DGAP-News: HMS Bergbau AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous HMS Bergbau AG: new majority shareholder 14.12.2011 / 09:58 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Corporate News dated December 14, 2011 HMS Bergbau AG: new majority shareholder - ICHOR Coal N.V. announces majority stake - Exclusive marketing agreement with coal producers - Expansion of position in South Africa and Asia - Cutback in European business will impact negatively on 2011's results Berlin, December 14, 2011: HMS Bergbau AG, an international coal corporation with operational expertise in the coal production, transport and trade, has signed an exclusive marketing agreement with ICHOR Coal N.V. The background to this agreement is the contribution of all HMS shares held by major shareholders of HMS Bergbau AG (ERAG Energie & Rohstoff AG, LaVo Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Michaela and Heinz Schernikau) into the newly formed ICHOR Coal N.V., thus being the new parent company of HMS Bergbau AG. Along with the existing major shareholders of HMS Bergbau AG, ICHOR Coal N.V. will also see the participation of a new majority shareholder: a financially strong commodities investor which will contribute substantial funding towards the acquisition of coal deposits and coal mines. Accordingly, ICHOR Coal N.V. invests in the first instance in coal production and logistics in South Africa. Feasibility and profitability studies are currently being undertaken regarding further projects in Asia. Based on the future close cooperation of both coal companies, which is also expressed by having the same executives sitting on both management boards, HMS Bergbau AG expands its strategic access to coal deposits. Along with its expertise in the international marketing of coal, HMS Bergbau AG will also contribute its know-how with regard to coal production as part of this cooperation agreement that is initially planned to last for five years. The first significant coal marketing activities are expected in the fourth quarter of 2012. Heinz Schernikau, CEO of HMS Bergbau AG, said, 'For HMS Bergbau AG, this close cooperation with ICHOR Coal N.V. represents another important step regarding direct access to international coal producers. Both companies plan their sustainable expansion in an international coal market that is constantly growing despite the change in the energy market. After its positioning in the internationally important Asian coal market via subsidiaries in Singapore, Indonesia, Pakistan and India, this exclusive marketing agreement now sees HMS Bergbau sustainably reinforce its future acquisition situation in South Africa. The background to the international repositioning of HMS Bergbau AG includes not just the expansive developments in Asia and South Africa, but above all a faster than expected cutback in the European coal market. These market changes have resulted in substantial declines in HMS Bergbau AG's market volumes in Europe, which will not be fully compensated by our Asian business in fiscal year 2011.Although our Asian Business is seeing a positive overall development, it is still affected by expansion costs.' About HMS Bergbau AG: Berlin-based HMS Bergbau AG is an independent coal trading house specializing in just-in-time deliveries of thermal coal to power plants and other industrial consumers. The company is one of the leading coal trading companies in Germany and markets its products to renowned consumers worldwide. HMS is actively expanding its activities to span coal production and logistics solutions primarily in Asia. HMS has been listed at Germany's Frankfurt Stock Exchange since December 2008. Company contact: HMS Bergbau AG An der Wuhlheide 232 12459 Berlin T.: +49 (30) 65 66 81-0 F: +49 (30) 65 66 81-15 Email: info@hms-ag.com URL: www.hms-ag.com HMS Investor Relations contact: GFEI Aktiengesellschaft Am Hauptbahnhof 6 60329 Frankfurt am Main T.: +49 (69) 74 30 37-00 F.: +49 (69) 74 30 37-22 Email: investors@hms-ag.com End of Corporate News --------------------------------------------------------------------- 14.12.2011 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------- 149684 14.12.2011
DGAP-News: HMS Bergbau AG: new majority shareholder
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