News and events

26 August 2010

Interim financial results for the six month ended the 30 June 2010

Kemerovo, Russian Federation

OJSC Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Company (“KTK”; RTS, MICEX: “KBTK”), one of the fastest-growing thermal coal producers in Russia, is pleased to announce the unaudited IFRS financial results for the 6 months ended 30 June 2010.

Overview

In H1 2010 upon completion of a IPO on Russian stock exchanges the Company continued to implement its strategy of further production growth aimed at achieving the aggregate structural capacity of existing mines of 11 mln tonnes of coal per year by 2015 and growth of high added value products sales. In order to achieve this goal the Company started operation on two newmine sectors, and commenced the first stage of enrichment plant construction. In addition, in Q2 2010 a joint venture Kuzbass Transport Company was launched to provide the Company with rail road wagons for coal transportation and hedging of risks related to rental cost increase.

Due to the fact that the peak demand for thermal coal occurs in Q3 and Q4, and the production and sales figures are at their lowest in Q2, the Company’s revenues strongly depend on seasonal fluctuations. At the same time, active development of current deposits for ensuring future growth of coal extraction does not allow cost redistribution proportionally with revenue change during the year. Accordingly, financial results of the Company in H1 are typically lower than the financial results in H2.

In addition to seasonality, in the reporting period profitability of production was affected by two factors – lower export prices comparing to H1 2009 when the Company continued to supply coal under the contracts signed in 2008 at the peak of demand, as well as increased production costs related to exploded rock volume increase as part of stripping and increased transportation distance to refuse tips.

Financial highlights

  • Revenues increased by 23% to RUR 5,651 mln. year-on-year (H1 2009: RUR 4,596 mln.)
  • Growth in exploded rock and stripping volumes as a result of the start of operation at the second mine sectors of Cheremshanskiy and Vinogradovskiy open-pit mines lead to a decrease in EBITDA1 by 44% to RUR 540 mln. (H1 2009: RUR 961 mln.)
  • EBITDA margin2 of 15% (H1 2009: 30%)
  • Net profit decreased by 98% to RUR 4 mln. (H1 2009: RUR 266 mln.)
  • Net debt decreased by 35% to RUR 2,613 mln. (H1 2009: RUR 4,042 mln.)
  • Net debt3 to EBITDA ratio of 2.4 (H1 2009: 2.1)

Operational highlights

  • Coal extraction volume increased by 3% to 2.72 mln. tonnes (H1 2009: 2.64 mln. tonnes)
  • Sorted coal volume increased by 48% to 1.78 mln. tones (H1 2009: 1.20 mln. tonnes).
  • Exploded rock volume increased by 51% to 13.8 mln. m? (H12009: 9.1 mln. m?)
  • The average distance of stripping transportation increased by 20% to 2.7 km (H1 2009: 2.2km)
  • Coal sales volume increased 15% up to 3.52 mln. tonnes (H1 2009: 3.06 mln. tonnes)
  • The average domestic coal price net of VAT and railroad tariffs increased by 3% year-on-year to RUR 892 per tonne (H1 2009: RUR 868 per tonne)
  • The average export price net of VAT and railroad tariffs decreased by 18% year-on-year
  • CAPEX was RUR 1.35 bln. mostly comprising purchases of modern mining equipment and construction of the enrichment plant

Post period end

  • The Company has increased monthly coal extraction and sorting volumes. According to the management’s expectations, extraction and sorting volumes in July and August are likely to exceed by 30% average monthly volumes of H1 2010. The Company is planning to maintain high production volumes throughout Q3 and Q4.
  • In July 2010 the Company acquired from Kemerovo region property fund 25% of OJSC Kuzbasstoplivosbyt shares for RUR 20.1 mln. thereby increasing its share in the company to 100%.
  • On 24 August 2010 the Company’s first enrichment plant using steeply inclined separation techniques was launched. The plant will allow for production of high quality thermal coal by enriching high ash coal and diluted rock which was earlier considered as production waste. The project capacity of the plant is 2 mln. tonnes of coal per year. The Company will be able to produce around 0.3 mln. tonnes of high quality coal in 2010 due to launch of the new enrichment facility.

Igor Prokudin, CEO of the Company, commented:

“The first half of 2010 was highlighted by one of the most important events in the history of Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Company – by completing the IPO we have become a full-fledged player on the global financial market and the first publicly listed producer of thermal coal in Russia. IPO allowed us to achieve two major goals – raise funds for Company’s investment program and decrease our debt and financial costs. Today I am pleased to present the first interim financial statements of KTK in the status of a public company.

Over the first 6 months of 2010 we continued to implement our strategy of further production and reserves growth aimed at achieving the aggregate structural capacity of existing mines to 11 million tonnes of coal per year by 2015. In terms of technology, in 2010 we experienced one of the most challenging and costly stages of extraction development. In correspondence with the deposit development plan the second mine sectors on Cheremshanskiy and Vinogradovskiy open-pit mines have been launched. As a result, the exploded rock volume increased by 50% and the distance of stripping transportation increased by 30% comparing to the same period last year. In relation to this and due to the extraction growth by 3% year-on-year our production cash costs4 per tonne of coal increased by 24% from RUR 476 to RUR 590, which lead to a decrease of EBITDA comparing to the same period last year, in line with management expectations. We expect that in the second half of 2010 the Company will produce 50% more coal than in the first half, which should lead to a decrease in stripping ratio and positively affect the profitability of the business.

During the first 6 months of 2010 we continued to implement the long term strategy to increase the share of high margin products in the general structure of the Company’s sales. We have increased the sorted coal production volume by almost 50% and brought the export volume to 47% from the total sales volume despite relatively low prices. As a result we were able to increase our presence on key markets. At the end of the year we are planning to fulfill the current production year plan – 6.85 mln. tonnes per annum - and increase the sales of more profitable sorted coal and export sales.

Despite the decrease in some profitability ratios, management is satisfied with the development of the Company over the reporting period. We anticipate that EBITDA for H2 2010 and the year in general might exceed the results of 2009. This might happen as a result of a significant increase in production and sorting volumes, coal price growth on domestic and export markets as a heating season commences, changes in export structure in favor of more profitablecontracts, and the start of sales of a more profitablesorted coal produced at our first enrichment plant.

We are confident that our business strategy will allow us to use all opportunities of the Russian and international thermal coal markets for dynamic business development and growth in shareholder value of the Company.”

Conference-call

KTK’s management will host a conference call for investors and analysts followed by a Q&A session on the day of the results at 16.00 Moscow / 13.00 London / 08.00 New York.

The dial-in details are:

Date: Thursday, 26 August 2010
Time: 08.00 New York / 13.00 London / 16.00 Moscow*
Title: KTK - H1 2010 IFRS Statements Conference Call
International/UK Dial in: + 44 (0) 20 7162 0025
USA Dial in: + 1 334 323 6201

* We recommend that participants start dialing in 5-10 minutes prior to ensure a timely start to the conference call.

A live webcast of the presentation will be available


The conference call replay will be available through 2 September 2010.

International Replay Number: + 44 (0) 20 7031 4064
US Toll Replay Number: + 1 88 365 02 40
Replay Access Code: 872732

For more information please contact:

Financial Dynamics Moscow
Tatiana Kosheleva
Leonid Solovyev

+7 495 795 06 23

OJSC "Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Company" Kemerovo
Elena Sarycheva
Head of public affars department

+7 384 236 47 62

For investor enquiries please contact:

OJSC "Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Company" Moscow
Anton Rumyantsev
Investor relatinons manager

+7 495 787 68 05

Financial overview

Mln. RUR 6 months 2010 6 months 2009 Change, %
Revenue 5651 4596 23%
Cost of sales -4845 -3485 39%
Gross profit 806 1111 -27%
Commercial, administrative and other costs 599 524 14%
Operating profit 207 587 -65%
EBITDA 540 961 -44%
Net profit 4 266 -98%

Revenue

In the first half of 2010 KTK’s revenue increased by 23% compared to the same period last year to RUR 5,561 mln. (H1 2009: RUR 4,596 mln.), primarily due to increase in transportation costs included in coal prices and increase in exported and third-party coal sales volume. Revenues net of transportation and retail mark-ups increased by 8% comparing to H1 2009.

During the first six months revenues from export sales were affected by two differently directed tendencies. Export sales increased by 40% to RUR 3,273 mln. (H1 2009: RUR 2,344 mln.) as a result of an increase in sales volume on international markets, a change in price defining formula for export contracts and incorporation of transportation costs in the coal prices for consumers. At the same time the revenue was negatively affected by a decrease in average export prices5 by 18% comparing to the same period last year. Such decrease is related to the fact that in H1 2009 the Company was selling coal under the contracts signed in 2008 at high prices, and in Q1 2010 the Company was selling coal under the contracts signed in Q4 of the crisis 2009.

Despite the price decrease compared to the same period last year, the average export prices during the first and the second quarters of 2010 on both eastern and western directions were compatible to the corresponding international peers6 corrected by value of coal, cost of processing in ports and cost of freight. Increase in export revenue net of transportation costs was 14% compared to the same period last year.

The revenue increase in resale segment to RUR 866 mln. (H1 2009: RUR 584 mln.) was primarily a result of an increase in third party purchased coal sales volumes by 42%. Revenue from the own coal sales in Russia accounted for RUR 1,212 mln. decreasing by 14% compared to the same period last year. Such decrease is due to relative decrease in transportation costs which are included to the coal price due to growth of sales in Kemerovo region comparing to other regions. In general, the average domestic prices7 in H1 increased by 3% up to RUR 892 per tonne (H1 2009: RUR 868 per tonne). The domestic sales revenue net of transportation and retail mark-ups has also increased by 3% comparing to H1 2009.

Cost of sales

Mln. RUR 6 months 2010 6 months 2009 Change, %
Rail road tariff and transportation 2161 1379 57%
Purchased coal 647 421 54%
Labor compensation and social payments 435 357 22%
Fuel 371 267 39%
Depreciation 332 340 -2%
Extraction, processing and sorting of coal 332 286 16%
Spare parts 233 168 39%
Extraction and environment payments 92 102 -10%
Repair and maintenance 95 67 42%
Operative leasing 38 26 46%
Other costs 175 128 52%
Change in coal remains -66 -56 18%
Cost of sales 4845 3485 39%

In the first half of 2010 the cost of sales increased by 39% comparing to the same period last year to RUR 4,845 mln. (H1 2009: RUR 3,485 mln.).

The increase in cost of sales is a mainly a result of a significant growth in transportation costs, an increase in production costs due to change in mining and geological conditions of extraction process and readjustment of salaries, as well as increase in costs for third party purchasing coal for resale.

Transportation costs (RUR 2,161 mln.) increased by 57% comparing to H1 2009 and accounted for 45% of cost of sales of the Company. The reason for a significant increase in transportation costs was the change in conditions of export coal supplies from FCA (supply costs are compensated by a buyer) to DAF or CPT (supply costs are compensated by a seller) as well as increase in exported coal volume by 455 tsd. tonnes. After the launch of OJSC Kuzbass Transport Company in cooperation with one of Russian rail road operators, the Company has started increasing coal shipping operations in wagons purchased from Kuzbass Transport Company. According to management expectations, this hedgesa significant amount of future risks related to increase in wagon rent costs, and in future will allow full utilizationof the fleet rented from Kuzbass Transport Company for supplies at the prices fixed for the next 10 years.

Production costs8 (RUR 1,466 mln.) increased by 28% year-on-year (H1 2009: RUR 1,145 mln.)and accounted for 30% of the Company’s cost of sales for the first six months of 2010. Key growth factors of production costs are:

  • ncrease in staff costs by 22% as a result of readjustment of salaries by 10% in February 2010 and increase in salaries for machinery due to supply turnover growth in the reporting period. In 2009 the Company decreased salaries of production staff by 10% because of significantly worsened external business conditions, and in 2010 the Company renewed annual readjustment of salaries as a part of HR policy.
  • Increase in spare parts costs and repair and technical maintenance services by 40% as a result of conducting large scale major overhauls of imported mining and transport equipment that were scheduled for H1 2010.
  • Increase in fuel costs by 39% as a result of increase in transportation distances by 20%, increase in rock transportation volumes by 4% as well as diesel price growth by 17%.
  • Увеличение затрат на топливо на 39%, произошедшее в связи с ростом расстояний грузоперевозок на 20%, увеличением объемов транспортирования горной массы на 4%, а так же ростом цен на дизельное топливо на 17%.
  • Increase in extraction, processing and sorting costs by 16% as a result of increase in exploded rock volume by 51% as well as increase in sorting of coal by 48% comparing with the same period last year. The reason for a significant exploded rock volume increase is the start of the second sectors developmenton “Cheremshanskiy” and “Vinogradovskiy” mines . Geological specifics of deposit development presuppose that the rock volume in future will be stable, however, the stripping ratio will decrease which should lead to increase in extraction profitability. As a result of cost of sales growth, gross profit decreased by 27% to RUR 806 mln. (H1 2009: RUR 1,111 mln.)

Commercial, management and other operating costs

Commercial, administrative and other costs increased by 14% to RUR 599 mln. (H1 2009: RUR 524 mln.). Additional costs were a result of an increase in commercial and managing personnel compensation due to readjustment of salaries as well as increase of sales volume, asset taxincrease amid the main funds growth, imputed carry-over vacation reserves, assigning of surplus costs from IPO to administrative costs.

Despite the increase in commercial and management personnel costs by 33%, the ratio of overhead expenses to revenue remained stable at 11% level due to decrease in third parties costs as well as one-off sale of unutilized land properties.

Operating profit and EBITDA

Operating profit decreased by 65% to RUR 207 mln. (H1 2009: RUR 587 mln.).

EBITDA accounted for RUR 540 mln. Which is by 44% less than in the same period last year. (H1 2009: RUR 961 mln.). The decrease in EBITDA was related to decrease in the average coal price9 net of VAT and rail road tariffs by 6% comparing to H1 2010, primarily as a result of export prices decrease as well as increase in production costs related to the start of operation of the second mine sectors at Cheremshanskiy and Vinogradovskiy open-pit mines.

As a result of factors mentioned above the H1 net profit decreased to RUR 4 mln. (H1 2009: RUR 266 mln.).

Debt load

Mln. RUR З0 June 2010 З0 June 2010
Long term loans and credits 2331 2410
Short term loans and credits 537 1719
Total debt, including: 2868 4129
Ruble-denominated 840 3941
Foreign currency-denominated 2028 188
Cash and cash equivalents 255 87
Net debt 2613 4042
Interest expenses 94 294

In H1 the Company has reducedits loan portfolio using a portion of proceeds raised during the IPO. As a result the total debt leveldecreased by 231% to RUR 2,868 mln., and net debt amounted to RUR 2,613 mln. The share of short term loans and credits decreased to 19% of the total debt volume. Foreign currency debt at the end of reporting period accounted for RUR 2,028 mln. or 70% from the total debt volume and was fully denominated in US dollars. Due to decrease in debt servicing costs interest expenses in H1 decreased thrice to RUR 94 mln. (H1 2009: RUR 294 mln.). The average interest rate of the obtained loans and credits in the reporting period amounted to 8.2% per anuum.The ratio of the net debt to EBITDA at the end of reporting period was 2.4 which corresponds with the Company’s loan portfolio management strategy.

Cash flow

During the reporting period operating cash flow before tax and interest decreased by 70% to RUR 134 mln. (H1 2009: RUR 447 mln.). It was primarily affected by increase in production cash costs10 per 1 tonne of produced coal from RUR 476 in H1 2009 up to RUR 590 in H1 2010.

Due to decrease in interest payments in H1 2010 this cash flow was substantial for covering the income tax and interest on loans. As a result the net operating cash inflow for the reporting period was positive RUR 3 mln. compared to the same period last year when the outflow was RUR 41 mln.

Capital expenditures

During the reporting period the capex increased by 2.6 times to RUR 1,347 mln. (H1 2009: RUR 522 mln.). The funds were spent in accordance with the long term investment program and were directed primarily to acquisitions of modern mining and transport equipment, construction of the first enrichment plant and construction of the heated repair bay for BelAztrucks.

Current trading and outlook 2010

After the reporting period the Company increased its monthly extraction and sorting volumes. According to management’s expectations, extraction and sorting volumes in July and August 2010 are likely to exceed the average monthly volumes of H1 2010 by around 30%. The Company is planning to maintain monthly production and sorting volumes at the high level during H2 2010. According to the management, compared to H1 2010 in Q3 the growth of the average coal prices net of VAT and rail road tariff will be 8% on domestic market and 12% when exported.

According to the management, the launch of the enrichment plant in August 2010 will allow the Company to increase high quality sorted coal production volumes by 350 thnd. tonnes in Q3 and Q4 2010. As a result the total production volume in 2010 may increase to 6.85 mln. tonnes, which corresponds with the Company’s annual plan. In addition, in H2 2010 extraction volume growth by 50% should lead to decrease in stripping ratio by 20%.

In the segment of internal sales of own coal the management is expecting an increase in revenue as a result of a planned increase in sales in H2 2010 as well as increase in sorted coal share in the general structure of sales. In H2 2010 the Company’s average coal price11 on the domestic market mayincrease by 5-8% due to the start of heating season.

In the segment of export sales of own coal the management is expecting an increase in revenue as a result of increase in prices related to supply structure changes. In H1 significant volume of coal was supplied under the contracts signed in 2009, while supplies under the contracts signed in 2010 at higher prices are planned for H2. According to the management’s expectations and due to export contracts signed as of the end of reporting period, in H2 2010 the Company’s average export prices net of VAT and rail road tariffs should increase by 10-15% compared to H1 2010.

According to coal price dynamic on domestic and international markets as well as due to planned increase in extraction and sorting volumes in Q2 and Q3, the management expects that H2 EBITDA and full year EBITDA will be higher compared to the same period last year.

The management remains positive about business outlook in H2, as historically the major part of Company’s revenue generated during the second half of the year due to seasonality of thermal coal consumption.

Forward –Looking Statements

This press release might contain forward-looking statements that refer to future events or forecast financial indicators for OJSC “Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Company”. Such statements do not guarantee that these are actions to be taken by OJSC “Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Company” in the future, and estimates can be inaccurate and uncertain. Actual final indicators and results can considerably differ from those declared in any forward-looking statements. “ OJSC “Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Company” does not intend to change these statements to reflect actual results

Appendix

 

  1. Calculation EBITDA12
    Mln. rub 6 months 2010 6 months 2009
    Operating profit (loss) 207 587
    Amortization for a period 368 369
    Losses (profit) from disposals -35 5
    EBITDA 540 961
  2. Calculation of production cash costs
    Mln. rub 6 months 2010 6 months 2009
    Consolidated cost of sales 4845 3485
    Excluding affiliated companies cost of sales -1156 -1466
    OJSC КТК cost of sales 3689 2019
    Excluding:    
    Amortization (cost of sales) -300 -308
    Purchased coal -231 -164
    Change of commodities and materials remains 95 50
    Railroad tariffs and transportation costs -1647 -341
    Cash costs allocated to cost of sales 1606 1256
    Consolidated commercial costs 221 193
    Commercial costs of affiliated companies -221 -193
    Commercial costs of OJSC КТК - -
    Net of amortization (as part of commercial costs) - -
    Cash costs allocated to commercial costs - -
    Total cash costs of coal production 1605 1256
    Coal production, mln. tonnes 2,72 2,64
    Total cash cost per 1 tonne of coal, rub. 590 476
  3. Segment reporting
    • Internal sales of own coal
      Mln. rub 6 months 2010 6 months 2009
      Earnings 1212 1402
      Cost of sales -969 -997
      Gross profit 243 405
      Gross margin,% 20% 29%
    • Export of own coal
      Mln. rub 6 months 2010 6 months 2009
      Earnings 3273 2344
      Cost of sales -2877 -1757
      Gross profit 396 587
      Gross margin,% 12% 25%
    • Resale of purchased coal, mln. rub
      Mln. rub 6 months 2010 6 months 2009
      Earnings 866 584
      Cost of sales -809 -541
      Gross profit 57 43
      Gross margin,% 7% 7%
    • Other activities, mln. rub
      Mln. rub 6 months 2010 6 months 2009
      Earnings 300 266
      Cost of sales -190 -190
      Gross profit 110 76
      Gross margin,% 37% 29%
  4. Reduced interim consolidated financial statement for six months ended June 30 2010

1 EBITDA calculated in Appendix, Table 1

2 EBITDA margin calculated was adjusted to railroad tariffs and transportation services

3 Net debt calculated on page 9

4 Production cash costs calculated in Appendix, Table 2

5 Net of VAT and rail road tariffs

6 According to the management, based on quality of characteristics of supplied coal, the most appropriate peers for the Company’s export sales are the price indexes CIF ARA (6,000 kcal/kg), FOB Indonesia (5,800 kcal/kg)

7 Net of VAT and rail road tariffs

8 Production costs include production personnel salaries, fuel, extraction and sorting costs, spare parts purchasing costs, repair and maintenance costs

9 Net of VAT and rail road tariffs

10 Production cash costs are calculated in Appendix, Table 2

11 Net of VAT and rail road tariffs

12 EBITDA for each period is defined as results from operating activities, adjusted for amortisation and depreciation, impairment loss and loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment. EBITDA is not a measurement of the Company’s operating performance under IFRS and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with IFRS or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of the Company’s liquidity