nakhodka Port’s equipment.

    The Transhipment Agreement secures the continuity of transhipment services provided by the Nakhodka Port to EVRAZ for the next five years.

    As a result of Lanebrook’s 63.79 per cent. holding in EVRAZ, Lanebrook is considered a related party and the Transaction has been classified as a related party transaction and a Class 2 transaction for the purposes of the UK Listing Rules (the “Listing Rules”). Accordingly, the Transaction is subject to approval by the Company's independent shareholders at a general meeting, which will take place on 23 May 2017.

    Completion of the Transaction is expected to occur by 15 June 2017.    

    Sir Michael Peat, Senior Independent Non-Executive Director of EVRAZ, said: “The independent directors of EVRAZ unanimously believe the strategic rationale for the disposal of the Nakhodka Port is compelling, allowing for the realisation of value for the port now, whilst at the same time securing transhipment capacity for the Company for the next five years. The independent directors believe this Transaction will be financially beneficial to EVRAZ, enabling the Company to continue making further progress with its focus on reducing indebtedness.”

    The Nakhodka Port is one of the largest stevedoring companies in the Far East of Russia, which is connected to all points of the Eurasian continent by rail, assisting in both directions in the flow of goods between Asia and Europe.  EVRAZ acquired 91% of its share capital in 2003, with the remainder acquired in 2007. The port has a daily capacity to unload up to 500 rail wagons containing various cargoes, and in the year ended 31 December 2016 the port handled approximately 10 million tons of cargo.

    The port's main customers are EVRAZ and Sibuglemet. For the year ended 31 December 2016, the EVRAZ Group accounted for approximately 66 per cent. and Sibuglemet accounted for approximately 22 per cent. of the Nakhodka Port's total throughput. For the year ended 31 December 2016, the Nakhodka Port had gross assets of US$50.3 million and net income of US$44.5 million.

    The following individuals are deemed by the Company to be key to the operation of the Nakhodka Port: Vyacheslav Saraev, Chief Executive Officer; Tatyana Kamysheyeva, Finance and Economics Director; Sergey Pronin, Commercial Director.

    As at 28 April 2017 (the latest practicable date prior to this announcement), Lanebrook controlled 63.79 per cent. of the ordinary shares of the Company and accordingly is considered a related party under the Listing Rules.

    In addition, the Company’s Directors, Alexander Abramov, Alexander Frolov and Eugene Shvidler (together, the "Related Party Directors") are also shareholders of Lanebrook, through which they are the ultimate beneficial holders of 21.38 per cent., 10.68 per cent. and 3.09 per cent. respectively of the ordinary shares in the Company as at 28 April 2017 (the latest practicable date prior to this announcement).

    Accordingly, as a result of being classified as a related party transaction under the Listing Rules, the Transaction is subject to, and conditional upon, the approval of the Company’s shareholders excluding Lanebrook and the Related Party Directors (the “Independent Shareholders”) at the General Meeting that will be held on 23 May 2017 at 10 a.m. at the offices of Clifford Chance LLP, 10 Upper Bank Street, London, E14 5JJ. Notice of the General Meeting and the Form of Proxy will be sent to the Company’s shareholders today, 3 May 2017. Lanebrook, the Related Party Directors and their respective associates are not permitted to vote at the General Meeting in relation to the Transaction.

    The board of directors of the Company (the "Board"), which has been so advised by Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc ("Morgan Stanley"), acting in its capacity as sponsor, considers that the terms of the Transaction are fair and reasonable as far as the Company’s shareholders are concerned. In giving its advice, Morgan Stanley has taken account of the Board's commercial assessment of the Transaction.

    The Board considers the Transaction to be in the best interests of the Company’s shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Board recommends that the Independent Shareholders vote in favour of the ordinary resolution, as each of the Directors (save for the Related Party Directors who, in accordance with the Listing Rules, have not taken part in the Board's consideration of this matter) intends to do in respect of their own entire legal and beneficial holdings.


2024 March 19

11:42 MAN CEON digital platform receives Cyber Security Product Design Assessment certification from ABS
11:23 “K” Lline begins participating in joint study on liquefied CO2 marine transportation
10:48 Port of Los Angeles container volume increases 60% in Feb 2024
10:24 PortXL signs a partnership agreement with MINDbase
09:47 IMO to open regional office in Fiji to serve the Pacific

2024 March 18

18:13 Brunvoll propulsion chosen for ESVAGT's growing fleet of SOVs
17:42 ADNOC signs second long-term Heads of Agreement for Ruwais LNG Project
17:37 Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard holds launching ceremony for CMAL's MV Isle of Islay
17:24 Fortescue successfully conducts world’s first use of ammonia as a marine fuel in a dual-fueled ammonia-powered vessel in the Port of Singapore
17:02 APL updates on European Union’s Import Control System 2
16:03 MED Marine contracted to build MED-A2575 series tug for SVS Maritime
15:31 Hanwha Ocean and BV join hands to develop a 270K LNG carrier
15:17 HD Korea Shipbuilding awarded contracts for three VLACs
14:18 Port of Skagen and Stillstrom partner to decarbonise anchorage zone with offshore charging solutions
13:22 Sanmar delivers 6th battery electric power tugboat to Norwegian operator
13:16 COSCO SHIPPING Lines announces the launch of OCEAN Alliance DAY 8 product this year
12:21 Dutch offshore wind farm approved by LR
11:39 ClassNK awards first-ever notation for improvements in living and working environment to Fuyo Kaiun's bulk carrier "ELETTRA"
11:31 Davie strengthens Québec’s shipbuilding industry by supporting the reorientation of AFCDC
10:44 Storylines and Brodosplit shipyard renew ship building contract to construct private residence ship
10:25 BOEM announces environmental review of proposed wind energy project offshore New Jersey
09:51 First ‘flying’ electric ferry to debut in New Zealand in 2025

2024 March 17

16:31 Norwegian Shipowners' Association names Harald Fotland as its President
15:22 ABS Wavesight Nautical Systems now supports fully digital, streamlined SIRE 2.0 inspections
14:15 TechnipFMC selected by NEP to deliver the first all-electric iEPCI for CCS
13:03 US sanctions shipping company, targeting Iran and Houthi rebels
11:01 The first hybrid electric vessel built in South America will use a Corvus battery system
09:47 Kalmar and Forterra sign JDA for autonomous terminal tractor

2024 March 16

16:24 The Netherlands selects Naval Group for its submarine replacement program
15:41 Equinor exercises options to extend four-year drilling contracts
14:17 GONDAN Shipbuilders hosts launching ceremony for Edda Wind's CSOV C503
13:47 Van Oord, Van Aalsburg partner to further develop circular fascine mattresses
12:13 Snam wins "A" raing in CDP's Suppliers Engagement Rating for efforts against climate change
10:54 ULSTEIN unveils new subsea vessel for offshore energy tasks

2024 March 15

18:07 DNV gives nod to Friede & Goldman BargeRack solution
18:02 New partnership enables faster offshore wind installations in the U.S.
17:53 First production line at ‘World’s Largest Monopile Factory’ to go live in July
17:21 Brunvoll DP2 upgrades for more Mokster vessels
16:55 CMA CGM to suspend its calls at Port au Prince, Haiti
16:03 GEFO's LNG DF chemical tanker Tosca gets Green Award
15:19 CEVA Logistics develops new vehicle logistics business at the Port of Dunkirk
14:11 MPA: SaR operation continues for a missing crew member of the Liberia-flagged UTOPIA
13:07 To develop the Far East it makes sense to build a new shipyard in the country’s eastern regions, President Putin said
12:48 World’s first use of ammonia as a marine fuel in a dual-fuelled ammonia-powered vessel in the Port of Singapore
11:39 COSCO Shipping calls Port of Genoa, Italy with 20,000 TEU vessels on regular basis
10:03 DMC contracted to supply rudder systems for the world’s largest PCTCs

2024 March 14

18:04 Shearwater awarded seismic survey for UK carbon capture and storage project
17:15 UAE, world leaders discuss maritime corridor for aid to Gaza
16:05 Marine fuel sales at Singapore drop to a three-month low in February
15:43 World Shipping Council selects NCB for liner shipping Cargo Safety Program
15:00 ZIM reports results for 2023
14:57 DP World announces 2023 results
14:29 HaiSea unveils new operations facility for the world’s greenest tugboat fleet
13:44 DEME awards KENC with engineering and fabrication scope on multiple offshore wind installation projects
13:25 MABUX: Bunker Outlook, Week 11, 2024
12:43 Wartsila Lifecycle Agreement to support optimised low-emission operations for two P&O Ferries vessels
11:35 Hapag-Lloyd transport volumes up by 0.5% to 11.9 million TEU in 2023
10:51 NYK and Astomos Energy christen new dual-fuel LPG carrier
10:25 Port of Long Beach container volume up 24.1% to 674,723 TEUs in Feb 2024

2024 March 13

18:02 Lebanese, French officials float a plan to rebuild Beirut port nearly 4 years after huge explosion
17:23 Ascenz Marorka obtains type approval for cyber-security from Bureau Veritas for its digital solutions
16:58 USDOT announces $500 mln for ports available through the Port Infrastructure Development Program
15:44 RINA wins contract to create global investment plan for cruise sector
15:23 Hede International Shipping enters the Transpacific container trade
14:43 Concordia Damen wins contract to deliver a CDS2410 River Pusher to Transporte Fluviales Frey Bentos
14:13 CMA CGM Group launches its first loyalty program SEA REWARD
13:13 Cargill posts results of the six-month test period of the world’s first wind-powered ocean vessel
12:24 Rotterdam's Gate Terminal sees need for more LNG bunkering capacity at Rotterdam
11:58 MOL announces delivery of LNG-fueled car carrier CERULEAN ACE
11:24 Panama Canal announces increase in daily slots at Panamax locks