Russia’s metal giant to leave US market
Russian steel and coal group Mechel is broadening its list of assets slated for sale, adding coal company Bluestone - its only US asset. Mechel, which is wrestling with a $9 billion debt burden, will begin looking for investors in the fall.
Mechel is now focusing on the assets that have significant
competitive advantages, the company’s representative Igor Zuyzin
told Vedomosti daily. “Another option with Bluestone may be
the company’s union with another North American
manufacturer,” the paper added.
The sale is scheduled for October or November.
While the actual sale price hasn’t been disclosed, analysts think
the company wouldn’t be valued high. BCS Analyst Oleg
Petropavlovsky estimates the company no higher than $300 million,
because the US assets are ‘unprofitable’ at current coal prices
of $140 per ton. Renaissance Capital analyst Boris Krasnozhenov
thinks the sale is worth less, citing $250 million.
Declining metals and commodity prices have hit the company hard,
making Mechel the worst performing Russian company on the New
York stock exchange.
Mechel stock surged to nearly $60.00 in May 2008, before tumbling
during the financial crisis. The stock slightly recovered in
2011, reaching $30.00, and is currently trading at $3.17 on the
New York Exchange. The Russian stock gained 2.1 percent on
Russian floors to $3.11 (102.30 rubles).
Russia’s metals giant purchased Bluestone in 2009, and it is the
only Russian holding in America. Mechel had originally planned to
produce 7 million tons of coal, but this goal hasn’t been
realized. In 2008, Bluestone produced 2.8 million tons, and in
2011, 5.4 million tons. In 2012, however, production dropped to
3.6 million tons. Sales in 2012 were $193 million.
Mechel is focusing on ventures and markets in where it has a
competitive advantage, for example China - the world’s largest
coal consumer.
In August, Russia’s largest coal reserve company started
delivering the commodity to China by rail, whereas previously
they had only supplied by sea.
"The opening of this railroad route will enable Mechel to
diversify its logistics and make better time on deliveries to
China, which is the world's largest consumer of this type of
fuel," Mechel Mining Management Company OOO's Chief Executive
Officer Pavel Shtark noted.
Sell-off
Mechel has cut investment across the market to repay the massive
debt it had amassed in the course of its rapid expansion prior to
the 2008 financial crash.
In July, the company sold British mill Helium Miracle 127 LLP for
$1.7 billion, and in August, assets in Turkey's Yildirim Group
for $425 million.
Mechel has also sold $70 million in metal assets in Romania, on
top of 50 million euro in Toplofitkatsia ruse assets, a Bulgarian
producer.
An international mining and steel company, Mechel employs over
80,000 worldwide.
