Cairo -- (MARKET WIRE) -- April 26, 2007 --
NEWS RELEASE
OCI Signs Agreement with Baticim's Baltali Family OC
OCI signs agreement with Baltali Family to consolidate ownership in
Baticim Cimento
Cairo, Egypt - 26 April 2007: OCI announced today that it has signed an
agreement with Mrs. Turkan Baltali, one of the largest shareholders of
Baticim Bati Anadolu Cimento Sanayii A.S. ("Baticim"). The agreement
lays the foundation for the partnership which will consolidate both
shareholders' votes in a new joint venture company. The partnership will
result in the consolidation of 21.7 million class B shares representing
approximately 33.7% of total outstanding class B shares and 6,469 A class
shares representing approximately 13.5% of total outstanding A class
shares. The joint venture entity to be formed subsequent to the
partnership agreement will control approximately 33% of total Baticim
votes.
OCI concluded its tender call for all outstanding A and B class shares in
Baticim on 12 April 2007. The offer price per each B class share was YTL
12.25, which represented a premium of:
- 45 % to the average share price for the last 1 month ending 22
February 2007, one day prior to the filing of the CMB application
- 49 % to the average share price for the last 2 months ending 22
February 2007, one day prior to the filing of the CMB application; and
- 55 % to the average share price for the last 1 year ending 22 February
2007, one day prior to the filing of the CMB application.
The offer price for each A class share was YTL 2,000, which reflected the
premium associated with the preferred management, voting and dividend
rights of this class of shares. The offer price for each of the A and B
class shares implied a total equity value of YTL 884.3 million which is
equivalent to US$ 641.2 million based on the exchange rate at the launch
date of the tender offer of YTL 1.3792 to the US dollar.
OCI Chief Executive Officer, Nassef Sawiris commented "We are extremely
pleased with our partnership with Mrs. Turkan Baltali who has been a
strong advocate for fair representation of minority investors on
Baticim's Board of Directors. As the largest minority shareholder, we
hope to be able to create value for all Baticim shareholders in the
future that may arise from potential synergies with the OCI Cement Group
in areas such as global exports, procurement, management systems,
technical support and capacity management. We believe the joint venture
with the Baltali family is an important step towards realizing such
synergies."
About Orascom Construction Industries and OCI Cimento:
Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) is a leading cement producer and
construction contractor active in emerging markets and Europe. OCI
employs more than 40,000 people in over 20 countries. OCI is listed on
the Cairo & Alexandria Stock Exchanges and on the London Stock Exchange
through a Global Depository Receipts (GDR) program with a market
capitalization approaching US$ 10 billion.
As a cement producer, OCI owns and operates cement plants in Egypt,
Algeria, Turkey, Pakistan, northern Iraq and Spain, which have a combined
annual production capacity of 21 million tons. New investments in
Northern Iraq, Nigeria, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi
Arabia will increase the Group's annual production capacity to 36million
tons. The OCI Cement Group exports primarily from Egypt to customers in
more than 30 countries including the USA, Europe, Africa and the Middle
East. OCI also produces and distributes aggregates and ready-mix concrete
in Spain, Egypt and Algeria. OCI also manufactures cement bags in Egypt
and Algeria.
As a contractor, OCI provides engineering procurement and construction
services on large, complex and demanding industrial, commercial,
water/sewage, transportation, telecommunications, maritime, tourism and
railway projects for private and public customers principally in Europe,
Middle East, Africa and Central Asia. The Construction Group is active
in over 100 projects in more than 20 countries.
OCI also has investments in natural gas industries, including fertilizers
and in infrastructure concessions including a port operator and an
industrial park developer.
OCI completed the acquisition of the Van cement assets, located in Eastern
Turkey near the City of Van, in early 2006. A new wholly owned
subsidiary was formed under the name of OCI Cimento Anonim Sirketi to own
and operate the acquired cement plant, which is currently undergoing an
upgrade to reach an annual integrated cement capacity of 0.5 million tons
and a total clinker grinding capacity of 1 million tons per year.
CONTACT:
Hassan H. Badrawi
Investor Relations Director
Tel : +202 2461 1039/1036
Fax : +202 2461 9409
Email: hassan.badrawi@orascomci.com
For additional information on OCI: www.orascomci.com
Orascom Construction Industries (OCI)
Nile City Towers - South Tower
2005A Corniche El Nil, Cairo, Egypt
Tel: +202 2461 1111, Fax: +202 2461 9400,
OCI stock symbols: OCIC.CA / ORCI EY / OCICqL / ORSD LI
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange