7 May 2024
Ferrexpo
plc
("Ferrexpo", the "Group" or the "Company")
Updates
regarding Ukrainian subsidiary and senior manager
and smaller related party transaction
Ferrexpo plc (LSE: FXPO), provides
an update on proceedings against the Group's subsidiary Ferrexpo
Poltava Mining ("FPM" or the "Company"). The Group recently
reported a significant increase in production and sales volumes for
the first quarter of 2024, the highest since the full-scale
invasion of Ukraine commenced in February 2022. Ongoing production
at the Group's Ukrainian operations continues to perform according
to plan and without disruption in April.
LLC
PCC "Kysen" ("Kysen") update
A rescheduled preparatory hearing on
29 April 2024 at the Commercial Court in Poltava Oblast (the
"Court") to consider the application from Kysen, (as previously
announced on 11 and 25 March 2024), was postponed. A preparatory
hearing is now rescheduled for 4 June 2024.
Bail in connection with royalty related
investigation
As previously reported in the
Group's 2023 full year financial results, on 31 October 2023 a
notice of suspicion was delivered to a senior manager of FPM
(Viktor Lotous, the General Director and Chair of the FPM
Management Board), regarding accusations for the potential
underpayment of iron ore royalties. On 13 November 2023, a court of
first instance approved a bail for Mr. Lotous for approximately UAH
800 million (approximately US$20 million). An appeal was
filed and on 29 April 2024 the Kyiv Court of Appeal approved a bail
of UAH 650 million (approximately US$16.5 million). The court
did not provide any rationale for the high bail amount, nor its
alignment with the financial standing of the suspect.
This bail is separate to the previous bail amounts
which were disclosed in the Company's announcement made on 2
November 2023, relating to a different investigation concerning the
sale of waste products.
Following a detailed assessment of
the position by the Board of Directors of the Company, and taking
into account the financial position of the Group, the Group has
decided to make a partial payment of the bail in the amount of UAH
50 million (approximately US$1.3million). Under Ukrainian
law, there is no legal obligation to pay the remainder of the bail
amount. The partial payment of the bail amount is a smaller
related party transaction for the purposes of Listing Rule
11.1.10R. This announcement is therefore made in accordance
with Listing Rule 11.1.10R(2)(c). As per the requirements of
Listing Rule 11.1.10R the Company has obtained written confirmation
from an FCA-approved sponsor firm that the terms of the transaction
are fair and reasonable as far as the shareholders of the Company
are concerned.
The operations of Ferrexpo are
unaffected. Further announcements will be made as
appropriate. This announcement contains inside information.
The person responsible for the release of this announcement is Mark
Gregory, Group Company Secretary.
For further information please
contact:
Ferrexpo:
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Nick Bias
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n.bias@ferrexpo.ch
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+44 (0)20 7389 8305
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Tavistock:
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Jos Simson
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ferrexpo@tavistock.co.uk
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+44 (0)20 7920 3150
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Gareth Tredway
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+44 (0)7785 974 264
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About Ferrexpo:
Ferrexpo is a Swiss headquartered
iron ore company, with assets in Ukraine, and a premium listing on
the London Stock Exchange, and part of the FTSE 250 index (ticker
FXPO). The Group produces high-grade iron ore pellets, which are a
premium product for the global steel industry and enable reduced
carbon emissions and increased productivity for steelmakers when
the Group's iron ore pellets are converted into steel, compared to
more commonly traded forms of iron ore. Ferrexpo's operations have
been supplying the global steel industry for over 50 years. Before
Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Group was the
world's third largest exporter of pellets to the global steel
industry. The Group has a customer base comprising of premium steel
mills around the world. For further information, please
visit www.ferrexpo.com.