Mechel Reports the 1H 2014 Financial Results


Revenue amounted to $3.4 billion
Consolidated EBITDA(a)* amounted to $250 million
Net loss attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO amounted to $648 million

MOSCOW, Oct. 14, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mechel OAO (NYSE:MTL), a leading Russian mining and steel group, announces financial results for the 1H 2014.

Mechel OAO's Chief Executive Officer Oleg Korzhov commented on the 1H2014 financial results:

"We are currently going through a large-scale debt restructuring process. Having foreseen that the slump in metallurgical coal prices will decrease our company's financial results and affect our ability to service debt, early this year we have begun negotiations on changing our credit conditions to ensure both debt servicing and the stability of the company's operations. At the same time, while continuing to service our debt, we have had a significant decrease in our working capital, which began to have its negative impact on our operations.

By the end of the first half of the year, we have not yet reached agreements with our creditors, which led to re-classification of our long-term debt into short-term in our accounting. Currently we have offered our creditors a restructuring option that would enable the company even now to service our obligations, ensuring debt repayment in the future. We continue to actively negotiate it with banks and count on promptly reaching agreements."

Consolidated Results For The 1H 2014

 
US$ mln 1H'14 1H'13 Change
Y-on-Y
2Q'14 1Q'14 Change
Q-on-Q
Revenue 3,444 4,623 -26% 1,744 1,700 3%
from external customers            
Adjusted operating income/(loss) 17 143 -88% 41 (25) --
EBITDA (a) 250 406 -38% 171 79 116%
EBITDA (a), margin 7.27% 8.77%   9.82% 4.66%  
Net loss   (648)  (2,120) -69%  (63)  (585) -89%
attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO            
Adjusted net income   (511)  (391) 31%  (37)  (474) -92%
Net debt  8,650  9,120 -5%  8,650  8,440 2%
(excluding finance lease liabilities)            
Trade working capital  40  941 -96%  40  260 -85%
  • Compared with the first half of 2013, consolidated revenue went down by 26%, which was due to a decrease in the steel division's revenue after the group disposed of its Romanian enterprises, as well as a cutdown in sales of third-party products. It must be noted that sales of products manufactured by the Group's remaining key steel facilities have demonstrated a decrease of no more than 10% as compared to the same period of the last year.
  • A decrease in EBITDA(a) is largely due to a slump in prices for the mining division's key products — coal and iron ore, as well as a decrease in sales of iron ore concentrate to third parties.
  • The Group's gross profit margin went up from 30% in 1H2013 to 34% in the reporting period.
  • With negative changes in the global coal and steel markets, the adjusted operating income in 1H2014 was $17 million, which is 88% less than in the same period last year. At the same time, in 2Q2014 we got $41 million of adjusted operating income.
  • On June 30, 2014, our net debt, excluding financial lease obligations, was $8.65 billion. During the reporting period, we paid off nearly $300 million of our obligations.
  • In 1H2014 our capital expenditure amounted to $276 million, with the mining division accounting for $244 million, the steel division for $30 million and the power division for $2 million.
  • Long-term debts, including leasing debt, were re-classified as short-term as per accounting standards, as the company is in the global debt restructuring process.
  • Over 1H2014, our trade working capital went down by 96% to $40 million.
  • Due to the halting of Southern Urals Nickel Plant and disposal of chrome assets, the ferroalloys segment was excluded from the company's accounts. The division's management company was liquidated, and Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant transferred into the steel division.

Mining Segment

Financial Results For The 1H 2014

Mechel Mining Management Company OOO's Chief Executive Officer Pavel Shtark commented on the mining segment's results:

"The weakening of metallurgical coal and iron ore markets had a major impact on the division's activities. For example, contract prices for hard coking coal in the first half of the year went down from 152 dollars on the basis of FOB Australia, which were set in 4Q2013, to 120 dollars on the basis of FOB Australia in the 2Q2014.

Speaking of the situation in the division, it is necessary to note the successful progress made in implementing our key investment project on developing the Elga deposit. During the 9 months, Elga mined about 740,000 tonnes of coal, its washing plant produced over 250,000 tonnes of concentrate, and nearly 500,000 tonnes of product were shipped off to customers. Currently works on upgrading the seasonal washing plant to an all-year mode still continue, as well as preparatory works on constructing the first stage of permanent washing plant. This became possible due to agreements signed with Vnesheconombank which provided us with project financing."

 
US$ mln 1H'14  1H'13  Change
Y-on-Y
2Q'14  1Q'14  Change
Q-on-Q
Revenue  1,122 1,463 -23% 551 571 -4%
from external customers            
EBITDA(a)  152 251 -39% 89 63 41%
EBITDA (a), margin 10.70% 14.52%   12.68% 8.77%  
  • A slump in the prices for the division's products in the reporting period, as well as a decrease in iron ore concentrate sales to third parties led to a decrease in revenue from sales to third parties by 23% and EBITDA(a) by 39%.
  • Halting of mining at US-based Mechel Bluestone had a negative impact on the sales volumes of the Group's coking and steam coal.
  • As iron ore prices in the export markets weakened, we decided to re-orient a major part of our iron ore concentrate from Korshunov Mining Plant to Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant for intra-group consumption. This enabled us to increase the profit margin of our steel facilities, but became one of the reasons for the decrease in the mining division's revenue from sales to third parties.
  • Capital expenditure over the 1H2014 amounted to $244 million, most of which were used to develop the Elga project.

Steel Segment

Financial Results For The 1H 2014

Mechel-Steel Management Company OOO's Chief Executive Officer Vladimir Tytsky commented on the steel segment's results:

"In the first half of 2014, we paid a lot of attention to optimizing our product portfolio and our sales structure. For example, the division almost entirely gave up selling billets. Currently almost all billets are processed within the Group into higher-margin products, including rails and other types of rolls at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant (CMP)'s universal rolling mill. Billet sales account for less that 3% of the division's revenue. Meanwhile, our facilities continued to expand our product portfolio. Over these 6 months, they mastered production of 5 new grades of steel, as well as some 50 types of long, flat and structured rolled products. As a result, in the second quarter the segment's profitability by EBITDA went up to 7%.

Over the first half of this year, CMP's universal rolling mill not only mastered and streamlined production of 18 types of structural shapes, but also shipped off over 50,000 tonnes of products new to the plant. It also produced and handed over to Russian Railways a batch of rails for bench and field testing as part of the certification procedure."

 
US$ mln 1H'14  1H'13  Change
Y-on-Y
2Q'14  1Q'14  Change
Q-on-Q
Revenue  1,956 2,764 -29% 1,027 929 11%
from external customers            
EBITDA(a)  74 125 -41% 77  (3) --
EBITDA(a), margin  3.56% 4.32%   7.14% -0.32%  
  • Revenue from sales of key products in 1H2014 went down by 29% as compared to the same period last year due to a cutdown in sales volumes, largely due to the group disposing of its Romanian enterprises, as well as a cutdown in sales of third-party products starting from the last year end that resulted in more than 15% of revenue decrease. Since the beginning of this year, the volume of stocks kept by Mechel Service Global service and sales network in Europe went down by more than 30%.
  • In 1Q2014, prices for many kinds of the steel division's products went through a seasonal decline, which, together with the ruble's devaluation, had a negative impact on financial results. However, in the second quarter the decrease in prices for raw materials for steelmaking and a stronger market led to an improvement in the 1H2014 results.
  • The decrease in the EBITDA(a) in 1H2014 was due to a decrease in sales revenue.
  • Capital expenditure in 1H2014 amounted to $30 million. Most of that amount went to pay our contractors for construction of CMP's universal rolling mill.

Power Segment       

Financial Results for The 1H 2014

Mechel Energo OOO's Chief Executive Officer Pyotr Pashnin noted:

"In this reporting period, the division once again demonstrated stable work. We confidently show operational profit, efficiently control our expenditures and keep our EBITDA at an acceptable level. The division cut down its net loss by 7 times as compared to 1H2013, largely due to the Group disposing of Toplofikatsia Rousse and Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant. In the future, an increase in tariffs for the electricity produced by Kuzbass Power Sales Company OAO by 4% starting in 2H2014 will have its positive impact on the division's results."

 
US$ mln 1H'14  1H'13  Change
Y-on-Y
2Q'14  1Q'14  Change
Q-on-Q
Revenue  366 396 -8% 166 200 -17%
from external customers            
EBITDA(a)  21 26 -19% 3 18 -83%
EBITDA(a), margin 3.78% 4.25%   1.17% 5.97%  
  • Revenue from sales to external customers went down by 8% compared to 1H2013 in US dollars, while the ruble revenue went up by 4%.
  • EBITDA(a) went down by 19% compared to 1H2013 mostly due to the creation of additional reserves on doubtful debt.

The management of Mechel will host a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. New York time (3:00 p.m. London time, 6:00 p.m. Moscow time) to review Mechel's financial results and comment on current operations. The call may be accessed via the Internet at http://www.mechel.com, under the Investor Relations section.

*Please find the calculation of the EBITDA(a) and other measures used here and hereafter in Attachment A

Mechel is one of the leading Russian companies. Its business includes three segments: mining, steel and power. Mechel unites producers of coal, iron ore concentrate, steel, rolled products, ferroalloys, hardware, heat and electric power. Mechel products are marketed domestically and internationally.

Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of Mechel, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements. We refer you to the documents Mechel files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 20-F. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in our Form 20-F, that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, the achievement of anticipated levels of profitability, growth, cost and synergy of our recent acquisitions, the impact of competitive pricing, the ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals and licenses, the impact of developments in the Russian economic, political and legal environment, volatility in stock markets or in the price of our shares or ADRs, financial risk management and the impact of general business and global economic conditions.

Attachments to the 1H 2014 Earnings Press Release
Attachment A

Non-GAAP financial measures. This press release includes financial information prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or US GAAP, as well as other financial measures referred to as non-GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the information prepared in accordance with US GAAP.

Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before Depreciation, depletion and amortization, Foreign exchange gain/(loss), Loss from discontinued operations, Gain/(loss) from remeasurement of contingent liabilities at fair value, Interest expense, Interest income, Net result on the disposal of non-current assets, Impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill, Provision for amounts due from related parties, Amount attributable to noncontrolling interests and Income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of our net revenues. Our adjusted EBITDA may not be similar to EBITDA measures of other companies. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the information contained in our consolidated statement of operations. We believe that our adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors because it is an indicator of the strength and performance of our ongoing business operations, including our ability to fund discretionary spending such as capital expenditures, acquisitions and other investments and our ability to incur and service debt. While interest, depreciation and amortization are considered operating costs under generally accepted accounting principles, these expenses primarily represent the non-cash current period allocation of costs associated with long-lived assets acquired or constructed in prior periods. Our adjusted EBITDA calculation is commonly used as one of the bases for investors, analysts and credit rating agencies to evaluate and compare the periodic and future operating performance and value of companies within the metals and mining industry.

Adjusted net income / (loss) represents net income / (loss) before Loss from discontinued operations, Impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill and Provision for the amounts due from related parties, including the effect on income tax and amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests. Our adjusted net income / (loss) may not be similar to adjusted net income / (loss) measures of other companies. Adjusted net income / (loss) is not a measurement under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the information contained in our consolidated statement of operations. We believe that our adjusted net income / (loss) provides useful information to investors because it is an indicator of the strength and performance of our ongoing business operations. While impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill and provision for the amounts due from related parties are considered operating costs under generally accepted accounting principles, these expenses represent the non-cash current period allocation of costs associated with assets acquired or constructed in prior periods. Our adjusted net income / (loss) calculation is used as one of the bases for investors, analysts and credit rating agencies to evaluate and compare the periodic and future operating performance and value of companies within the metals and mining industry.

Our calculations of Net debt, excluding finance lease liabilities, and trade working capital are presented below:

   
US $ mln 30.06.2014 30.06.2013 30.06.2014 31.03.2014
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt  8,202  1,767  8,202  1,738
Long-term debt, net of current portion  459  7,376  459  6,695
Derivative instruments  58  76  58  72
less Cash and cash equivalents  (69)  (99)  (69)  (65)
Net debt, excluding finance lease liabilities  8,650  9,120 8,650 8,440
   
US $ mln 30.06.2014 30.06.2013 30.06.2014 31.03.2014
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts  545  745  545  594
Due from related parties, net of allowance  51  87  51  69
Inventories  1,043  1,652  1,043  1,126
Prepayments and other current assets  375  410  375  380
Trade current assets  2,014  2,894  2,014  2,169
         
Trade payable to vendors of goods and services  986  954  986  876
Advances received  139  129  139  138
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  406  457  406  396
Taxes and social charges payable  409  255  409  442
Due to related parties  34  158  34  57
Trade current liabilities  1,974  1,953  1,974  1,909
         
Trade working capital  40  941  40  260

Adjusted EBITDA can be reconciled to our consolidated statements of operations as follows:

  Consolidated Mining** Steel** Power**
US $ thousand 6m 2014 r. 6m 2013 r. 6m 2014 r. 6m 2013 r. 6m 2014 r. 6m 2013 r. 6m 2014 r. 6m 2013 r.
Net (loss) / income   (647,950)  (2,119,880)  (432,272)  (217,489)  (215,584)  (1,884,881)  (2,883)  (21,295)
Add:                
Depreciation, depletion and amortization  218,147  260,723  140,336  169,195  73,260  86,500  4,552  5,028
Foreign exchange loss / (gain)  183,342  204,819  121,654  163,632  62,710  41,538  (1,021)  (351)
Loss resulting from accretion and remeasurement of contingent liability  1,078  998  1,078  998  --   --   --   -- 
Interest expense  378,581  335,420  194,994  152,625  181,959  191,295  18,380  21,390
Interest income  (1,241)  (6,115)  (9,931)  (31,780)  (7,452)  (4,188)  (607)  (35)
Net result on the disposal of non-current assets, impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill and provision for amounts due from related parties  10,802  774,959  34  2,773  10,712  771,832  56  354
(Income) / loss from discontinued operation, net of income tax  (8,284)  910,472  --   --   (9,708)  896,189  1,424  14,283
Result of disposed companies (incl. the result from their disposal)   2,387  99,341  --   --   2,384  99,342  3  -- 
Net loss (gain) attributable to noncontrolling interests  1,888  (3,908)  (1,866)  9,308  1,818  (14,563)  1,936  1,347
Income taxes  91,446  (51,165)  116,947  1,729  (26,033)  (58,483)  (622)  5,589
Accrual of taxes (VAT, mineral extraction tax) for 2009-2010  21,439  --   21,439  --   --   --   --   -- 
Adjusted EBITDA  250,483  405,665  152,411  250,991  74,066  124,580  21,218  26,310
Adjusted EBITDA, margin 7.3% 8.8% 10.7% 14.5% 3.6% 4.3% 3.8% 4.2%
                 
US $ thousand 6m 2014 r. 6m 2013 r. 6m 2014 r. 6m 2013 r. 6m 2014 r. 6m 2013 r. 6m 2014 r. 6m 2013 r.
Net (loss) / income   (647,950)  (2,119,880)  (432,272)  (217,489)  (215,584)  (1,884,881)  (2,883)  (21,295)
Add:                
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets  --   177,416  --   --   --   177,416  --   -- 
Provision for amounts due from related parties  8,650  594,112  623  --   7,979  594,112  48  -- 
(Income) / loss from discontinued operation, net of income tax  (8,284)  910,472  --   --   (9,708)  896,189  1,424  14,283
Result of disposed companies (incl. the result from their disposal)  2,387  99,342  --   --   2,384  99,342  3  -- 
Effect on net (income) / loss attributable to noncontrolling interests  2,929  (12,487)  --   --   2,929  (12,487)   --    -- 
Effect on income tax  (285)  (40,129)  --   --   (285)  (40,129)  --   -- 
Accrual of income taxes for 2009-2010  131,250  --   131,250  --   --   --   --   -- 
Adjusted net (loss) / income   (511,303)  (391,153)  (300,399)  (217,489)  (212,286)  (170,437)  (1,408)  (7,012)
Operating (loss) / income   (15,688)  (630,884)  (25,577)  82,940  (10,439)  (741,818)  17,539  24,211
Add:                
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets  --   177,416  --   --   --   177,416  --   -- 
Provision for amounts due from related parties  8,650  594,112  623  --   7,979  594,112  48  -- 
Loss on write-off of property, plant and equipment   2,113  2,722  751  2,431  1,361  290  --   -- 
Accrual of taxes (VAT, mineral extraction tax) for 2009-2010  21,439  --   21,439  --   --   --   --   -- 
Adjusted operating income / (loss)   16,514  143,367  (2,763)  85,371  (1,099)  30,000  17,587  24,211
 
**including intersegment operations                
                 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share amounts)
   June 30, 2014   December 31, 2013* 
   (unaudited)   (unaudited) 
ASSETS    
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 68,974  $ 274,539
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $74,536 as of June 30, 2014 and $81,845 as of December 31, 2013  545,266  593,285
Due from related parties, net of allowance of $1,628,274 as of June 30, 2014 and $1,623,661 as of December 31, 2013  50,962  56,792
Inventories  1,043,472  1,413,284
Deferred income taxes  34,143  34,972
Prepayments and other current assets  374,453  442,597
Total current assets  2,117,270  2,815,469
     
Long-term investments in related parties  7,537  7,604
Other long-term investments  8,469  14,788
Property, plant and equipment, net  6,777,472  6,871,908
Mineral licenses, net  3,210,599  3,271,018
Due from related parties, net of allowance of $nil as of June 30, 2014 and $nil as of December 31,2013  8,105  -- 
Other non-current assets  180,137  160,894
Deferred income taxes  14,276  5,066
Goodwill  669,527  687,763
Total assets  12,993,392  13,834,510
     
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY    
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt   8,201,609  1,484,912
Accounts payable and accrued expenses:    
Trade payable to vendors of goods and services  985,698  945,629
Advances received  139,268  140,919
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  405,981  362,919
Taxes and social charges payable  408,645  278,294
Unrecognized income tax benefits  46,086  78,333
Due to related parties  34,388  106,943
Asset retirement obligations, current portion  8,382  2,001
Deferred income taxes  33,630  37,775
Pension obligations, current portion  18,531  20,391
Dividends payable  3,212  3,293
Finance lease liabilities, current portion  394,674  122,815
Total current liabilities  10,680,104  3,584,224
     
Long-term debt, net of current portion  459,144  7,520,217
Asset retirement obligations, net of current portion  52,549  57,135
Pension obligations, net of current portion   156,095  151,945
Deferred income taxes  1,045,408  1,082,819
Finance lease liabilities, net of current portion  22,683  296,885
Due to related parties  21  21
Other long-term liabilities   442,450  329,444
     
EQUITY    
Common shares (10 Russian rubles par value; 497,969,086 shares authorized, 416,270,745 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013)  133,507  133,507
Preferred shares (10 Russian rubles par value; 138,756,915 shares authorized, 83,254,149 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013)  25,314  25,314
Additional paid-in capital  834,118  834,118
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (70,827)  (47,601)
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings  (1,075,937)  (427,863)
Equity attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO  (153,825)  517,475
Noncontrolling interests  288,763  294,345
Total equity  134,938  811,820
Total liabilities and equity   12,993,392  13,834,510
     
*there were certain reclassifications to conform with the current period presentation 
     
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars) 6 months ended June 30,
  2014 2013*
  (unaudited) (unaudited)
Revenue, net (including related party amounts of $54,765 and $158,012 during 6 months 2014 and 2013, respectively)   $ 3,443,971  $ 4,623,151
Cost of goods sold (including related party amounts of $66,115 and $354,763 during 6 months 2014 and 2013, respectively)  (2,281,803)  (3,217,562)
Gross profit  1,162,168  1,405,589
     
Selling, distribution and operating expenses:    
Selling and distribution expenses   (813,152)  (903,083)
Taxes other than income tax   (101,310)  (57,963)
Accretion expense  (2,926)  (2,553)
Loss on write-off of property, plant and equipment   (2,113)  (2,722)
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets  --   (177,416)
Provision for amounts due from related parties  (8,650)  (594,112)
Provision for doubtful accounts   (30,204)  (9,837)
General, administrative and other operating expenses, net  (219,501)  (288,787)
Total selling, distribution and operating expenses, net   (1,177,856)  (2,036,473)
Operating loss  (15,688)  (630,884)
     
Other income and (expense):    
Income from equity investments   107  2,459
Interest income   1,241  6,115
Interest expense   (378,581)  (335,420)
Foreign exchange loss   (183,342)  (204,819)
Other income (expenses), net  12,210  (101,932)
Total other income and (expense), net   (548,365)  (633,597)
Loss from continuing operations, before income tax  (564,053)  (1,264,481)
     
Income tax (expense) / benefit  (90,293)  51,166
Net loss from continuing operations  (654,346)  (1,213,315)
     
Income / (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax  8,284  (910,473)
Net loss  (646,062)  (2,123,788)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests   (1,888)  3,908
Net loss attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO   (647,950)  (2,119,880)
Less: Dividends on preferred shares   (124)  (127)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders of Mechel OAO   (648,074)  (2,120,007)
     
Net loss  (646,062)  (2,123,788)
Currency translation adjustment   (29,805)  (84,251)
Transfer of currency translation adjustment due to disposal of subsidiaries  --   68,951
Change in pension benefit obligation   (1,176)  (3,374)
Adjustment of available-for-sale securities   285  (732)
Comprehensive loss  (676,758)  (2,143,194)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests   5,581  34,720
Comprehensive loss attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO   (671,177)  (2,108,474)
     
*there were certain reclassifications to conform with the current period presentation 
     
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)  6 months ended June 30, 
  2014  2013* 
   (unaudited)   (unaudited) 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities    
     
Net loss  $ (646,062)  $ (2,123,788)
     
Plus: (Income) loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax  (8,284)  910,473
Adjustments to reconcile net loss from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:    
Depreciation   191,512  216,778
Depletion and amortization   26,635  43,945
Foreign exchange loss  183,342  204,819
Deferred income taxes   (37,721)  (116,687)
Provision for doubtful accounts  30,204  9,837
Change in inventory reserves  2  16,984
Accretion expense   2,926  2,552
Loss on write-off of property, plant and equipment  2,113  2,722
Income from equity investments   (107)  (2,459)
Рrovision for amounts due from related parties  8,650  594,112
Non-cash interest on pension liabilities   5,219  5,590
Loss on sale of property, plant and equipment   661  1,128
Gain on sale of investments  (14,822)  -- 
Gain on accounts payable with expired legal term   (372)  (275)
Loss on disposal of subsidiaries  --   90,312
Amortization of loan origination fee  31,469  28,677
Loss resulting from accretion and remeasurement of contingent liability  1,078  998
Pension service cost, amortization of prior service cost and actuarial (gain) loss, other expenses  2,853  3,484
Changes in working capital items, net of effects from acquisition of new subsidiaries:    
Accounts receivable   14,356  (106,369)
Inventories   319,369  222,269
Trade payable to vendors of goods and services   97,043  84,577
Advances received   10,826  (19,613)
Accrued taxes and other liabilities   274,971  47,614
Settlements with related parties   (50,751)  (299,630)
Other current assets   31,913  35,228
Unrecognized income tax benefits  (9,346)  27,620
Net operating cash flows of discontinued operations  8,068  210,078
Net cash provided by operating activities   475,745  90,976
     
Cash Flows from Investing Activities    
Acquisition of DEMP, less cash acquired  (43,303)  (21,199)
Acquisition of Port Vanino  --   (518,823)
Disposal of Port Vanino  --   500,058
Proceeds from disposal of securities   15,599  -- 
Short-term loans issued and other investments  (2)  (1,102)
Proceeds from disposal of TPP Rousse, less cash disposed of  1,393  -- 
     
Cash of other subsidiaries, disposed of, less proceeds from disposal  190  -- 
Proceeds from short-term loans issued  1,326  6,202
Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment   6,379  4,332
Purchases of mineral licenses and other related payments  --   (903)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment   (276,237)  (352,828)
Net investing cash flows of discontinued operations  1,083  (6,805)
Net cash used in investing activities   (293,572)  (391,068)
     
Cash Flows from Financing Activities    
Proceeds from borrowings   1,722,117  2,035,532
Repayment of borrowings   (2,019,792)  (1,841,885)
Dividends paid   (4)  (110)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest  (121)  (422)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries   (35,821)  (33)
Repayment of obligations under finance lease  (32,434)  (71,564)
Sale leaseback proceeds  --   35,890
Net financing cash flows of discontinued operations  --   (16,356)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities   (366,055)  141,052
     
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   (21,683)  (21,662)
     
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (205,565)  (180,702)
     
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period  274,539  297,993
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period  68,974  117,291
     
*there were certain reclassifications to conform with the current period presentation 


            

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