Form 20-F
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 20-F

 

 

 

¨ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

¨ SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 001-32328

 

 

MECHEL OAO

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

Krasnoarmeyskaya Street 1, Moscow 125993, Russian Federation

(Address of principal executive offices)

Vladislav Zlenko, tel.: +7-495-221-8888, e-mail: vladislav.zlenko@mechel.com

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

COMMON AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES, EACH COMMON ADS

REPRESENTING ONE COMMON SHARE

  NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE

COMMON SHARES, PAR VALUE

10 RUSSIAN RUBLES PER SHARE

  NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE(1)

PREFERRED AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES, EACH PREFERRED ADS

REPRESENTING ONE-HALF OF A PREFERRED SHARE

  NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE

PREFERRED SHARES, PAR VALUE

10 RUSSIAN RUBLES PER SHARE

  NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE(2)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

(Title of Class)

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:

None

(Title of Class)

 

 

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

416,270,745 common shares, of which 84,625,107 shares are in the form of common ADSs as of March 31, 2013

138,756,915 preferred shares (including 55,502,766 shares held by Skyblock Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mechel), of which 25,177,757 shares are in the form of preferred ADSs as of March 31, 2013

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  x    No  ¨

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Note — Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One):

 

Large accelerated filer  x

   Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

 

U.S. GAAP  x

   International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board  ¨    Other  ¨

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow:

Item 17  ¨    Item 18   ¨

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

 

(1) Listed, not for trading or quotation purposes, but only in connection with the registration of common ADSs pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(2) Listed, not for trading or quotation purposes, but only in connection with the registration of preferred ADSs pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     4   

Item 1.

   Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers      5   

Item 2.

   Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable      5   

Item 3.

   Key Information      5   

Item 4.

   Information on the Company      60   

Item 4A.

   Unresolved Staff Comments      158   

Item 5.

   Operating and Financial Review and Prospects      158   

Item 6.

   Directors, Senior Management and Employees      247   

Item 7.

   Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions      263   

Item 8.

   Financial Information      267   

Item 9.

   The Offer and Listing      273   

Item 10.

   Additional Information      274   

Item 11.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk      308   

Item 12.

   Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities      314   

Item 13.

   Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies      317   

Item 14.

   Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds      317   

Item 15.

   Controls and Procedures      317   

Item 16A.

   Audit Committee Financial Expert      320   

Item 16B.

   Code of Ethics      320   

Item 16C.

   Principal Accountant Fees and Services      320   

Item 16D.

   Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees      321   

Item 16E.

   Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers      321   

Item 16F.

   Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant      321   

Item 16G.

   Corporate Governance      322   

Item 16H.

   Mine Safety Disclosure      323   

Item 17.

   Financial Statements      324   

Item 18.

   Financial Statements      324   

Item 19.

   Exhibits      325   

SIGNATURES

     326   

 

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, references to “Mechel” refer to Mechel OAO, and references to “our group,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Mechel OAO together with its subsidiaries.

Our business consists of four segments: mining, steel, ferroalloys and power. References in this document to segment revenues are to revenues of the segment excluding intersegment sales, unless otherwise noted. References in this document to our sales or our total sales are to third-party sales and do not include intra-group sales, unless otherwise noted.

For the purposes of calculating certain market share data, we have included businesses that are currently part of our group that may not have been part of our group during the period for which such market share data is presented.

References to “U.S. dollars,” “$” or “cents” are to the currency of the United States, references to “rubles” or “RUR” are to the currency of the Russian Federation and references to “euro” or “€” are to the currency of the member states of the European Union (the “E.U.”) that participate in the European Monetary Union.

The term “tonne” as used herein means a metric tonne. A metric tonne is equal to 1,000 kilograms or 2,204.62 pounds. The term “short ton” is also used in this document. A short ton is equal to 907 kilograms or 2,000 pounds.

Certain amounts that appear in this document have been subject to rounding adjustments; accordingly, figures shown as totals in certain tables or in the text may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.

 

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Table of Contents

“CIS” means the Commonwealth of Independent States, its member states being Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

The following table sets forth by segment the official names and location of some of our subsidiaries and their names as used in this document:

 

Name as Used in This Document

 

Official Name

 

Location

Mining Segment

   

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company

  Southern Kuzbass Coal Company OAO   Russia, Kemerovo region

Tomusinsky Open Pit

  Tomusinsky Open Pit Mine OAO   Russia, Kemerovo region

Korshunov Mining Plant

  Korshunov Mining Plant OAO   Russia, Irkutsk region

Port Posiet

  Port Posiet OAO   Russia, Primorsk Krai

Yakutugol

  Yakutugol Holding Company OAO   Russia, Sakha Republic

Port Temryuk

  Port Mechel Temryuk OOO   Russia, Krasnodar Krai

Bluestone or Bluestone companies

  Bluestone Industries, Inc., Dynamic Energy, Inc., JCJ Coal Group, LLC, and other subsidiaries carrying out the Bluestone business   United States, West Virginia

Mechel Mining

  Mechel Mining OAO   Russia, Moscow

Mechel Mining Management

  Mechel Mining Management Company OOO   Russia, Moscow

Mechel Engineering

  Mechel Engineering OOO   Russia, Novosibirsk

Moscow Coke and Gas Plant(1)

  Moscow Coke and Gas Plant OAO   Russia, Moscow region

Mechel Coke(1)

  Mechel Coke OOO   Russia, Chelyabinsk region

Steel Segment

   

Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant

  Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant OAO   Russia, Chelyabinsk region

Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant

  Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant ZAO   Russia, Republic of Karelia

Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant

  Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant OAO   Russia, Republic of Bashkortostan

Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant

  Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant PJSC   Ukraine, Donetsk region

Urals Stampings Plant

  Urals Stampings Plant OAO   Russia, Chelyabinsk region

Mechel Nemunas

  Mechel Nemunas UAB   Lithuania

Izhstal

  Izhstal OAO   Russia, Republic of Udmurtia

Port Kambarka

  Port Kambarka OAO   Russia, Republic of Udmurtia

Mechel-Steel Management

  Mechel-Steel Management OOO   Russia, Moscow

Mechel Targoviste(2)

  Mechel Targoviste S.A.   Romania

Mechel Campia Turzii(2)

  Mechel Campia Turzii S.A.   Romania

Ductil Steel(2)

  Ductil Steel S.A.   Romania

Laminorul Plant(2)

  Laminorul S.A.   Romania

Ferroalloys Segment

   

Southern Urals Nickel Plant

  Southern Urals Nickel Plant OAO   Russia, Orenburg region

Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant

  Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant OOO   Russia, Irkutsk region

Oriel Resources

  Oriel Resources Limited   United Kingdom

Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant

  Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant OOO   Russia, Leningrad region

Mechel Ferroalloys Management

  Mechel Ferroalloys Management OOO   Russia, Moscow

Power Segment

   

Southern Kuzbass Power Plant

  Southern Kuzbass Power Plant OAO   Russia, Kemerovo region

Kuzbass Power Sales Company

  Kuzbass Power Sales Company OAO   Russia, Kemerovo region

Mechel Energo

  Mechel Energo OOO   Russia, Moscow

Toplofikatsia Rousse(3)

  Toplofikatsia Rousse EAD   Bulgaria

Marketing and Distribution

   

Mechel Carbon

  Mechel Carbon AG   Switzerland, Baar

Mechel Carbon Singapore

  Mechel Carbon Singapore Pte. Ltd   Singapore

Mechel Trading

  Mechel Trading AG   Switzerland, Baar

Mechel Trading House

  Mechel Trading House OOO   Russia, Moscow

Mechel Service Global

  Mechel Service Global B.V.   Netherlands

Mechel Service

  Mechel Service OOO   Russia, Moscow

HBL Holding

  HBL Holding GmbH   Germany

 

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Table of Contents

Name as Used in This Document

 

Official Name

 

Location

Other

   

Mecheltrans

  Mecheltrans OOO   Russia, Moscow

Mecheltrans Management

  Mecheltrans Management OOO   Russia, Moscow

 

(1) Moscow Coke and Gas Plant and Mechel Coke were transferred to our mining segment in the second quarter of 2010. In prior periods, they were included in our steel segment. The data for prior periods included herein was restated accordingly to account for these facilities in the mining segment.
(2) We disposed Mechel Targoviste, Mechel Campia Turzii, Ductil Steel and Laminorul Plant to a third party in February 2013.
(3) We signed an agreement to sell Toplofikatsia Rousse and expect the transaction to close in May 2013. The entity is presented as “discontinued operations” in our consolidated financial statements.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Matters discussed in this document may constitute forward-looking statements, 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. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “will,” “may,” “should” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places including, without limitation, “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors,” “Item 4. Information on the Company” and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects,” and include statements regarding:

 

   

strategies, outlook and growth prospects;

 

   

the ability to maintain sufficient cash and other liquid resources to meet our operating and debt service requirements and our ability to comply with the covenants in our financing agreements;

 

   

the impact of competition;

 

   

costs of our acquisitions and ability to realize expected synergies and other benefits;

 

   

capital expenditures;

 

   

growth in demand for our products;

 

   

economic outlook and industry trends;

 

   

transactions with related parties;

 

   

regulatory compliance;

 

   

developments in our markets;

 

   

future plans and potential for future growth;

 

   

the impact of regulatory initiatives; and

 

   

the strength of our competitors.

The forward-looking statements in this document are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control and we may not achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. See “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors” for a discussion of important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements.

Except to the extent required by law, neither we, nor any of our agents, employees or advisers intend or have any duty or obligation to supplement, amend, update or revise any of the forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this document.

 

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Table of Contents

PART I

Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers

Not applicable.

Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

Not applicable.

Item 3. Key Information

Selected Financial Data

The financial data set forth below as of December 31, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008, and for the years then ended, have been derived from our consolidated financial statements. Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar and we prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”).

Our results of operations for the periods presented are significantly affected by acquisitions. Results of operations of these acquired businesses are included in our consolidated financial statements for the periods after their respective dates of acquisition. See note 1(a) to the consolidated financial statements. The financial data below should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, our consolidated financial statements and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.”

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share data)  

Consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income data:

          

Revenue, net

     11,274,933        12,541,145        9,746,646        5,754,146        9,950,705   

Cost of goods sold

     (8,024,210     (8,236,807     (6,179,612     (3,987,386     (5,295,407
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     3,250,723        4,304,338        3,567,034        1,766,760        4,655,298   

Selling, distribution and operating expenses

     (4,148,598     (2,464,234     (2,034,822     (1,521,116     (2,099,029
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

     (897,875     1,840,104        1,532,212        245,644        2,556,269   

Other income and (expense), net

     (479,426     (667,537     (563,008     (150,420     (1,208,001

(Loss) income from continuing operations, before income tax

     (1,377,301     1,172,567        969,204        95,224        1,348,268   

Income tax expense

     (179,155     (360,750     (276,630     (18,893     (118,887

(Loss) income from continuing operations

     (1,556,456     811,817        692,574        76,331        1,229,381   

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax

     (108,429     (8,370     (600 )     —         —    

Net (loss) income

     (1,664,885     803,447        691,974        76,331        1,229,381   

Less: Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests

     317        (75,562     (34,761     (2,590     (88,837
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO

     (1,664,568     727,885        657,213        73,741        1,140,544   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less: Dividends on preferred shares

     (79,056     (78,281     (8,780     (134,498     —    

Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders of Mechel OAO

     (1,743,623     649,604        648,433        (60,757     1,140,544   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

     (1,664,885     803,447        691,974        76,331        1,229,381   

 

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Table of Contents
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share data)  

Currency translation adjustment

     70,893        (170,794     (26,218     (325,353     (289,633

Change in pension benefit obligation

     (17,778     (7,160     (9,466     (10,155     87,659   

Adjustment of available-for-sale securities

     (300     (2,245     4,838        (5,178     (6,571

Additional minimum pension liability

     —         —         —         —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive (loss) income

     (1,612,070     623,248        661,128        (264,355     1,020,836   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less comprehensive (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests

     (22,851     (50,527     (32,498     6,759        (26,822
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO

     (1,634,921     572,721        628,630        (257,596     994,014   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) earnings per share from continuing operations

     (3.93     1.58        1.56        (0.15     2.74   

Loss per share effect from discontinued operations

     (0.26     (0.02     (0.00     —         —    

Net (loss) income per share

     (4.19     1.56        1.56        (0.15     2.74   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash dividends per common share

     0.24        0.31        0.03        0.18        1.12   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash dividends per preferred share

     0.95        0.94        0.11        1.62        0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average number shares outstanding

     416,270,745        416,270,745        416,270,745        416,270,745        416,270,745   

Mining segment statements of operations and comprehensive income data(1):

          

Revenue, net

     4,015,054        5,192,028        3,856,165        2,111,990        4,566,354   

Cost of goods sold

     (2,130,958     (2,324,190     (1,764,522     (1,294,091     (1,729,099
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     1,884,096        2,867,838        2,091,643        817,899        2,837,255   

Selling, distribution and operating expenses

     (1,239,818     (1,176,454     (905,751     (612,730     (1,010,081
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     644,278        1,691,384        1,185,892        205,169        1,827,174   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Steel segment statements of operations and comprehensive income data(1):

          

Revenue, net

     7,071,321        7,464,833        5,833,677        3,302,302        5,360,252   

Cost of goods sold

     (6,026,304     (6,341,260     (4,729,914     (2,666,543     (3,871,599
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     1,045,017        1,123,573        1,103,763        635,759        1,488,653   

Selling, distribution and operating expenses

     (2,409,574     (931,824     (806,207     (654,256     (742,139
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

     (1,364,557     191,749        297,556        (18,497     746,514   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share data)  

Ferroalloys segment statements of operations and comprehensive income data(1):

          

Revenue, net

     504,133        674,445        629,052        430,809        584,631   

Cost of goods sold

     (539,454     (643,624     (535,511     (393,833     (573,007
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     (35,321     30,821        93,541        36,976        11,624   

Selling, distribution and operating expenses

     (224,575     (75,733     (70,583     (64,562     (62,200
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

     (259,896     (44,912     22,958        (27,586     (50,576
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Power segment statements of operations and comprehensive income data(1):

          

Revenue, net

     1,241,112        1,244,482        1,058,324        872,783        1,028,110   

Cost of goods sold

     (931,761     (932,060     (759,314     (642,512     (714,094
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     309,351        312,422        299,010        230,271        314,016   

Selling, distribution and operating expenses

     (274,631     (280,223     (252,282     (189,569     (284,610
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     34,720        32,199        46,728        40,702        29,406   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated balance sheet data (at period end):

        

Total assets

     17,695,303        19,309,799        15,778,164        13,183,311        12,009,634   

Equity attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO

     3,177,381        4,993,989        4,631,061        4,037,957        4,015,823   

Equity attributable to non-controlling interests

     362,276        371,337        319,950        292,732        305,838   

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     7,929,489        6,732,029        5,240,620        4,074,458        219,816   

Consolidated cash flows data:

          

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     1,311,328        882,538        (147,704     561,669        2,229,941   

Net cash used in investing activities

     (839,137     (2,618,232     (1,120,406     (709,931     (3,249,737

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (792,006     2,079,034        1,210,126        375,434        1,247,623   

Non-U.S. GAAP measures(2):

          

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA

     1,332,056        2,396,673        2,015,849        686,641        3,017,103   

Mining Segment Adjusted EBITDA

     998,285        2,023,827        1,467,965        451,952        2,129,313   

Steel Segment Adjusted EBITDA

     290,152        318,875        414,010        100,170        877,427   

Ferroalloys Segment Adjusted EBITDA

     (48,559     45,879        94,432        34,940        (33,287

Power Segment Adjusted EBITDA

     44,598        40,107        60,366        53,721        55,854   

 

(1) Segment revenues and cost of goods sold include intersegment sales.
(2) Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before depreciation, depletion and amortization, foreign exchange gain/(loss), 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 and provision for the balances due from related parties, net (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, amount attributable to non-controlling interests and income taxes.

 

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Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income is as follows for the periods indicated:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation:

          

Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO

     (1,664,567     727,885        657,212        73,741        1,140,544   

Add:

          

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     586,218        556,356        474,061        406,675        463,297   

Foreign exchange (gain) loss

     (88,711     117,077        14,543        174,336        877,428   

Loss (gain) from remeasurement of contingent liabilities at fair value

     1,906        1,760        1,630        (494,238     —    

Interest expense

     669,353        560,548        558,284        498,986        324,083   

Interest income

     (70,508     (16,786     (17,167     (21,445     (11,614

Net result on the disposal of non-current assets, impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill and provision for the balances due from related parties

     1,611,099        5,151        14,860        27,103        15,641   

Net (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     108,429        8,370       600       —         —    

Amount attributable to non-controlling interests

     (318     75,562        34,761        2,590        88,837   

Income taxes

     179,155        360,750        276,631        18,893        118,887   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA

     1,332,056        2,396,673        2,015,416        686,641        3,017,103   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Mining Segment Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation:

          

Net income attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO

     360,770        1,069,892        756,687        598,156        1,186,087   

Add:

          

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     317,005        328,521        281,392        231,585        286,626   

Foreign exchange (gain) loss

     (65,795     60,718        (9,354     (65,954     148,652   

Loss (gain) from remeasurement of contingent liabilities at fair value

     1,906        1,760        1,630        (494,238  

Interest expense

     280,787        310,318        333,684        265,865        127,433   

Interest income

     (101,495     (138,960     (133,275     (106,813     (26,138

Net result on the disposal of non-current assets, impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill and provision for the balances due from related parties

     5,636        8,609        8,264        7,126        10,448   

Net (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     —         —         —         —         —    

Amount attributable to non-controlling interests

     45,976        80,050        43,130        13,538        65,833   

Income taxes

     153,495        302,919        185,807        2,687        330,372   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Mining Segment Adjusted EBITDA

     998,285        2,023,827        1,467,965        451,952        2,129,313   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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     Year Ended December 31,  
     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Steel Segment Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation:

          

Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO

     (1,677,326     (232,606     90,847        (262,145     246,588   

Add:

          

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     169,582        125,987        110,910        110,292        131,142   

Foreign exchange (gain) loss

     (46,071     80,739        7,141        77,629        330,173   

Loss (gain) from remeasurement of contingent liabilities at fair value

     —         —         —         —         —    

Interest expense

     383,184        318,956        228,143        221,033        174,175   

Interest income

     (21,927     (13,377     (34,736     (43,864     (72,792

Net result on the disposal of non-current assets, impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill and provision for the balances due from related parties

     1,482,809        271        2,803        3,018        3,814   

Net (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     —         —         —         —         —    

Amount attributable to non-controlling interests

     (25,350     (9,708     (12,483     (14,205     17,980   

Income taxes

     25,251        48,613        20,953        8,412        46,347   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Steel Segment Adjusted EBITDA

     290,152        318,875        413,578        100,170        877,427   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ferroalloys Segment Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation:

          

Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO

     (292,070     (71,579     (186,256     (309,922     (283,294

Add:

          

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     88,969        89,986        67,303        48,727        22,738   

Foreign exchange loss (gain)

     23,153        (24,211     16,784        162,735        398,768   

Loss (gain) from remeasurement of contingent liabilities at fair value

     —         —         —         —         —    

Interest expense

     34,018        51,569        133,242        123,589        92,610   

Interest income

     (59     (2,117     (5,351     (10,041     (14,404

Net result on the disposal of non-current assets, impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill and provision for the balances due from related parties

     124,107        1,174        4,723        17,165        142   

Net (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     —         —         —         —         —    

Amount attributable to non-controlling interests

     (23,828     (690     (630     451        2,341   

Income taxes

     (2,849     1,747        64,617        2,236        (252,188
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ferroalloys Segment Adjusted EBITDA

     (48,559     45,879        94,432        34,940        (33,287
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Power Segment Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation:

          

Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO

     (103,521     (5,808     16,858        1,793        3,037   

Add:

          

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     10,662        11,860        14,456        16,071        22,791   

Foreign exchange loss (gain)

     1        (169     (28     (74     165   

Loss (gain) from remeasurement of contingent liabilities at fair value

     —         —         —         —         —    

Interest expense

     24,374        17,581        19,549        27,828        31,585   

Interest income

     (38     (205     (138     (56     —     

Net result on the disposal of non-current assets, impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill and provision for the balances due from related parties

     (1,452     (4,903     (930     (205     1,237   

 

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     Year Ended December 31,  
     2012      2011      2010      2009      2008  
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Net (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     108,429         8,370        600        —           —     

Amount attributable to non-controlling interests

     2,885         5,910         4,745         2,806         2,683   

Income taxes

     3,258         7,471         5,254         5,558         (5,644
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Power Segment Adjusted EBITDA

     44,598         40,107         60,366         53,721         55,854   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA is a measure of our operating performance that is not required by, or presented in accordance with, U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of our operating performance under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of our liquidity. In particular, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business.

Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results as reported under U.S. GAAP. Some of these limitations are as follows:

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the impact of financing income and costs, which are significant and could further increase if we incur more debt, on our operating performance.

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the impact of income taxes on our operating performance.

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the impact of depreciation, depletion and amortization on our operating performance. The assets of our businesses which are being depreciated, depleted and/or amortized (including, for example, our mineral reserves) will have to be replaced in the future and such depreciation, depletion and amortization expense may approximate the cost to replace these assets in the future. By excluding such expense from Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our future cash requirements for such replacements.

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the impact of foreign exchange gains and losses and gains and losses from remeasurement of contingent liabilities at fair value, which may recur.

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the impact of gain/(loss) from remeasurement of contingent liabilities at fair value on our operating performance, which may recur.

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the impact of net result on the disposal of non-current assets on our operating performance, which may recur.

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the impact of impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill and provision for the balances due from related parties, which may recur.

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the impact of net (loss) income from discontinued operations.

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the impact of amounts attributable to non-controlling interests on our operating performance.

 

   

Other companies in our industry may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently or may use it for different purposes than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our U.S. GAAP operating results and using Adjusted EBITDA only supplementally. See our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income and consolidated statements of cash flows included elsewhere in this document.

Exchange Rates

The following tables show, for the periods indicated, certain information regarding the official exchange rate between the ruble and the U.S. dollar, based on data published by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (the “CBR”).

 

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These rates may differ from the actual rates used in preparation of our financial statements and other financial information provided herein.

 

     Rubles per U.S. Dollar  

Year Ended December 31,

   High      Low      Average(1)      Period End  

2012

     34.04         28.95         31.09         30.37   

2011

     32.68         27.26         29.39         32.20   

2010

     31.78         28.93         30.37         30.48   

2009

     36.43         28.67         31.72         30.24   

2008

     29.38         23.13         24.86         29.38   

 

(1) The average of the exchange rates on the last business day of each full month during the relevant period.

 

     Rubles per U.S. Dollar  
         High              Low      

March 2013

     31.08         30.51   

February 2013

     30.62         29.93   

January 2013

     30.42         30.03   

December 2012

     30.99         30.37   

November 2012

     31.73         30.94   

October 2012

     31.53         30.72   

The exchange rate between the ruble and the U.S. dollar on April 16, 2013 was 31.31 rubles per one U.S. dollar.

No representation is made that the ruble or U.S. dollar amounts in this document could have been or can be converted into U.S. dollars or rubles, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all.

Recent Developments

Disposal of Romanian steel assets

In February 2013, we sold our steel assets in Romania to Invest Nikarom S.R.L., a privately held Romanian group. The aggregate consideration was 230 Romanian lei in cash (approximately $100 as of the closing date of the transaction). The disposed assets consisted of 100% of shares of Ductil Steel, 86.6% of shares of Mechel Targoviste, 86.6% of shares of Mechel Campia Turzii, 100% of shares of Mechel East Europe Metallurgical Division S.R.L. and 100% of shares of Donau Commodities S.R.L. together with its subsidiary Laminorul Plant where it held 90.9% of shares. The disposal was in accordance with our revised strategy aimed at focusing on our key production lines and disposal of non-core businesses. See note 26(b) to the consolidated financial statements.

Disposal of Toplofikatsia Rousse

In December 2012, we signed an agreement to sell 100% of shares of Toplofikatsia Rousse, a power plant located on the bank of the Danube River in close proximity to the harbor of Rousse, Bulgaria. Toplofikatsia Rousse comprises thermal power plant Toplofikatsia Rousse Izstok and heat grids in Rousse. We had acquired a 49% stake in Toplofikatsia Rousse in December 2007 and further increased our stake up to 100% in December 2010. Subject to fulfillment of certain conditions by the buyer, we expect the transaction to close in May 2013. This business is presented as “discontinued operations” in our consolidated financial statements. See note 3(e) to the consolidated financial statements.

Acquisition of minority stake in Port Vanino

On December 7, 2012, our subsidiary Mecheltrans won an auction to acquire 74,195 common shares (73.33% of the total common shares or 55% of the total shares) of Vanino Sea Trade Port OAO (“Port Vanino”)

 

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for the total consideration of 15.5 billion rubles (approximately $501.4 million as of the auction date). In January 2013, the shares were transferred to Mecheltrans. In January 2013, Mecheltrans further sold 72,780 of the acquired shares to Russian and foreign investors which are outside of our group.

In addition, in January 2013 Mecheltrans acquired 21,892 common shares (21.64% of the total common shares or 16.23% of the total shares) and 16,039 preferred shares (47.56% of the total preferred shares or 11.89% of the total shares) of Port Vanino from a minority shareholder. The aggregate consideration for the preferred shares was 275 million rubles (approximately $9.2 million) and was fully paid. The maximum aggregate consideration for the common shares is 4.77 billion rubles (approximately $158.8 million) which is to be paid by October 2013.

One of the foreign investors has granted Mecheltrans an option to sell and to require the investor to buy 22,707 common shares and 16,039 preferred shares for the maximum aggregate price of $174.6 million. The option can be exercised by October 2013.

Mecheltrans presently owns 23,307 common shares (23.04% of the total common shares or 17.28% of the total shares) and 16,039 preferred shares (47.56% of the total preferred shares or 11.89% of the total shares) of Port Vanino.

Port Vanino is the largest seaport in Khabarovsk Krai, located in the Tatar Strait. Its infrastructure comprises sixteen berths, open and closed storehouses, cranes, cargo handling equipment and other port facilities.

Receipt of waivers and covenant amendments under existing loan agreements

Primarily as a result of the decline in market prices for our products throughout 2012, as of December 31, 2012, we were not in compliance with a number of financial covenants in various loan agreements. In April 2013, we received consents and covenant amendments relating to certain breaches under our loan agreements. In conjunction with the covenant amendment process, additional restrictions were imposed on our ability to make capital expenditures. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Restrictive Covenants”, “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Description of Certain Indebtedness” and “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Financial Condition and Financial Reporting — We have not been in compliance with the financial covenants in certain of our credit facilities.”

New borrowings

In April, 2013, we entered into a 40.0 billion ruble (approximately $1.3 billion) credit facility agreement with VTB Bank for a period of five years. The agreement provides for a 15-month grace period and repayment in equal installments on a quarterly basis.

In April 2013, each of our subsidiaries Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant and Urals Stampings Plant entered into a revolving credit facility agreement with Gazprombank. The aggregate loan amount is 3.3 billion rubles (approximately $106.9 million). The term of the facilities is three years with the term of each tranche of up to 24 months. The facilities provide for a bullet repayment.

In March and April 2013, our subsidiary Mecheltrans entered into two non-revolving credit facility agreements with Moscow Credit Bank with an aggregate loan amount of $88 million for a period of one year each. The agreements provide for a bullet repayment.

See note 26(c) to the consolidated financial statements.

Redemption of Russian bonds series BO-02

On March 12, 2013, we redeemed Russian non-convertible interest-bearing exchange bonds series BO-02 of aggregate principal amount of 5.0 billion rubles, which were issued in March 2010. As of December 31, 2012, the outstanding balance was $164.6 million. In our consolidated financial statements, it is classified as long-term debt since the obligations under these bonds were refinanced using proceeds from the long-term facility received from VTB Bank in April 2013. See note 26(c) to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Risk Factors

An investment in our shares and ADSs involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following information about these risks, together with the information contained in this document, before you decide to buy our shares or ADSs. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects could be materially adversely affected. In that case, the value of our shares or ADSs could also decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Relating to Our Financial Condition and Financial Reporting

We have not been in compliance with the financial covenants in certain of our credit facilities.

Most of the loan agreements under which we or our subsidiaries are borrowers contain various representations, undertakings, covenants and events of default. Furthermore, according to the terms of such agreements, certain of our actions aimed at developing our business and pursuing our strategic objectives, such as acquisitions, dispositions of assets, corporate restructurings, investments into certain of our subsidiaries and others, require prior notice to or consent from the respective lenders.

In recent years we have from time to time been in breach of covenants in various loan agreements, but we have received waivers, consents and covenant amendments from the relevant lenders for such breaches. As of December 31, 2012, we were not in compliance with certain covenants in most of our credit facilities and loans entered into with several different lenders, including certain financial ratios, such as the net borrowings to EBITDA ratio. We obtained waivers from our lenders for such non-compliance and amended certain of our financial covenants for the period from June 2013 to June 2017. We have restrictions on our ability to pay dividends, incur additional indebtedness and make capital expenditures, as well as expand through further acquisitions and use proceeds from certain disposals. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Liquidity and Capital Resources — Restrictive Covenants” and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Description of Certain Indebtedness.”

Some of our credit facilities contain cross-default provisions that may be triggered by a default under one of our other loan and credit facilities. A cross-default provision contemplates that a default on one loan with the principal amount above certain threshold would result in a default on other loans. Although we believe that we have sought and received waivers for the breaches from our lenders under the relevant credit facilities, due to the presence of cross-default provisions in almost all of our credit facilities, the refusal of any one lender to grant or extend a waiver in the future could result in substantially all of our indebtedness being accelerated even if our other lenders have waived covenant defaults under the respective credit facilities. If our indebtedness is accelerated in full or in part, it could be very difficult in the current financing environment for us to refinance our debt or obtain additional financing, and we could lose our assets, including fixed assets and shares in our subsidiaries, if our lenders foreclose on their liens, which would adversely affect our ability to conduct our business and result in a significant decline in the value of our shares.

Our ability to continue to comply with our financial and other loan covenants in the future and to continue to service and refinance our indebtedness will depend on our results of operations and our ability to generate cash in the future and attract new financing and refinance the existing indebtedness, which will depend on lenders’ credit decisions. This, in turn, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative and other factors that are beyond our control. We cannot assure you that any potential breach of financial and other covenants in our loan agreements, including defects in security, will not result in new demands from our lenders for acceleration of our loan repayment obligations or related litigation, including as a result of cross-defaults. If we fail to comply with our financial and other covenants contained in any of our loan agreements, including compliance with financial ratios and other covenants, or fail to obtain prior consent of lenders for certain actions, or fail to obtain extensions or waivers in respect of any breaches of our loan agreements or amend our loan agreements, such failure would constitute an event of default under the relevant loan agreement. Any event of default under our loan agreement could result in acceleration of repayment of principal and interest under the relevant loan agreement and any other loan agreement under which a default on such instrument would trigger a cross-default,

 

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reduced opportunities for future borrowing, debt service obligations in excess of our ability to pay, liability for damages or inability to further develop our business and pursue our strategic objectives, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We have a substantial amount of outstanding indebtedness.

We have a substantial amount of outstanding indebtedness, primarily consisting of debt we incurred in connection with the financing of our acquisitions of Yakutugol and Oriel Resources in 2007 and 2008, as well as debt we incurred to finance our working capital needs and investment program in recent years. A substantial portion of our bank loans are from Russian banks, including state-controlled banks such as Gazprombank, Sberbank and VTB Bank. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Description of Certain Indebtedness.” As of December 31, 2012, our consolidated total debt, including capital lease obligations, was $9,870.1 million, with a short-term portion of $1,592.8 million. Our interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $669.4 million, net of the amount capitalized.

In order to secure bank financings, we have pledged shares in certain key subsidiaries, including 55%+1 share of Yakutugol, 55%+1 share of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, 20% of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, 25%+1 share of Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant and 25%+1 share of Korshunov Mining Plant as of December 31, 2012. In January 2013, the number of pledged shares of Yakutugol and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company was reduced to 50%+2 shares of Yakutugol and 50%+2 shares of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company. Also, property, plant and equipment and certain other assets of our subsidiaries are pledged to lenders. As of December 31, 2012, the carrying value of property, plant and equipment, inventory, cash and accounts receivable pledged under our loan agreements amounted to $1,339.6 million. See note 13(g) to the consolidated financial statements.

Our ability to make payments on our indebtedness depends upon our operating performance, which is subject to general economic and market conditions, commodity prices, and financial, business and other factors, many of which we cannot control. If we do not generate sufficient cash flow from operations in order to meet our debt service obligations, we may have to undertake alternative financing plans to alleviate liquidity constraints, such as refinancing or restructuring our debt, reducing or delaying our capital expenditures or seeking additional capital.

Subject to market conditions and improvement of our corporate ratings, we are also contemplating accessing the international debt capital markets with the intention to diversify funding sources, further extend the maturity profile of our debt portfolio and reduce the refinancing risk with the peak repayments in 2013. We cannot provide assurance that any refinancing or additional financing would be available on acceptable terms. This is reinforced by the existing uncertainty in the Russian and global economies, including concerns about sovereign debt in Europe and the United States. Any inability to satisfy our debt service obligations or to refinance debt on commercially reasonable terms could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We will require a significant amount of cash to fund our capital investment program.

Our business requires maintenance capital expenditures in order to maintain production levels adequate to meet the demand for our products, as well as other capital expenditures to implement our business strategy. We spent $0.9 billion during 2012 on our capital expenditures (including $164.5 million in maintenance capital expenditures). In view of our conservative outlook with respect to the financial and commodity markets’ development for 2013, we have reduced our planned capital expenditures for 2013 by approximately 56% as compared to 2012. In reducing our capital expenditures, we have focused only on those items that are either close to completion or are of major importance for our operations. Our capital investment program currently contemplates capital spending of up to $0.4 billion in 2013 (including up to $119.9 million in maintenance capital expenditures). These planned capital expenditures cover investments in Yakutugol, including those required to be made pursuant to the terms of the subsoil license for the Elga coal deposit. We plan to spend up to $1.6 billion for the three-year period of 2013-2015 on capital investments (including up to $594.9 million in maintenance capital expenditures). See “Item 4. Information on the Company — Capital Investment Program.”

 

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Our ability to undertake and fund planned capital expenditures will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future and access debt and equity financing. This, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic and market conditions, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. Attracting debt financing for our capital expenditures on commercially reasonable terms may be particularly challenging given our current high levels of indebtedness, restrictive covenants and pledges of shares and assets of our subsidiaries to our current lenders. Any deterioration in our operating performance, including due to any worsening of economic conditions, fall in commodities and/or steel prices and/or financial, business or other factors, many of which are beyond our control, may adversely and materially affect our cash flow which may leave us unable to conduct our capital expenditure plans as necessary or required, which could adversely affect our operating facilities and ability to comply with applicable regulations.

Most of our existing borrowings are from Russian and international banks and financial institutions, as well as through Russian ruble bonds. In the future we may also seek to access international capital markets. It is possible that these sources of financing may not be available in the future in the amounts we may require or may be expensive and/or contain overly onerous terms. International credit markets have experienced, and may continue to experience, high volatility and severe liquidity disruptions stemming from the effects of the international financial and economic crisis starting in 2008 and the related global economic slowdown, including the European sovereign debt crisis. These and other related events have had a significant impact on the global financial and capital markets, and we may not be able to diversify our funding sources. Increased funding costs or greater difficulty in diversifying our funding sources may negatively impact our ability to sufficiently finance our capital investment program, which might have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. See “— Risks Relating to the Russian Federation — Emerging markets such as Russia are subject to greater risks than more developed markets, and financial turmoil in developed or other emerging markets could cause the value of our shares and ADSs to fluctuate widely” and “— Risks Relating to the Russian Federation — Economic risks — The Russian banking system is still developing, and another banking crisis could place severe liquidity constraints on our business.”

We faced a liquidity shortage during the global financial crisis and the resulting global economic slowdown.

As a result of the economic downturn and a sharp decline in demand and prices for our products starting from August 2008 and continuing into the first half of 2009, as well as due to a substantial increase in our total indebtedness in 2007 and early 2008 which was incurred mostly for the acquisition of Yakutugol in 2007 and Oriel Resources in 2008, we experienced a liquidity shortage in late 2008 and early 2009. Since we had significant debt that we did not have the ability to repay without refinancing or restructuring, and our ability to do so was dependent upon cooperation from our lenders, there was substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern as of June 1, 2009. From late 2008 through 2009, we obtained significant loans from Russian state-owned banks, restructured and refinanced our credit facilities used to finance the acquisitions of Oriel Resources and Yakutugol and issued Russian ruble bonds. During the period of 2010-2012, we further refinanced our credit facilities with syndicated pre-export credit facilities, obtained loans from Russian state-controlled banks and issued Russian ruble bonds. Our indebtedness increased during 2010 and 2011 due to financing of the substantial investment program of our subsidiaries (including the construction of the universal rail and structural rolling mill at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, the construction of the Elga rail line and development of the Elga coal deposit at Yakutugol) and financing of the increased level of inventories, primarily, due to expansion of Mechel Service Global’s business. As of December 31, 2012, our total indebtedness was $9,390.2 million, a decrease of $6.7 million from December 31, 2011. Short-term portion of our total indebtedness was $1,460.8 million as of December 31, 2012 as compared to $2,651.4 million as of December 31, 2011. Working capital decreased to $421.1 million as of December 31, 2012 as compared to $1,333.4 million as of December 31, 2011. We expect operating cash flows, additional borrowings and proceeds from the divestment of non-strategic assets to provide source of funds in 2013 for debt servicing and refinancing and capital expenditures. Our ability to incur additional debt, however, is limited by our restrictive covenants. We have also engaged in the refinancing of our debt portfolio with longer term debt and reducing the capital expenditure program. See “— We have a substantial amount of

 

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outstanding indebtedness” and “— We will require a significant amount of cash to fund our capital investment program.” These measures, if successful, should reduce the risk of facing a liquidity shortage in the medium term as well as allow us to reduce our indebtedness over time.

In August 2012, Moody’s Investors Service changed our corporate family rating to B2 from B1 and changed the outlook on the rating to stable. The rationale for rating downgrade was our high leverage, downward pressure on coking coal and iron ore prices and softening of the global demand. In March 2013, Moody’s Investors Service further revisited and downgraded our rating to B3 and changed the outlook to negative because of low coking coal prices as well as our impending breach of financial covenants in our loan agreements and uncertainties surrounding their renegotiation. We renegotiated our loan agreements in March through April 2013. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Restrictive Covenants” and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Description of Certain Indebtedness.” Any change of our rating may reduce our opportunities to raise necessary debt financing as well as negatively impact the terms of such financing.

Any deterioration in our operating performance, including due to any worsening of prevailing economic conditions, fall in commodities and steel prices (whether due to the cyclical nature of the industry or otherwise) and/or financial, business or other factors, many of which are beyond our control, may adversely and materially affect our cash flow, liquidity and working capital position and may result in an increase in our working capital deficit and in us being unable to meet our obligations as they fall due. If such a situation were to occur, we may be required to further refinance our existing debt and/or to seek additional capital. There is no guarantee that we would be successful in refinancing our debt or in raising additional capital, or that we would be able to do so on a timely basis or on terms which are acceptable to us. Even if we were successful, the terms of such refinancing or new capital may be detrimental to holders of ADSs and shares. If significant economic slowdown were to continue, we could face a liquidity shortage and breach our restrictive covenants, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Inflation could increase our costs and decrease operating margins.

In 2012, 2011 and 2010 the inflation rate in Russia was 6.6%, 6.1% and 8.8%, respectively, according to the Russian Federal State Statistics Service (“Rosstat”). As we tend to experience inflation-driven increases in certain of our ruble-denominated costs, including salaries, rents and fuel and energy costs, which are sensitive to rises in the general price level in Russia, our costs in U.S. dollar terms will rise, assuming the ruble-to-dollar exchange rate remains constant. See “— Changes in the exchange rate of the ruble against the U.S. dollar may materially adversely affect our results of operations.” In this situation, due to competitive pressures, we may not be able to raise the prices we charge for our products sufficiently to preserve operating margins. Accordingly, inflation in Russia could increase our costs and have the effect of decreasing operating margins.

Any material change in our commercial dealings with, non-repayment of a loan by, or loss of accounts receivable from or prepayments to, certain related parties could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

From late 2009 to present, we have been working closely with certain Russian and foreign metallurgical plants and trading companies, which are disclosed as related parties in our U.S. GAAP financial statements (the “related metallurgical plants”). See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions — Transactions with related metallurgical plants” and “— Transactions with Metallurg-Trust.” We work on a commercial basis with these companies, supplying raw materials to them and purchasing their products pursuant to short-term supply and purchase contracts. Revenues from sales to these companies amounted to $751.2 million and $842.0 million in the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Purchases from these companies amounted to $874.6 million and $1,557.2 million in the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Revenues from re-sales of products purchased from these companies to third parties amounted to $1,260.8 million and $1,293.5 million in the years ended December 31, 2012 and

 

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2011, respectively. Substantially all of the revenues from sales to, and revenues from re-sales of products purchased from, these companies were in the steel segment. In the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, these revenues represented 29.6% and 29.8%, respectively, of our group’s total steel segment revenues. As of December 31, 2012, trade accounts receivable and other accounts receivable from these companies totaled $253.1 million, with credit terms varying from 30 to 180 days. In addition, as of December 31, 2012, prepayments to these companies totaled $187.0 million. We also have a large additional trading exposure to the related metallurgical plants and Metallurg-Trust OOO (“Metallurg-Trust”), a trading company mostly involved in supplying raw materials and semi-finished products to the Russian related metallurgical plants and reselling products produced by these plants. This additional trading exposure amounted to $440.1 million as of December 31, 2012. We closely monitor our balances with these companies, including our trade accounts payable to them. As of December 31, 2012, we created allowances in the total amount of $176.4 million against the accounts receivable and prepayments from these companies. The allowance for doubtful accounts may be increased in the future based on revised estimates of the management.

In November 2011, the owners of the related metallurgical plants (“Estar Group”) entered into an agreement with us pursuant to which $944.5 million of debt, mostly consisting of accounts receivable owed to us by the Estar Group, was restructured into a loan agreement (the “Estar Loan Agreement”). The Estar Loan Agreement was secured by a pledge of shares in the major related metallurgical plants and/or their parent companies, as well as by suretyships from the related metallurgical plants and/or their parent companies. In September 2012, we extended the term of the loan for additional nine months until June 2013, reducing the amount of the loan to $876 million.

Following our strategy to expand our sales network and decrease the production costs for steel products, in September 2012 we acquired a 100% stake in Cognor Stahlhandel, a metallurgical trader, and in November 2012 we acquired a 100% stake in Lomprom Rostov, a scrap collecting and processing company. Both entities formed part of pledged assets under the Estar Loan Agreement. Upon the acquisitions, the loan under the Estar Loan Agreement was partially repaid and reduced to $731 million. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions — Transactions with related metallurgical plants” and “— Transactions with Metallurg-Trust” and note 9 to the consolidated financial statements.

As of December 31, 2012, we evaluated the recoverability of the balances due from the related metallurgical plants and the Estar Group based on the fair value of the pledged assets which we determined to be negligible. This resulted in a $896.4 million provision for amounts due from related parties recorded for the year ended December 31, 2012. The main reason for the deterioration in value was negative trends in macroeconomic conditions which adversely affected the performance of the related metallurgical plants.

Increased levels of indebtedness and restrictions on equity financings may limit our access to capital, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We expect bank loans will continue to be a major source of financing in the near future. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Liquidity and Capital Resources — Capital resources.” Among other things, increased levels of indebtedness, particularly the restrictive financial covenants in our credit facilities, could potentially: (1) limit our ability to raise capital through debt financing; (2) limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in the markets in which we compete; (3) disadvantage our group relative to our competitors with superior financial resources; (4) lead to a loss of collateral pledged as security; (5) render us more vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions; (6) require us to dedicate all or a substantial part of our cash flow to service our debt; and (7) limit or eliminate our ability to pay dividends. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Restrictive Covenants.” We will also follow the market situation with the view to raise funding in international debt and equity markets.

In addition, Russian companies are limited in their ability to place shares in circulation outside of Russia, including in the form of depositary receipts such as our common American Depositary Shares (“common ADSs”) and our global depositary shares representing our common shares (“GDSs”), as well as our preferred

 

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American Depositary Shares representing our preferred shares (“preferred ADSs”, the common ADSs and the preferred ADSs together referred to as “ADSs”) due to Russian securities regulations. We have received permission from the Russian Federal Financial Markets Service (“FFMS”) for up to 40% of our common shares to be circulated abroad through depositary receipt programs, which was the maximum amount allowed at that time. Later we also received FFMS permission for a total of 41,627,074 preferred shares to be circulated through depositary receipt programs, representing 30% of the total number of issued preferred shares, which was the maximum amount allowed at that time. Over the last few years, this limit has been gradually reduced by the FFMS. Current regulations provide that no more than 25%, 15% or 5% of the total number of outstanding shares of a certain class may be placed or circulated outside the Russian Federation depending on the company’s listing status on a Russian stock exchange (“A”, “B” or “V” and “I”). Our common and preferred shares have a listing status “A-1” on Closed Joint Stock Company MICEX Stock Exchange (“MICEX”). It is unclear whether the FFMS’s approvals of higher amounts prior to the establishment of these lower limits will be allowed to remain in place. Our common ADSs and GDSs together currently account for approximately 35% of our common shares, and accordingly we believe we cannot raise additional equity financing through placement of common shares in the form of depositary receipts. If the current limits are enforced Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the “depositary”) may be forced to cancel some of our common ADSs and GDSs and deliver a corresponding number of the underlying common shares to holders of common ADSs or GDSs. The Russian government or its agencies may also impose other restrictions on international financings by Russian issuers. In light of on-going reform of the Russian securities market (see — “Risks Relating to Our Shares and the Trading Market — Upon introduction of a new system of recording the depositary’s rights to the shares underlying depositary receipts, the depositary may be required to disclose information on ADS and GDS owners in order to exercise voting rights and receive dividends with respect to the shares underlying ADSs and GDSs”), the FFMS is considering allowing an issuer to have up to 100% of common or preferred shares to be circulated outside Russia. The draft order is currently under consideration, and we cannot predict when and in what format the new regulation will be adopted.

Any of the foregoing factors may limit our access to capital and harm our competitive position. If we cannot obtain adequate capital, we may not be able to fund our capital investment program and implement our business strategy.

Changes in the exchange rate of the ruble against the U.S. dollar may materially adversely affect our results of operations.

A majority of our sales are denominated in U.S. dollars, whereas the majority of our direct costs are incurred in rubles. Depreciation in real terms of the ruble against the U.S. dollar may result in a decrease in our costs relative to our revenues. Conversely, appreciation in real terms of the ruble against the U.S. dollar may materially adversely affect our results of operations if the prices we are able to charge for our products do not increase sufficiently to compensate for the increase in real terms in our ruble-denominated expenditures. In 2012, the ruble depreciated in real terms against the U.S. dollar by 2.7% as compared with 2011, according to the CBR.

Limitations on the conversion of rubles into foreign currencies in Russia could cause us to default on our obligations.

Much of our indebtedness and our major capital expenditures are denominated and payable in various foreign currencies, including the U.S. dollar and euro. Russian legislation currently permits the conversion of ruble revenues into foreign currency without limitation. However, if the Russian authorities impose limitations on the convertibility of the ruble or other restrictions on operations with rubles and foreign currencies in the event of an economic crisis or otherwise, there may be delays or other difficulties in converting rubles into foreign currency to make a payment or delays in or restrictions on the transfer of foreign currency. This, in turn, could limit our ability to meet our payment and debt obligations, which could result in the loss of suppliers, acceleration of debt obligations and cross-defaults and, consequently, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

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Our business could be materially adversely affected if creditors of certain of our subsidiaries accelerate their debt.

We have merged and intend to continue to merge certain subsidiaries for operational reasons from time to time. Under Russian law, such mergers are considered to be a reorganization and the merged subsidiaries are required to publish the information regarding this reorganization twice with a monthly interval. Russian law also provides that, for a period of 30 days after date of latest publication, the creditors of merging subsidiaries have a right to file a claim seeking acceleration of the reorganized subsidiaries’ indebtedness and demand reimbursement for applicable losses, however, the court may not accept such a claim against subsidiaries existing in the form of an open joint-stock company if it concludes that the creditor had adequate security. In the event that we undertake any such merger and all or part of our subsidiaries’ indebtedness is accelerated, we and such subsidiaries may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary for repayment, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We may incur impairments to goodwill or other long-lived assets which could negatively affect our future profits.

At each reporting date, we review the carrying value of our long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, investments, goodwill, licenses to use mineral reserves (inclusive of capitalized costs related to asset retirement obligations and value beyond proven and probable reserves), and intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be fully recoverable.

Recoverability of long-lived assets, excluding goodwill, is assessed by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset (or the group of assets, including the asset in question, that represents the lowest level of separately-identifiable cash flows) to the total estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or group of assets. If the estimated future net undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset or group of assets, the asset or group of assets is considered impaired and impairment charge is recognized equal to the amount required to reduce the carrying amount of the asset or group of assets to their fair value.

Fair value is determined by discounting the cash flows expected to be generated by the asset, when the quoted market prices are not available for the long-lived assets. Estimated future cash flows are based on our assumptions and are subject to risk and uncertainty that are considered in the discount rate applied in the goodwill impairment testing. For assets and groups of assets relating to and including the licenses to use mineral reserves, future cash flows include estimates of recoverable minerals that will be obtained from proven and probable reserves and estimated value beyond proven and probable mineral reserves, mineral prices (considering current and historical prices, price trends and other related factors), production levels, capital and reclamation costs, all based on the life of mine models prepared by our engineers. Our reporting units with goodwill allocated for the testing purposes represent single entities with one component of business in each case.

Goodwill is assessed for impairment by using the fair value based method. We determine fair value by utilizing discounted cash flows. Goodwill is tested for impairment in two steps. Under the first step we compare the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value. If the fair value is less than the carrying value, goodwill is impaired. Under the second step the amount of goodwill impairment is measured by the amount that the reporting unit’s goodwill carrying value exceeds the implied fair value of goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill can only be determined by deducting the fair value of all tangible and intangible net assets (including unrecognized intangible assets) of the reporting unit from the fair value of the reporting unit (as determined in the first step). In this step, the fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to all of the reporting unit’s assets and liabilities (a hypothetical purchase price allocation). If goodwill and another asset (or asset group) of a reporting unit are tested for impairment at the same time, the other asset (or asset group) shall be tested for impairment before goodwill. If the asset group was impaired, the impairment loss would be recognized prior to goodwill being tested for impairment.

 

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When performing impairment tests, we use assumptions that include estimates regarding the discount rates, growth rates and expected changes in selling prices, sales volumes and operating costs, as well as capital expenditures and working capital requirements during the forecasted period. We estimate discount rates using after-tax rates that reflect current market rates for investments of similar risk. The growth rates are based on our growth forecasts, which are largely in line with industry trends. Changes in selling prices and direct costs are based on historical experience and expectations of future changes in the market.

Based on the results of the impairment analysis of long-lived assets, including definite-lived intangibles and goodwill we performed during the year ended December 31, 2012, an impairment loss of $707.9 million was recognized. This amount includes both impairment of goodwill of $368.9 million and long-lived assets of $339.0 million recognized in steel and ferroalloys segments as shown in the tables below:

 

Company

   Segment    Impairment Loss of
Goodwill as for the
Year Ended

December 31, 2012
 
          (In millions of U.S. dollars)  

Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant

   Steel      205.5   

Ductil Steel

   Steel      92.4   

Cognor Stahlhandel

   Steel      62.1   

Southern Urals Nickel Plant

   Ferroalloys      7.0   

Mechel Nemunas

   Steel      1.9   
     

 

 

 

Total

        368.9   
     

 

 

 

 

Company

   Segment    Impairment Loss of
Long-lived Assets as for the
Year Ended

December 31, 2012
 
          (In millions of U.S. dollars)  

Ductil Steel

   Steel      115.2   

Southern Urals Nickel Plant

   Ferroalloys      94.3   

Mechel Targoviste

   Steel      48.8   

Laminorul Plant

   Steel      29.9   

Kazakhstansky Nickel Mining Company

   Ferroalloys      22.7   

Mechel Campia Turzii

   Steel      19.7   

Mechel Nemunas

   Steel      8.4   
     

 

 

 

Total

        339.0   
     

 

 

 

The amount of goodwill on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2012 that is subject to impairment analysis in the future is $798.8 million or 4.5% of our total assets. This amount includes goodwill of Kuzbass Power Sales Company of $64.1 million the fair value of which was only 2.0% over its carrying value as of December 31, 2012. See note 23 to the consolidated financial statements.

We continue to monitor relevant circumstances, including consumer levels, general economic conditions and market prices for our products, and the potential impact that such circumstances might have on the valuation of our goodwill and long-lived assets. It is possible that changes in such circumstances, or in the numerous variables associated with our judgments, assumptions and estimates made in assessing the appropriate valuation of goodwill and recoverability other long-lived assets, could in the future require us to further reduce our goodwill and other long-lived assets and record related non-cash impairment charges. If we are required to record additional impairment charges, this could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations or financial position.

 

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We had in the past a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, and we make no assurances that any material weaknesses will not be identified in the future.

In the past management identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as defined in the Exchange Act Rule 12b-2 and Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X that affected our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011. The material weakness is described in “Item 15. Controls and Procedures.” Due to the effect of this material weakness, our auditors opined that we did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Our auditors also opined that we did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of each of December 31, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 due to the effect of the material weaknesses identified as of those dates.

The material weakness that was previously disclosed as of December 31, 2011 was remediated as of December 31, 2012. See “Item 15. Controls and Procedures — Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting” and “— Remediation Activities and Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting” for a description of the material weakness that was reported as a result of the company’s annual assessment as of December 31, 2011 and remediation of that material weakness. We implemented and executed our remediation plan, and as of December 31, 2012 our remediation plan activities were tested and the material weakness was considered remediated. However, we cannot assure you that no material weakness or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting will be identified in the future. If such weakness or deficiencies are identified, it could result in errors in our financial statements that could result in a restatement of financial statements, cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations and cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, leading to a decline in the market price of our shares and ADSs.

Given the competition for qualified accounting personnel in Russia, we may be unable to retain our key accounting staff, which could disrupt our ability to timely and accurately report U.S. GAAP financial information.

Our subsidiaries maintain their books and records in local currencies and prepare accounting reports in accordance with local accounting principles and practices. In particular, each of our Russian subsidiaries maintains its books in rubles and prepares separate unconsolidated financial statements in accordance with Russian accounting standards. For every reporting period, we translate, adjust and combine these Russian statutory financial statements to prepare consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. This is a time-consuming task requiring us to have accounting personnel experienced in internationally accepted accounting standards. We believe there is a shortage in Russia of experienced accounting personnel with knowledge of internationally accepted accounting standards. Moreover, there is an increasing demand for such personnel as more Russian companies are beginning to prepare financial statements on the basis of internationally accepted accounting standards. Such competition makes it difficult for us to hire and retain such personnel, and our key accounting staff may leave us.

Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry

We operate in cyclical industries, and any local or global downturn, whether or not primarily affecting the mining and/or steel industries, may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Our mining segment sells coal (metallurgical and steam), iron ore and coke. These commodities are traded in markets throughout the world and are influenced by various factors beyond our control, such as global economic cycles and economic growth rates. Prices of these products have varied significantly in the past and could vary significantly in the future.

Our steel segment sells steel products, including semi-finished products, carbon and special steel long products, carbon and stainless flat products, wire products, forgings and stampings and others. The steel industry

 

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is highly cyclical in nature because the industries in which steel customers operate are subject to changes in general economic conditions. The demand for steel products thus generally correlates to macroeconomic fluctuations in the economies in which steel producers sell products, as well as in the global economy. The prices of steel products are influenced by many factors, including demand, worldwide production capacity, capacity-utilization rates, raw materials costs, exchange rates, trade barriers and improvements in steel-making processes. Steel prices have experienced, and in the future may experience, significant fluctuations as a result of these and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.

Our ferroalloys segment sells ferronickel, ferrosilicon and ferrochrome. These ferroalloy products are primarily used in the manufacture of steel. Thus, market demand for our ferroalloy products is very closely linked with the market for steel and generally follows the cycles of the steel industry.

Our power segment generates and supplies electricity. Power demand in Russia depends on its consumption by the industrial sector. In Russia, the steel and mining industries are major consumers of power and the recent declines in production by steel and mining companies has impacted demand for power. Therefore, the market demand for the power produced by our power segment is affected by many of the same factors and cycles that affect our mining and metals businesses. Due to government price regulation and the current shortage of power generation capacity in Russia, reduced demand for power has not impacted power prices. However, as Russian regulated power prices are set in rubles, if power prices are not increased steadily they may decline on a real dollar basis when ruble devaluation and inflation are taken into account.

As a result of the 2008 global economic downturn the demand and prices for our products sharply declined. The recent worldwide slowdown has had, and the European sovereign debt crisis and the continuing uncertainty as to economic recovery may have, adverse consequences for our customers and our business.

Prices for our products, including coal, iron ore, metals and power, as well as the prices of coal, iron ore, ferroalloys, power and natural gas and other commodities and materials we purchase from third parties for the production of our products, fluctuate substantially over relatively short periods of time and expose us to commodity price risk. We do not use options, derivatives or swaps to manage commodity price risk. We use our vertically integrated business model and intersegment sales, as well as short-term and long-term purchase and sales contracts with third party suppliers and customers, to manage such risk. In addition, the length and pricing terms of our sales contracts on certain types of products are affected and regulated by orders issued by Russian antimonopoly authorities. In particular, pursuant to a directive issued to us by the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service (“FAS”) in August 2008, we entered into long-term contracts for supply of certain grades of our coking coal with a formula of price calculation and with fixed volumes for the entire period of the contract. See “—Antimonopoly regulation could lead to sanctions with respect to the subsidiaries we have acquired or established or our prices, sales volumes and business practices.” Terms of sales of other types of our products may also be affected by regulations of the authorities. We cannot assure you that our strategies and contracting practices will be successful in managing our pricing risk or that they will not result in liabilities. If our strategies to manage commodity price risk and the impact of business cycles and fluctuations in demand are not successful, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

The steel, mining and ferroalloys industries are highly competitive, and we may not be able to compete successfully.

We face competition from Russian and international steel and ferroalloys manufacturers and mining companies. Recent consolidation in the steel and mining sectors globally has also led to the creation of several large producers, some of which have greater financial resources and more modern facilities than ourselves. We also face price-based competition from producers in emerging market countries, including, in particular, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Increased competition could result in more competitive pricing and reduce our operating margins.

 

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Our competitiveness is based in part on our operations in Russia and other former Eastern Bloc countries having a lower cost of production than competitors in higher-cost locations. We have been facing a consistent upward trend in the past several years in production costs, particularly with respect to wages and transportation. For example, our rail transportation costs increased consistently during the last three years with rail tariff increases of 9.4% in 2010, 8.0% in 2011 and 6.0% in 2012. See “— Recent and potential developments in the Russian rail transportation sector expose us to uncertainties regarding transportation costs of raw materials and steel products,” “— Increasing costs of electricity, natural gas and labor could materially adversely affect our operating margins” and “— Inflation could increase our costs and decrease operating margins.” If these production costs continue to increase in the jurisdictions in which we operate, our competitive advantage will be diminished, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Terrorist attacks and threats, escalation of military activity, as well as massive cyber attacks or incidents, and government regulation in response to such attacks or acts of war may negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Terrorist attacks and threats, escalation of military activity, as well as massive cyber attacks or incidents, and an increase in government regulation in response to such attacks or acts of war may negatively affect our business. There could be delays or losses in transportation and deliveries of our products to our customers, increased government regulation and decreased sales due to disruptions in the businesses of our customers. It is possible that any such occurrences could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Changes in our estimates of reserves or failure to implement mine development plans could result in lower than expected revenues, higher than expected costs or decreased operating margins.

We base our reserve information on engineering, economic and geological data assembled and analyzed by our staff, which includes various engineers and geologists, and which is reviewed by independent mining engineers only periodically, approximately once in three years. The reserve estimates as to both quantity and quality are periodically updated to reflect production from the reserves and new drilling, engineering or other data received. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities and qualities of and costs to mine recoverable reserves, including many factors beyond our control. Estimates of economically recoverable reserves and net cash flows necessarily depend upon a number of variable factors and assumptions, such as geological and mining conditions which may not be fully identified by available exploration data or which may differ from our experience in current operations, projected rates of production in the future, historical production from the area compared with production from other similar producing areas, the assumed effects of regulation and taxes by governmental agencies and assumptions concerning prices, operating costs, mining technology improvements, severance and excise tax, development costs and reclamation costs, all of which may vary considerably from actual results. In addition, it may take many years from the initial phase of drilling before production is possible. During that time, the economic feasibility of exploiting a discovery may change as a result of changes in the market price of the relevant commodity. Mine development plans may have to be revised due to geological and mining conditions and other factors described above, as well as due to shortages in capital funding. Our planned development projects also may not result in significant additional reserves and we may not have continuing success developing new mines or expanding existing mines beyond our existing reserves. In addition, we have not yet applied for all of the permits required, or constructed the mines necessary, to use all of our U.S. reserves. We may be unable to obtain such permits. Some of these permits are becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to obtain and the authorization process continues to lengthen.

The financial performance of our mining segment depends substantially on our ability to mine coal reserves that have the geological characteristics that enable them to be mined at competitive costs and to meet the quality needed by our customers. Actual tonnage recovered from identified reserve areas or properties and revenues and expenditures with respect to our reserves may vary materially from estimates. Replacement reserves may not be

 

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available when required or, if available, may not be capable of being mined at costs comparable to those characteristic of the depleting mines. Our ability to obtain other reserves through acquisitions in the future could be limited by restrictions under our existing or future debt agreements, competition from other mining companies for attractive properties, the lack of suitable acquisition candidates or the inability to acquire mining properties on commercially reasonable terms. Furthermore, we may not be able to mine all of our reserves as profitably as we do at our current operations due to increases in wages, power and fuel prices and other factors.

Therefore, changes in our estimates of reserves or failure to implement mine development plans could result in lower than expected revenues, higher than expected costs or decreased operating margins.

The calculation of reserves and the development of the Elga coal deposit are subject to certain risks due to the license obligations and capital costs involved in developing the required infrastructure.

There are a number of significant risks associated with the greenfield development of the Elga coal deposit. These risks have the potential to impact the project’s legal or economic viability, including the calculation of reserves. Key risks that have been identified include the following: (1) the subsoil license for the Elga coal deposit could be suspended or terminated if construction deadlines and operational milestones are not met or we could be required to extend the license under less favorable terms; (2) the economic viability of the project is dependent upon the full use of the rail line; (3) the project requires significant capital expenditures to develop the required infrastructure and increases in planned capital and operating costs could make the project uneconomical because of the project’s sensitivity to these costs; (4) the project is very sensitive to market prices for coal because of the high initial capital costs; and (5) the insufficient capacity of ports in the Russian Far East where the Elga deposit is located may limit the distribution of coal mined at the Elga deposit. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — Mining Segment — Coal production — Yakutugol mines.” In addition, capital expenditures for the rail line were not considered in the calculation of reserves estimates as we do not plan to use the rail line solely for delivery of coal from the Elga deposit. The realization of any of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Successful implementation of our strategy to expand our special steel long products sales and coal sales depends on our ability to increase our export sales of these products.

While we expect continued growth of demand in the Russian market for special steel long products, our strategy to expand these sales substantially is dependent on our ability to increase our exports of these products to other countries. We face a number of obstacles to this strategy, including oversupply and low demand, trade barriers and sales and distribution challenges, as well as restrictions imposed by antimonopoly legislation and regulatory orders. See “Item 8. Financial Information — Litigation — Antimonopoly.”

Likewise, our strategy to increase our sales of coal, particularly high-grade coking coal, is substantially dependent on our ability to increase our exports of these products through ports in the Russian Far East to other countries, particularly Japan, China, South Korea and other Pacific Rim countries.

Currently, key ports in the Russian Far East have limited cargo handling capacity, lack adequate port facilities and have old and worn-out equipment. In particular, the limited capacity of the railways connecting to these ports is a critical impediment to the further development of port infrastructure and the entire transportation system in the Russian Far East. Existing railway sections must be reconstructed, the logistics structure improved and the actions of the cargo owners, the ports’ management and Russian Railways, an open joint-stock company wholly owned by the Russian government, must be better coordinated. Increasing the capacity of the ports in the Russian Far East is one of the key issues identified in the Transportation Strategy of the Russian Federation. In addition, major track repairs by Russian Railways in the summer months result in restriction on cargo volumes and delays.

 

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In particular, the current annual capacity of the Baikal-Amur Mainline to which our Elga deposit is connected by our private rail line, is 16.5 million tonnes, which will need to expand substantially to meet our needs when Elga Open Pit reaches its full planned annual production capacity of 20.0 million tonnes of saleable coal by 2023. Russian Railways plans to double the capacity of the Baikal-Amur Mainline by 2020 as well as increase capacity of the Komsomolsk-on-Amur — Sovetskaya Gavan segment, which connects the Baikal-Amur Mainline to Port Vanino, to 35.9 million tonnes per annum. However, this increase may not be sufficient as third party users of rail lines may also substantially increase their cargo volumes on the Baikal-Amur Mainline. We cannot guarantee that these development projects by Russian Railways will proceed according to current plans. In addition, there is acute competition among Russian coal exporters for existing port capacity. In light of this shortage, Russian coal producers have endeavored to acquire ports or separate terminals to ensure the export of their products.

Our ability to increase coking coal export volumes is also limited by requirements to first satisfy Russian domestic coal demand, pursuant to a FAS directive issued to us in August 2008. See “— Antimonopoly regulation could lead to sanctions with respect to the subsidiaries we have acquired or established or our prices, sales volumes and business practices.” A failure to successfully manage the obstacles and tasks involved in the implementation of our export sales expansion strategy could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Changes in our subsidiaries’ management and corporate governance might affect our integrated business model.

While we intend to continue to operate as an integrated business, if and when listing of shares takes place in respect of the subsidiary holding companies we have formed or intend to form to consolidate our mining and steel assets, changes to the management structure of such subsidiary holding companies and/or the assets consolidated within them may be made in preparation for listing. In such cases, the subsidiary’s directors and management would operate the business of such subsidiary, in accordance with applicable law, for the benefit of all shareholders, including minority shareholders, if any. In the past, we have considered to list some of our subsidiary holding companies and may do so in the future.

Companies listed on stock exchanges have to comply with certain corporate governance requirements. We generally consider applying higher corporate governance standards and improving our management practices, including appointment of independent directors, at some of our subsidiaries. In particular, a number of directors on the board of directors of Mechel Mining which are independent under applicable Russian regulations has increased, and now they constitute the majority of the board. These and other changes in the future may result in decision-making by the directors and management of such subsidiaries, including with respect to payment of dividends, that may not be consistent with our current integrated business model. As our integrated business model is important to our strategy, changes in decision-making by our subsidiaries’ directors and management may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

In the event the title to any company we acquired is successfully challenged, we risk losing our ownership interest in that company or its assets.

Almost all of our Russian assets consist of companies formed during the course of Russian privatizations in the 1990s and early 2000s, and our business strategy will likely involve the acquisition of additional privatized companies. In particular, Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and the other mining companies which were subsequently merged into Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, as well as Korshunov Mining Plant and Moscow Coke and Gas Plant, were privatized in the early 1990s. Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant was also privatized in the early 1990s. Elgaugol was privatized in 1998 and Yakutugol was privatized in 2002. In general, we acquired shares in these companies from third parties after their respective privatizations, except for a 25%+1 share stake in Yakutugol, which was acquired pursuant to a state auction in 2005. We acquired the remaining stake in

 

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Yakutugol and a 68.86% stake in Elgaugol in 2007 from two state-owned companies in a tender process. After the acquisition, the Elga subsoil license was transferred from Elgaugol to Yakutugol in March 2008 and Elgaugol was liquidated in September 2009.

The Russian statute of limitations for challenging privatization transactions is three years. However, because Russian privatization legislation is vague, internally inconsistent and in conflict with other legislation, including conflicts between federal and local privatization legislation, and the statute of limitations for challenging certain actions related to privatization may be argued to begin to run only upon the discovery of a violation, many privatizations are vulnerable to challenge. In the event that any title to, or our ownership stakes in, any of the privatized companies acquired by us is subject to challenge as having been improperly privatized and we are unable to defeat this claim, we risk losing our ownership interest in the company or its assets, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

In addition, under Russian and Kazakh law, transactions in shares may be invalidated on many grounds, including a sale of shares by a person without the right to dispose of such shares, breach of interested party and/or major transaction rules and/or the terms of transaction approvals issued by government authorities, or failure to register the share transfer in the securities register. As a result, defects in earlier transactions with shares of our subsidiaries (where such shares were acquired from third parties) may cause our title to such shares to be subject to challenge.

Our business could be adversely affected if we fail to obtain or extend necessary subsoil licenses and mining and other permits or fail to comply with the terms of our subsoil licenses and mining and other permits.

Our business depends on the continuing validity of our subsoil licenses and the issuance of new and extended subsoil licenses and our compliance with the terms thereof. In particular, in estimating our reserves, we have assumed that we will be able to renew our Russian subsoil licenses as and when necessary in the ordinary course of business so that we will be able to exploit the resources under such licenses for the operational life of the relevant subsoil plot. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — Regulatory Matters — Subsoil Licensing in Russia — Extension of licenses” and “— Mining Segment — Mineral reserves (coal, iron ore and limestone).” However, license extension is subject to the licensee being in compliance with the terms of the license. Our experience with license extensions and publicly available information about current market practice and available court practice suggest that regulatory authorities tend to focus on such terms of the license as production levels, operational milestones and license payments, which are considered to be material terms of the license. Nevertheless, there is no assurance that this approach will be consistently applied by the regulatory authorities and the courts and that there will be no changes to this approach in the future. Regulatory authorities exercise considerable discretion in the timing of license issuance, extension of licenses and monitoring licensees’ compliance with license terms. Subsoil licenses and related agreements typically contain certain environmental, safety and production commitments. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — Regulatory Matters — Subsoil Licensing in Russia — Maintenance and termination of licenses.” If regulatory authorities determine that we have violated the material terms of our licenses, it could lead to rejection in license extension or suspension or termination of our subsoil licenses, and to administrative and civil liability. The termination or suspension of certain of our subsoil licenses constitutes an event of default under certain of our credit facilities and loans, and is likely to result in a cross-default in other of our credit facilities and loans. In addition, requirements imposed by relevant authorities may be costly to implement and result in delays in production. Our subsoil licenses expire on dates falling in 2013 through 2037. Our most significant subsoil licenses expire between 2013 and 2024. See the tables setting forth expiry dates of our Russian subsoil licenses in “Item 4. Information on the Company — Mining Segment” and reserves information. Accordingly, these factors may seriously impair our ability to operate our business and realize our reserves which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We are currently in compliance with the material terms of our Russian subsoil licenses, except for the following. We failed to commence coal production at the Raspadsk license area (part of Olzherassky Open Pit)

 

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and the Sorokinsk license area (part of Krasnogorsky Open Pit) in 2009 due to unfavorable economic conditions, but expect to commence such production at the Raspadsk license area in the second quarter of 2013. In February 2012, we commenced production at the Sorokinsk license area. In addition, we commenced the development of the coal deposits at the Yerunakovsk-1, Yerunakovsk-2 and Yerunakovsk-3 license areas, but failed to commence commercial production at these license areas in 2011. Moreover, we cannot fully develop the deposit at the Yerunakovsk-3 license area due to the presence of a third-party sludge pond in this area. The Yerunakovsk-2 and Yerunakovsk-3 license areas are not counted for the purposes of our coal reserves.

In the course of inspections conducted in November 2011 and April and March 2012, the Russian Federal Service for the Supervision of Natural Resources (“Rosprirodnadzor”) discovered certain violations of the terms of subsoil licenses held by Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and Yakutugol. The Federal Agency for Subsoil Use requested that we rectify these violations, and in May and December 2012, we presented reports on measures we had implemented. Our reports were accepted by the Commission for Termination of Subsoil Licenses of the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use (the “Commission for Termination of Subsoil Licenses”) and the Commission for Termination of Subsoil Licenses is not currently considering the termination of subsoil licenses held by Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and Yakutugol. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — Regulatory Matters — Subsoil Licensing in Russia — Maintenance and termination of licenses” and “Item 8. Financial Information — Litigation.”

Our Bluestone operations in the United States are subject to risks relating to mining and other permits required under U.S. federal and state laws. See “— Risks Relating to Other Countries Where We Operate — We must obtain, maintain and comply with numerous U.S. governmental permits and approvals for our operations in the United States, which can be costly and time consuming, and our failure to obtain, renew or comply with necessary permits and approvals could negatively impact our business.” The federal agencies responsible for issuing the necessary permits required to conduct mining operations in the United States have increased their scrutiny of permit applications. This is discussed in greater detail below. This has resulted in the permitting process taking longer and becoming more costly in recent years. In addition, citations for violations of those permits have become more frequent and remediation costs associated with correcting such violations have increased substantially.

Increasing costs of electricity, natural gas and labor could materially adversely affect our operating margins.

In 2012, our Russian operations purchased approximately 6.0 billion kilowatt-hours (“kWh”) of electricity, representing 100% of their needs, at a total cost of $433.3 million, implying an average cost of 7.3 cents per kWh. The restructuring of the Russian power sector that began in 2001 is substantially complete and all government regulation of electricity prices in the wholesale power market, except for the sales to household consumers and similar type of consumers, expired in 2011. This could lead to higher electricity prices. According to information published by the Russian Federal Tariff Service (the “FTS”), the average increase in market prices and tariffs on the retail electricity market was 6.6% in 2012, and is expected to be in the range of 9% to 11% in 2013-2014. Further price increases for electricity may also occur in the future as the power generating companies created in the restructuring are financed by and controlled to a greater extent by the private sector.

Our Russian operations also purchase significant amounts of natural gas, primarily for the production of electricity at our own co-generation facilities, from Novatek OAO (“Novatek”), Russia’s largest independent producer of natural gas, and Gazprom OAO (“Gazprom”), the government-controlled dominant gas producer and the owner of the unified gas supply system of Russia. Domestic natural gas prices are regulated by the Russian government. In 2012, we purchased 2,214.3 million cubic meters of gas at a total cost of $206.5 million. Russian domestic natural gas prices are significantly below Western European levels, which presently helps to provide us with a cost advantage over our competitors, an advantage which is expected to diminish as Russian domestic gas prices approach Western European levels. Starting from the second half of 2012, the FTS set wholesale prices of gas produced by Gazprom for domestic consumers on the territory of the Russian Federation, except for households, in the range of $62.2 to $150.4 per thousand cubic meters, depending on the region of the Russian Federation where the gas is purchased.

 

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Following raw materials used in the production process and energy related costs, our labor costs are the next most significant operational cost. Labor costs in Russia have historically been significantly lower than those in the more developed market economies of North America and Western Europe for similarly skilled employees. However, the average wage in Russia has been rising in recent years. According to Rosstat, after adjusting for inflation, the average wage in the Russian Federation has risen at the annual rate of 7.8%, 2.8% and 5.2% in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Moreover, labor costs in Russia are indexed to and adjusted for inflation. We believe our advantage with respect to our competitors with foreign operations that have historically had to pay higher average wages than those paid in Russia may be reduced.

Higher costs of electricity, natural gas and labor could negatively impact our operating margins, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Recent and potential developments in the Russian rail transportation sector expose us to uncertainties regarding transportation costs of raw materials and steel products.

Railway transportation is our principal means of transporting raw materials and steel products to our facilities and to customers in Russia and abroad. The Russian rail system is controlled by Russian Railways, which is a state-sanctioned monopoly responsible for the management of all Russian railroads. The Russian government sets domestic rail freight prices and the terms of transportation, such as, including, terms related to the type of rolling stock to be used for transportation of certain types of cargo; estimated minimum tonnage for the purposes of determining the applicable tariff and others. These rail freight prices are subject to annual adjustment based on, among other factors, inflation and the funding requirements of Russian Railways’ capital investment program, which is in turn affected by the acute need to upgrade track infrastructure and passenger- and cargo-handling facilities. In addition, the establishment of the Russian Railways’ subsidiaries JSC Freight One and JSC Freight Two and the transfer of 90% of the rolling stock to them, as part of the reform of the Russian rail transportation sector, have led to a significant increase in the cost of use of freight cars. In October 2011, Russian Railways sold 75% minus two of the shares of JSC Freight One through a public auction to a private operator. In November 2012, JSC Freight Two was renamed to JSC Federal Freight.

The most significant railcar owners are JSC Freight One, OJSC Novaya Perevozochnaya Kompaniya, NefteTransService ZAO and JSC Federal Freight. Our cargoes are currently transported in the railcars owned by our subsidiary Mecheltrans or third party railcar owners, mainly to transport coal products and iron ore concentrate. At present, only these third party railcar owners and Russian Railways possess a sufficiently extensive railcar fleet to service our present and future requirements. Mecheltrans works with third party railcar owners to arrange for transportation and forwarding of cargoes with their railcars. In 2012, our freight volume transported by JSC Freight One, OJSC Novaya Perevozochnaya Kompaniya, NefteTransService ZAO and JSC Federal Freight amounted to 9.6 million tonnes, for which we paid $130.6 million.

In 2012, railway tariffs were indexed once, which resulted in a 6.0% tariff increase. With effect from January 1, 2013, all railway tariffs have been increased by an additional 7.0%. If rail freight prices continue to increase, or if there is a disruption in the transportation of our materials and products due to a shortage of available working rolling stock, it could negatively impact our operating margin and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We face certain trade restrictions in the export of certain of our steel and ferroalloy products to the E.U.

The E.U. has imposed antidumping duties on certain of our steel exports. In particular, an antidumping E.U. import duty in the amount of 50.7% was applicable to steel ropes and cables manufactured by our Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant until October 2007. After a review procedure conducted by the E.U. in October 2007, this duty was reduced to 36.2% and imposed for a period of five years. The European Commission has recently initiated an expiry review of the antidumping measures applicable to imports of steel ropes and cables originating in Russia. We cannot predict the outcome of this review and whether the antidumping duty will be renewed.

 

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Our ferroalloys business also faces export restrictions. In February 2008, an antidumping duty in the amount of 17.8% was imposed on exports to the E.U. of ferrosilicon produced by our subsidiary Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant for a period of five years. In February 2013, the European Commission initiated an expiry review of the antidumping measures applicable to imports of ferrosilicon. We cannot predict the outcome of this review and whether the antidumping duty will be renewed.

We may face new trade restrictions in the E.U. and other markets in the future. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — Steel Segment — Trade restrictions” and “Item 4. Information on the Company — Ferroalloys Segment — Trade restrictions.”

We benefit from Russia’s tariffs and duties on imported steel, many of which have been reduced upon Russia’s WTO membership and may be eliminated in the future.

Russia has in place import tariffs with respect to certain imported steel products. These tariffs generally amount to 5-15% of the value of the imports. Almost all of our sales of steel products in Russia were protected by these import tariffs in 2012. The Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation entered into a Customs Union and implemented a Common Customs Tariff, which came into force on January 1, 2010, reducing import duties on stainless rolled products from 15% to 10%. Creation of this Customs Union, as well as other actions and decisions of Russian authorities in respect of tariffs and duties, can lead to further reduction of import duties.

On December 26, 2010, Russia imposed an antidumping duty on corrosion-resistant steel originating in China (including Taiwan), South Korea, Brazil and South Africa at the rate ranging from 4.8% to 62.8% per tonne. This duty is imposed until December 26, 2013 and will benefit our sales on the Russian market while it is in force; elimination of this duty may have negative effect on our sales. Since June 22, 2011, this antidumping duty is valid throughout the Customs Union.

Upon Russia’s entry into the World Trade Organization (“WTO”), the import tariffs and duties of Russia were reduced or eliminated, depending on type of steel products. In particular, according to the WTO accession terms Russian import duties on most types of steel products have been reduced to 5%, causing increased competition in the Russian steel market from foreign producers and exporters.

Our exports to the European Union are subject to REACH regulations.

Chemical substances contained in some of our products, as well as by-products and waste, which we export to or produce in the E.U. are subject to regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 on registration, evaluation, authorization and restrictions of use of chemicals (“REACH”) that entered into force on June 1, 2007. Under REACH, we must provide a registration dossier for such substances to the European Chemical Agency (“ECHA”). In addition, we must provide the information about the registered substances usage and utilization to the competent authorities of the E.U. Member States and downstream users upon request. In accordance with REACH, prior to December 1, 2008, we pre-registered substantially all of the substances that we intended to export to or produce in the E.U. As a next step in accordance with the REACH implementation schedule, prior to December 1, 2010, we registered with the ECHA all of the substances that we export to or produce in the E.U. in an amount over 1,000 tonnes per year, and which are subject to REACH registration. Under REACH, the next registration for substances in the 100 to 1,000 tonnes per year tonnage band is to be completed prior to June 1, 2013. We are in compliance with current REACH requirements and we will have to maintain certain resources to ensure compliance with further developing REACH requirements.

REACH provides for a special authorization regime for substances of high concern, including those that are identified from scientific evidence as causing probable serious effects to humans or the environment on a case-by-case basis. To obtain authorization, a manufacturer of substances of high concern is generally required to demonstrate that the risk from the use of the substance is adequately controlled. All substances under the

 

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authorization regime are subject to restrictions with respect to manufacture, placing on the market or use. The European Commission may amend or withdraw the authorization, even one given for adequate control, if suitable substitutes have become available. Currently, none of our products contain substances which may be subject to the authorization regime. There is no assurance that our products will not be subject to further restrictions or bans if any substance of high concern is detected in our products in excess of statutory thresholds, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

The European Commission has planned several revisions of the REACH Regulation taking place until 2019. Compliance with changes to the existing regulations may lead to increased costs, modifications in operating practices and/or further restrictions affecting our products. Any such changes and/or modifications could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We are subject to mining risks.

Our operations, like those of other mining companies, are subject to all of the hazards and risks normally associated with the exploration, development and production of natural resources, any of which could result in production shortfalls or damage to persons or property.

In particular, hazards associated with our open pit mining operations include, but are not limited to: (1) flooding of the open pit; (2) collapses of the open pit wall; (3) accidents associated with the operation of large open pit mining and rock transportation equipment; (4) accidents associated with the preparation and ignition of large-scale open pit blasting operations; (5) deterioration of production quality due to weather; and (6) hazards associated with the disposal of mineralized waste water, such as groundwater and waterway contamination.

Hazards associated with our underground mining operations include but are not limited to: (1) underground fires and explosions, including those caused by flammable gas; (2) cave-ins or ground falls; (3) discharges of gases and toxic chemicals; (4) flooding; (5) sinkhole formation and ground subsidence; and (6) other accidents and conditions resulting from drilling, blasting and removing and processing material from an underground mine, including due to human error.

We are at risk of experiencing any and all of these hazards. The occurrence of such hazards could delay production, increase production costs, result in injury to persons or death, and damage to property, as well as liability for us. For example, on May 30, 2008, there was a cave-in at V.I. Lenina Underground (which led to suspension of operation for 17 calendar days) and on July 29, 2008 there was a methane flash (which led to suspension of operation for 67 calendar days). Both accidents involved multiple casualties, and the first accident resulted in five fatalities. In 2010 through 2012, there were also a number of occasions of self-heating and spontaneous ignition of coal as well as an increase of coal dust levels each of which resulted in the temporary suspension of mining operations at the longwalls of Sibirginskaya Underground, V.I. Lenina Underground and Olzherasskaya-Novaya Underground. There were no casualties involved in any of these occasions. We have been and are still implementing measures to cure the reasons of these occasions and we are cooperating with the competent governmental authorities, in particular, the Russian Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision (“Rostekhnadzor”).

The risk of occurrence of these hazards is also exacerbated by the significant level of wear of the equipment of our mining enterprises. We are conducting a program of phased replacement and refurbishment of obsolete equipment in order to meet safety requirements at our most hazardous facilities. See “Item 8. Financial Information — Litigation — Environmental and safety.”

Abnormal weather conditions and natural hazards could negatively impact our business.

Our production facilities are located in different climate and weather conditions, and abnormal weather changes and natural hazards could affect their operations. Interruptions in electricity supply and transport

 

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communication could lead to delays in deliveries of raw materials to our production facilities and finished products to consumers, as well as a suspension of production. In addition, the existence of abnormally low temperatures for a long period of time may limit the work of the crane equipment and mining-and-transport equipment. For example, in December 2012 operations at our open pit mines in Russia were suspended for a period of 2 to 7 days due to abnormally low temperatures. Negative impact of such abnormal or extreme climate and weather conditions may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

More stringent environmental laws and regulations or more stringent enforcement or findings that we have violated environmental laws and regulations could result in higher compliance costs and significant fines and penalties, clean-up costs and compensatory damages, or require significant capital investment, or even result in the suspension of our operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operation and prospects.

Our operations and properties are subject to environmental, worker protection and industrial safety and other laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate. For instance, our operations generate large amounts of pollutants and waste, some of which are hazardous, such as benzapiren, sulfur oxide, sulfuric acid, nitrogen ammonium, sulfates, nitrites and phenicols. Some of our operations result in the creation of hazardous sludges, including sludges containing base elements such as chromium, copper, nickel, mercury and zinc. The creation, storage and disposal of such hazardous waste is subject to environmental regulations, including some requiring the clean-up of contamination and reclamation, such as requirements for cleaning up highly hazardous waste oil and iron slag. In addition, pollution risks and related clean-up costs are often impossible to assess unless environmental audits have been performed and the extent of liability under environmental and civil laws is clearly determinable. Furthermore, new and more stringent regulations have been introduced in a number of countries in response to the impacts of climate change. See “— Increased regulations associated with climate change and greenhouse gas emissions may give rise to increased costs and may adversely impact our business and markets.”

Generally, there is a greater awareness in Russia of damage caused to the environment by industry than existed during the Soviet era. At the same time, environmental legislation in Russia is generally weaker and less stringently enforced than in the E.U. or the United States. However, recent Russian government initiatives indicate that Russia will introduce new water, air and soil quality standards and increase its monitoring and fines for non-compliance with environmental rules, and environmental concerns are increasingly being voiced at the local level. See note 25(b) to the consolidated financial statements.

Based on the current regulatory environment in Russia and elsewhere where we conduct our operations, as of December 31, 2012, we have not created any reserves for environmental liabilities and compliance costs, other than an accrual in the amount of $49.9 million for asset retirement obligations. Any change in this regulatory environment could result in actual costs and liabilities for which we have not provided. We estimated the total amount of capital investments to address environmental concerns at our various subsidiaries at $9.0 million as of December 31, 2012. These amounts are not accrued in the consolidated financial statements until actual capital investments are made.

Also, in the course, or as a result, of an environmental investigation by Russian governmental authorities, courts can issue decisions requiring part or all of the production at a facility that has violated environmental standards to be halted for a period of up to 90 days. We have been cited in Russia for various violations of environmental regulations in the past and we have paid certain fines levied by regulatory authorities in connection with these infractions. In March 2011, Rosprirodnadzor claimed 287 million rubles from Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant as compensation for damage caused by discharging waste water into the river Miass. This claim was settled by way of amicable agreement approved by the arbitrazh court, pursuant to which Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant has paid the compensation in the amount of 130.2 million rubles. Though our production facilities have not been ordered to suspend operations due to environmental violations during the respective

 

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periods since we acquired or established them, there are no assurances that environmental protection authorities will not seek such suspensions in the future. In the event that production at any of our facilities is partially or wholly suspended due to this type of sanction, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected.

The assets and operations of Bluestone based in West Virginia are subject to U.S. environmental and other regulatory risks. See “— Risks Relating to Other Countries Where We Operate.” In particular, in early 2011, our Bluestone operations suspended work on the construction of a coal washing facility because certain limitations contained in the environmental permissions issued with respect to mining activities restricted increases of mining volumes which led to the underutilization of existing washing facilities.

In addition, we are generally not indemnified against environmental liabilities or any required land reclamation expenses of our acquired businesses that arise from activities that occurred prior to our acquisition of such businesses. See “— We may fail to identify suitable targets, acquire them on acceptable terms, identify all potential liabilities associated with them or successfully integrate them into our group.”

Increased regulations associated with climate change and greenhouse gas emissions may give rise to increased costs and may adversely impact our business and markets.

Through our mining and power segments, we are a major producer of carbon-related products such as coal, coal concentrate and energy. Coal and coal-based energy are also significant inputs in many of the operations of our steel and ferroalloys segments. A major by-product of burning coal is carbon dioxide (CO2), which is considered to be a greenhouse gas and generally a source of concern in connection with global warming and climate change.

The December 1997 Kyoto Protocol established a set of greenhouse gas emission targets for developed countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol. In order to give the countries a certain degree of flexibility in meeting their emission reduction targets, the Kyoto Protocol developed mechanisms allowing participating countries to earn and trade emissions credits by way of implementing projects aimed at meeting the Kyoto Protocol targets. The E.U. has established greenhouse gas regulations and many other countries, including the United States, are in the process of doing so. The European Union Emissions Trading System (“EU ETS”), which came into effect on January 1, 2005, has had an impact on greenhouse gas and energy-intensive businesses based in the E.U. Our operations in Lithuania are currently subject to the EU ETS, as are our E.U. based customers.

In the United States, various federal, regional and state initiatives to regulate greenhouse gas emissions have been implemented or are under consideration, and, it appears likely that additional national, regional and state regulation of actual greenhouse gas emissions will be enacted in the future. For example, legislation is under consideration in the U.S. Congress that would create a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has taken the first steps towards implementing a comprehensive greenhouse gas policy that may adversely affect the business of our Bluestone companies.

The Russian Federation ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2005 and since October 2009 Russia has established a legal procedure for implementing trading mechanisms provided under the Kyoto Protocol. However, Russia, although subject to greenhouse gas emission limits for the period until December 31, 2012, has refused to sign up for the second period of limits and intends to withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol.

The Kyoto Protocol, the EU ETS and current and future regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States could restrict our operations and/or impose significant costs or obligations on us, including requiring additional capital expenditures, modifications in operating practices, and additional reporting obligations. These regulatory programs may also have a negative effect on our production levels, income and cash flows and on our suppliers and customers, which could result in higher costs and lower sales. Inconsistency

 

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of regulations particularly between developed and developing countries may also change the competitive position of some of our assets. Finally, we note that even without further legislation or regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, increased awareness and any adverse publicity in the global marketplace about the greenhouse gasses emitted by companies in the steel manufacturing industry could harm our reputation and reduce customer demand for our products.

Failure to comply with existing laws and regulations could result in substantial additional compliance costs or various sanctions which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Our operations and properties are subject to regulation by various government entities and agencies in connection with obtaining and renewing various licenses, permits, approvals and authorizations, as well as with ongoing compliance with existing laws, regulations and standards. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — Regulatory Matters — Licensing of Operations in Russia.” Government authorities in countries where we operate exercise considerable discretion in matters of enforcement and interpretation of applicable laws, regulations and standards, the issuance and renewal of licenses, permits, approvals and authorizations, and in monitoring licensees’ compliance with the terms thereof which may result in unexpected audits, criminal prosecutions, civil actions and expropriation of property. Authorities have the right to, and frequently do, conduct periodic inspections of our operations and properties throughout the year.

Our failure to comply with existing laws and regulations or to obtain and comply with all approvals, authorizations and permits required for our operations or findings of governmental inspections may result in the imposition of fines or penalties or more severe sanctions including the suspension, amendment or termination of our licenses, permits, approvals and authorizations or in requirements that we cease certain of our business activities, or in criminal and administrative penalties applicable to our officers. Arbitrary government actions directed against other Russian companies (or the consequences of such actions) may generally impact on the Russian economy, including the securities market. Any such actions, decisions, requirements or sanctions could increase our costs and materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We may fail to identify suitable targets, acquire them on acceptable terms, identify all potential liabilities associated with them or successfully integrate them into our group.

We are a vertically integrated group with operations organized into mining, steel, ferroalloys and power segments, which allows us to benefit from economies of scale, realize synergies, better satisfy the needs of our Russian and international customers, reduce our reliance on third party brokers by distributing and selling our products directly to end users, and compete effectively against other mining and steel producers. Our strategy is to become one of the largest mining companies globally with a strong integration into steel. We intend to enhance the profitability of our business by applying our integration strategy to a larger asset base and, towards that end, on an ongoing basis we need to identify suitable targets that would fit into our operations, acquire them on terms acceptable to us and successfully integrate them into our group. We often compete with Russian and international companies for acquisitions, including for subsoil licenses.

The acquisition and integration of new companies pose significant risks to our existing operations, including:

 

   

additional demands placed on our senior management, who are also responsible for managing our existing operations;

 

   

increased overall operating complexity of our business, requiring greater personnel and other resources; and

 

   

incurrence of debt to finance acquisitions and higher debt service costs related thereto.

 

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In addition, new acquisitions may require significant initial cash investments for integration or upgrades. Furthermore, even if we are successful in integrating our existing and new businesses, expected synergies and cost savings may not materialize, resulting in lower than expected operating margins.

We have acquired and established businesses in countries that represent new operating environments for us and which are located at a great distance from our headquarters in Russia. These businesses conduct operations in accordance with local customs and laws. For example, through our acquisition of the Bluestone companies in May 2009, and our establishment of Mechel Bluestone Inc., a Delaware corporation that holds the Bluestone companies, we now have significant operations, assets and employees in the United States which are subject to U.S. federal and state laws and regulations.

In some instances we conduct limited due diligence investigations in connection with our acquisitions and the contractual documentation does not contain representations and warranties and indemnities to protect against unidentified liabilities and other losses. Moreover, these acquired businesses may not have financial reports prepared under internationally accepted accounting standards. Accordingly, these businesses may face risks that we have not yet identified and that are not described in this document and we may not realize the full benefit of our investment, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

The concentration of our shares with our controlling shareholder will limit your ability to influence corporate matters.

Our Chairman, Igor Zyuzin, directly and indirectly owns approximately 65.49% of our common shares. Except in certain cases as provided by the Federal Law “On Joint-Stock Companies,” dated December 26, 1995, as amended (the “Joint-Stock Companies Law”), resolutions at a general shareholders’ meeting are adopted by a majority of the voting stock at a meeting where shareholders holding more than half of the voting shares are present or represented. Accordingly, Mr. Zyuzin has the power to control the outcome of most matters to be decided by a majority of the voting stock present at a general shareholders’ meeting and can control the appointment of the majority of directors and the removal of all of the elected directors. In addition, our controlling shareholder is likely to be able to take actions which require a three-quarters supermajority of the voting stock present at such a general shareholders’ meeting, such as amendments to our charter, reorganization, significant sales of assets and other major transactions, if other shareholders do not participate in the meeting. We have also engaged and will likely continue to engage in transactions with related parties, including our controlling shareholder, that may present conflicts of interest, potentially resulting in the conclusion of transactions on less favorable terms than could be obtained in arm’s length transactions or transactions that may expose us to risks outside the ordinary course of business. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions.” Thus, our controlling shareholder can take actions that you may not view as beneficial, and as a result, the value of the shares and ADSs could be materially adversely affected.

Our competitive position and future prospects depend on our senior management team.

Our ability to maintain our competitive position and to implement our business strategy is dependent on the services of our senior management team and, in particular, Mr. Zyuzin, our Chairman and controlling shareholder. Mr. Zyuzin has provided, and continues to provide, strategic direction to us.

Moreover, competition in Russia, and in the other countries where we operate, for senior management personnel with relevant expertise is intense due to the small number of qualified individuals. The loss or decline in the services of members of our senior management team or an inability to attract, retain and motivate qualified senior management personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

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Antimonopoly regulation could lead to sanctions with respect to the subsidiaries we have acquired or established or our prices, sales volumes and business practices.

Our business has grown substantially through the acquisition and founding of companies, many of which required the prior approval or subsequent notification of the FAS or its predecessor agencies. Relevant legislation restricts the acquisition or founding of companies by groups of companies or individuals acting in concert without such approval or notification. This legislation is vague in certain parts and subject to varying interpretations. If the FAS were to conclude that a company was acquired or created in contravention of applicable legislation and that competition has been or could be limited as a result, it could seek redress, including invalidating the transactions that led to or could lead to the limitation of competition, obliging the acquirer or founder to perform activities to restore competition, and seeking the dissolution of the new company created as a result of reorganization. Any of these actions could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

As of March 31, 2013, seven of our companies were included by the FAS in its register of entities with a market share exceeding 35% in the relevant market or with a dominant position in a certain market, including:

 

   

Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant — as controlling more than 65% of the market for local telephony services in Beloretsk;

 

   

Izhstal — as controlling more than 35% but less than 65% of the market for graded high-speed steel and its substitute and more than 65% of the market for small shaped graded high-speed steel;

 

   

Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant — as controlling more than 65% of the market of railroad transportation of cargo for third parties and companies on the track section from Vyartsilya village to Vyartsilya station;

 

   

Kuzbass Power Sales Company — as controlling more than 50% of the electricity trading market in the Kemerovo region;

 

   

Mechel Energo — (i) as controlling more than 50% of the electricity trading market within the administrative boundaries of the Kemerovo region except for the area of operations of Metallenergofinance OOO and Oboronenergosbyt OAO and (ii) as controlling more than 50% of the market of steam and heat energy generation in Chelyabinsk within the territory of Mechel Energo’s heat grids;

 

   

Yakutugol — as controlling more than 65% of the coal market of the Sakha Republic (an administrative region of Russia in Eastern Siberia, also known as Yakutia); and

 

   

Moscow Coke and Gas Plant — as controlling more than 65% of the market for cargo transportation services on the company’s rail siding in the Lenin district of the Moscow region from the Obmennaya station to the Zavodskaya station.

When our companies are included in the register of entities with a market share exceeding 35% in the relevant market or with a dominant position in a certain market, this does not by itself result in restrictions on the activities of such entities. However, these entities may be subject to additional FAS oversight by reason of their having been deemed to have a dominant market position.

In 2008, the FAS issued a number of directives to our companies placing certain restrictions on our business practices. On May 13, 2008, the FAS issued a directive ordering Mechel and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, as a group of companies holding a dominant position in the Russian coking coal market, to fulfill the following requirements:

 

   

to avoid unjustified reduction of production volumes and product range at Southern Kuzbass Coal Company;

 

   

to provide, to the extent possible, equal supply terms to all customers without discrimination against companies not forming part of this group of companies;

 

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not to restrict other companies from supplying coking coal to the same geographical area of operations; and

 

   

to notify the FAS prior to any increase in domestic prices of coking coal, steam coal and coking coal concentrate, if such increase amounts to more than 10% of the relevant price used 180 days before the date such increase is planned to take place, with submission to the FAS of the financial and economic reasoning for the planned increase of prices.

In connection with the establishment of Mechel Mining, the subsidiary into which we consolidated certain of our mining assets, we received a directive from the FAS dated June 23, 2008, which contains requirements as to the activities of Mechel Mining and its subsidiaries Yakutugol and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, as a group of companies holding a dominant position in the Russian coking coal market. The requirements are the same as those described above.

On October 10, 2008, the FAS issued two new directives addressed to Mechel Mining Management with respect to Yakutugol and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, as a group of companies holding a dominant position in the Russian coking coal market, ordering Mechel Mining Management to fulfill the following requirements:

 

   

not to reduce or terminate production of coking coal concentrate without prior approval of the FAS, unless there is no demand for such products;

 

   

to perform all contracts related to coking coal concentrate production or other products (works or services) in relation to which these companies are or may be included in the register of entities with a market share exceeding 35% in the relevant market; and

 

   

to provide equal supply terms to all customers without discriminating against companies outside of Mechel Mining Management group and to avoid terms of supply which would compensate Mechel Mining Management group for unjustified expenses or yield Mechel Mining Management group any profit that is significantly higher than it could be in a competitive market.

In connection with the consolidation of our ferroalloy assets under our subsidiary Oriel Resources, in October 2008 the FAS issued a directive addressed to Oriel Resources, and in November 2008 the FAS issued an additional directive addressed to Mechel and Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant. The requirements under these directives are substantially similar to those described above in connection with the directives dated October 10, 2008, except: (1) that they relate to our production and sales of ferrosilicon; and that (2) the directive addressed to Mechel and Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant also requires them to satisfy ferrosilicon demand on the Russian market, where they hold a dominant position, subject to available production capacity, and to maintain production and equipment required for the ferrosilicon production and supply.

In August 2008, as a result of an antimonopoly investigation into the business of our subsidiaries Mechel Trading House, Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, Yakutugol and Mechel Trading, the FAS found them to have abused their dominant position in the Russian market for certain grades of coking coal concentrate. The FAS issued a directive requiring these subsidiaries and their successors to: (1) refrain from taking any action in the Russian market for certain grades of coking coal concentrate which would or may preclude, limit or eliminate competition and/or violate third parties’ interests, including fixing and maintaining a monopolistically high or low price, refusing or avoiding to enter into an agreement with certain buyers without good economic or technological reasons where the production or supply of the relevant grades of coking coal concentrate is possible and creating discriminatory conditions for buyers; (2) submit to the FAS during the next 5 years economic justifications of each coking coal concentrate price increase of more than 5% as compared to the prices of previous quarter; (3) reduce sale prices by 15% for the period from September 2008 until December 2008; and (4) execute long-term supply contracts of at least three years’ duration with effect from 2009. Furthermore, the FAS initiated administrative proceedings against Mechel Trading House, Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and Yakutugol which resulted in fines being imposed on these companies in the total amount of 797.7 million rubles, which equals nearly 5% of these subsidiaries’ total sales of coking coal concentrate (including intra-group sales) for 2007. See “Item 8. Financial Information — Litigation — Antimonopoly.”

 

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In the event of a breach of the terms of business conduct set forth by the FAS, the FAS may seek to impose fines for violations of antimonopoly and administrative legislation. Such fines may include an administrative fine of an amount from 300 thousand to one million rubles or, if such violation has led or may lead to the prevention, limitation or elimination of competition, an administrative fine of up to 15% of the proceeds of sale of all goods, works and services on the market where such violation was committed, but not more than 2% of gross proceeds of sale of all goods, works and services. Russian legislation also provides for criminal liability for violations of antimonopoly legislation in certain cases. Furthermore, for systematic violations, a court may order, pursuant to a suit filed by the FAS, a compulsory split-up or spin-off of the violating company, and no affiliation can be preserved between the new entities established as result of such a mandatory reorganization. The imposition of any such liability on us or our subsidiaries could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Negative publicity associated with any antimonopoly, administrative, criminal or other investigation or prosecution carried out with respect to our business practices, regardless of the outcome, could damage our reputation and result in a significant drop in the price of our shares and ADSs and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We may be forced to dispose of our electricity assets as a result of change in Russian law.

Under Russian law, companies and individuals, as well as affiliated entities operating within one wholesale market pricing zone, are prohibited from combining activities relating to electricity distribution and/or dispatching with electricity generation and/or sale, in particular, through simultaneously owning assets which are directly used for electricity distribution and/or dispatching and assets which are directly used for electricity generation and/or sale. Amendments to the law adopted in December 2011 introduced a new enforcement mechanism with respect to affiliated companies which do not comply with the law. The amendments allow the relevant governmental authorities to force the sale of first, electricity generation and/or sale assets and second, electricity distribution assets of such affiliated entities. See “Item. 4 Information on the Company — Regulatory Matters — Regulation of Russian Electricity Market.”

Some entities in our group, including Southern Kuzbass Power Plant, Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, Moscow Coke and Gas Plant, Kuzbass Power Sales Company, Mechel Energo, Korshunov Mining Plant, Southern Urals Nickel Plant, Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant, Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant, Izhstal and Urals Stampings Plant, own assets both for electricity generation and/or sale and for electricity distribution.

We believe that the prohibition described above only applies if assets are both owned and directly used by an entity or affiliated entities.

During 2008 and 2009, we leased our electricity distribution assets to an unaffiliated third party, Electronetwork ZAO, which currently uses them to distribute electricity to us and other customers. Our entities are not involved in electricity distribution activity. We believe that by leasing our electricity distribution assets to an unaffiliated third party and not using them for electricity distribution, we are not in violation of the law.

Given that the regulation is new, there is no official guidance or court practice clarifying this matter and our interpretation of the law may not be upheld by Russian courts. We will closely follow further development of administrative and court practice in this area. We will vigorously defend our position, if it is challenged by the authorities, however there is a risk that the court may come to a view that we are in breach of the law and may order us to dispose of our electricity assets. Disposal of these assets may have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.

 

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In the event that the minority shareholders of our subsidiaries were to successfully challenge past interested party transactions or do not approve interested party transactions in the future, we could be limited in our operational flexibility.

We own less than 100% of the equity interests in some of our subsidiaries. In addition, certain of our wholly owned subsidiaries have previously had other shareholders. We and our subsidiaries have carried out, and continue to carry out, transactions among our companies and affiliates, as well as transactions with other parties which may be considered to be “interested party transactions” under Russian law, requiring approval by disinterested directors, disinterested independent directors or disinterested shareholders depending on the nature and value of the transaction and the parties involved. The provisions of Russian law defining which transactions must be approved as interested party transactions are subject to different interpretations, and these transactions may not always have been properly approved, including by former shareholders. We cannot make any assurances that our and our subsidiaries’ applications of these rules will not be subject to challenge by shareholders. Any such challenges, if successful, could result in the invalidation of transactions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

In addition, Russian law requires a three-quarters majority of the voting stock present at a general shareholders’ meeting to approve certain matters, including, for example, charter amendments, reorganizations, major transactions involving assets in excess of 50% of the assets of the company, acquisition by the company of outstanding shares and certain share issuances. In some cases, minority shareholders may not approve interested party transactions requiring their approval or other matters requiring approval of minority shareholders or supermajority approval. In the event that these minority shareholders were to successfully challenge past interested party transactions, or do not approve interested party transactions or other matters in the future, we could be limited in our operational flexibility and our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected.

In the event certain minority shareholder lawsuits are resolved against us, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Russian corporate law allows minority shareholders holding as little as a single share in a company to have standing to bring claims against the company challenging decisions of its governing bodies. These features of Russian corporate law are often abused by minority shareholders, who can bring claims in local courts seeking injunctions and other relief for which, as a practical matter, we may not receive notice. Any such actions by minority shareholders, if resolved against us, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

A substantial majority of our employees are represented by trade unions, and our operations depend on good labor relations.

As of December 31, 2012, approximately 60% of all our employees were represented by trade unions. Although we have not experienced any business interruption at any of our companies as a result of labor disputes from the dates of their respective acquisition by us and we consider our relations with our employees to be good, under Russian law unions have the legal right to strike and other Russian companies with large union representation periodically face interruptions due to strikes, lockouts or delays in renegotiations of collective bargaining agreements. Our businesses could also be affected by similar events if our relationships with our labor force and trade unions worsen in the future. We have signed the industry agreement for ore mining and smelting industry and have renegotiated most of related collective bargaining agreements. We have also signed the industry agreement for coal industry, and we are currently renegotiating related collective bargaining agreements. If we are unable to prolong collective bargaining agreements on similar conditions or our employees are dissatisfied with the terms of the collective bargaining agreements and undertake any industrial action, it could have material adverse effects on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Approximately half of the Bluestone companies’ workforce is presently represented by the United Mine Workers of America (“UMWA”) labor union and is covered by the Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement of 2011

 

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which expires at the end of 2016. Though we believe the Bluestone companies have a good relationship with the UMWA, there are no assurances that these relations will not deteriorate in the future. Our U.S. employees have the right at any time under the U.S. National Labor Relations Act to form or affiliate with a union and the current presidential administration in the United States has indicated that it will support legislation that may make it easier for employees to unionize. Any further unionization of employees could adversely affect the stability of our U.S. production and negatively impact the financial performance of our U.S. operations. In addition, due to the increased risk of strikes and other work-related stoppages that may be associated with union operations in the coal industry, our competitors who operate without union labor may have a competitive advantage in areas where they compete with our unionized operations.

Bluestone companies have liabilities with respect to post-retirement benefits for our U.S. employees, which could be more burdensome if certain factors beyond our control are changed or corrected.

The Bluestone companies we acquired have long-term liabilities with respect to pension obligations and post-retirement welfare benefit plans. The Bluestone companies contribute to multi-employer defined benefit pension plans sponsored by the UMWA. In the event of our partial or complete withdrawal from any multi-employer plan which is underfunded, we would be liable for a proportionate share of such plan’s unfunded vested benefits. In the event that any other contributing employer withdraws from any plan which is underfunded, and such employer (or any member in its controlled group) cannot satisfy its obligations under the plan at the time of withdrawal, then we, along with the other remaining contributing employers, would be liable for our proportionate share of such plan’s unfunded vested benefits. At June 30, 2012, the UMWA Pension Plan reported unfunded vested benefits to be $5.0 billion. Furthermore, in September 2011, the UMWA Funds reported to the United States Department of the Treasury, as required under the Pension Protection Act of 2006, that the UMWA pension plan is in “Seriously Endangered Status” for the plan year beginning July 1, 2011 due to funded percentage below 80%. When a pension plan is certified to be in seriously endangered status, federal law requires the plan to adopt a funding improvement plan aimed at restoring the financial health of the plan. The funding improvement plan may include increased contributions to the plan and/or modifications to certain future benefit accruals. Now, it is up to the Bituminous Coal Operators Association (“BCOA”) and the UMWA to negotiate such an improvement plan. As the signatory companies will be bound to whatever the BCOA and the UMWA negotiate as to an improvement plan, Bluestone’s signatory companies may see a required higher level of contributions in the future.

The Bluestone companies’ post-retirement medical obligations have been estimated based on actuarial assumptions, including actuarial estimates, assumed discount rates, estimates of life expectancy, and changes in healthcare costs. If our assumptions relating to these benefits change in the future or are incorrect, we may be required to record additional expenses. In addition, future regulatory and accounting changes relating to these benefits could result in increased obligations or additional costs, which could also have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We do not carry the types of insurance coverage customary in more economically developed countries for a business of our size and nature, and a significant adverse event could result in substantial property loss and inability to rebuild in a timely manner or at all.

The insurance industry is still developing in Russia, and many forms of insurance protection common in more economically developed countries are not available in Russia on comparable terms, including coverage for business interruption. At present, most of our Russian production facilities are not insured, and we have no coverage for business interruption or for third-party liability, other than insurance required under Russian law, collective agreements, loan agreements or other undertakings. Some of our international production facilities are not covered by comprehensive insurance typical for such operations in Western countries. We cannot assure you that the insurance we have in place is adequate for the potential losses and the liability we may suffer.

Since most of our production facilities lack insurance covering their property, if a significant event were to affect one of our facilities, we could experience substantial financial and property losses, as well as significant disruptions in our production activity, for which we would not be compensated by business interruption insurance.

 

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Since we do not maintain separate funds or otherwise set aside reserves for these types of events, in case of any such loss or third-party claim for damages we may be unable to seek any recovery for lost or damaged property or compensate losses due to disruption of production activity. Any such uninsured loss or event may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

If transactions, corporate decisions or other actions of members of our group and their predecessors-in-interest were to be challenged on the basis of non-compliance with applicable legal requirements, the remedies in the event of any successful challenge could include the invalidation of such transactions, corporate decisions or other actions or the imposition of other liabilities on such group members.

Businesses of our group, or their predecessors-in-interest at different times, have taken a variety of actions relating to the incorporation of entities, share issuances, share disposals and acquisitions, mandatory buy-out offers, acquisition and valuation of property, including land plots, interested party transactions, major transactions, decisions to transfer licenses, meetings of governing bodies, other corporate matters and antimonopoly issues that, if successfully challenged on the basis of non-compliance with applicable legal requirements by competent state authorities, counterparties in such transactions or shareholders of the relevant members of our group or their predecessors-in-interest, could result in the invalidation of such actions, transactions and corporate decisions, restrictions on voting rights or the imposition of other liabilities. As applicable laws of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other emerging countries are subject to varying interpretations, we may not be able to defend successfully any challenge brought against such actions, decisions or transactions, and the invalidation of any such actions, transactions and corporate decisions or imposition of any restriction or liability could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We have used certain information in this document that has been sourced from third parties.

We have sourced certain information contained in this document from independent third parties, including private companies, government agencies and other publicly available sources. We believe these sources of information are reliable and that the information fairly and reasonably characterizes the industry in countries where we operate. However, although we take responsibility for compiling and extracting the data, we have not independently verified this information. In addition, the official data published by Russian federal, regional and local governments may be substantially less complete or researched than those of Western countries. Official statistics may also be produced on different bases than those used in Western countries.

Risks Relating to Our Shares and the Trading Market

Our ability to pay dividends depends primarily upon receipt of sufficient funds from our subsidiaries.

Because we are a holding company, our ability to pay dividends depends primarily upon receipt of sufficient funds from our subsidiaries. Under Russian law, dividends may be declared and paid only out of net profits calculated under Russian accounting standards and as long as certain conditions have been met, including if the value of the net assets, calculated under Russian accounting standards, is not less (and would not become less as a result of the proposed dividend payment) than the sum of the charter capital, the reserve fund and the difference between the liquidation value and the par value of the issued and outstanding preferred shares. See “Item 10. Additional Information — Charter and Certain Requirements of Russian Legislation — Description of Capital Stock — Dividends.” Currently, some of our subsidiaries do not meet this criteria and cannot approve payment of, or pay dividends. See “— Risks Relating to the Russian Federation — One or more of our subsidiaries could be forced into liquidation on the basis of formal non-compliance with certain requirements of Russian law, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.”

Furthermore, the payment of dividends by our subsidiaries and/or our ability to repatriate such dividends may, in certain instances, be subject to taxes, statutory restrictions, retained earnings criteria, and covenants in our subsidiaries’ financing arrangements and are contingent upon the earnings and cash flow of those subsidiaries. See note 18 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Upon introduction of a new system of recording the depositary’s rights to the shares underlying depositary receipts, the depositary may be required to disclose information on ADS and GDS owners in order to exercise voting rights and receive dividends with respect to the shares underlying ADSs and GDSs.

Effective from January 1, 2013, a new system of recording the depositary’s rights to the shares underlying depositary receipts was introduced by Federal Law No. 415-FZ of December 7, 2011, as amended on December 29, 2012 (“Federal Law No. 415-FZ”). Pursuant to the new system, the underlying shares are no longer recorded at the depositary’s ‘owner’s account’ opened with a Russian custodian holding a ‘depo account of nominee holder’ with the issuer’s shareholder register. Instead, the underlying shares should now be recorded at a ‘depo account of depositary programs’ opened with a Russian custodian which in its turn has a depo account of nominee holder opened with the central depositary. On November 6, 2012, the FFMS granted CJSC National Settlement Depositary (“NSD”) the status of Russian central depositary. There is a one-year transition period which expires on November 6, 2013 when depo accounts of depositary programs should be opened for depositaries and shares represented by depositary receipts should be re-recorded from depositaries’ owner’s account to depo accounts of depositary programs.

In addition to the new recording system, Federal Law No. 415-FZ also sets forth new obligations for a depositary to disclose information on ‘depositary receipt owners’ in order to exercise voting rights and to receive dividends with respect to the shares represented by depositary receipts. The regulations setting forth the specific requirements for the information disclosure are yet to be published by the FFMS. Since the central depositary was just established and relevant depo accounts of depositary programs have not yet been opened, the FFMS by its information letter No. 12-DP-01/54910 dated December 25, 2012 stated that until the depo accounts are opened, but not later than November 6, 2013 the depositary’s voting and dividends rights are not conditional upon disclosure of information on depositary receipt owners. Furthermore, any obligations of the depositary to disclose information on depositary receipt owners in order to receive dividends will be abolished effective January 1, 2014 pursuant to Federal Law No. 282-FZ of December 29, 2012 (“Federal Law No. 282-FZ”). However, during the period between November 6, 2013 (or earlier, when the depo accounts in relation to our ADSs and GDSs are opened) and January 1, 2014 the depositary will be subject to the above disclosure obligations in order to receive dividends.

Currently, pending the adoption of relevant regulations by the FFMS, it is not clear whether the term ‘depositary receipt owner’ means a holder registered on the records of the depositary, a securities intermediary or a beneficial owner of a depositary receipt. As a result, the scope of the above reporting obligations, which may affect the rights of our ADS and GDS holders, also remains uncertain. We cannot assure you that Federal Law No. 415-FZ and the pending regulations by the FFMS will be compatible with how depositary receipt programs have been customarily operated in the past or with foreign confidentiality regulations, or that the new requirements will not impose additional burdens upon the depositary, ADS and GDS holders or their respective securities intermediaries such that they would consider investments in our ADSs less attractive.

In addition, Federal Law No. 415-FZ requires the foreign depositary to provide information on depositary receipt owners and other securities intermediaries to the issuer, state arbitrazh courts, the FFMS and governmental investigative authorities upon their request, and depositary receipt owners and other securities intermediaries are required to provide such information to the depositary upon its request. The FFMS is entitled to demand the depositary to cure any breach of such disclosure requirements, and if the depositary fails to cure, the FFMS may suspend or limit any operations with depo accounts of depositary receipt program for up to six months. It is unclear how the FFMS will use these new regulatory powers. Any suspension of or limitation on our ADS or GDS programs could have a material adverse effect on the value of the ADSs.

The depositary may be required to take certain actions due to Russian law requirements which could adversely impact the liquidity and the value of the shares and ADSs.

If at any time the depositary believes that the shares deposited with it against issuance of ADSs represent (or, upon accepting any additional shares for deposit, would represent) a percentage of shares which exceeds any

 

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threshold or limit established by any applicable law, directive, regulation or permit, or satisfies any condition for making any filing, application, notification or registration or obtaining any approval, license or permit under any applicable law, directive or regulation, or taking any other action, the depositary may (1) close its books to deposits of additional shares in order to prevent such thresholds or limits being exceeded or conditions being satisfied or (2) take such steps as are, in its opinion, necessary or desirable to remedy the consequences of such thresholds or limits being exceeded or conditions being satisfied and to comply with any such law, directive or regulation, including, causing pro rata cancellation of ADSs and withdrawal of underlying shares from the depositary receipt program to the extent necessary or desirable to so comply. Any such circumstances may affect the liquidity and the value of the shares and ADSs.

Voting rights with respect to the shares represented by our ADSs are limited by the terms of the relevant deposit agreement for the ADSs and relevant requirements of Russian law.

ADS holders have no direct voting rights with respect to the shares represented by the ADSs. They can only exercise voting rights with respect to the shares represented by ADSs in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreements relating to the ADSs and relevant requirements of Russian law. Therefore, there are practical limitations upon the ability of ADS holders to exercise their voting rights due to the additional procedural steps which are involved. For example, the Joint-Stock Companies Law and our charter require us to notify shareholders not less than 30 days prior to the date of any meeting of shareholders and at least 70 days prior to the date of an extraordinary meeting to elect our Board of Directors via publication of a notice in the Russian official newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta. Our common shareholders, as well as our preferred shareholders in cases when they have voting rights, are able to exercise their voting rights by either attending the meeting in person or voting by power of attorney.

For ADS holders, in accordance with the deposit agreements, we will provide the notice to the depositary. The depositary has in turn undertaken, as soon as practicable thereafter, to mail to ADS holders notice of such any meeting of shareholders, copies of voting materials (if and as received by the depositary from us) and a statement as to the manner in which instructions may be given by ADS holders. To exercise their voting rights, ADS holders must then timely instruct the depositary how to vote their shares. As a result of this extra procedural step involving the depositary, the process for exercising voting rights may take longer for ADS holders than for holders of shares. ADSs for which the depositary does not receive timely voting instructions will not be voted at any meeting.

In addition, although securities regulations expressly permit the depositary to split the votes with respect to the shares underlying the ADSs in accordance with instructions from ADS holders, there is little court or regulatory guidance on the application of such regulations, and the depositary may choose to refrain from voting at all unless it receives instructions from all ADS holders to vote the shares in the same manner. Holders of ADSs may thus have significant difficulty in exercising voting rights with respect to the shares underlying the ADSs. There can be no assurance that holders and beneficial owners of ADSs will: (1) receive notice of shareholder meetings to enable the timely return of voting instructions to the depositary; (2) receive notice to enable the timely cancellation of ADSs in respect of shareholder actions; or (3) be given the benefit of dissenting or minority shareholders’ rights in respect of an event or action in which the holder or beneficial owner has voted against, abstained from voting or not given voting instructions.

ADS holders may be unable to repatriate their earnings.

Dividends that we may pay in the future on the shares represented by the ADSs will be declared and paid to the depositary in rubles. Such dividends will be converted into U.S. dollars by the depositary and distributed to holders of ADSs, net of the fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the depositary, together with taxes withheld and any other governmental charges. The ability to convert rubles into U.S. dollars is subject to the currency markets. Although there is an active market for the conversion of rubles into U.S. dollars, including the interbank currency exchange and over-the-counter and currency futures markets, the functioning of this market in the future is not guaranteed.

 

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ADS holders may not be able to benefit from the United States-Russia income tax treaty.

Under Russian tax legislation, dividends paid to a non-resident holder of shares of a Russian company generally will be subject to a 15% withholding tax. This tax may potentially be reduced to 5% or 10% for U.S. holders of the shares that are legal entities and organizations and to 10% for U.S. holders of the shares that are individuals under the Convention between the United States of America and the Russian Federation for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and Capital (the “United States-Russia income tax treaty”), provided a number of conditions are satisfied. However, Russian tax rules on the application of double tax treaty benefits to individuals are unclear and there is no certainty that such benefits can be obtained. The Russian tax rules applicable to ADS holders are characterized by significant uncertainties. In a number of clarifications, the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation expressed a view that ADS holders (rather than the depositary) should be treated as the beneficial owners of the underlying shares for the purposes of double tax treaty provisions applicable to the taxation of dividend income from the underlying shares, provided that the tax residencies of the ADS holders are duly confirmed. However, in the absence of any specific provisions in the Russian tax legislation with respect to the concept of beneficial ownership and taxation of income of beneficial owners, it is unclear how the Russian tax authorities and courts will ultimately treat the ADS holders in this regard. Thus, we may be obliged to withhold tax at standard non-treaty rates when paying out dividends, and U.S. ADS holders may be unable to benefit from the United States-Russia income tax treaty. ADS holders may apply for a refund of a portion of the tax withheld under an applicable tax treaty, however, this process may be time-consuming and no assurance can be given that the Russian tax authorities will grant a refund. See “Item 10. Additional Information — Taxation — Russian Income and Withholding Tax Considerations” for additional information.

Capital gains from the sale of ADSs may be subject to Russian income tax.

Under Russian tax legislation, gains realized by foreign organizations from the disposition of Russian shares and securities, as well as financial instruments derived from such shares, with the exception of shares that are traded on an organized securities market, may be subject to Russian profit tax or withholding income tax if immovable property located in Russia constitutes more than 50% of our assets. Gains arising from the sale on foreign exchanges (foreign market operators) of securities or derivatives circulated on such exchanges are not considered Russian source income.

However, no procedural mechanism currently exists to withhold and remit this tax with respect to sales made to persons other than Russian companies and foreign companies with a registered permanent establishment in Russia. Gains arising from the disposition on foreign stock exchanges of the foregoing types of securities listed on these exchanges are not subject to taxation in Russia.

Gains arising from the disposition of the foregoing types of securities and derivatives outside of Russia by U.S. holders who are individuals not resident in Russia for tax purposes will not be considered Russian source income and will not be taxable in Russia. Gains arising from disposition of the foregoing types of securities and derivatives in Russia by U.S. holders who are individuals not resident in Russia for tax purposes may be subject to tax either at the source in Russia or based on an annual tax return, which they may be required to submit with the Russian tax authorities.

Holders of ADSs may have limited recourse against us and our directors and executive officers because most of our operations are conducted outside the United States and most of our directors and all of our executive officers reside outside the United States.

Our presence outside the United States may limit ADS holders’ legal recourse against us. Mechel is incorporated under the laws of the Russian Federation. Most of our directors and executive officers reside outside the United States, principally in Russia. A substantial portion of our assets and the assets of most of our directors and executive officers are located outside the United States. As a result, holders of our ADSs may be limited in their ability to effect service of process within the United States upon us or our directors and executive officers or

 

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to enforce in a U.S. court a judgment obtained against us or our directors and executive officers in jurisdictions outside the United States, including actions under the civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws. In addition, it may be difficult for holders of ADSs to enforce, in original actions brought in courts in jurisdictions outside the United States, liabilities predicated upon U.S. securities laws.

There is no treaty between the United States and the Russian Federation providing for reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign court judgments in civil and commercial matters. These limitations may deprive investors of effective legal recourse for claims related to investments in the ADSs. The deposit agreements provide for actions brought by any party thereto against us to be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, provided that any action under the U.S. federal securities laws or the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder may, but need not, be submitted to arbitration. The Russian Federation is a party to the United Nations (New York) Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, but it may be difficult to enforce arbitral awards in the Russian Federation due to a number of factors, including the inexperience of Russian courts in international commercial transactions, official and unofficial political resistance to enforcement of awards against Russian companies in favor of foreign investors and Russian courts’ inability to enforce such orders.

We and the Justice persons may offer additional preferred shares and preferred ADSs in the future, and these and other sales may adversely affect the market price of the preferred shares and preferred ADSs.

As of the date of this document, of the 138,756,915 issued preferred shares, 55,502,766 preferred shares are held by our wholly-owned subsidiary Skyblock Limited, the remaining preferred shares are held by James C. Justice II, James C. Justice III, James C. Justice Companies Inc. and Jillean L. Justice (collectively, the “Justice persons”) and the public. The Justice persons acquired their preferred shares in connection with the sale of their Bluestone coking coal business located in Beckley, West Virginia to us in May 2009. During 2010 and 2011, the Justice persons disposed some of the preferred shares they held. As of April 20, 2011, immediately after the offering of preferred shares by the Justice persons in 2011, they owned 26,044,572 preferred shares. The Justice persons may dispose of all or part of the remaining preferred shares they hold through one or more offerings or broker trades in the future. It is also possible that we may decide to offer additional preferred shares and preferred ADSs in the future, including the 55,502,766 preferred shares held by our wholly-owned subsidiary Skyblock Limited. Additional offerings or sales of preferred shares and preferred ADSs by us or the Justice persons, or the public perception that such offerings or sales may occur, could have an adverse effect on the market price of our preferred shares and preferred ADSs.

The price of our shares and ADSs could be volatile and could drop unexpectedly, making it difficult for investors to resell our shares or ADSs at or above the price paid.

The price at which our shares and ADSs trade is influenced by a large number of factors, some of which are specific to us and our operations and some of which are related to the mining, steel and ferroalloys industries and equity markets in general. As a result of these factors, investors may not be able to resell their shares or ADSs at or above the price paid for them. In particular, the following factors, in addition to other risk factors described in this section, may have a material impact on the market price of our shares and ADSs:

 

   

investor perception of us as a company;

 

   

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our revenues or operating results;

 

   

announcement of intended acquisitions, disposals or financings, or speculation about such acquisitions, disposals or financings;

 

   

changes in our dividend policy, which could result from changes in our cash flow and capital position;

 

   

sales of blocks of our common shares, common ADSs, preferred shares or preferred ADSs by significant shareholders, including the Justice persons;

 

   

price and timing of any refinancing of our indebtedness;

 

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potential litigation involving us;

 

   

changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities research analysts;

 

   

fluctuations in Russian and international capital markets, including those due to events in other emerging markets;

 

   

the performance of other companies operating in similar industries;

 

   

regulatory developments in the markets where we operate, especially Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, E.U. countries and the United States;

 

   

international political and economic conditions, including the effects of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, interest rates and oil prices and other events such as terrorist attacks, military operations and natural disasters and the uncertainty related to these developments;

 

   

news or analyst reports related to markets or industries in which we operate; and

 

   

general investor perception of investing in Russia.

Risks Relating to the Russian Federation

Emerging markets such as Russia are subject to greater risks than more developed markets, and financial turmoil in developed or other emerging markets could cause the value of our shares and ADSs to fluctuate widely.

Investors in emerging markets such as the Russian Federation should be aware that these markets are subject to greater risk than more developed markets, including in some cases significant legal, economic and political risks. Investors should also note that the value of securities of Russian companies is subject to rapid and wide fluctuations due to various factors. Accordingly, investors should exercise particular care in evaluating the risks involved and must decide for themselves whether, in light of those risks, their investment is appropriate. Generally, investment in emerging markets is only suitable for sophisticated investors who fully appreciate the significance of the risks involved.

Economic risks

Economic instability in Russia could adversely affect our business and the value of our shares and ADSs.

The Russian economy has been subject to abrupt downturns in the past. In particular, on August 17, 1998, in the face of a rapidly deteriorating economic situation, the Russian government defaulted on its ruble-denominated securities, the CBR stopped its support of the ruble and a temporary moratorium was imposed on certain foreign currency payments. These actions resulted in an immediate and severe devaluation of the ruble and a sharp increase in the rate of inflation; a substantial decline in the prices of Russian debt and equity securities; and an inability of Russian issuers to raise funds in the international capital markets. These problems were aggravated by a major banking crisis in the Russian banking sector after the events of August 17, 1998, as evidenced by the termination of the banking licenses of a number of major Russian banks. This further impaired the ability of the banking sector to act as a consistent source of liquidity to Russian companies and resulted in the losses of bank deposits in some cases.

From 2000 to 2008, the Russian economy experienced positive trends, such as annual increases in the gross domestic product, a relatively stable Russian ruble, strong domestic demand, rising real wages and reduced rates of inflation. However, these trends were interrupted by the global financial crisis in late 2008, which led to a substantial decrease in the gross domestic product’s growth rate, ruble depreciation and a decline in domestic demand. The Russian government has taken certain anti-crisis measures using the “stabilization fund” and hard currency reserves in order to soften the impact of the economic crisis on the Russian economy and support the value of the ruble. As a result, following a decline by 7.8% in 2009, the Russian gross domestic product grew by

 

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4.3% in 2010, by 4.3% in 2011 and by 3.4% in 2012, according to Rosstat. However, the full impact of global economic crisis on Russia is not yet clear, and it is possible that the Russian economy could continue to be impacted in the near future. Further economic instability in Russia could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects and the value of our shares and ADSs.

The Russian banking system is still developing, and another banking crisis could place severe liquidity constraints on our business.

A substantial portion of our loans are from Russian banks, including state-owned banks such as Sberbank, VTB Bank and Gazprombank. Moreover, we rely on the Russian banking system to complete various day-to-day fund transfers and other actions required to conduct our business with customers, suppliers, lenders and other counterparties.

While the impact of the global financial crisis on the Russian banking system has been contained by the actions by the CBR, the risk of further instability remains high. With few exceptions (notably the state owned banks), the Russian banking system suffers from weak depositor confidence, high concentration of exposure to certain borrowers and their affiliates, poor credit quality of borrowers and related party transactions. Risk management, corporate governance and transparency and disclosure remain below international best practices. In the recent global financial crisis, Russian banks were faced with a number of problems simultaneously, such as withdrawal of deposits by customers, payment defaults by borrowers and deteriorating asset values and ruble depreciation. Russian banks faced and continue to face serious mismatches in their liabilities (consisting in large part of foreign debt) and assets (loans to Russian borrowers and investments in Russian assets and securities).

These weaknesses in the Russian banking sector make the sector more susceptible to market downturns or economic slowdowns including due to defaults by Russian borrowers that may occur during such market downturn or economic slowdown. The continuation or worsening of the banking crisis or the bankruptcy or insolvency of the banks in which we hold our funds could affect our ability to complete banking transactions in Russia, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.

The infrastructure in Russia needs significant improvement and investment, which could disrupt normal business activity.

The infrastructure in Russia largely dates back to the Soviet era and has not been adequately funded and maintained since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Particularly affected are the rail and road networks, power generation and transmission systems, communication systems and building stock. The deterioration of the infrastructure in Russia harms the national economy, disrupts the transportation of goods and supplies, adds costs to doing business and can interrupt business operations. These factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

The Russian economy and the value of our shares and ADSs could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in the global economy.

The global economic crisis, social and political instability in some Middle East countries, European sovereign debt crisis and other negative developments in various countries have resulted in increased volatility in the capital markets in many countries, including Russia. As has happened in the past, financial problems or an increase in the perceived risks associated with investing in emerging economies could dampen foreign investment in Russia and Russian businesses could face severe liquidity constraints, further materially adversely affecting the Russian economy. In addition, because Russia produces and exports large amounts of oil, the Russian economy is especially vulnerable to the price of oil on the world market and a decline in the price of oil could slow or disrupt the Russian economy or undermine the value of the ruble against foreign currencies. Russia is also one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of metal products and its economy is vulnerable to fluctuations in world commodity prices and the imposition of tariffs and/or antidumping measures by any of its principal export markets.

 

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As many of the factors that affect the Russian and global economies affect our business and the business of many of our domestic and international customers, our business could be materially adversely affected by a prolonged downturn affecting the Russian or global economy. In addition to a reduction in demand for our products, we may experience increases in overdue accounts receivable from our customers, some of whom may face liquidity problems and potential bankruptcy. Our suppliers may raise their prices, eliminate or reduce trade financing or reduce their output. A decline in product demand, a decrease in collectibility of accounts receivable or substantial changes in the terms of our suppliers’ pricing policies or financing terms, or the potential bankruptcy of our customers or contract counterparties may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

In addition, a deterioration in macroeconomic conditions could require us to reassess the value of goodwill on certain of our assets, recorded as the difference between the fair value of the net assets of business acquired and its purchase price. This goodwill is subject to impairment tests on an ongoing basis. The weakening macroeconomic conditions in the countries in which we operate and/or a significant difference between the performance of an acquired company and the business case assumed at the time of acquisition could require us to write down the value of the goodwill or portion of such value. See note 23 to the consolidated financial statements.

Political and social risks

Political and governmental instability could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects and the value of our shares and ADSs.

Since 1991, Russia has sought to transform itself from a one-party state with a centrally-planned economy to a democracy with a market economy. As a result of the sweeping nature of the reforms, and the failure of some of them, the Russian political system remains vulnerable to popular dissatisfaction, including dissatisfaction with the results of privatizations in the 1990s, recent protests against falsification of results of 2011 and 2012 parliamentary and presidential elections and the government in general, as well as to demands for autonomy from particular regional and ethnic groups.

Massive popular protests, failure by the government to continue and effectively implement political and economic reforms, changes in the government, conflicts between federal government and regional or local authorities, major policy shifts or lack of consensus between various branches of the government and powerful economic groups could disrupt or reverse economic and regulatory reforms. Any disruption or reversal of reform policies could lead to social, political or governmental instability or the occurrence of conflicts among powerful economic groups, resulting in an adverse impact on Russia’s economy and investment climate, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects and the value of our shares and ADSs.

Corruption and negative publicity could negatively impact our business and the value of our shares and ADSs.

The local press and international press have reported high levels of corruption in Russia, including unlawful demands by government officials and the bribery of government officials for the purpose of initiating investigations by government agencies. Press reports have also described instances in which government officials engaged in selective investigations and prosecutions to further the commercial interests of certain government officials or certain companies or individuals. In addition, there are reports of the Russian media publishing disparaging articles in return for payment. If we, our managers or counterparties are accused of involvement in government corruption, the resulting negative publicity could disrupt our ability to conduct our business and impair our relationships with customers, suppliers and other parties, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and the value of our shares and ADSs.

 

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Shortage of skilled Russian labor could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Currently the Russian labor market suffers from a general shortage of skilled and trained workers, and we compete with other Russian companies to hire and retain such workers. In Russia, the working age population has declined due to a relatively low birth rate at the end of the 1980s and through the early 1990s. In 2012, Rosstat estimated Russia’s population at 143 million, a decline of 5.5 million from 1992. An increase in migration and a reduction in the natural decline of the population recently resulted in a slowdown in the population decrease followed even by some temporary population growth. However, the birth rate remains relatively low, which together with the aging and high mortality of the population are the main problems of Russia’s demographic development. Russia’s working age population is estimated to decline by 10-20 million by 2025. If the present trend continues without a migration inflow to Russia, the decreasing working population will become a barrier to economic growth around 2015, according to the National Human Development Report for the Russian Federation produced by the United Nations Development Program in 2008. A shortage of skilled Russian labor combined with restrictive immigration policies could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Legal risks and uncertainties

Deficiencies in the legal framework relating to subsoil licensing subject our licenses to the risk of governmental challenges and, if our licenses are suspended or terminated, we may be unable to realize our reserves, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Most of the existing subsoil licenses in Russia date from the Soviet era. During the period between the dissolution of the Soviet Union in August 1991 and the enactment of the first post-Soviet subsoil licensing law in the summer of 1992, the status of subsoil licenses and Soviet-era mining operations was unclear, as was the status of the regulatory authority governing such operations. The Russian government enacted the Procedure for Subsoil Use Licensing on July 15, 1992, which came into effect on August 20, 1992 (the “Licensing Regulation”). As was common with legislation of this time, the Licensing Regulation was passed without adequate consideration of transition provisions and contained numerous gaps. In an effort to address the problems in the Licensing Regulation, the Ministry of Natural Resources (the “MNR”) issued ministerial acts and instructions that attempted to clarify and, in some cases, modify the Licensing Regulation. Many of these acts contradicted the law and were beyond the scope of the MNR’s authority, but subsoil licensees had no option but to deal with the MNR in relation to subsoil issues and comply with its ministerial acts and instructions. Thus, it is possible that licenses applied for and/or issued in reliance on the MNR’s acts and instructions could be challenged by the prosecutor general’s office as being invalid. In particular, deficiencies of this nature subject subsoil licensees to selective and arbitrary governmental claims.

Legislation on subsoil rights still remains internally inconsistent and vague, and the regulators’ acts and instructions are often arguably inconsistent with legislation. Subsoil licensees thus continue to face the situation where both failing to comply with the regulator’s acts and instructions and choosing to comply with them places them at the risk of being subject to arbitrary governmental claims, whether by the regulator or the prosecutor general’s office. Our competitors may also seek to deny our rights to develop certain natural resource deposits by challenging our compliance with tender rules and procedures or compliance with license terms.

An existing provision of the law that a license may be suspended or terminated if the licensee does not comply with the “significant” or “material” terms of a license is an example of such a deficiency in the legislation. The MNR (including its successor agency since May 13, 2008, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology) has not issued any interpretive guidance on the meaning of these terms. Similarly, under Russia’s civil law system, court decisions interpreting these terms do not have any precedential value for future cases and, in any event, court decisions in this regard have been inconsistent. These deficiencies result in the regulatory authorities, prosecutors and courts having significant discretion over enforcement and interpretation of the law, which may be used to challenge our subsoil rights selectively and arbitrarily.

 

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Moreover, during the tumultuous period of the transformation of the Russian planned economy into a free market economy in the 1990s, documentation relating to subsoil licenses was not properly maintained in accordance with administrative requirements and, in many cases, was lost or destroyed. Thus, in many cases, although it may be clearly evident that a particular enterprise has mined a licensed subsoil area for decades, the historical documentation relating to its subsoil licenses may be incomplete. If, through governmental or other challenges, our licenses are suspended or terminated we would be unable to realize our reserves, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Weaknesses relating to the Russian legal system and legislation create an uncertain investment climate.

Russia is still developing the legal framework required to support a market economy. The following weaknesses relating to the Russian legal system create an uncertain investment climate and result in risks with respect to our legal and business decisions:

 

   

inconsistencies between and among the Constitution, federal laws, presidential decrees and governmental, ministerial and local orders, decisions, resolutions and other acts;

 

   

conflicting local, regional and federal rules and regulations;

 

   

rapid enactment of many laws and regulations resulting in their ambiguities and inconsistencies;

 

   

the lack of fully developed corporate and securities laws;

 

   

substantial gaps in the regulatory structure due to the delay or absence of implementing legislation;

 

   

the relative inexperience of judges in interpreting legislation and contradictory judicial interpretations of the law;

 

   

the lack of full independence of the judicial system from commercial, political and nationalistic influences;

 

   

difficulty in enforcing court orders;

 

   

a high degree of discretion or arbitrariness on the part of governmental authorities; and

 

   

still-developing bankruptcy procedures that are subject to abuse.

All of these weaknesses could affect our ability to protect our rights under our licenses and under our contracts, or to defend ourselves against claims by others. We make no assurances that regulators, judicial authorities or third parties will not challenge our compliance with applicable laws, decrees and regulations.

One or more of our subsidiaries could be forced into liquidation on the basis of formal non-compliance with certain requirements of Russian law, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Certain provisions of Russian law may allow a court to order liquidation of a Russian legal entity on the basis of its formal non-compliance with certain requirements during formation, reorganization or during its operation. There have been cases in the past in which formal deficiencies in the establishment process of a Russian legal entity or non-compliance with provisions of Russian law have been used by Russian courts as a basis for liquidation of a legal entity. For example, under Russian corporate law, if a Russian company’s net assets calculated on the basis of Russian accounting standards at the end of its third or any subsequent financial year, fall below its share capital, the company must decrease its share capital to the level of its net assets value or initiate a voluntary liquidation. In addition, if a Russian company’s net assets calculated on the basis of Russian accounting standards at the end of its second or any subsequent financial year, fall below the minimum share capital required by law, the company must initiate voluntarily liquidation not later than six months after the end of such financial year. If the company fails to comply with either of the requirements stated above within the prescribed time limits, the company’s creditors may accelerate their claims and demand reimbursement of

 

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applicable damages, and governmental authorities may seek involuntary liquidation of the company. Certain Russian companies have negative net assets due to very low historical asset values reflected on their balance sheets prepared in accordance with Russian accounting standards; however, their solvency, i.e., their ability to pay debts as they become due, is not otherwise adversely affected by such negative net assets. Currently, we have following subsidiaries with negative net assets: IzhevskSotsSfera, UralSotsSfera, CenterSotsSfera, ZapadSotsSfera, Port Kambarka, Metals Recycling, VtorResource-Yuzhny, Thermal Grid Company of Southern Kuzbass, Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant, Management Metallurgical Equipment Repair, Mechel Mining Management, Shakhtspetsstroy, Sky-Extra, Mechel-Remservice, SotsResource, Maritime Cargo Shipping, Mecheltrans Vostok, ZMZ-Energo, Nytva-Energo, Trans-Auto and Lomprom Rostov.

If involuntary liquidation were to occur, then we may be forced to reorganize the operations we currently conduct through the affected subsidiaries. Any such liquidation could lead to additional costs, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Selective government action could have a material adverse effect on the investment climate in Russia and on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects and the value of our shares and ADSs.

Governmental authorities in Russia have a high degree of discretion. Press reports have cited instances of Russian companies and their major shareholders being subjected to government pressure through prosecutions of violations of regulations and legislation which are either politically motivated or triggered by competing business groups.

In mid-2008, Mechel came under public criticism by the Russian government. Repeated statements were made accusing Mechel of using tax avoidance schemes and other improprieties. Ultimately the allegations regarding tax avoidance were not confirmed by the tax authorities, but the antimonopoly investigation resulted in imposition of a fine and issuance of a FAS directive regarding our business practices. See “— Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry — Antimonopoly regulation could lead to sanctions with respect to the subsidiaries we have acquired or established or our prices, sales volumes and business practices” and “Item 8. Financial Information — Litigation — Antimonopoly.”

Selective government action, if directed at us or our controlling shareholder, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects and the value of our shares and ADSs.

Due to still-developing law and practice related to minority shareholder protection in Russia, the ability of holders of our shares and ADSs to bring, or recover in, an action against us may be limited.

In general, minority shareholder protection under Russian law derives from supermajority shareholder approval requirements for certain corporate actions, as well as from the ability of a shareholder to demand that the company purchase the shares held by that shareholder if that shareholder voted against or did not participate in voting on certain types of actions. Companies are also required by Russian law to obtain the approval of disinterested shareholders for certain transactions with interested parties. See “Item 10. Additional Information — Description of Capital Stock — Rights attaching to common shares.” Disclosure and reporting requirements have also been enacted in Russia. Concepts similar to the fiduciary duties of directors and officers to their companies and shareholders are also expected to be further developed in Russian legislation; for example, amendments to the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses imposing administrative liability on members of a company’s board of directors or management board for violations committed in the maintenance of shareholder registers and the convening of general shareholders’ meetings. While these protections are similar to the types of protections available to minority shareholders in U.S. corporations, in practice, the enforcement of these and other protections has not been effective.

The supermajority shareholder approval requirement is met by a vote of 75% of all voting shares that are present at a general shareholders’ meeting. Thus, controlling shareholders owning less than 75% of the

 

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outstanding shares of a company may hold 75% or more of the voting power if enough minority shareholders are not present at the meeting. In situations where controlling shareholders effectively have 75% or more of the voting power at a general shareholders’ meeting, they are in a position to approve amendments to a company’s charter, reorganizations, significant sales of assets and other major transactions, which could be prejudicial to the interests of minority shareholders. See “— Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry — The concentration of our shares with our controlling shareholder will limit your ability to influence corporate matters.”

Shareholder liability under Russian legislation could cause us to become liable for the obligations of our subsidiaries.

The Civil Code of the Russian Federation, as amended (the “Civil Code”), and the Joint-Stock Companies Law generally provide that shareholders in a Russian joint-stock company are not liable for the obligations of the joint-stock company and bear only the risk of loss of their investment. This may not be the case, however, when one entity is capable of determining decisions made by another entity. The entity capable of determining such decisions is deemed an “effective parent.” The entity whose decisions are capable of being so determined is deemed an “effective subsidiary.” Under the Joint-Stock Companies Law, an effective parent bears joint and several responsibility for transactions concluded by the effective subsidiary in carrying out these decisions if:

 

   

this decision-making capability is provided for in the charter of the effective subsidiary or in a contract between such entities; and

 

   

the effective parent gives obligatory directions to the effective subsidiary based on the above-mentioned decision-making capability.

In addition, an effective parent is secondarily liable for an effective subsidiary’s debts if an effective subsidiary becomes insolvent or bankrupt due to the fault of an effective parent resulting from its action or inaction. This is the case no matter how the effective parent’s ability to determine decisions of the effective subsidiary arises. For example, this liability could arise through ownership of voting securities or by contract. Other shareholders of the effective subsidiary may claim compensation for the effective subsidiary’s losses from the effective parent which caused the effective subsidiary to take action or fail to take action knowing that such action or failure to take action would result in losses. Accordingly, we could be liable in some cases for the debts of our subsidiaries. This liability could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Shareholder rights provisions under Russian law could result in significant additional obligations on us.

Russian law provides that shareholders that vote against or do not participate in voting on certain matters have the right to request that the company redeem their shares at value determined in accordance with Russian law. The decisions of a general shareholders’ meeting that trigger this right include:

 

   

decisions with respect to a reorganization;

 

   

the approval by shareholders of a “major transaction,” which, in general terms, is a transaction involving property worth more than 50% of the gross book value of the company’s assets calculated according to Russian accounting standards, regardless of whether the transaction is actually consummated, except for transactions undertaken in the ordinary course of business;

 

   

the amendment of the company’s charter or approval of a new version of the company’s charter that limits shareholder rights; and

 

   

a filing of an application for delisting of the company’s shares or securities convertible into shares.

Our and our Russian subsidiaries’ obligation to purchase shares in these circumstances, which is limited to 10% of our or the subsidiary’s net assets, respectively, calculated in accordance with Russian accounting standards at the time the matter at issue is voted upon, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects due to the need to expend cash on such obligatory share purchases.

 

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The lack of a central and rigorously regulated share registration system in Russia may result in improper record ownership of our shares and ADSs.

Ownership of Russian joint-stock company shares (or, if the shares are held through a nominee or custodian, then the holding of such nominee or custodian) is determined by entries in a share register and is evidenced by extracts from that register. Currently, there is no single central registration system in Russia. Share registers are maintained by the companies themselves or, if a company has more than 50 shareholders, by licensed registrars located throughout Russia. Regulations have been adopted regarding the licensing conditions for such registrars, as well as the procedures to be followed by both companies maintaining their own registers and licensed registrars when performing the functions of registrar. In practice, however, these regulations have not been strictly enforced, and registrars generally have relatively low levels of capitalization and inadequate insurance coverage. Moreover, registrars are not necessarily subject to effective governmental supervision. Due to the lack of a central and rigorously regulated share registration system in Russia, transactions in respect of a company’s shares could be improperly or inaccurately recorded, and share registration could be lost through fraud, negligence or oversight by registrars incapable of compensating shareholders for their misconduct. This creates risks of loss not normally associated with investments in other securities markets. Furthermore, the depositary, under the terms of the deposit agreements governing record keeping and custody of our ADSs, is not liable for the unavailability of shares or for the failure to make any distribution of cash or property with respect thereto due to the unavailability of the shares. See “Item 10. Additional Information — Description of Capital Stock — Registration and transfer of shares.”

Characteristics of and changes in the Russian tax system could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects and the value of our shares and ADSs.

Generally, Russian companies are subject to numerous taxes. These taxes include, among others:

 

   

a profit tax;

 

   

a value-added tax (“VAT”);

 

   

a mineral extraction tax; and

 

   

property and land taxes.

Laws related to these taxes have been in force for a short period relative to tax laws in more developed market economies and few precedents with regard to the interpretation of these laws have been established. Global tax reforms commenced in 1999 with the introduction of Part One of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, as amended (the “Russian Tax Code”), which sets general taxation guidelines. Since then, Russia has been in the process of replacing legislation regulating the application of major taxes such as the corporate profits tax, VAT and property tax with new chapters of the Russian Tax Code.

In practice, the Russian tax authorities generally interpret the tax laws in ways that rarely favor taxpayers, who often have to resort to court proceedings to defend their position against the tax authorities. Events within the Russian Federation suggest that the tax authorities may be taking a more assertive position in their interpretations of the legislation and assessments. Contradictory interpretations of tax regulations exist within government ministries and organizations at the federal, regional and local levels, creating uncertainties and inconsistent enforcement. Tax declarations and documentation such as customs declarations, are subject to review and investigation by relevant authorities, which may impose severe fines, penalties and interest charges. Generally, in an audit, taxpayers are subject to inspection with respect to the three calendar years which immediately preceded the year in which the audit is carried out. Previous audits do not completely exclude subsequent claims relating to the audited period because Russian tax law authorizes upper-level tax inspectorates to re-audit taxpayers which were audited by subordinate tax inspectorates. In addition, on July 14, 2005, the Russian Constitutional Court issued a decision that allows the statute of limitations for tax liabilities to be extended beyond the three-year term set forth in the tax laws if a court determines that a taxpayer has obstructed

 

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or hindered a tax audit. As a result of the fact that none of the relevant terms are defined, tax authorities may have broad discretion to argue that a taxpayer has “obstructed” or “hindered” a tax audit and ultimately seek back taxes and penalties beyond the three year term. In some instances, new tax regulations have been given retroactive effect.

In May 2009, the Russian President proposed legislative changes in his Budget Message regarding the Budget Policy for 2010-2012 to reform the anti-avoidance mechanism of double tax treaties. A law envisaging the introduction of the concept of an ‘actual recipient of income’ to the Russian Tax Code was drafted in late 2009. Although the draft law neither uses the term ‘beneficial owner’ nor defines the term ‘actual recipient of income’ (which is used in Russian official versions of all double taxation treaties), it is likely that the intent of the proposed amendments is to introduce a concept of beneficial ownership in the domestic tax legislation, and to combat the abuse of double taxation treaties where the beneficiaries of income reside in jurisdictions that do not have double taxation treaties with Russia. Furthermore, the Russian government proposed legislative changes to the anti-avoidance mechanism with respect to double tax treaties, as well as creating tax incentives to move organizations from offshore to Russia as set forth in “Main Directions of the Russian Federation Tax Policy for 2011-2013” dated May 2010 and in “Main Directions of the Russian Federation Tax Policy for 2012-2014” dated July 2011. In addition, by its “Main Directions of the Russian Federation Tax Policy for 2013-2015” dated May 2012 the Russian government proposed to introduce a term ‘actual recipient of income’ to the tax legislation. We cannot predict how the above governmental proposals will be implemented in practice, and it is also unclear how, if introduced, it will be interpreted and applied by the tax authorities and/or courts and what effect it may have on taxpayers, including us.

Moreover, on November 16, 2011, the Russian President signed the Law on Amendment of Part One and Part Two of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation in Connection with the Formation of a Combined Taxpayer Group. The main provisions of the law came into force on January 1, 2012. The law provides for formation of a combined taxpayer group for the purposes of profit tax calculation and payment on the basis of the combined business performance of the members of such group. However, the law sets forth a number of requirements for the formation of a combined taxpayer group. Starting from 2013, 16 companies of our group have formed a combined taxpayer group, with Mechel being a responsible party. The formation of the combined taxpayer group will allow us to determine the taxable income with profit and loss offset of all the companies included in the combined taxpayer group and to pay profit tax from total aggregate income under the combined taxpayer group, starting from January 1, 2013.

However, regardless of being a member of the combined taxpayer group or not, Mechel and our Russian subsidiaries pays Russian taxes on dividends they receive from other companies in our group. Intercompany dividends are subject to a withholding tax of 0% or 9% (depending on whether the recipient of dividends qualifies for Russian participation exemption rules) if being distributed to Russian companies, and 15% (or lower, subject to benefits provided by relevant double tax treaties) if being distributed to foreign companies. Dividends from foreign companies to Russian companies are subject to a tax of 9%. Taxes paid in foreign countries by Russian companies may be offset against payment of these taxes in the Russian Federation up to the maximum amount of the Russian tax liability. In order to apply the offset, the company is required to confirm the payment of taxes in the foreign country. The confirmations must be authorized by the tax authority of the foreign country if taxes were paid by the company itself, and the confirmation must be authorized by the tax agent if taxes were withheld by the tax agent under foreign tax law or an international tax agreement.

In addition, application of current Russian thin capitalization rules and the developing negative court practice on such disputes, including at the level of the Presidium of the Supreme Arbitrazh Court of the Russian Federation, may affect our ability to pay interest on loans in full. In particular, taking into account the requirements of Russian law and negative court practice on thin capitalization, it is practicable to withhold as a dividend tax a part of the interest on borrowings of our subsidiaries which are either received from Mechel or received from independent banks and guaranteed by Mechel. In addition, part of interest on these borrowings may not be treated as expenses for tax purposes under certain conditions provided by thin capitalization rules.

 

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The foregoing conditions create tax risks in Russia that are more significant than typically found in countries with more developed tax systems, imposing additional burdens and costs on our operations, including management resources. In addition to our tax burden, these risks and uncertainties complicate our tax planning and related business decisions, potentially exposing us to significant fines and penalties and enforcement measures despite our best efforts at compliance. See also “— Risks Relating to the Russian Federation — Legal risks and uncertainties — Selective government action could have a material adverse effect on the investment climate in Russia and on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects and the value of our shares and ADSs.”

Vaguely drafted Russian transfer pricing rules expose our business to the risk of significant additional liabilities.

Russian transfer pricing rules, effective since 1999, gave Russian tax authorities the right to control prices for transactions between affiliated entities and certain other types of transactions between unrelated parties, such as foreign trade transactions or transactions with significant price fluctuations, if the transaction price deviated by more than 20% from the market price. The Russian transfer pricing rules are vaguely drafted, and are subject to different interpretation by Russian tax authorities and courts. Due to the uncertainties in interpretation of transfer pricing legislation, the tax authorities have challenged in the past and may continue to challenge our prices and make adjustments which could result in significant additional liabilities. For example, as a result of a tax audit in 2009 for the period from 2005 to 2007, Korshunov Mining Plant was subject to an additional tax assessment related to transfer pricing and related fines and penalties in the total amount of 73.3 million rubles for the year 2005. Korshunov Mining Plant contested these claims up to the Supreme Arbitrazh Court but the court rejected our appeals. In June 2011, the tax authorities completed their audit for the period from 2008 to 2009. They found similar violations and issued an additional tax assessment and related fines and penalties in the total amount of 120.5 million rubles. Korshunov Mining Plant is currently contesting these tax assessments in court. See “Item 8. Financial Information — Litigation — Tax.” Under Russian law, tax authorities may audit a company for violations of transfer pricing rules over the last three calendar years preceding the year of the audit. See also “— Characteristics of and changes in the Russian tax system could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects and the value of our shares and ADSs.”

In July 2011, Russian transfer pricing legislation was substantially amended. The new rules entered into force on January 1, 2012. The new rules require taxpayers to notify the tax authorities on controlled transactions that are performed from January 1, 2012. Controlled transactions mean any transactions between related parties both domestic and cross-border as well as certain transactions between unrelated parties. The tax legislation eliminated the existing 20% safe harbor for price deviations. The rules also introduce specific documentation requirements for proving market prices. We cannot predict now what effect the new transfer pricing rules will have on our business. If the tax authorities impose significant additional tax assessments as a result of transfer pricing adjustments and we are unable to successfully challenge them in court, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Expansion of limitations on foreign investment in strategic sectors could affect our ability to attract and/or retain foreign investments.

On April 29, 2008, the Federal Law “On the Procedure for Foreign Investment in Companies with Strategic Impact on the National Defense and Security of the Russian Federation” was adopted. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — Regulatory Matters — The Strategic Industries Law.”

As our subsidiary Southern Urals Nickel Plant carries out exploration and production on land plots with nickel and cobalt ore deposits which are included in the official list of subsoil plots of federal importance first published on March 5, 2009 in the Russian official newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta and as amended on August 13, 2010 (the “Strategic Subsoil List”), it qualifies as a Strategic Company and is subject to special regulation. Our subsidiaries Port Posiet, Port Kambarka and Port Temryuk are included in the register of natural monopolies, and therefore are also Strategic Companies.

 

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According to the Strategic Industries Law, the activity of a business entity which is deemed to occupy a dominant position in the production and sale of metals and alloys with special features which are used in production of weapons and military equipment is also deemed to be strategic activity. Our subsidiary Urals Stampings Plant produces and sells carbon, alloyed and heat-resistant alloyed stampings. Such products are of a type generally used in the production of weapons and military equipment. Therefore, Urals Stampings Plant may also qualify as a Strategic Company. Furthermore, entities producing and distributing industrial explosives are also deemed to be Strategic Companies. Thus, our subsidiaries Yakutugol, Vzryvprom and Korshunov Mining Plant also qualify as Strategic Companies, as they both hold licenses to produce industrial explosives and licenses to distribute industrial explosives.

Therefore, any transfer, directly or indirectly, to a foreign investor or its group of entities (except for the transfer to a foreign investor controlled by the Russian Federation and/or Russian nationals provided such Russian nationals are Russian tax residents and do not have dual nationality) of a stake, or certain rights, in Port Posiet, Port Kambarka, Port Temryuk, Southern Urals Nickel Plant, Yakutugol, Vzryvprom, Korshunov Mining Plant and, possibly, Urals Stampings Plant, which, according to the Strategic Industries Law, is deemed to transfer control, as described in “Item 4. Information on the Company — Regulatory Matters — The Strategic Industries Law,” will be subject to prior approval from the state authorities. Likewise, a sale to a foreign investor or its group of entities of a stake in Mechel which provides control (as defined in the Strategic Industries Law) over Port Posiet, Port Kambarka, Port Temryuk, Southern Urals Nickel Plant, Yakutugol, Vzryvprom, Korshunov Mining Plant and, potentially, Urals Stampings Plant, will also be subject to prior approval in accordance with the Strategic Industries Law.

In addition, in case a foreign investor or its group of entities which is a holder of securities of Port Posiet, Port Kambarka, Port Temryuk, Southern Urals Nickel Plant, Yakutugol, Vzryvprom, Korshunov Mining Plant and, potentially, Urals Stampings Plant, becomes a holder of voting shares in amount which is considered to give them direct or indirect control over these companies in accordance with the Strategic Industries Law due to the allocation of voting shares as a result of certain corporate procedures provided by Russian law (e.g., as a result of a buy-back by the relevant company of its shares, conversion of preferred shares into common shares, or holders of preferred shares becoming entitled to vote at a general shareholders meeting in cases provided under Russian law), such shareholders will have to apply for approval within three months after they acquired such control.

In this connection, there is a risk that the requirement to receive prior or subsequent approvals and the risk of not being granted such approvals might affect our ability to attract foreign investments, create joint ventures with foreign partners with respect to our companies that qualify as Strategic Companies or effect restructuring of our group which might, in turn, materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Risks Relating to Other Countries Where We Operate

We face risks similar to those in Russia in other countries of the former Soviet Union and former Soviet-bloc countries in Eastern and Central Europe.

We currently have a wire products plant in Lithuania, a steel mill in Ukraine and two mining projects in Kazakhstan. We may acquire additional operations in countries of the former Soviet Union, former Soviet-bloc countries in Eastern and Central Europe or elsewhere. As with Russia, those countries are emerging markets subject to greater political, economic, social, tax and legal risks than more developed markets. In many respects, the risks inherent in transacting business in these countries are similar to those in Russia, especially those risks set out above in “— Economic risks,” “— Political and social risks” and “— Legal risks and uncertainties.”

New regulatory requirements for obtaining certain permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act may result in delays, additional costs or the inability to proceed with certain U.S. mining operations.

For some of our proposed U.S. mining operations, we will need to obtain certain permits issued by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) under the Clean Water Act § 404 (“404 Permits”). Such

 

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permits are required in order to undertake construction of valley fills, coal refuse disposal areas, and other activities associated with those operations that would have the effect of filling (covering) ephemeral, intermittent or perennial streams. Since approximately 2003, the Corps’ issuance of 404 Permits for coal-related fill projects (especially large-scale surface mines) has been the subject of continual litigation and other challenges by environmental groups, resulting in several court opinions that had the effect of substantially restricting issuance of such permits and curtailing coal production.

On June 11, 2009, the EPA, Corps, and other U.S. agencies with control over this permitting program issued a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) that identified several steps that will be taken as to pending and future 404 Permit applications, in order to implement an “Enhanced Coordinated Review Process” for the purpose of significantly reducing the harmful environmental consequences of Appalachian surface coal mining operations. The EPA followed up on the MOU by releasing its Financial Guidance on Improving EPA Review of Appalachian Surface Coal Mining Operations under the Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and the Environmental Executive Justice Order on July 21, 2011. The EPA’s final guidance replaced interim guidance released on April 1, 2010. Since release of the MOU and the other guidance documents, few 404 Permits have been issued, and each of those permits that were issued included modifications to the proposed mining plan and additional environmental monitoring provisions that require adaptive management and revisions to mine plans should certain indicia of harm to the aquatic system be observed. Companies with 404 Permit applications that have been pending for a year or longer are currently required to engage in meetings with Corps and EPA staff before those applications are submitted for further processing, and the timeline for issuance of such permits is uncertain. It is also widely expected that some of those permit applications will be denied, or that the EPA will exercise its Clean Water Act veto authority over some 404 Permits that are issued by the Corps. For example, in January 2011, the EPA for the first time exercised its veto power by rescinding a federal Clean Water Act permit held by another coal mining company for a surface mine in Appalachia.

In addition, partly in response to regulatory turmoil created by the EPA’s involvement in the U.S. Clean Water Act 404 and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) permitting programs, in August 2010, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (“WVDEP”) issued its “Permitting Guidance for Surface Coal Mining Operations to Protect West Virginia’s Narrative Water Quality Standards” (“WVDEP Narrative WQS Implementation Guidance”). The basic narrative water quality standard that this Guidance seeks to implement requires that no significant adverse impact to the chemical, physical, hydrologic, or biological components of aquatic ecosystems shall be allowed. The WVDEP Narrative WQS Implementation Guidance sets forth detailed, lengthy procedures for determining whether a proposed NPDES discharge has a “reasonable potential” to cause a violation of this narrative standard, and if so, the permit conditions that should be imposed to assure that no such violations occur. The interpretation and application of this guidance in the future may, in turn, be affected by the EPA’s activities mentioned above.

Although we have no immediate need for new 404 Permits to continue our current U.S. mining operations in the short term, some of our future mine plans (including the continuation of existing mines) will require the issuance of such permits to proceed. Whether the regulatory environment will be such that 404 Permits for those projects may be expected to be issued in a timely manner, in the form required for such plans to be implemented, is difficult to predict. Our inability to obtain such permits or any unexpected delay or additional costs incurred in connection with securing such permits could have a material adverse effect on the financial performance of our U.S. coal mining operations.

The cost and availability of reliable transportation could negatively impact our U.S. coal mining operations.

The availability and cost of reliable transportation for our U.S. coal is a critical factor in a customer’s purchasing decision. Increases in transportation costs could make coal a less competitive source of energy or could make our coal production less competitive than coal produced from other sources.

 

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Our U.S. mines depend on a single railroad carrier, Norfolk Southern. We also have the ability to export coal through the port of New Orleans on the Gulf of Mexico by trucking coal to a river terminal followed by barging via the Mississippi River.

Disruptions to railway transport caused by weather-related problems, flooding, drought, accidents, mechanical difficulties, strikes, lockouts, bottlenecks, and other events could temporarily impair our ability to supply coal to our customers. For example, the snowfall in the winter of 2009-2010, which was the heaviest in the last decade, caused delays in our supplies of coal to customers. Furthermore, improvement works carried on at the Norfolk and Southern Hartland Corridor Tunnel caused delays in railcar deliveries to our mines for up to four days. In addition, after Norfolk Southern made certain cuts in equipment and personnel during the economic slowdown in 2009, it is currently facing difficulties in building up its transportation capacity to meet the increasing demand for railcars.

Similar risks exist in the logistical chain to New Orleans. The 2011 record-breaking flooding of the Mississippi River and its tributaries caused weeks of delay resulting in force majeure conditions. Although we did not miss any shipments, our customers have had to reschedule vessels affecting delivery timelines and inventory levels. In addition, we face labor and fuel cost issues which can adversely affect the truck-haul element of this logistical chain. Transportation providers may face increased regulation or other difficulties in the future that may impair our ability to supply coal to our customers at a competitive cost. If there are disruptions of the transportation services and we are unable to make alternative arrangements to ship our coal, the financial performance of our U.S. coal mining operations could be materially adversely affected.

Defects in title or loss of any leasehold interests in our U.S. properties could limit our ability to conduct mining operations or result in significant cost increases.

We conduct a significant part of our mining operations in the United States on properties that we lease. A title defect or the loss of any lease could adversely affect our ability to mine the associated reserves. In addition, from time to time the rights of third parties for competing uses of adjacent, overlying, or underlying lands such as for oil and gas activity, coalbed methane, production, pipelines, roads, easements and public facilities may affect our ability to operate as planned if our title is not superior or alternative arrangements cannot be negotiated. Title to much of our leased properties and fee mineral rights is not usually verified until we make a commitment to develop a property, which may not occur until after we have obtained necessary permits and completed exploration of the property. Our right to mine some of our reserves may be adversely affected if defects in title or boundaries exist or competing interests cannot be resolved. In order to obtain leases or other rights to conduct our mining operations on property where these defects exist, we may incur unexpected costs or be compelled to leave un-mined the affected reserves, resulting in a material adverse effect on the financial performance of our U.S. coal mining operations.

A shortage of skilled labor in the mining industry could negatively impact the profitability of our U.S. coal mining operations.

Efficient coal mining using modern techniques and equipment requires skilled workers. Ideally, we seek to hire individuals with sufficient level of experience to ensure a minimum level of operational efficiency. In recent years, the U.S. coal mining industry has faced a shortage of skilled workers, thus increasing costs and decreasing productivity. In particular, we are facing difficulties in recruiting skilled workers at our underground operations. Furthermore, the competition from neighboring mining companies for attracting skilled workers is significant. In the event the shortage of experienced labor continues or worsens, it could have an adverse impact on our labor productivity and costs and our ability to expand production in the event there is an increase in the demand for our coal.

The Bluestone companies are subject to extensive U.S. laws, government regulations and other requirements relating to the protection of the environment, health and safety and other matters and face a highly litigious environment.

Like other mining businesses in the United States, our Bluestone companies are subject to a wide range of rules and regulations, including those governing water discharges, air emissions, the management, treatment,

 

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storage, disposal and transportation of hazardous materials and waste, protection of plants, wildlife and other natural resources, worker health and safety, reclamation and restoration of properties after mining activities cease, surface subsidence from underground mining, blasting operations, noise, the effects of mining on surface water and groundwater quality and availability, and reporting and recordkeeping. Violations of these requirements can result in fines, penalties, required facility upgrades or operational changes, suspension or revocation of permits and, in severe cases, temporary or permanent shut-down of our mines. We incur substantial costs in order to comply with governmental regulations that apply to our operations in the United States.

We could also become subject to investigation or cleanup obligations, or related third-party personal injury or property damage claims, in connection with on-site or off-site contamination issues or other non-compliance with U.S. regulatory requirements. In particular, under the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA” or commonly known as the “Superfund law”) and analogous state laws, current and former property owners and operators, as well as hazardous waste generators, arrangers and transporters, can be held liable for investigation and cleanup costs at properties where there has been a “release” or “threatened release” of hazardous substances. Such laws can also require so-called “potentially responsible parties” to fund the restoration of damaged natural resources or agree to restrictions on future uses of impacted properties.

Liability under such laws can be strict, joint, several and retroactive. Accordingly, we could theoretically incur material liability (whether as a result of government enforcement, private contribution claims or private personal injury or property damage claims) for known or unknown liabilities at (or caused by migrations from or hazardous waste shipped from) any of our current or former facilities or properties, including those owned or operated by our predecessors or third parties or at third party disposal sites. In addition, lawsuits by employees, customers, suppliers and other private parties may be costly to defend and could lead to judgments for damages.

Currently, four of the 45 NPDES permits for our Bluestone operations are pending renewal with the EPA. These permits have been administratively extended for a period of six months and currently Bluestone is not prevented from mining coal. However, should these permits remain unrenewed after the six-month period expires in 2013, there is a significant risk that such permits will be withdrawn and production at some of the Bluestone operations may be suspended for an indefinite period of time.

Changes in U.S. regulations and the passage of new legislation in the United States could materially adversely affect the Bluestone companies’ operations, increase our costs or limit our ability to produce and sell coal in the United States.

New legislation, regulations and rules adopted or implemented in the future (or changes in interpretations of existing laws and regulations) may materially adversely affect our U.S. operations. Some U.S. commentators expect that the current U.S. administration could implement policies or sponsor legislation that will make the production and/or consumption of coal in the United States more expensive and create additional regulatory burdens, and it remains unclear whether this will affect the business and prospects of the Bluestone companies. In particular, future regulation of greenhouse gases in the United States could occur pursuant to future treaty obligations, statutory or regulatory changes under the U.S. Clean Air Act, federal or state adoption of a greenhouse gas regulatory scheme, or otherwise. In May 2010, the EPA finalized its Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule establishing criteria that define when permits under the New Source Review Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V operating permit programs are required for new and existing industrial facilities. This final rule “tailors” the requirements of the Clean Air Act permitting programs to phase in various greenhouse gas related requirements over time. The EPA has also announced plans to establish greenhouse gas standards under the Clean Air Act for fossil fuel fired power plants. In addition, we are required to report to the EPA our annual greenhouse gas emissions from certain of our operations. Many states and regions have undertaken greenhouse gas initiatives, including cap-and-trade programs.

These and other potential U.S. federal, state and regional climate change rules will likely require additional controls on coal-fueled power plants, industrial boilers and manufacturing operations, and may even cause some

 

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users of coal to switch from coal to a lower carbon fuel. There can be no assurance at this time that a carbon dioxide cap-and-trade program, a carbon tax or other regulatory regime, if implemented, will not affect the future market for coal in the regions where we operate and reduce the demand for coal.

Furthermore, surface and underground mining are subject to increasing regulation, including pursuant to the federal MINER Act, blast survey and monitoring restrictions, and requirements by the Corps and the U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Surface Mining, which may require us to incur additional costs. Recent underground mining accidents in the United States, culminating in a mine explosion in West Virginia that killed 29 miners in April 2010, have resulted in calls by government officials for the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration to intensify its oversight and enforcement of mine safety, and to impose increasingly punitive measures against mining companies that violate mine safety laws, including, where necessary, closure of hazardous mines. For example, federal and West Virginia authorities have generally been conducting enhanced inspections of coal mines for various safety concerns. Increased oversight, enforcement and regulation of mine safety could cause us to incur increased compliance costs, some of which could be material.

We must obtain, maintain and comply with numerous U.S. governmental permits and approvals for our operations in the United States, which can be costly and time consuming, and our failure to obtain, renew or comply with necessary permits and approvals could negatively impact our business.

Numerous governmental permits and approvals are required for our U.S. coal mining operations and obtaining these permits can take a substantial amount of time. For example, it typically takes up to 18 months to obtain all required permits for new underground operations and up to four years for new surface mine operations. Many of our permits are subject to renewal from time to time, and renewed permits may contain more restrictive conditions than existing permits. In addition, violations of our permits may occur from time to time, permits we need may not be issued or, if issued, may not be issued in a timely fashion.

We may be subject to significant mine reclamation and closure obligations with respect to our U.S. coal mining operations.

The U.S. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (“SMCRA”) and counterpart state rules establish operational, reclamation and closure standards for all aspects of surface mining in the United States, as well as many aspects of underground mining. Our estimated reclamation and mine closure obligations could change significantly if actual amounts (which are dependent on a number of variables, including estimated future retirement costs, estimated proven reserves and assumptions involving profit margins, inflation rates and interest rates) differ significantly from our assumptions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Extensive environmental regulation in the United States, including the Clean Air Act and similar state and local laws, affect our U.S. customers and could reduce the demand for coal as a fuel source and cause our sales to decline.

The U.S. Clean Air Act and similar state and local laws extensively regulate the amount of sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, mercury and other compounds that are emitted into the air from power plants and other sources. Stricter regulation of such emissions could increase the cost of using coal in the United States, reducing demand and make it a less attractive fuel alternative for future planning.

For example, in order to meet the Clean Air Act limits on sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants, coal users may need to install scrubbers, use sulfur dioxide emission allowances (some of which they may purchase), blend high sulfur coal with low sulfur coal or switch to other fuels. Furthermore, some of the EPA’s initiatives to reduce sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide and mercury emissions have been the subject of litigation in recent years, and there is continued uncertainty over lawsuits by environmental groups and other public resistance during the initial permitting process for new coal-fired power plants, which has had a chilling effect on the construction of such plants. This increasing focus on power plant emissions could adversely impact the demand for coal.

 

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To the extent compliance with these laws and regulations and any new or proposed requirements affect our customers in the United States, an important market for the Bluestone companies, this could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Mining in the Northern and Central Appalachian region of the United States is more complex and involves more regulatory constraints than in other U.S. geographic areas.

The geological characteristics of Northern and Central Appalachian coal reserves, such as depth of overburden and coal seam thickness, make them complex and costly to mine. As such mines become depleted, replacement reserves may not be available when required or, if available, may not be capable of being mined at costs comparable to those characteristic of the depleting mines. In addition, as compared to mines in other areas such as in the western United States, permitting, licensing and other environmental and regulatory requirements are more costly and time consuming to satisfy. These factors could materially adversely affect the mining operations and cost structures of, and customers’ ability to use coal produced by, operators in Northern and Central Appalachia, including our Bluestone companies.

Item 4. Information on the Company

Overview

We are a vertically integrated group with revenues of $11.3 billion in 2012, $12.5 billion in 2011 and $9.7 billion in 2010, with operations organized into four industrial segments: mining, steel, ferroalloys and power, each of which has a managing company that performs the functions of respective executive management bodies of the companies within the segment, as described below.

Our group includes a number of logistical and marketing companies that help us to deliver and market our mining products, manufactured steel goods and ferroalloy products. We have freight seaports in Russia on the Sea of Japan (Port Posiet) and on the Sea of Azov (Port Temryuk) and a freight river port on the Kama River, a tributary of the Volga River in central Russia (Port Kambarka). We have a freight railcar and locomotives pool, and, in December 2011, we finished laying track for the rail line to our Elga coal deposit in the Sakha Republic, providing it with rail access.

We have a network of overseas subsidiaries, branches, warehouses, service centers and agents to market our products internationally, and we have a Russian domestic steel retail and service subsidiary with 68 regional offices as of December 31, 2012.

Mechel OAO is an open joint-stock company incorporated under the laws of the Russian Federation. From the date of our incorporation on March 19, 2003 until July 19, 2005, our corporate name was Mechel Steel Group OAO. We conduct our business through a number of subsidiaries. We are registered with the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation under main state registration number (OGRN) 1037703012896. Our principal executive offices are located at Krasnoarmeyskaya Street, 1, Moscow 125993, Russian Federation. Our telephone number is +7 495 221 8888. Our Internet addresses are www.mechel.com and www.mechel.ru. Information posted on our website is not a part of this document. We have appointed C T Corporation System, located at 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011, as our authorized agent upon which process may be served for any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to our shares, ADSs or the deposit agreements.

Mining Segment

Our mining segment produces metallurgical and steam coal, as well as iron ore, coke and limestone.

The segment primarily consists of our coal, iron ore and coke production facilities in Russia and the U.S. It also includes limestone operations and certain transportation and logistics facilities and engineering operations.

 

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Our subsidiary Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and its subsidiaries operate coal mines located in the Kuznetsky basin, near Mezhdurechensk in Western Siberia. These mines include four open pit mines and three underground mines. Another our subsidiary, Yakutugol, operates coal mines located in the Sakha Republic in Eastern Siberia, consisting of three open pit mines and one underground mine. Yakutugol also holds subsoil licenses for three iron ore deposits, located in close proximity to its coal mining operations. Our Bluestone subsidiaries operate three mining complexes in West Virginia, United States, consisting of open pit and underground mines. Our mining segment also provides coal washing services to our coal mining subsidiaries.

Korshunov Mining Plant operates two open pit iron ore mines and a washing plant located near Zheleznogorsk-Ilimsky, a town in the Irkutsk region in Eastern Siberia.

The mining segment also produces significant amounts of coke, both for use by our subsidiaries in the steel segment and for sales to third parties. We have the flexibility to supply our own steel mills with our mining products or to sell such mining products to third parties, depending on price differentials between local suppliers and foreign and domestic customers.

In April 2008, we established Mechel Mining, a wholly-owned subsidiary, in which we consolidated coal, iron ore and coke assets of our mining segment (Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, Korshunov Mining Plant, Yakutugol, Bluestone, Moscow Coke and Gas Plant and Mechel Coke and certain other companies).

Mechel Mining Management, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mechel Mining, acts as the sole executive body of our subsidiaries in the mining segment.

Steel Segment

Our steel segment produces and sells semi-finished steel products, carbon and special steel long products, carbon and stainless flat products and high value-added metal products, including wire products, stampings and forgings.

Our steel production facilities in Russia include one integrated steel mill, one steel-making mill, a wire products plant and forgings and stampings mills in the southern Ural Mountains, a wire products plant in northwestern Russia near the border with Finland. Outside of Russia, our steel production facilities are in the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Lithuania.

Mechel-Steel Management, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mechel, acts as the sole executive body of our main subsidiaries in the steel segment.

Our steel segment also includes our distribution network in Russia and abroad, which consists of Mechel Service Global, and its subsidiaries in Russia, the CIS, Europe and Turkey.

Ferroalloys Segment

Our ferroalloys segment produces and sells low-ferrous ferronickel, ferrochrome and ferrosilicon. We have owned the Southern Urals Nickel Plant (a nickel mining and production operation) since 2001. We acquired Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant (a ferrosilicon producer) in 2007. In April 2008, we acquired a 99.3% stake in Oriel Resources and subsequently increased our stake to 100%. The assets acquired with Oriel Resources included Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant, a ferrochrome producer located near St. Petersburg, as well as the Voskhod chrome and Shevchenko nickel projects in Kazakhstan.

In October 2008, we completed the consolidation of our ferroalloy assets in Oriel Resources. Oriel Resources now owns a 100% interest in Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant, an 84.06% interest in Southern Urals Nickel Plant and a 100% interest in Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant and licenses for the Voskhod chrome and the Shevchenko nickel deposits in Kazakhstan. Mechel Ferroalloys Management, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oriel Resources, acts as the sole executive body of our subsidiaries in the ferroalloys segment.

 

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Power Segment

The power segment was formed in April 2007, when we acquired a controlling interest in Southern Kuzbass Power Plant located in Kaltan in the Kemerovo region, and it sells electricity and capacity to the wholesale market, as well as supplies electricity within our group. In June 2007, we acquired a controlling interest in Kuzbass Power Sales Company, the largest power distribution company in the Kemerovo region. Our power segment enables us to market high value-added products made from our steam coal, such as electricity and heat energy, and to increase the electric power self-sufficiency of our mining and steel segments. Mechel Energo acts as the sole executive body of Southern Kuzbass Power Plant and Kuzbass Power Sales Company in our power segment.

 

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LOGO

 

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Competitive Strengths

Our main competitive strengths are the following:

Leading mining and metals group by production volume with strong positions in key businesses

We are a leading coking coal producer and international coking coal exporter by volume in Russia.

According to AME Mineral Economics (Hong Kong) Ltd. (“AME”), we were the tenth largest metallurgical coal exporter in the world in 2012.

In 2012, we were the largest coking coal producer in Russia with a 20.0% market share in the coking coal market in Russia by production volume, according to the Central Dispatching Department of Fuel and Energy Complex (“Central Dispatching Department”), a Russian information agency reporting on the fuel and energy industry. In 2012, our export sales of coking coal were the largest by volume among Russian companies, according to RasMin OOO (“RasMin”), a private information and research company focusing on the coal mining industry.

We have a large coal reserve base and a full-range offering of high-quality coal for blast furnace steel producers.

Our total coal reserves, accounted as per the SEC Industry Guide 7, amounted to 3,215.2 million tonnes as of December 31, 2012.

Our coal reserves allow us to supply steel producers and coke makers globally with a full range of coal grades to make quality metallurgical coke or to use in PCI-assisted and sintering-assisted steel manufacturing. In particular, Southern Kuzbass Coal Company produces semi-hard and semi-soft coking coal, as well as PCI and anthracite. Most of the coking coal grades of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company are sold in Russia, while PCI and anthracite are exported. Yakutugol produces low-volatile hard coking coal used by customers both in the Asia-Pacific region and in Ukraine, while our Bluestone coal assets produce low, medium and high-volatile hard coking coal used predominantly by customers in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific region and South America. The ability to serve our customers throughout the world with a broad range of metallurgical coal grades gives us a competitive advantage in winning new sales markets and establishing long-term relationships with the customers.

By volume we are Russia’s second largest producer of special steel and long steel products and Russia’s largest producer of wire products.

According to Metal Expert, a source for global and steel and raw materials market news and analytics, in 2012, we were Russia’s second largest producer of long steel products (excluding square billets) by production volume, second largest producer of reinforcement bars (rebar), largest producer of wire rod and largest producer of wire products. Our long steel products business has particularly benefited from the increased infrastructure and construction activity in Russia over the last 10 years. Our share of Russia’s total production volume of rebar in 2012 was approximately 21.2%, according to Metal Expert. According to Metal Expert and Chermet, a Russian ferrous metals industry association (“Chermet”), we are Russia’s second largest producer of special steel by production volume, accounting for 20.0% of Russia’s total special steel output in 2012. Our product range in special steel is broader and more comprehensive than other Russian producers, giving us an added advantage in our markets. According to Prommetiz, we are Russia’s largest producer of wire products by production volume, accounting for 36.1% of Russia’s total wire products output in 2012. Our product range in wire products is broader than other Russian producers and allows to cover all needs of customers, giving us an added advantage in our markets.

 

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High degree of vertical integration

Our steel segment is able to source almost all its raw materials from our group companies, which provides a hedge against supply interruptions and market volatility.

We believe that our internal supplies of coke, iron ore concentrate and ferroalloys give us advantages over other steel producers, such as higher stability of operations, better quality control of end products, reduced production costs, improved flexibility and planning latitude in the production of our steel and value-added steel products and the ability to respond quickly to market demands and cycles. In 2012, we were fully self-sufficient with respect to coke and 93% self-sufficient with respect to ferroalloys. In 2012, we internally sourced 83% of the nickel, 100% of the ferrosilicon and 83% of the ferrochrome requirements of our steel segment. In 2012, we satisfied approximately 21% of our electricity needs internally. In 2012, we were 8% self-sufficient with respect to iron ore concentrate due to redirection of our iron ore concentrate supplies for export. We believe that the level of our self-sufficiency in raw materials gives our steel business a competitive advantage.

We view our ability to source our inputs internally not only as a hedge against potential supply interruptions, but as a hedge against market volatility. From an operational perspective, since our mining, ferroalloy and power assets produce the same type of inputs that our manufacturing facilities use, we are less dependent on third party vendors and less susceptible to supply bottlenecks. From a financial perspective, this also means that if the market prices of our steel segment’s inputs rise, putting pressure on steel segment margins, the margins of our mining, ferroalloys and power segments will tend to increase. Similarly, while decreases in commodity prices tend to reduce revenues in mining and ferroalloys segments, they also create an opportunity for increased margins in our steel business.

Furthermore, we work on improving the quality of our steel products and reducing the costs for raw materials. Depending on prevailing market conditions, we evaluate the efficiency of use of our own raw materials or raw materials purchased from third parties, which allows us to generate additional income.

The ability to internally source our materials also gives us better market insight when we negotiate with our outside suppliers and improves our ability to manage our raw materials costs.

Our logistics capability allows us to better manage infrastructure bottlenecks, to market our products to a broader range of customers and to reduce our reliance on trade intermediaries.

We are committed to maximum efficiency in delivering goods to consumers and have been actively developing our own logistics network. Using our own transportation capacity enables us to save costs as we are less exposed to market fluctuations in transportation prices and are able to establish flexible delivery schedules that are convenient for our customers. Our logistics capacities are currently comprised of two seaports and a river port, as well as a transport operations company, Mecheltrans, which manages the rail transportation of our products and carries out the overall coordination of our sea and rail transportation logistics for our products. Mecheltrans not only transports our products but also provides transportation services to third parties.

We own two seaports and a river port and we have our own rail rolling stock. Port Posiet in the Russian Far East, on the Sea of Japan, allows us easy access to the Asia-Pacific seaborne markets and provides a delivery terminal for the coal mined by our subsidiary Yakutugol in Yakutia. We are in the process of upgrading Port Posiet, which upon completion in 2014 will enable us to expand the cargo-handling capacity of the port up to 9.0 million tonnes per year and to accommodate Panamax ships, which will increase its attractiveness and utility as an export port for large volumes of coal. Port Temryuk on the Sea of Azov, an inlet of the Black Sea basin, is primarily used for coal and metal transshipment and provides us access to the fast-growing economies of the Black Sea basin and beyond. Port Kambarka on the Kama River in the Republic of Udmurtia (a Russian administrative region also known as Udmurtia) is connected to the Volga River basin and the Caspian Sea, as well as by canal to the Don River and the Baltic Sea. As of December 31, 2012, our subsidiary Mecheltrans owned and leased 8,454 rail freight cars that we use to ship our products.

 

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On June 23, 2008, pursuant to the terms of our subsoil license for the Elga coal deposit we began construction of a private rail line, which we own and control subject to applicable regulation. In December 2011, we finished laying track for the rail line in accordance with the terms of the license. The 321 kilometer-long rail line is now in operation and we are able to use it for transportation of coal currently produced at the Elga deposit. The rail line connects the Elga coal deposit with the Baikal-Amur Mainline (at the Ulak railway station), which, in turn, provides access to the Russian rail network, in general, and Pacific Ocean ports, in particular. We will further develop the rail line to increase its capacity in line with our subsoil license requirements and coal production plans. We anticipate that the Elga rail line will not only provide an avenue for delivery of coal produced at the Elga coal deposit, but will eventually serve as the transport route for coal, iron ore and other raw materials mined in adjacent deposits.

One of the lowest-cost metallurgical coal producers

According to AME, our Russian metallurgical coal operations are in the first and second quartiles of the global cash cost curve (FOB basis). Approximately 90% of our coking coal production is mined from open pit mines, which we believe is one of the highest rates among our major Russian competitors. Open pit coal mining is generally considered safer, cheaper and faster than the underground method of mining. Most of our mines and processing facilities have long and established operating histories. We view strict cost management and increases in productivity as fundamental aspects of our day-to-day operations, and continually reassess and improve the efficiency of our mining operations.

Strategically positioned to supply key growth markets

Our mining and logistical assets are well-positioned to expand sales to both Atlantic and Asia-Pacific seaborne markets.

Eastern Siberian coal mines of Yakutugol and its Elga coal deposit, which are part of our mining segment, are strategically located and will enable us to expand exports of our products to key Asian markets. Yakutugol is located within the shortest distance among Russian coking coal producers to Port Posiet and Port Vanino in the Russian Far East. We view the proximity of these mining and logistical assets to key fast-growing economies as a key competitive advantage which allows us to diversify our sales, provides us with additional growth opportunities and acts as a hedge in the event of a decrease in demand from customers in Russia. Moreover, due to our integration, experience and location in Russia, which has some of the largest deposits of coal and iron ore in the world, we are better positioned than many of our international competitors to secure future production growth.

Our coal mining operations carried out through the Bluestone companies are situated in West Virginia, just 400 miles from the deep-water port in Norfolk, Virginia and in relative proximity to Baltimore and New Orleans. Historically, the Bluestone companies’ key markets have been in North America, and in recent years, they have expanded their sales to Europe and Asia. Due to certain restrictions under the Clean Water Act regulation, we plan to maintain current production volumes and to focus on cost control. For more information on the Clean Water Act see “— U.S. Environmental, Health, Safety and Related Regulation.”

Our steel mills are well-positioned to supply Russian infrastructure projects.

Russia is our core steel market and we have significant domestic market shares in all our key special steel and rolled long products lines. We believe we have established a strong reputation and brand image for Mechel within Russia, just as we have with our international customers. The location of a number of our core steel segment assets in the southern Urals positions us advantageously, from a geographical and logistical perspective, to serve the areas in the west of the Urals where Russia’s construction industry is most active. The construction industry has been a major source of our revenue and we have captured a large portion of the market. According to Metal Expert, our share of Russia’s total production volume of construction rebar in 2012 was approximately 21.2%.

 

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Established distribution and sales platform

We currently have in total 172 storage sites and service centers in Russia, the CIS, Europe and Turkey that provide services to more than 26,000 customers. Our Mechel Service Global distribution platform in Russia has 83 storage sites in 68 cities throughout Russia to serve a broad range of end customers. Eighteen of these facilities provide a number of value-added services to our customers, including bending and cutting of rebars, cutting and uncoiling of steel ropes, production of wire mesh and cutting of sheet steel, which allows us to improve service quality for small companies and individuals, as well as to obtain additional margins. By using our own production equipment we increased the share of processed products to 34% of the total sales of European companies of Mechel Service Global in 2012.

Our direct access to end customers through the provision of value-added services allows us to obtain real-time market intelligence, improve production planning at our steel facilities, sell more value-added products by addressing specific customer needs and further diversify our customer base.

Mechel Service Global sales accounted for 52.9% of our steel segment sales and 31.9% of our total sales in 2012. More than 91% of Mechel Service Global sales were sold domestically. Sales to companies within our group accounted for 2.5% of total sales of Mechel Service Global (including intra-group sales) in 2012.

In 2013, following the refocusing of our strategy in the steel segment on the domestic market and the gradual withdrawal of production from Europe we plan to optimize the distribution network of Mechel Service Global in order to preserve the link between production and sales. The optimization will entail a sale or closure of some of our European service centers and warehouses, keeping only those which offer a direct synergy between our Russian-based manufacturing and our consumer markets in Europe, largely related to the special steel sales. The distribution platform in Russia and the CIS will also undergo a restructuring, though at a lesser scale.

We also have a non-retail sales and distribution network represented by our Swiss subsidiaries Mechel Trading and Mechel Carbon with representative offices in various countries. In September 2011, Mechel Carbon and Somani Group established Mechel Somani Carbon Private Limited, a joint venture engaged in distribution of metallurgical coals on the Indian market. In January 2012, we established Mechel Carbon Singapore to cover marketing and sales activities in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific market. This network facilitated sales constituting 31.0% of our total sales in 2012, reducing our reliance on the Russian market in the event that it experiences another downturn.

Strong and focused management team

Our current management team has significant experience in all aspects of our businesses. Mr. Zyuzin, one of the founders of our group and our controlling shareholder, is our Chairman. Mr. Zyuzin has led our successful transformation from a small coal trading operation to a large integrated metals and mining group. Mr. Zyuzin has over 26 years of experience in the coal mining industry and has a doctorate in coal mining technical sciences. Our divisional management also has long-tenured experience in the mining and metals industry. See “— Directors and Executive Officers.”

Business Strategy

Our goal is to become one of the largest mining companies globally with a strong integration into steel. The key elements of our strategy include the following:

Continue to grow the value of our business on the basis of a vertically integrated holding with our mining division forming the backbone of our business model

We intend to maintain the flexibility to source our inputs internally as circumstances require.

Our coking coal and iron ore production form a solid platform for our steel business and provide a significant portion of the raw materials supply for our pig iron production. Steam coal produced in our mining

 

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operations can be used to feed our power generating business, which we operate not only as a diversification measure and a way to market another value-added product made from our coal, but also as a way to have more control over our energy efficiency and hedge against increases in electricity prices. However, even as we expand and develop our internal sourcing capability, we intend to adhere to our long-standing approach of purchasing inputs from third party suppliers and selling products, including raw materials, to domestic and international customers in a way that we believe creates the most advantageous profit opportunities for our group.

We plan to expand our logistics capabilities.

We intend to selectively expand our logistics capabilities. We plan to expand our own railcar fleet, balancing transportation security and cost efficiency. Development of our two seaports, Port Posiet and Port Temryuk, will be a key for uninterrupted shipments of our coal and steel products to our main markets, predominantly sales of coal products to our customers in South-East Asia. In order to reflect growing production of export-oriented coal in our mining segment, we contemplate further acquisitions of port capacity on our main export routes.

We will leverage synergies among our core businesses.

In addition to synergies derived from our status as an integrated group, we believe that additional cost savings and opportunities will arise as we benefit from optimization of our business combination in line with the changing markets, including economies of scale, continuing integration of recent acquisitions and targeted disposal of the assets which prevent from further efficient improvement of our business. We regularly evaluate the manner in which our subsidiaries source their raw materials needs and transfer products within our group in order to operate in the most efficient way, and we expect to identify and take advantage of further synergies among our core businesses.

We intend to concentrate on realizing the maximum potential from our existing assets, while also considering new acquisitions and disposals of non-core assets on a selective basis.

Our strategy has shifted from growing our business through acquisition and expansion opportunities to extracting the maximum value from our existing assets, including recent acquisitions. We now intend to concentrate on efficiency improvements and modernization of the business lines, which we expect will increase the business’ overall profitability. We may also consider selective disposal of assets which do not fit our main strategy directions in order to minimize opportunity costs and decrease our financial leverage.

We will, however, continue to monitor global mining and steel markets for new opportunities, including new subsoil licenses in Russia and abroad, focusing on maintaining and expanding our presence in regions with low costs and high economic growth potential.

Since 2012, we have refocused our strategy to profitable mining and steel assets in Russia. In line with our strategy, in the mining segment we intend to prioritize the development of the Elga coal deposit, one of the largest global metallurgical coal reserves, and to strive to secure our position as one of the largest metallurgical coal producers globally. In the steel segment, we plan to focus on the Russian rail, infrastructure and construction markets, and to leverage the leadership in special and stainless steels and wire products in Russia by relying on our own distribution network which we believe is the largest in Russia. Furthermore, we have evaluated our other assets for potential divestment and decided to dispose our entire ferroalloys segment, certain power assets and certain steel assets not integrated with our mining segment and less efficient through their high cost base and exposure to weaker end markets. In February 2013, we disposed our steel plants in Romania that significantly reduced our exposure to weakening of the demand in the European market. We expect that the disposal will have a positive effect on the profitability of our steel segment in the immediate future. In addition, we signed an agreement to sell Toplofikatsia Rousse, a power plant in Bulgaria, with the transaction to close in May 2013. We expect that the disposal will have a positive effect on the profitability of our power segment.

 

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Develop our substantial reserve base in order to become one of the leaders in key raw materials supplies for the global steel industry

We plan to develop our reserves in order to become one of the top three producers of metallurgical coal globally.

We intend to build on our substantial mining experience and significant resource base by developing our existing coal reserves, particularly in order to sell more high-quality metallurgical coal and coal products to third parties. We currently plan to increase our annual saleable coal production from 21.3 million tonnes in 2012 to 27.6 million tonnes in 2015. We intend to develop coking coal reserves of Yakutugol. Yakutugol, which has four producing mines, holds mining rights to reserves that we believe will solidify our position as a leading global producer of coking coal for the future. We intend to selectively seek additional mining licenses through acquisitions and participation in auctions and tenders in view of our strategic plans and market dynamics. In particular, we believe that obtaining additional mining rights near the Elga coal deposit would allow us to realize more fully the benefits of our private rail line.

We plan to increase metallurgical coal sales to high-growth international markets.

We intend to continue to capitalize on our ability to serve fast-growing Asian and other international markets by leveraging our growth in production and favorable geographic location of our coal producing and logistics assets. In particular, we view Japan, China, South Korea and India as countries to which our international growth strategy will be applied. Following this strategy, in 2011 we established a joint venture in India engaged in distribution of metallurgical coals on the Indian market. In addition, in 2012 we established Mechel Carbon Singapore to promote more effectively our products in the Asia-Pacific region.

We plan to increase production of iron ore in the future to complement the sales of metallurgical coal to our customers.

While our existing iron ore operations will maintain our annual iron ore concentrate production at the level of approximately five million tonnes, we plan to increase it in the future following the development of the Pionerskoye iron ore deposit, the Sutamskaya iron ore area and the Sivaglinskoye iron ore deposit. Growth of production from these operations will increase our sales of iron ore products to third parties, including exports. Our ability to offer iron ore feed together with metallurgical coal products to our customers will further enhance our competitive strength in our key markets.

Strengthening our position as a major player on our core steel products markets

We plan to increase our focus on our steel products offering to the Russian and CIS construction industries.

As one of the leaders in long steel production in Russia and the CIS we will continue to maintain our exposure to the construction sector. While we expect to benefit from growing demand for our products fuelled by new infrastructure projects in these markets, we will continue to selectively invest in technology and equipment modernization, optimizing our product catalog and cutting production costs with a view to increase steel margins. In continuation of this strategy in 2013 we aim to complete construction of the universal rail and structural rolling mill at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, which will widen our offer book to high value-added products such as structural shapes and rails. That will significantly improve our competitive advantage as a full product range supplier to the construction sector and as an important supplier to the Russian Railways. See “— Capital Investment Program.”

We intend to increase our group’s output and improve quality of high value-added steel products.

Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, Izhstal and Urals Stampings Plant form the core of our group’s special and stainless steel platform. In some of these products we hold a unique market niche, which serves as the basis for further improvement in our market share and growth of our customer base. Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant is our

 

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main wire products production facility. Investments made in Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant in the last few years have elevated our group as Russia’s largest wire products producer. The recent modernization of Izhstal will further improve the quality of our high value-added products and will help us to capitalize on our position as a supplier not only in Russia but in other markets.

Capitalize on our domestic and European distribution capabilities.

Our continued focus on the Russian domestic market is a key element of our strategy. We are particularly well-positioned to supply construction and infrastructure projects in Russia from our Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant located in the southern Urals and our Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant located in the Republic of Bashkortostan. The geographical reach of our Mechel Service Global production and logistics facilities and sales network provides us with a strong platform for our sales growth. Mechel Service, a Russian subsidiary of Mechel Service Global, has 83 storage sites in 68 cities throughout Russia to serve our end customers. During the past few years, Mechel Service Global’s European distribution network generally developed through opening of additional branches and sales offices on the basis of existing companies. Previously opened companies reached the planned sales volumes of metal products and strengthened their presence in regional markets. In 2012, we limited the further expansion of our distribution network and focused on improving the efficiency of existing offices and optimization of the sales structure. Due to the gradual withdrawal of our steel production from Europe we will further optimize the European part of our distribution network including sale or closure of certain service centers and warehouses, which do not offer immediate synergy with our production. Simultaneously we will continue to improve the quality of services to our customers, as well as inventory and receivables management, which will allow us to maintain stable sales of our products, to minimize potential losses and to improve our cash flow in the current economic slowdown.

Our History and Development

We trace our beginnings to a small coal trading operation in Mezhdurechensk in the southwestern part of Siberia in the early 1990s. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — History of Incorporation.” Since that time, through strategic acquisitions in Russia and abroad, Mechel has developed into a large, integrated mining, steel, ferroalloys and power group, comprising coal, iron ore, coke, steel, nickel, ferrochrome and ferrosilicon production, with operations and assets in Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom and the United States. With each of our acquisitions, we implement our operational and management practices. We also devote all the management, technological and logistical resources necessary to integrate new acquisitions into all aspects of our business, including the supply of raw materials and steel, production methodologies and sales and distribution.

After the restructuring of our assets into separate mining, steel, ferroalloys and power segments, we have been implementing operational independence of our segments to be followed by their legal and financial separation from each other. For example, during 2008-2011 we consolidated our major mining assets under Mechel Mining, which has now its separate management and corporate governance.

We intend to retain a controlling voting interest in each of our subsidiary holding companies as we continue to build upon our business model of vertical integration among our assets. See “— Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry — Changes in our subsidiaries’ management and corporate governance might affect our integrated business model.”

Mining Segment

Our mining segment produces coking coal and other types of metallurgical coal (anthracite and coal for pulverized, or finely crushed, coal injection (PCI)), steam coal, middlings, coking coal and steam coal concentrates, as well as coke and chemical products, iron ore, iron ore concentrate and limestone. Our mining segment also includes certain transportation and logistics facilities and engineering operations. Our coal

 

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operations consist of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, Yakutugol and Bluestone, which together produced 18.0 million tonnes of raw coking coal, 7.8 million tonnes of raw steam coal, 2.0 million tonnes of raw anthracite and 2.6 million tonnes of PCI in 2012. Our coke operations consist of Moscow Coke and Gas Plant and Mechel Coke, which together produced 3.6 million tonnes of coke in 2012. Our iron ore operations consist of Korshunov Mining Plant which produced 12.6 million tonnes of iron ore and 4.4 million tonnes of iron ore concentrate in 2012. Our limestone operations consist of Pugachevsky Open Pit which produced 2.0 million tonnes of limestone in 2012.

Description of key products

Coking coal and metallurgical coal. Southern Kuzbass Coal Company produces high-quality bituminous coal, which is washed to reduce the ash content. The premier product is a high-quality, low phosphorous, low sulfur semi-soft to semi-hard coking coal used to produce coke for the iron and steel industry. Other products produced by Southern Kuzbass Coal Company include PCI and anthracite. Yakutugol produces hard coking coal of low-volatile content. Our West Virginia-based Bluestone operations produce a range of metallurgical coals including low, medium and high-volatile hard coking coal. The Bluestone mines blend low, medium and high-volatile hard coking coal in different proportions to meet the requirements of their customers. The final products are blended at the port, as they are loaded on to the customer’s vessels.

Steam coal. We produce steam coal products for use in the power generation industry. Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, Yakutugol and our Bluestone operations produce high-energy steam coal as part of their product mix.

Coke. Coke is used in the blast furnace as a main source of heat, a reducing agent for iron and a raising agent for charging material in the smelting process. It is a product prepared by pyrolysis (heating in the absence of oxygen) of low-ash, low-phosphorus and low-sulfur coal charging material. We offer customers coke from our Moscow Coke and Gas Plant and Mechel Coke.

Chemical products. Chemical products are hydrocarbon products obtained as a by-product of the production of coke. We produce chemical products in our subsidiaries Moscow Coke and Gas Plant and Mechel Coke. We offer our customers coal tar, naphthalene and other compounds. Worldwide, coal tar is used in diverse applications, including in the production of electrode pitch, pitch coke, coal-tar oils, naphthalene, as well as boiler fuel. Naphthalene, a product of the distillation of coal tar, is used by the chemical industry to produce chemical compounds used in synthetic dyes, solvents, plasticizers and other products.

Iron ore concentrate. From our Korshunov Mining Plant we offer iron ore concentrate with a standard iron content of 62%. In 2011 and 2012, Yakutugol obtained subsoil licenses for three iron ore deposits located in Yakutia. Our Yakutugol deposits contain high-quality iron ore, which will allow to produce iron ore concentrate with 65% iron content.

Limestone. The processed limestone produced by our Pugachevsky Open Pit is segregated into three main size fractions: 0-40 millimeters, 40-70 millimeters and 70-120 millimeters. Further processing of 0-40 millimeters fraction limestone allows to obtain aggregate limestone of 0-5 millimeters, 5-20 millimeters and 20-40 millimeters categories.

Mining process

Coal. At our Russian and U.S. mines, coal is mined using open pit or underground mining methods. Following a drilling and blasting stage, a combination of shovels and draglines is used for moving coal and waste at our open pit mines. Production at the underground mines is predominantly from longwall mining, a form of underground coal mining where a long wall of coal in a seam is mined in a single slice. After mining, depending upon the amount of impurities in the coal, the coal is processed in a washing plant, where it is crushed and

 

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impurities are removed by gravity methods. Coking coal concentrate is then transported to coking plants for conversion to coke for use in pig iron smelting at steel plants. Steam coal is shipped to power utilities which use it in furnaces for steam generation to produce electricity. Among the advantages of our mining business are the high quality of our coking coal and the low level of volatile matter in our steam coal. Coal extracted at each of the Bluestone mining complexes is processed at the on-site coal preparation plants. Coal mined in Central Appalachia typically contains impurities such as rock, shale and clay and occurs in a wide range of particle sizes. The coal preparation plants treat the coal to ensure a consistent quality and to enhance its suitability for particular end users. Steam coal is not processed and is sold as is, as well as some high-quality coking coal which does not need washing.

Iron ore. At our Korshunov Mining Plant, ore is mined using conventional open pit mining method. Following a drilling and blasting stage, ore is hauled by rail hopper cars to the concentrator plant. At the concentrator plant, the ore is crushed and ground to a fine particle size, then separated into an iron ore concentrate slurry and a waste stream using wet magnetic separators. The iron ore is upgraded to a concentrate that contains about 62% elemental iron. Tailings are pumped to a tailings dam facility located adjacent to the washing plant. The concentrate is sent to disk vacuum filters which remove the water from the concentrate to reduce the moisture level, enabling shipment to customers by rail during warmer months, but in colder periods the concentrate must be dried further to prevent freezing in the rail cars. Korshunov Mining Plant operates its own drying facility with a dry concentrate production capacity of up to 16,000 tonnes per day. In 2011, Yakutugol obtained the subsoil license for the Pionerskoye iron ore deposit in Yakutia. The deposit has iron ore with high iron content, which we anticipate will allow us to produce iron ore concentrate at the early stages of development of the mine without the need to use complex beneficiation technologies. In 2012, Yakutugol obtained subsoil licenses for the Sutamskaya iron ore area and the Sivaglinskoye iron ore deposit in Yakutia. We plan to develop all new iron ore deposits with the open pit mining method, using excavators and trucks.

Limestone. Limestone is mined using open pit mining method. Following a drilling and blasting stage, mined rock is quarried with shovels and transported to the crushing and screening plant for segregation by size fraction.

Coal production

Our coal production consists of the following mines in Russia and the United States:

 

Subsidiary (Location)

  

Surface

  

Underground

Yakutugol (Sakha Republic, Russia)

   Neryungrinsky Open Pit    Dzhebariki-Khaya Underground
   Kangalassky Open Pit   
   Elga Open Pit   

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company (Kuzbass, Russia)

   Sibirginsky Open Pit    V.I. Lenina Underground
   Tomusinsky Open Pit    Sibirginskaya Underground
   Olzherassky Open Pit    Olzherasskaya-Novaya Underground
   Krasnogorsky Open Pit   

Bluestone (West Virginia, United States)

   Job 30    Mine 58
   Job 38    Mine 65
   Pocahontas No. 11 Contour and Auger No. 2    Ben’s Creek 1 (Frontier)

Our active Russian coal mines are primarily located in the Kuznetsky basin, a major Russian coal-producing region, and in the Sakha Republic in Eastern Siberia.

 

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The table below summarizes our ROM coal production by type of coal and location of mines for the periods indicated.

 

     2012     2011     2010  
     Tonnes      % of
Production
    Tonnes      % of
Production
    Tonnes      % of
Production
 
     (In millions of tonnes)(1)  

Coking Coal

               

Yakutugol

     9.0           6.3           7.4      

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company

     5.7           6.8           7.1      

Bluestone

     3.2           4.9           4.1      
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

Total Coking Coal

     17.9         64.4     18.0         65.2     18.6         66.2

Steam Coal

               

Yakutugol

     1.0           1.7           1.9      

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company

     6.5           5.1           5.0      

Bluestone

     0.4           0.5           0.7      
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

Total Steam Coal

     7.9         28.4     7.3         26.5     7.6         27.0

Anthracite

               

Yakutugol

     —             —             —        

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company

     2.0           2.3           1.9      

Bluestone

     —             —             —        
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

Total Anthracite

     2.0         7.2     2.3         8.3     1.9         6.8
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Coal

     27.8         100     27.6         100     28.1         100
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Volumes are reported on a wet basis.

The coking coal produced by our Russian mines is predominately low-sulfur (0.3%) bituminous coal. Heating values for coking coal range from 6,861 to 8,488 kcal/kg on a moisture- and ash-free basis. Heating values for steam coal range from 6,627 to 8,286 kcal/kg on a moisture- and ash-free basis.

 

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The table below summarizes our saleable coal production by type of coal and location of mines for the periods indicated.

 

     2012     2011     2010  
     Tonnes      % of
Production
    Tonnes      % of
Production
    Tonnes      % of
Production
 
     (In millions of tonnes)  

Coking Coal

               

Yakutugol

     5.4         26     4.7         19     4.0         19

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company

     4.1         19     5.1         21     5.1         24

Bluestone

     1.5         7     2.8         11     2.4         11
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Coking Coal

     11.0         52     12.6         51     11.5         54

PCI

               

Yakutugol

     —           —          —           —          —           —     

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company

     2.6         12     2.1         9     0.9         4

Bluestone

     —           —          —           —          —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total PCI

     2.6         12     2.1         9     0.9         4

Anthracite

               

Yakutugol

     —           —          —           —          —           —     

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company

     1.1         5     1.1         5     1.1         5

Bluestone

     —           —          —           —          —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Anthracite

     1.1         5     1.1         5     1.1         5

Steam Coal

               

Yakutugol

     3.6         17     3.8         15     3.1         14

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company

     2.6         12     4.5         18     4.3         20

Bluestone

     0.4         2     0.5         2     0.7         3
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Steam Coal

     6.6         31     8.8         35     8.1         37
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Coal

     21.3         100     24.6         100     21.6         100
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Yakutugol mines

The Sakha Republic is located in Eastern Siberia and covers an area of 3.1 million square kilometers. It has a population of fewer than one million inhabitants. Its capital, Yakutsk, is located on the Lena River in south central Yakutia.

Our Yakutugol mines include three open pit mines and one underground mine: Neryungrinsky Open Pit, Elga Open Pit, Kangalassky Open Pit and Dzhebariki-Khaya Underground. Neryungrinsky Open Pit and Elga Open Pit are located in the South-Yakutsky basin, which covers an area of 25,000 square kilometers and lies near the southern border of Yakutia. Neryungrinsky Open Pit is located near the town of Neryungri, one of the main industrial centers of Yakutia and its second largest city. Kangalassky Open Pit and Dzhebariki-Khaya Underground are located in the Lensky basin which covers an area of 750,000 square kilometers and lies near Yakutsk.

 

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The table below sets forth certain information regarding the subsoil licenses for our coal mines in the Sakha Republic, all of which are held by our subsidiary Yakutugol.

 

Mine

  

License (plot)

   Area
(sq. km)
     Mining
Method
   Life
of
Mine
    License
Expiry
Date
    Status(1)    Year
Production
Commenced
   Surface
Land Use
Rights

Neryungrinsky Open Pit

   LOGO  12336  LOGO (Moshchny seam)      15.3       Open pit      2029        Dec 2014      In production    1979    Ownership

Kangalassky Open Pit

   LOGO 15017 LOGO (Kangalassk)      7.7       Open pit      2450        Dec 2014      In production    1962    Ownership

Elga Open Pit

   LOGO 14425 LOGO (Elga)      144.1       Open pit      2102        May 2020      In production    2011    Lease

Dzhebariki-Khaya Underground

  

LOGO 15061 LOGO (Dzhebariki-Khaya)

  

 

14.8

  

  

Underground

  

 

2105

  

 

 

Dec 2013

  

 

In production

  

1972

  

Ownership

 

(1) “In production” refers to sites that are currently producing coal.

The earliest production at our Yakutugol mines was in 1962, although we acquired these mines and license areas in October 2007. Neryungrinsky Open Pit produces low-volatile hard coking coal which is sold in the Asia-Pacific region, primarily to Japan, South Korea and China, and steam coal which is sold domestically. Neryungrinsky Open Pit has a railway spur connected to the Russian rail system, which is controlled by Russian Railways. Kangalassky Open Pit produces steam coal that is sold as fuel for power plants in Yakutia. It is accessible through an all-weather road from Kangalassy and through a highway from Yakutsk. Dzhebariki-Khaya Underground produces steam coal, most of which is sold to state housing and municipal services. Dzhebariki-Khaya Underground is accessible only through the Aldan River.

The table below summarizes ROM coal production of our Yakutugol mines by mine and type of coal for the periods indicated.

 

     2012     2011     2010  

Mine

   Tonnes      % of Total
Production
    Tonnes      % of Total
Production
    Tonnes      % of Total
Production
 
     (In millions of tonnes)(1)  

Coking Coal

               

Neryungrinsky Open Pit

     8.8           6.3           7.4      

Elga Open Pit

     0.2           —             —        
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

Total Coking Coal

     9.0         90.0     6.3         78.8     7.4         80.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Steam Coal

               

Neryungrinsky Open Pit

     0.4           1.1           1.2      

Dzhebariki-Khaya Underground

     0.4           0.4           0.5      

Elga Open Pit

     0.1           0.1           —        

Kangalassky Open Pit

     0.1           0.1           0.1      
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

Total Steam Coal

     1.0         10.0     1.7         21.2     1.8         19.6
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Coal

     10.0         100     8.0         100     9.2         100
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Volumes are reported on a wet basis.

 

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The table below sets forth coal sales volumes of our Yakutugol mines by type of coal and destinations for the periods indicated.

 

Coal Type

   Region    2012      2011      2010  
          (In thousands of tonnes)  

Coking coal

   Asia      4,091.3         3,315.2         3,416.1   
   CIS      811.4         1,230.0         428.1   
   Middle East(1)      0.1         0.0         0.0   
   Europe      0.0         4.0         0.0   
   Russia      0.0         0.0         26.9   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

        4,902.8         4,549.2         3,871.1   

Steam coal

   Russia      1,087.3         1,875.9         1,471.6   
   Asia      0.0         131.9         230.1   
   Europe      0.0         0.0         15.1   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

        1,087.3         2,007.8         1,716.8   

Middlings

   Russia      2,315.9         1,848.0         1,866.0   
   Asia      128,8         72.4         0.0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

        2,444.7         1,920.4         1,866.0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

        8,434.8         8,477.4         7,453.9   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes Turkey only.

The Elga coal deposit is located in the Neryungrinsk municipal district in the southeast of Yakutia near the Amur region (which borders China) and Khabarovsk Krai (which has a long coastline on the Sea of Okhotsk, an arm of the Pacific Ocean). The closest inhabited localities are Verkhnezeysk village, located 320 kilometers south of the deposit, and the town of Neryungri, located 415 kilometers to the west. The Elga coal deposit lies in the South-Yakutsky basin of the Toko Coal-Bearing region. This region was first discovered and explored in 1952 with the first geological surveys being conducted in 1954 through 1956 followed by prospecting surveys in 1961 through 1962. Trenching along the outcrops was conducted in 1980 through 1982 followed by exploration drilling that was completed in 1998. Since 1998, there have been several studies on the Elga coal deposit, including geology and resources, mine planning, rail line construction and feasibility studies.

In 2009, our subsidiary Mechel Engineering worked out the general scheme of the Elga coal complex development, which includes a basic technical layout of the main facilities (housing complex, railway station, washing plant) and sets the order of priority of construction and operation of the open pit mine. In 2009, the design institute NTC Geotechnology OOO developed a plan of initial mine block development for the three-year period from 2010 through 2012. The plan was approved by the Central Commission for Development of Solid Mineral Deposits of the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use and the Russian Main Department of State Expertise. In 2011, Mechel Engineering prepared the project documentation for the first stage of the development of the Elga coal complex with an annual production capacity of nine million tonnes of raw coal by 2015. The project documentation was approved by the Russian Main Department of State Expertise and the Central Commission for Development of Solid Mineral Deposits of the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use. In August 2011, we concluded a contract for engineering and procurement of a seasonal washing plant with a seasonal production capacity of 2.0 million tonnes. In September 2012, the construction of the seasonal washing plant was completed. In November 2011, we concluded a contract for engineering, procurement and construction of a housing complex for 3,000 miners and workers who will operate the Elga coal complex.

In December 2011, we finished laying track for the rail line to the Elga deposit in accordance with the terms of the subsoil license. The 321 kilometer-long rail line is now in operation and we are able to use it for transportation of coal currently produced at the Elga deposit. The rail line connects the Elga deposit with the Baikal-Amur Mainline (at the Ulak railway station), which, in turn, provides access to the Russian rail network,

 

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in general, and Pacific Ocean ports, in particular. We will further develop the rail line to increase its capacity in line with our subsoil license requirements and coal production plans.

Overburden removal at the Elga deposit commenced in November 2010. Coal mining at Elga Open Pit commenced in August 2011. The coal is transported on our private rail line to the Ulak railway station at the Baikal-Amur Mainline and then over the Baikal-Amur Mainline to end customers.

Elga Open Pit produces two types of coal: high-quality hard coking coal (high-volatile) and steam coal. It will also produce middlings (by-product of the coking coal washing process), which will be sold as steam coal, when the seasonal washing plant begins operations.

Currently, Elga has an electricity substation with six diesel power generators with a total installed capacity of 2.8 megawatts (“MW”). Federal Grid Company, the state-owned operator of the unified electricity grid, is installing high-voltage transmission lines to deliver electricity from the Zeysky hydro power plant located 270 kilometers from the site, and we are constructing electricity-receiving infrastructure capable of receiving 134 MW. We expect to start receiving electricity from this power plant in December 2013.

According to the conditions of the subsoil license for the Elga coal deposit, as amended in May 2010, we are required to meet the following construction deadlines and operational milestones: (1) build a rail line from the Ulak station on the Baikal-Amur Mainline up to the coal deposit by December 31, 2011; (2) complete construction of the first phase of the Elga coal complex by December 31, 2013; (3) reach annual coal production capacity of 9.0 million tonnes by July 1, 2013; (4) reach annual coal production capacity of 18.0 million tonnes by July 1, 2018; and (5) commission a coal washing plant with an annual capacity of 9.0 million tonnes by December 31, 2015.

In view of our commitments under the subsoil license, we have proactively applied for and obtained amendments to certain terms of the subsoil license in order to stay in compliance with the terms of the license. In particular, on May 14, 2010, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology extended certain construction deadlines as follows: (1) completion of the construction of the rail line was postponed from September 30, 2010 to December 31, 2011, and (2) completion of the construction of the first phase of the Elga coal complex was postponed from October 30, 2010 to December 31, 2013. The construction of the rail line had already started some time before we acquired the Elga coal deposit in October 2007. Following the acquisition, we continued the construction, but it was delayed during the period from September 2008 to August 2009 because of limited availability of financing during the global financial crisis. In December 2011, we finished laying track for the rail line and are now able to transport coal along it in accordance with the license requirements. We own and operate the rail line as a private railway. Under Russian law, however, we have to share excess capacity, if any, with third parties.

If the current construction deadlines and operational milestones are not met, our subsoil license for the Elga coal deposit may be suspended or terminated or we may be required to extend the license under less favorable terms. We believe that given our substantial progress in developing the project and our considerable monetary investment, along with the importance of the project to the region, we will be able to obtain further extensions of the construction deadlines should they be necessary, although we cannot guarantee that such extensions will be granted.

Southern Kuzbass mines

The Kuznetsky basin, or Kuzbass, is located in the southeastern part of Western Siberia and is one of the largest coal mining areas in the world, covering an area of around 70,000 square kilometers. Coal-bearing seams extend over an area of 26,700 square kilometers and reach a depth of 1,800 meters. Coal was discovered in 1721, and systematic mining started in 1851. During the Soviet era, Kuzbass was the second largest regional coal producer. According to the Central Dispatching Department, Kuzbass (Kemerovo region) now accounts for more than 56% of Russia’s total coal production.

 

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All of our Southern Kuzbass mines are located in southeast Kuzbass around the town of Mezhdurechensk in the Kemerovo region, with the exception of the Yerunakovskaya mine area, which is located about 100 kilometers northwest of Mezhdurechensk.

The earliest production at our Southern Kuzbass mines was in 1953, although we acquired these mines and license areas starting in the 1990s. The Southern Kuzbass mines include four open pit mines, three underground mines and one underground mine under development: Sibirginsky Open Pit, Tomusinsky Open Pit, Olzherassky Open Pit, Krasnogorsky Open Pit, V.I. Lenina Underground, Sibirginskaya Underground, Olzherasskaya-Novaya Underground and Yerunakovskaya-1 Underground (project).

Our Southern Kuzbass mines and the related washing plants produce semi-soft and semi-hard coking coal, anthracite, PCI and steam coal. Our Kuzbass operations are connected by rail to the Trans-Siberian Mainline and substantially all products are shipped by rail. Products are shipped by rail to Russian and Ukrainian customers, to Baltic ports for European customers, to Port Posiet and other ports in the Russian Far East for export to Asia and to Port Temryuk for customers in the Black Sea and Mediterranean basins.

 

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The table below sets forth certain information regarding the subsoil licenses for our coal mines in Kuzbass, all of which are held by our subsidiary Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, unless otherwise noted.

 

Mine

 

License (plot)

  Area
(sq. km)
  Mining
Method
  Life
of
Mine
  License
Expiry
Date
  Status(1)   Year
Production
Commenced
  Surface
Land Use
Rights

Krasnogorsky Open Pit

  LOGO 14016 LOGO (Tomsk, Sibirginsk)   22.4   Open pit   2043   Dec 2013   In production   1954   Lease
  LOGO 13367 LOGO (Sorokinsk, Tomsk, Sibirginsk)(2)   2.8       Nov 2025   In production   2012   Lease

Olzherassky Open Pit

  LOGO 01374 LOGO (Raspadsk, Berezovsk, Sosnovsk)   9.3   Open pit   2044   Jan 2014   In production   1980   Lease
  LOGO 12939 LOGO (Raspadsk)(2)   3.5       Dec 2024   Development   n/a   Lease
  LOGO 12940 LOGO (Berezovsk-2, Berezovsk, Olzherassk)   4.8       Dec 2024   In production   2007   Lease

Tomusinsky Open Pit

  LOGO 13312 LOGO (Tomsk)(3)   6.7   Open pit   2022   Dec 2020   In production   1959   Lease

Sibirginsky Open Pit

  LOGO 13639 LOGO (Sibirginsk, Kureinsk, Uregolsk)   17.7   Open pit   2047   Jan 2014   In production   1970   Lease
  LOGO 01557 LOGO (New-Uregolsk)   2.4       Apr 2031   In production   2011   Lease

Sibirginskaya Underground

  LOGO 12917 LOGO (Sibirginsk, Tomsk)   5.9   Underground   2048   Dec 2024   In production   2002   Lease
  LOGO 15463 LOGO (Sibirginsk-2, Sibirginsk, Kureinsk)   0.9       Dec 2032   Exploration
and
development
  n/a   —  

V.I. Lenina Underground

  LOGO 14060 LOGO (Olzherassk)   10.0   Underground   2033   Nov 2013   In production   1953   Lease
  LOGO 01701 LOGO (Granichny, Olzherassk)   1.2       Feb 2033   Exploration
and
development
  n/a   —  

Olzherasskaya-Novaya Underground

 

LOGO 14199 LOGO (Raspadsk)

 

1.2

 

Underground

 

2079

 

Dec 2021

 

In production

 

2008

 

Lease

  LOGO 01471 LOGO (Olzherassk-2, Raspadsk)   0.03       Jan 2030   In production   2010   Lease
  LOGO 13366 LOGO (Razvedochny, Raspadsk)   14.6       Nov 2025   Exploration
and
development
  n/a   Lease

Yerunakovskaya-1 Underground (project)

 

LOGO 13237 LOGO (Yerunakovsk-1, Yerunakovsk)(4)

 

8.4

 

Underground

 

2033

 

Jun 2025

 

Development

 

n/a

 

Lease

Yerunakovskaya-3 Underground (prospect)

 

LOGO 13238 LOGO (Yerunakovsk-3, Yerunakovsk)(4)

 

7.1

 

Underground

 

2115

 

Jun 2025

 

Exploration
and
development

 

n/a

 

—  

Yerunakovskaya-2 Underground (prospect)

 

LOGO 13271 LOGO (Yerunakovsk-2, Yerunakovsk)(4)(5)

 

7.3

 

Underground

 

2051

 

Jul 2025

 

Exploration
and
development

 

n/a

 

—  

Olzherasskaya-Glubokaya Underground (prospect)

 

LOGO 13365 LOGO (Olzherassk)

 

19.2

 

Underground

 

2211

 

Nov 2025

 

Exploration

 

n/a

 

—  

Usinskaya Underground (prospect)

 

LOGO 14093 LOGO (Olzherassk)

 

3.6

 

Underground

 

2071

 

Dec 2014

 

No activity

 

n/a

 

—  

 

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(1) “In production” refers to sites that are currently producing coal. “Development” refers to sites where preliminary work is being carried out. “Exploration” refers to sites where drilling for calculation of mineral reserves is being carried out. “Exploration and development” refers to sites where preliminary work and drilling for calculation of mineral reserves are being carried out.
(2) We failed to commence production in 2009 as required by the subsoil license, due to unfavorable economic conditions. We expect to commence production at the Raspadsk license area in the second quarter of 2013. In February 2012, we commenced production at the Sorokinsk license area.
(3) License held by Tomusinsky Open Pit, a subsidiary of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company.
(4) We failed to commence commercial production in 2011 as required by the subsoil license due to unfavorable market conditions in 2009.
(5) License held by Resurs-Ugol OOO, a subsidiary of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company.

The table below summarizes ROM coal production of our Southern Kuzbass mines by mine and type of coal for the periods indicated.

 

      2012     2011     2010  

Mine

   Tonnes      % of Total
Production
    Tonnes      % of Total
Production
    Tonnes      % of Total
Production
 
     (In millions of tonnes)(1)  

Coking Coal

               

Sibirginsky Open Pit

     2.0           2.5           2.1      

Tomusinsky Open Pit

     1.7           1.8           2.0      

V.I. Lenina Underground

     0.7           1.4           1.3      

Sibirginskaya Underground

     0.7           0.5           1.1      

Olzherassky Open Pit

     0.6           0.6           0.6      
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

Total Coking Coal

     5.7         40.1     6.8         47.9     7.1         50.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Steam Coal

               

Krasnogorsky Open Pit

     3.7           3.2           3.3      

Sibirginsky Open Pit

     1.4           0.9           0.8      

Olzherassky Open Pit

     0.6           0.5           0.5      

Olzherasskaya-Novaya Underground

     0.4           0.2           0.4      

Tomusinsky Open Pit

     0.4           0.3           0.0      
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

Total Steam Coal

     6.5         45.8     5.1         35.9     5.0         35.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Anthracite

               

Krasnogorsky Open Pit

     2.0           2.3           2.0      

Sibirginsky Open Pit

     —             —             —        

Olzherassky Open Pit

     —             —             —        

Olzherasskaya-Novaya Underground

     —             —             —        

Tomusinsky Open Pit

     —             —             —        
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

Total Anthracite

     2.0         14.1     2.3         16.2     2.0         14.2
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Coal

     14.2         100     14.2         100     14.1         100
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Volumes are reported on a wet basis.

 

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The table below sets forth Southern Kuzbass mines’ coal sales volumes by type of coal and destinations for the periods indicated.

 

Coal Type

   Region   2012      2011      2010  
         (In thousands of tonnes)  

Coking coal

   Russia     1,567.2         1,615.2         1,968.6   
   Asia     533.7         428.5         185.8   
   CIS     429.2         378.9         164.0   
   Europe     20.5         0.0         22.1   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

       2,550.6         2,422.6         2,340.5   

Anthracite

   Europe     1,186.4         1,266.5         573.0   
   Asia     343.3         311.9         20.2   
   CIS     131.3         78.8         91.1   
   Russia     35.7         38.7         63.2   
   Other     49.9         28.1         38.5   
   Middle East(1)     42.3         25.4         44.0   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

       1,788.9         1,749.4         830.0   

PCI

   Asia     1,014.0         1,042.7         301.3   
   Europe     540.5         663.0         142.5   
   Middle East(1)     655.6         220.2         11.6   
   Other     213.2         33.0         0.0   
   CIS     0.0         9.8         0.0   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

       2,423.3         1,968.7         455.4   

Steam coal

   Russia     68.1         265.9         279.3   
   Middle East(1)     206.0         131.6         344.0   
   CIS     27.4         96.5         332.5   
   Europe     54.9         66.6         689.7   
   Asia     10.6         0.0         318.9   
   Other     7.8         0.0         15.4   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

       374.8         560.6         1,979.8   

Middlings

   Russia     19.2         33.0         0.0   
   Europe     21.5         9.5         0.0   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

       40.7         42.5         0.0   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

       7,178.3         6,743.8         5,605.7   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes Turkey only.

Bluestone mines

Coal was first discovered in West Virginia in the mid-1700s, and it is part of a coal-rich area known as Central Appalachia, which comprises West Virginia, the eastern part of Kentucky and the southwestern part of Virginia. Presently, West Virginia is the largest coal producing state in the United States east of the Mississippi River and accounts for 10% of the nation’s production.

Our Bluestone mines are located in McDowell and Wyoming counties in southern West Virginia, near the city of Beckley. West Virginia coal areas are located within the central portion of the Appalachian Plateau physiographic province, which is a broad upland that extends from Alabama through Pennsylvania. The mines are organized around three mining complexes: Keystone No. 1 and No. 2 (collectively called the “Keystone”), Justice Energy and Dynamic Energy, all of which are located in close proximity to each other. Together, the mining complexes comprise three active surface mines and three active underground mines.

 

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The table below summarizes ROM coal production of our Bluestone mines by mine and type of coal for the periods indicated.

 

     2012     2011     2010  

Mine

   Tonnes      % of Total
Production
    Tonnes      % of Total
Production
    Tonnes      % of Total
Production
 
     (In millions of tonnes)(1)  

Coking Coal

               

Keystone

     1.8           2.3           2.0      

Justice Energy

     0.4           1.0           1.0      

Dynamic Energy

     1.0           1.6           1.0      
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

Total Coking Coal

     3.2         88.9     4.9         90.7     4.0         87.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Steam Coal

               

Dynamic Energy

     0.2           0.2           0.3      

Keystone

     0.0           0.1           0.2      

Justice Energy

     0.2           0.2           0.1      
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

Total Steam Coal

     0.4         11.1     0.5         9.3     0.6         13.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Coal

     3.6         100     5.4         100     4.6         100
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Volumes are reported on a wet basis.

The table below sets forth the Bluestone mines’ coal sales volumes by type of coal and destinations for the periods indicated.

 

Coal Type

   Region    2012      2011      2010  
          (In thousands of tonnes)  

Coking coal

   Europe      609.7         1,224.1         1,142.0   
   Asia      378.7         402.7         186.7   
   United States      212.4         426.0         324.1   
   CIS      178.7         263.2         225.3   
   Other      101.5         248.5         112.5   
   Middle East(1)      21.0         75.2         84.8   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

        1,502.0         2,639.7         2,075.4   

Steam coal

   United States      323.1         565.7         358.1   
   Europe      119.9         0.0         0.0   
   Asia      16.6         0.0         0.0   
   Other      19.7         0.0         0.0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

        479.3         565.7         358.1   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

        1,981.3         3,205.4         2,433.5   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes Turkey only.

The mines in the Keystone complex produce premium low-volatile coking coal. The complex includes an active surface mine and two active underground mines, as set out in the table below. Seam thickness ranges from a few centimeters to 1.8 meters. Coal from the mines is hauled by dump truck directly to the complex’s preparation plant for washing and is then dispatched to its rail loadout facility, which is served by the Norfolk Southern Railway. The complex is comprised of 28,328 hectares, of which 4,975 hectares are owned, 7,910 hectares are leased under long term leases expiring from 2031 to 2032 and 15,443 hectares are leased in perpetuity.

 

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The mines in the Justice Energy complex produce mid-volatile coking coal. The complex includes one active surface mine, as set out in the table below. Seam thickness ranges from a few centimeters to 1.52 meters. Coal from the mine is hauled by dump truck directly to the complex’s preparation plant (which is leased from Natural Resource Partners) for washing and is then dispatched to its rail loadout facility, which is served by the Norfolk Southern Railway. The complex is comprised of 7,485 hectares, of which 602 hectares are owned, 1,334 hectares are leased under long term leases expiring from 2018 to 2019 and 5,549 hectares are leased in perpetuity.

The mines in the Dynamic Energy complex produce high-volatile coking coal. The complex includes an active surface mine and an active underground mine, as set out in the table below. Seam thickness ranges from a few centimeters to 2.1 meters, with the majority of seams being more than one meter thick. Coal from the mines is hauled by dump truck directly to the complex’s preparation plant (which is leased from Natural Resource Partners) for washing and is then dispatched to its rail loadout facility, which is served by the Norfolk Southern Railway. The complex is comprised of approximately 2,980 hectares, which are leased in perpetuity.

The table below sets forth certain information regarding each of our Bluestone mines.

 

Complex

  Mine  

Mining Method(1)

  Life of
Mine
   

Permit
Expiration
Dates(2)

  Status(3)   Year
Production
Commenced
 

Keystone

  Mine 58   Room and pillar     2016      October 2013, September 2013   Idle     1998   
  Mine 65   Room and pillar     2014      June 2013, December 2013   In production     1998   
  Job 39  

Mountain top removal, contour

and highwall

    2030      December 2016, December 2017   No longer active     2001   
  Pocahontas No. 11
Contour and Auger
No. 2
  Contour and highwall     2031      May 2013, July 2014   In production     —     

Justice Energy

  Job 38   Mountain top removal     2015      August 2012(4), August 2013   In production     1982   

Dynamic Energy

  Job 30   Mountain top removal     2015      May 2017, May 2017   In production     1997   
  Ben’s Creek 1

(Frontier)

  Room and pillar     2014      December 2017, June 2015   Idle     2007   

 

(1) Mountain top removal and contour mining are surface mining methods. Room and pillar is an underground mining method. Highwall mining is a specific method of mining which we consider to be an underground mining method.
(2) Expiration dates listed for the following permits issued by the WVDEP: (1) Article 3 Surface Mining Permit and (2) NPDES Article 11 402 Permit.
(3) “In production” refers to sites that are currently producing coal. “Idle” refers to sites that are capable to be productive but temporarily neither active nor being developed. “No longer active” refers to sites where mining is finished in the reporting year.
(4) The permit expired in August 2012. We applied for the renewal of the permit to the WVDEP within the timeframe required by the law. Due to the lack of resources at the WVDEP, a decision on its application was delayed. It is not a violation of law to continue operations during the pendency of the renewal application. We expect the permit to be renewed.

In October-November 2012, we temporarily idled our Bluestone mines due to high levels of coal inventories and adverse market conditions. In January 2013, we resumed mining operations in surface mines at Justice Energy and Dynamic Energy, and in March 2013 we resumed mining operations in Mine 65 at Keystone. In April 2013, we started mining operations in Pocahontas No. 11 Contour and Auger No. 2 mine at Keystone. Mining operations in other mines are anticipated to resume once market conditions improve.

Coal is transported from our West Virginia mining complexes to customers by means of railways, trucks, barge lines and ocean-going ships from terminal facilities. Most of the Bluestone production is shipped via the

 

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Norfolk Southern Railway, so our West Virginia operations are dependent on the capacity of and its relationship with the Norfolk Southern Railway. In 2012, we agreed upon lower freight rates with the Norfolk Southern Railway. These shipments either go directly to coking plants in North America or to port facilities for transloading into ocean going ships. In 2010, all exports of our West Virginia coal were transported through the port of Norfolk, Virginia. In April 2011, we began exporting coal through the port of New Orleans by trucking coal to a local river terminal and transporting it via barge down the Mississippi River to the port.

Most of the coal produced at the Bluestone mines is washed. Some coal extracted from the surface mines is sufficiently clean to bypass the coal washing process. This coal is either blended with washed coal or other clean mined material from different seams to produce a metallurgical quality product. Coal is hauled from the mines to the coal washing facilities by truck.

Coal washing plants

We operate five coal washing plants and one processing unit in Russia: four coal washing plants and one processing unit located near our coal mines in Southern Kuzbass and one coal washing plant located near Yakutugol.

Our four coal washing plants and one processing unit located near our coal mines in Southern Kuzbass have an aggregate annual capacity of approximately 17.0 million tonnes of ROM coal. These are Krasnogorskaya Washing Plant, Sibir Washing Plant, Tomusinskaya Washing Plant, Kuzbasskaya Washing Plant and Sibirginskaya Processing Unit. These washing plants have aggregate storage capacity for saleable products of 131,000 tonnes, of which 45% is covered storage.

Neryungrinskaya Washing Plant located near Neryungrinsky Open Pit has an annual capacity of 9.0 million tonnes. The plant produces coking coal concentrate and middlings. In December 2010, three out of thirty thickeners at Neryungrinskaya Washing Plant collapsed. There were no injuries but the collapse led to the suspension of works at the washing plant. We took measures to restore the thickeners. Two of three sections of the washing plant were re-launched in February 2011 and the remaining section in the middle of July 2011.

All of the coal feedstock enriched by our washing plants in 2012 (27.0 million tonnes) was supplied by our own mining operations.

In October 2012, we launched a modular seasonal washing plant for the Elga coal deposit, which operates in the warmer months of April to October only, with a seasonal capacity of 2.0 million tonnes of coal.

For our Bluestone mining operations we have four coal washing plants as follows:

 

Complex

   Coal Washing Plant   Capacity
(Short tons per  year)
 

Status

   Year
Commissioned

Keystone

   KS1   2,000,000(1)   Temporarily idled in February 2011 due to excess capacity but under care and maintenance    1920s, 1977
   KS2   3,250,000   In use    2010

Justice Energy

   Red Fox(2)   1,900,000   In use    2006

Dynamic Energy

   Coal Mountain(2)   1,900,000   In use, but underutilized; awaiting commencement of production at new mines    2007

 

(1) The plant also has a thermal dryer.
(2) Contracted pursuant to a long-term agreement with Natural Resources Partners and Taggart. The plant is operated by Taggart with its own personnel.

 

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Investments in coal companies

We own 16.14% of Mezhdurechye OAO, a Russian coal producer whose production volume accounted for 5.0% of Russian coking coal output and 1.8% of Russian total coal output in 2012, according to the Central Dispatching Department.

Coke and chemical products production

The following table lists the various types and grades of coke and chemical products we produce and sell. We also produce and sell coke gas.

 

Plant

 

Products

Moscow Coke and Gas Plant

  Coke +40 mm, Coke 25-40 mm, Coke nut 10-25 mm, Coke breeze 0-10 mm, Coal benzene, Coal tar, Coke gas

Mechel Coke

  Coke +40 mm, Coke +25 mm, Coke 25-40 mm, Coke nut 10-25 mm, Coke breeze 0-10 mm, Coal benzene, Coal tar, Ammonium sulfate, Coke gas

We have two coke plants, one of which is located in the city of Chelyabinsk and the other in the Moscow region. Coke is prepared by pyrolysis (heating in the absence of oxygen) of low-ash, low-phosphorus and low-sulfur coal. Coke is used in the blast furnace as a main source of heat, a reducing agent for iron and a raising agent for charging material in the smelting process.

In addition, we produce coke nut, which is smaller in size than metallurgical coke and is principally used as a reducing agent in ferroalloys production and for other purposes, and coke breeze, which is even smaller in size and is principally used for sintering iron ore concentrate prior to its use in blast furnaces or as fuel. Coke production and sales volumes figures presented herein include, among others, coke nut and coke breeze. Additional chemical products, such as coal benzene, coal tar and ammonium sulfate, are obtained as by-products in the coke production process.

The table below summarizes our production of coke, chemical products and coke gas for the periods indicated.

 

     2012      2011      2010  
     (Coke and chemical products in
thousands of tonnes)
(Coke gas in millions of  cubic meters)
 

Mechel Coke

        

Coke (6% moisture)

     2,692         2,552         2,614   

Chemical products

     143         142         133   

Coke gas

     852         833         870   

Moscow Coke and Gas Plant

        

Coke (6% moisture)

     921         1,149         1,270   

Chemical products

     44         53         50   

Coke gas

     384         463         492   

Total

        

Coke (6% moisture)

     3,613         3,701         3,884   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Chemical products

     187         195         183   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Coke gas

     1,236         1,296         1,362   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The table below summarizes our sales volumes of coke and chemical products for the periods indicated.

 

     2012      2011      2010  
     (In thousands of tonnes)  

Coke

     1,113         1,042         1,151   

Chemical products

     192         191         171   

 

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The following table sets forth the capacity, the capacity utilization rate and the planned increase in capacity for each of Moscow Coke and Gas Plant’s principal production areas.

 

Production Area

   Capacity in 2012      Capacity Utilization
Rate in 2012
    Planned  Increase
(2013-2015)
 
     (Coke and chemical products in thousands of tonnes)
(Coke gas in millions of cubic meters)
 

Coke (6% moisture)

     1,202         76.6      

Chemical products

     57         76.6      

Coke gas

     501         76.6      

The following table sets forth the capacity, the capacity utilization rate and the planned increase in capacity for Mechel Coke’s principal production area.

 

Production Area

   Capacity in 2012      Capacity Utilization
Rate in 2012
    Planned Increase
(2013-2015)
 
     (In thousands of tonnes)  

Coke (6% moisture)

     3,081         87.4     53  

Our own production facilities purchase a substantial majority of our coke production. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, purchases of our coke by our own production facilities amounted to 2.4 million tonnes, 2.3 million tonnes and 2.5 million tonnes, respectively, which represented 69%, 69% and 68% of our total coke sales volumes (including intra-group sales) for those periods.

We purchase some coking coal from other producers in order to produce coke. The need to purchase coking coal from third parties for coke production varies from period to period, depending on customers’ demand for particular products and the availability of suitable coal grades from our own mines.

Iron ore and concentrate production

Our iron ore operations consist of Korshunov Mining Plant which operates Korshunovsky Open Pit, Rudnogorsky Open Pit and Korshunovskaya Washing Plant, and three subsoil licenses held by Yakutugol for the Pionerskoye iron ore deposit, the Sivaglinskoye iron ore deposit and the Sutamskaya iron ore area in Yakutia.

Korshunovskaya Washing Plant is located outside of the town of Zheleznogorsk-Ilimsky, 120 kilometers east of Bratsk in the Irkutsk region. Korshunovsky Open Pit is located near the washing plant and Rudnogorsky Open Pit is located about 85 kilometers to the northwest of the washing plant. We have operated these iron ore mines and the washing plant since 2003 when we acquired Korshunov Mining Plant. Both mines produce a magnetite ore (Fe3O4) and the washing plant produces iron ore concentrate with a standard iron content of 62%. Product is shipped by rail to domestic customers as well as for export sales. All of the sites are served by regional public highways and a nearby federal motorway. The area is served by the Baikal-Amur Mainline, which connects the Trans-Siberian Mainline with China and Yakutia.

The table below sets forth certain information regarding the subsoil licenses for our iron ore mines, all of which are held by our subsidiary Korshunov Mining Plant.

 

Mine

  License (plot)   Area
(sq. km)
  Mining
Method
  License
Expiry
Date
  Status(1)   Year
Production
Commenced
  Surface
Land Use
Rights

Korshunovsky Open Pit

  LOGO  14051  LOGO
(Korshunovsk)
  4.2   Open pit   June 2014   In production   1965   Lease

Rudnogorsky Open Pit

  LOGO  14052 LOGO
(Rudnogorsk)
  5.1   Open pit   June 2014   In production   1984   Ownership

 

(1) “In production” refers to sites that are currently producing iron ore.

 

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The table below summarizes our ROM iron ore and iron ore concentrate production for the periods indicated.

 

     2012     2011     2010  

Mine

   Tonnes      Grade
(% Fe)
    Tonnes      Grade
(% Fe)
    Tonnes      Grade
(% Fe)
 
     (In millions of tonnes)(1)  

Korshunovsky Open Pit

     6.9         24.3     6.5         25.6     5.0         26.9

Rudnogorsky Open Pit

     5.7         31.5     6.1         31.3     6.0         32.5

Tatyaninsky Open Pit(2)

                    0.2         27.4     0.1         27.8
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

Total ore production

     12.6         27.6     12.8         28.3     11.1         29.9
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

Iron ore concentrate production

     4.4         62.2     4.5         62.5     4.2         62.2
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

(1) Volumes are reported on a wet basis.
(2) Subsoil license for Tatyaninsky Open Pit was surrendered in 2012.

In 2011-2012, we obtained subsoil licenses for three iron ore deposits: the Pionerskoye deposit, the Sivaglinskoye deposit and the Sutamskaya area which are held by Yakutugol. The Pionerskoye deposit is located in Yakutia about 127 kilometers from the town of Neryungri. The area is well connected to the regional transportation network with a federal motorway located 5 kilometers to the east of the deposit. The Sivaglinskoye deposit is 120 kilometers away from Neryungri and located close to the Pionerskoye deposit. The Sutamskaya area is located 210 kilometers south-east of Neryungri. Our Yakutugol deposits contain high-quality iron ore, which will allow to produce iron ore concentrate with 65% iron content.

The table below sets forth certain information regarding the subsoil licenses for our iron ore deposits, all of which are held by our subsidiary Yakutugol.

 

Deposit

   License (plot)    Area
(sq. km)
     Mining
Method
     License
Expiry
Date
   Status    Year
Production
Commenced
   Surface
Land Use
Rights

Pionerskoye

   LOGO 03034  LOGO
(Pionersk)
     9.95         Open pit       August 2031    No activity    n/a    Lease

Sivaglinskoye

   LOGO  03153  LOGO
(Sivaglinsk)
     2.2         Open pit       March 2022    No activity    n/a   

Sutamskaya area

   LOGO  03158  LOGO
(Sutamskaya area)
     731.3         Open pit       March 2037    No activity    n/a   

Limestone production

The Pugachevsky limestone quarry is an open pit mine located approximately nine kilometers southwest of Beloretsk in the Ural Mountains. The mine has a railway spur connected to the Russian rail system, which is controlled by Russian Railways. The quarry was developed in 1951 to support Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant’s steel-making facilities, which are currently closed. Pugachevsky Open Pit, which we acquired in 2002, was owned by our Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant until the second half of 2011. In the second half of 2011, a 100% interest in Pugachevsky Open Pit was transferred to our subsidiary Mechel Materials. The current subsoil license is valid until January 2014.

The quarry produces both high-grade flux limestone for use in steel-making and ferronickel production and aggregate limestone for use in road construction. The flux limestone and aggregate limestone are the same grade of limestone, but they are produced in different fraction sizes, which determine their suitability for a particular use. In 2012, approximately 66.8% of the limestone produced at Pugachevsky Open Pit was used internally as auxiliary, with 54.8% shipped to Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, 9.1% shipped to Southern Urals Nickel Plant, 2.4% to Izhstal, 0.5% to Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant, approximately 14.1% sold to third parties, and approximately 19.1% remained in the warehouse and partly was used for internal needs of the quarry. We are capable of internally sourcing 100% of the limestone requirements of our steel operations.

 

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The table below summarizes our limestone production for the periods indicated.

 

     2012      2011      2010  
     (In thousands of tonnes)  

Pugachevsky Open Pit

     1,997         2,105         1,895   

Sales of mining products

The following table sets forth sales of mining products (by volume) and as a percentage of total sales (including intra-group sales) for the periods indicated.

 

Product

   2012      2011      2010      2012     2011     2010  
     (In thousands of tonnes)(1)      (% of total sales,
including intra-group)
 

Coking coal concentrate

     8,957.0         9,643.0         8,292.1         72.4     77.0     73.9

Steam coal

     2,019.6         3,373.5         4,254.8         71.4     85.6     79.1

Anthracite and PCI

     4,552.8         4,008.4         1,879.3         95.6     92.9     86.7

Iron ore concentrate

     4,156.9         2,711.1         3,283.1         76.7     61.6     83.9

Coke

     1,112.8         1,041.7         1,150.8         31.2     31.3     31.0

Chemical products

     191.6         191.5         171.3         41.8     98.2     100.0

 

(1) Includes resale of mining products purchased from third parties.

 

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The following table sets forth revenues by product, as further divided between domestic sales and exports (including as a percentage of total mining segment revenues) for the periods indicated. We define exports as sales by our Russian and foreign subsidiaries to customers located outside their respective countries. We define domestic sales as sales by our Russian and foreign subsidiaries to customers located within their respective countries. See note 24 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

     2012     2011     2010  

Revenues

   Amount     % of
Revenues
    Amount     % of
Revenues
    Amount     % of
Revenues
 
     (In millions of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Coking coal concentrate

     1,453.0        44.1     2,223.4        53.2     1,457.5        47.7

Domestic Sales

     16.5       17.2       21.8  

Export

     83.5       82.8       78.2  

Steam coal

     143.4        4.3     220.8        5.3     361.5        11.8

Domestic Sales

     51.4       58.7       25.6  

Export

     48.6       41.3       74.4  

Anthracite and PCI

     703.0        21.3     720.8        17.3     296.9        9.7

Domestic Sales

     1.7       1.1       6.4  

Export

     98.3       98.9       93.6  

Middlings

     119.9        3.7     91.1        2.2     71.1        2.3

Domestic Sales

     86.3       89.4       100.0  

Export

     13.7       10.6       0.0  

Coke

     291.4        8.8     374.7        9.0     360.0        11.8

Domestic Sales

     77.1       54.7       72.8  

Export

     22.9       45.3       27.2  

Chemical products

     75.5        2.3     76.5        1.8     48.5        1.6

Domestic Sales

     73.9       70.8       68.3  

Export

     26.1       29.2       31.7  

Iron ore concentrate

     444.7        13.5     370.1        8.9     338.8        11.1

Domestic Sales

     26.5       46.7       40.0  

Export

     73.5       53.3       60.0  

Other(1)

     66.7        2.0     96.4        2.3     121.6        4.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     3,297.6        100.0     4,173.8        100.0     3,055.9        100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Domestic Sales

     27.0       26.7       34.4  

Export

     73.0       73.3       65.6  

 

(1) Includes revenues from transportation, distribution, construction and other miscellaneous services provided to local customers.

Marketing and distribution

Our Russian domestic sales are conducted directly by our own production facilities. Our export sales are conducted by Mechel Carbon, based in Baar, Switzerland, and Mechel Carbon Singapore. Mechel Carbon Singapore was established in January 2012 to cover marketing and sales activities in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific market. It will consolidate the total scope of trading operations in the Asia-Pacific region by mid-2013, with Mechel Carbon focusing on covering the Atlantic seaborne market. We generally do not involve traders in the sales and distribution of our mining products and we have had long-standing relationships with end users of our mining products.

 

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The following table sets forth by percentage of sales the regions in which our mining segment products were sold for the periods indicated.

 

Region(1)

   2012     2011     2010  

Russia

     25.4     24.6     32.3

Other CIS

     8.9     13.4     8.1

Europe

     14.5     17.8     18.3

Asia

     42.6     35.1     35.2

Middle East(2)

     4.8     3.4     2.8

United States

     1.6     2.1     2.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other

     2.2     3.6     1.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     100     100     100
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) The regional breakdown of sales is based on the geographic location of our customers, and not on the location of the end users of our products, as our customers are often distributors that resell and, in some cases, further export our products.
(2) Includes Turkey only.

The following table sets forth information about the five largest customers of our mining segment, which together accounted for 23.0% of our mining segment sales in 2012.

 

Customer

   % of Total
Mining
Segment
Sales
    Product    % of Total
Products
Sales
 

EvrazHolding

     7.7   Coking coal concentrate      9.5
     Iron ore concentrate      26.0

ArcelorMittal

     6.3   Coking coal concentrate      3.7
     PCI and Anthracite      22.0

JFE Steel Corporation

     3.3   Coking coal concentrate      4.1
     PCI and Anthracite      7.3

Far Eastern Generating Company OAO

     3.2   Steam coal      0.7
     Middlings      86.3

Eregli Iron&Steel Works

     2.6   PCI and Anthracite      12.0

Sales by Russian subsidiaries

Domestic sales

We ship our coking coal concentrate from our coal washing facilities, located near our coal mines, by railway directly to our customers, including steel producers. Our largest domestic customer for our coking coal concentrate was EvrazHolding, accounting for 9.5% of our total coking coal concentrate sales and 4.2% of our total mining segment sales in 2012.

Pursuant to a directive from the FAS dated August 14, 2008, we entered into long-term coking coal supply contracts with some of our major domestic customers. These contracts provide for the supply of coking coal concentrate under a fixed price based on the price of premium hard coking coal under one-year contracts under FOB terms from Australian ports, excluding the costs of transshipment and rail transportation, with the application of a coefficient representing the quality of the coal concentrate. Previously, the delivery terms for most of our major domestic customers provided for sale at spot market prices. The long-term contracts were entered into with MMK, EvrazResurs, Severstal, KOKS and Metalltrade for terms of four and five years for a total annual delivery volumes of four to five million tonnes of coking coal. However, MMK, one of our major domestic customers with which we have entered into a five-year contract for delivery of a total of 12 million

 

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tonnes of coking coal, has filed a lawsuit in a Russian court seeking invalidation of its five-year contract. Metalltrade also has filed a lawsuit seeking termination of its five-year contract. Both of the petitions were dismissed by the court. In general, the long-term contracts executed in accordance with the FAS directive do not guarantee sale of the volumes fixed under the contracts. In practice, customers may refuse to purchase products under these contracts and we have no means to influence them to take the contracted volumes in full.

We sell coking coal concentrate domestically on the basis of annual framework contracts with monthly or quarterly adjustments to price and quantity.

We ship our steam coal from our warehouses by railway directly to our customers, which are predominantly electric power stations. Our supply contracts for steam coal are generally concluded with customers on a long-term basis with quantities and prices either fixed for the whole term or adjusted monthly. Some of our steam coal is consumed within our group; for example, sales of steam coal and middlings from our Southern Kuzbass Coal Company to our Southern Kuzbass Power Plant were $27.9 million in 2012. In total, 807.9 thousand tonnes of steam coal was sold within our group, including coal purchased from third parties. SUE HCS Sakha Republic (Yakutia) is our largest domestic customer of steam coal, accounting for 9.5% of our total steam coal sales and 0.4% of our total mining segment sales in 2012.

Iron ore concentrate is shipped via railway directly from our Korshunov Mining Plant to customers. Our largest domestic customer, EvrazHolding, accounted for 26.0% of our total iron ore concentrate sales and 3.5% of our total mining segment sales in 2012. We set our prices on a monthly or quarterly basis as agreed with the customers.

The majority of coke is sold domestically to our subsidiaries Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, Southern Urals Nickel Plant, Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant and Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant, which accounted for 68.8% of our total coke sales (including intra-group sales) by volume in 2012, including coke purchased from third parties. Major third party customers include cast iron, steel and ferroalloy plants located in the Central Region and in the Urals of Russia. Sales in Russia are conducted pursuant to framework agreements with monthly adjustments of quantities and prices.

Our subsidiary Mecheltrans is a railway freight and forwarding company, which owns its own rail rolling stock, consisting of 1,175 open cars and 106 pellet cars, leases 64 open cars and has 7,109 open cars under equipment finance leases. In 2012, Mecheltrans transported domestically approximately 27.3 million tonnes of our cargo, approximately 69% of which was comprised of coal and iron ore concentrate.

Export sales

We export coking coal concentrate, PCI and anthracite, iron ore concentrate, coke and steam coal.

In 2012, the largest foreign customer of our mining segment was ArcelorMittal, accounting for 6.3% of our total mining segment sales. ArcelorMittal purchases consisted of coking coal concentrate and PCI and anthracite.

We were Russia’s largest exporter of coking coal concentrate in 2012, according to RasMin. Our exports of coking coal concentrate are primarily to China, Ukraine, Japan, India and South Korea. In 2012, POSCO, Winsway Resources, Ducalion Trading, Annabelle Limited and JFE Steel Corporation were our largest foreign customers of coking coal concentrate, accounting for 24.4% of our total coking coal concentrate sales and 10.7% of our total mining segment sales. Shipments are made by rail to seaports and further by sea, except for shipments to Ukraine and northeast China that are made only by rail.

Our exports of PCI and anthracite are primarily to Europe, China, Japan and India, which together accounted for 90.4% of our total PCI and anthracite sales and 19.3% of our total mining segment sales in 2012. In 2012, our largest foreign customers of PCI and anthracite were ArcelorMittal, Eregli Iron&Steel Works, JFE Steel Corporation, Rizhao Rijin Chemical&Industry Co. and Gerdau Acominas.

 

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Our exports of steam coal are primarily to Turkey, Europe and Kazakhstan, which together accounted for 45.7% of our total steam coal sales and 2.0% of our total mining segment sales in 2012. In 2012, our largest foreign customers of steam coal were Toplofikatsia Rousse, Karbon Aray Enerji Madencilik Nakliye Sanayi Ve Ticaret, Enercom Company, Femex Coal Trading and Erva Madencilik Sanayi Ve Ticaret.

PCI, anthracite and steam coal are shipped to customers from our warehouses by railway and further by sea from Russian and Baltic ports.

In 2012, we used annual contracts for export sales of coal, except for sales to Chinese customers. Coal not shipped under annual contracts was sold on the spot market.

We sold iron ore concentrate to customers in China during 2012, which accounted for 73.5% of our total iron ore concentrate sales and 9.9% of our total mining segment sales in 2012. We ship iron ore concentrate to China by rail.

We export coke primarily to Europe, Turkey, India and Kazakhstan, which together accounted for 20.8% of our total coke sales and 1.8% of our total mining segment sales in 2012. We also sell coke breeze to metallurgical plants in Western Europe.

Our Port Posiet processed 4.5 million tonnes of coal in 2012. From Port Posiet we ship primarily our steam coal and coking coal concentrate to Japan, Korea and China. While the port is undergoing upgrade and modernization, its current capacity is approximately 4.5 million tonnes of annual cargo-handling throughput and its warehousing capacity is limited to 100 thousand tonnes per month for one-time storage of no more than two grades of coal. The port’s proximity to roads and rail links to key product destinations and transshipment points in China and Russia make it a cost-effective link in the logistical chain for bringing our Yakutugol coal production to market.

In 2012, Mecheltrans transported for export approximately 15.9 million tonnes of our cargo, approximately 85% of which was comprised of coal and iron ore concentrate.

Sales by U.S. subsidiaries

Bluestone mining business sold 2.0 million tonnes of coking and steam coal in 2012, 73% of which was sold to the export market. Substantially all of the coal was sold on the spot market. Coal is transported from the mining complexes to customers by means of railroads, trucks, barge lines and ocean-going ships from terminal facilities. A major portion of production is shipped via the Norfolk Southern Railway, so our Bluestone operations are dependent on the capacity of and our relationships with the Norfolk Southern Railway. These shipments either go directly to coking plants in North America or to port facilities for transloading into ocean going ships. In 2012, Bluestone exports went through the port of Norfolk, Virginia and the port of New Orleans, Louisiana.

 

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Market share and competition

Coal

According to AME, we were among the 10 largest metallurgical coal exporters in the world in 2012. The following table lists the major world metallurgical coal exporters and their shares of the total metallurgical coal international trade in 2012.

 

Company

   Metallurgical Coal
Export
(Millions of
Tonnes)
     % of Total
Internationally
Traded
Metallurgical Coal
 

BHP Billiton Limited

     23         8

Mitsubishi Corporation

     19         6

Teck Resources Limited

     18         6

Anglo American plc

     16         5

Xstrata plc

     14         5

Walter Energy Inc

     14         4

Peabody Energy Corporation.

     13         4

Rio Tinto Group

     11         4

Wesfarmers Limited

     8         3

Mechel OAO

     7         2

Other

     164         53
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Metallurgical Coal Exports

     307         100
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Source: AME.

According to the Central Dispatching Department, in 2012 the Russian coal mining industry was represented by 208 companies, which operated 89 underground mines and 119 open pit mines. As a result of the privatization of 1990s and subsequent mergers and acquisitions, the Russian coal mining industry has become more concentrated. Based on the Central Dispatching Department’s data, the ten largest coal mining companies in Russia produced 74.8% of the overall coal production volume in 2012.

 

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According to data from the Central Dispatching Department, in 2012, we were the largest coking coal producer in Russia, with a 20.0% share of total production by volume, and we had a 6.8% market share with respect to overall Russian coal production by volume. The following table lists the main Russian coking coal producers in 2012, the industrial groups to which they belong, their coking coal production volumes and their share of total Russian production volume.

 

Group

   Company   Coking
Coal
Production
(Thousands
of Tonnes)
     % of
Coking
Coal
Production
by Volume
 

Mechel OAO

   Southern Kuzbass Coal Company OAO     5,659         7.8
   Yakutugol Holding Company OAO     8,817         12.2
   Mechel Total     14,476         20.0

Severstal OAO

   Vorkutaugol OAO     9,563         13.2

Evraz Group S.A.

   Yuzhkuzbassugol Coal Company ZAO     8,506         11.8

Sibuglemet Holding

   Polosukhinskaya Mine OAO     2,921         4.0
   Mezhdurechye OAO(1)     3,618         5.0
   Antonovskaya Mine ZAO     525         0.7
   Bolshevik Mine OAO     1,223         1.7
   Sibuglemet Total     8,287         11.4

Raspadskaya OAO

   Raspadskaya OAO     6,975         9.6

UMMC

   Kuzbassrazrezugol Coal Company OAO     5,717         7.9

MMK OAO

   Belon OAO     3,951         5.5

Stroyservis ZAO

   Berezovsky Mine OOO     1,563         2.2
   Barzasskoye Partnership OOO     1,124         1.5
   Shestaky Mine OAO     719         1.0
   Mine No. 12 OOO     416         0.6
   Stroyservis Total     3,822         5.3

Other

       11,062         15.3
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

       72,359         100.0
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Source: Central Dispatching Department.

 

(1) We own 16.14% of Mezhdurechye OAO.

 

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According to data from the Central Dispatching Department, in 2012, we were the fifth largest steam coal producer in Russia in terms of volume, with a 3.4% share of total production. The following table lists the main Russian steam coal producers in 2012, the groups to which they belong, their steam coal production volumes and their share of total Russian steam coal production volume.

 

Group

   Company   Steam Coal
Production
(Thousands
of Tonnes)
     % of
Steam Coal
Production
by Volume
 

SUEK OAO

   SUEK OAO (Kemerovo region)     28,047         9.9
   SUEK OAO (Krasnoyarsk Krai)     29,504         10.4
   Vostsibugol OOO (Irkutsk region)     14,082         5.0
   SUEK OAO (Republic of Khakasia)     10,212         3.6
   SUEK OAO (Tugnuysky Open Pit)     12,521         4.4
   Primorskugol OAO     4,693         1.7
   SUEK OAO (Zabaikalsk Krai)     4,390         1.6
   Urgalugol OAO     5,083         1.8
   Vostsibugol OOO (Irbeysky Open Pit)     2,668         0.9
   SUEK Total     111,200         39.3

UMMC

   Kuzbassrazrezugol Coal Company OAO     39,699         14.1

SDS Holding Company

   Chernigovets ZAO     5,457         1.9
   Listvyazhnaya Shaft Mine OOO     3,414         1.2
   Salek ZAO     3,906         1.4
   Mayskoe OOO     1,907         0.7
   Energetic Open Pit Mine OOO     462         0.2
   Prokopyevsky Open Pit Mine ZAO     535         0.2
   Sibenergougol OOO     1,236         0.4
   Yuzhnaya Shaft Mine OAO     1,789         0.6
   UK Prokopyevskugol OOO     85         0.0
   Kiselevsky Open Pit Mine OAO     2,196         0.8
   Kiselevskaya Shaft Mine OOO     262         0.1
   SDS Total     21,249         7.5

Zarechnaya Coal Company

   Zarechnaya Mine OAO     4,682         1.7
   Oktyabrskaya Mine     2,677         0.9
   Alexievskaya Mine OAO     2,205         0.8
   Karagaylinskoye Mine Office OOO     238         0.1
   Zarechnaya Total     9,802         3.5

Mechel OAO

   Southern Kuzbass Coal Company OAO     8,483         3.0
   Yakutugol Holding Company OAO     1,211         0.4
   Mechel Total     9,694         3.4

Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Co

   Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Co     8,711         3.1

Russian Coal Co

   UK Stepnoy Open Pit Mine OOO     3,718         1.3
   Amursky Coal OOO     3,171         1.1
   Zadubrovsky Open Pit Mine OOO     711         0.3
   Russian Coal Total     7,600         2.7

Krasnoyarskkraiugol OAO

   Krasnoyarskkraiugol OAO     5,508         1.9

Far Eastern Generating Company OAO

   Luchegorsky Open Pit Mine     4,201         1.5

Sibuglemet Holding

   Mezhdurechye OAO     2,721         1.0
   UK Yuzhnaya OAO     1,283         0.5
   Sibuglemet Total     4,004         1.5

Other

       60,844         21.5
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

       282,512         100.0
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Source: Central Dispatching Department.

 

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In the domestic coal market, we compete primarily on the basis of price, as well as on the basis of the quality of coal, which in turn depends upon the quality of our production assets and the quality of our mineral reserves. Competition in the steam coal market is also affected by the fact that most steam power stations were built near specific steam coal sources and had their equipment customized to utilize the particular type of coal produced at the relevant local source. Outside of Russia, competition in the steam coal market is largely driven by coal quality, including volatile matter and calorie content.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy/Energy Information Administration, the total production of coal in the United States in 2012 was 1,016.4 million short tons. Bluestone’s share of total production was 0.4%.

Iron ore

The Russian iron ore market is generally characterized by high demand and limited sources of supply, with product quality as the main factor driving prices. According to Metal Expert, the market is dominated by relatively few producers, with the top three mining groups being Metalloinvest, the Evraz Group and Severstal-Resurs, representing 69.0% of total production of iron ore concentrate. We were sixth in production volume in 2012 with 4.4 million tonnes of iron ore concentrate, representing 4.4% of total production of iron ore concentrate in Russia.

Mineral reserves (coal, iron ore and limestone)

Coal and iron ore

Our coal and iron ore reserves are based on exploration drilling and geological data, and are that part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. Each year we update our reserve calculations based on actual production and other factors, including economic viability and any new exploration data. Our coal and iron ore reserves consist of proved and probable reserves.

IMC Montan (“IMC”), an independent international consulting group, which includes IMC Group Consulting Ltd. (UK), LLC IEEC (Russia), WYG International (UK), DMT & Co Kg GmbH (Germany) and other companies worldwide, has independently assessed our coal and iron ore assets by reviewing pertinent data, including resources, reserves, manpower requirements, environmental issues and the life-of-mine plans relating to productivity, production, operating costs, capital expenditures and revenues. In IMC’s view, all coal and iron ore reserves estimates have been substantiated by evidence obtained by it in site visits and observation and are supported by details of drilling results, analyses and other evidence and takes account of all relevant information supplied by us to IMC.

IMC confirms that our coal and iron ore reserves estimates are presented in accordance with the criteria for internationally recognized reserve and resource categories of the “Australasian Code for Reporting Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves” (as amended) published by the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (“JORC”) of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Australian Institute of Geoscientists and the Minerals Council of Australia (the “JORC Code”), and meet the standards set by the SEC in its Industry Guide 7. Coal and iron ore reserve estimates thus represented are referred to as JORC Ore Reserves.

Despite IMC’s review, the coal and iron ore reserve estimates contained herein inherently include a degree of uncertainty and depend to some extent on geological assumptions and statistical inferences which may ultimately prove to have been unreliable. Consequently, reserve estimates should be regularly revised based on actual production experience or new information and should therefore be expected to change. Notably, should we encounter mineralization or formations different from those predicted by past drilling, sampling and similar examinations, reserve estimates may have to be adjusted and mining plans may have to be altered in a way that might adversely affect our operations. Moreover, if the price of metallurgical coal, steam coal or iron ore declines, or stabilizes at a price lower than recent levels, or if production costs increase or recovery rates

 

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decrease, it may become uneconomical to recover reserves containing relatively lower grades of mineralization and consequently our reserves may decrease. Conversely, should the price of metallurgical coal, steam coal or iron ore stabilize at a materially higher price than currently assumed, or if production costs decrease or recovery rates increase, it may become economical to recover material at lower grades than that assumed here and consequently our reserves may increase.

The calculation of our reserves in Russia is based on the expected operational life of each deposit based on life-of-mine plans, which in many cases exceed the relevant license period for the deposit. Russian subsoil licenses are issued for defined boundaries and specific periods, generally about 20 years. Our declared reserves are contained within the current license boundary. Our Russian subsoil licenses expire on dates falling in 2013 through 2037. Our most significant licenses expire between 2013 and 2024. However, in many cases, the life of the deposit is well beyond the license term. Based on Russian law and practice, as evidenced by our experience and publicly available information, including a number of court cases, it is reasonably likely that an incumbent subsoil user will be granted license extension through the end of the expected operational life of the deposit, provided that the licensee is not in violation of the material terms of the license. The cost for the license extension is not substantial. See “— Regulatory Matters — Subsoil Licensing in Russia — Extension of licenses.” We have received extension of certain of our subsoil licenses which expired and we intend to extend the licenses for all deposits expected to remain productive subsequent to their license expiry dates. However, license extension is not guaranteed and is to a certain extent subject to the discretion of regulatory authorities. See “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry — Our business could be adversely affected if we fail to obtain or extend necessary subsoil licenses and mining and other permits or fail to comply with the terms of our subsoil licenses and mining and other permits,” “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to the Russian Federation — Legal risks and uncertainties — Deficiencies in the legal framework relating to subsoil licensing subject our licenses to the risk of governmental challenges and, if our licenses are suspended or terminated, we may be unable to realize our reserves, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects” and “—Regulatory Matters — Subsoil Licensing in Russia.”

The Bluestone companies’ mining permits expire in 2013 through 2017. Currently, four of our 45 NPDES permits are pending renewal with the state of West Virginia following orders from the EPA. See “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Other Countries Where We Operate — The Bluestone companies are subject to extensive U.S. laws, government regulations and other requirements relating to the protection of the environment, health and safety and other matters and face a highly litigious environment.”

As of December 31, 2012, we had coal reserves totaling 3,215.2 million tonnes, of which approximately 75% was coking coal. The table below summarizes coal reserves.

 

Company

   Proved  reserves(1)      Probable  reserves(1)      Total      % in Open Pit  
     (In thousands of tonnes)  

Yakutugol

     1,931,526         491,818         2,423,344         99.5

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company

     612,628         26,310         638,938         74.5

Bluestone

     85,025         67,925         152,950         61.6
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     2,629,179         586,053         3,215,232         92.8
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Reserves include adjustments for loss and dilution modifying factors.

 

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The table below summarizes our reserves by coal type as of December 31, 2012.

 

Company

   Category      Coking      Steam      Anthracite      Lignite      Total(1)  
     (In thousands of tonnes)  
     Proved        1,587,994         259,830         0         83,702         1,931,526   
     Probable         393,075         98,743         0         0         491,818   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Yakutugol

     Total         1,981,069         358,573         0         83,702         2,423,344   
     Proved         261,968         224,309         126,351         0         612,628   
     Probable         19,034         7,173         103         0         26,310   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company

     Total         281,002         231,482         126,454         0         638,938   
     Proved         85,025         0         0         0         85,025   
     Probable         67,925         0         0         0         67,925   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Bluestone

     Total         152,950         0         0         0         152,950   
     Proved         1,934,987         484,139         126,351         83,702         2,629,179   
     Probable         480,034         105,916         103         0         586,053   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

        2,415,021         590,055         126,454         83,702         3,215,232   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Reserves include adjustments for loss and dilution modifying factors.

The table below sets forth our reserves attributable to our Yakutugol mines as of December 31, 2012.

 

Mine

   Proved reserves      Probable reserves      Total(1)(2)      Heat  Value(3)      % Sulfur  
     (In thousands of tonnes)      (In kcal/kg)         

Neryungrinsky Open Pit(4)

     139,310         1,298         140,608         8,200         0.30   

Kangalassky Open Pit(5)

     83,702         0         83,702         3,837-4,107         0.15-0.85   

Dzhebariki-Khaya Underground(5)

     10,956         0         10,956         4,490         0.30   

Elga Open Pit(6)

     1,697,558         490,520         2,188,078         7,500-8,600         0.30   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

Total

     1,931,526         491,818         2,423,344         
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

(1) Reserves reported on a wet in-situ basis and include adjustments for loss and dilution modifying factors.
(2) In estimating the reserves, we used $134 per tonne (FCA basis) for coking coal and $42-$51 per tonne (FCA basis) for steam coal.
(3) Heat value is reported on a moisture- and ash-free basis.
(4) Mined coal is processed at the Neryungrinskaya Washing Plant. The average coal recovery factor is estimated to be 63%.
(5) Coal is sold as ROM without processing.
(6) The average coal recovery factor is estimated to be 67%.

 

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The table below sets forth reserves attributable to our Southern Kuzbass mines as of December 31, 2012.

 

Mine

   Proved
reserves
     Probable
reserves
     Total(1)(2)(3)(4)      Heat
Value(5)
     %
Sulfur
 
     (In thousands of tonnes)      (In kcal/kg)  

Krasnogorsky Open Pit

     218,465         194         218,659         5,800         0.40   

Olzherassky Open Pit

     57,002         6,424         63,426         8,170         0.25   

Tomusinsky Open Pit

     14,202         4,400         18,602         8,350         0.30   

Sibirginsky Open Pit

     175,050         45         175,095         8,483         0.30   

Sibirginskaya Underground

     42,367         4,024         46,391         8,441         0.29   

V.I. Lenina Underground

     30,873         11,223         42,096         8,468         0.33   

Olzherasskaya-Novaya Underground

     37,686         0         37,686         7,900         0.30   

Yerunakovskaya-1 Underground (project)

     36,983         0         36,983         —          —    

Yerunakovskaya-3 Underground (prospect)(6)

     —          —          —          —          —    

Yerunakovskaya-2 Underground (prospect)(6)

     —          —          —          —          —    

Olzherasskaya-Glubokaya Underground (prospect)(6)

     —          —          —          —          —    

Usinskaya Underground (prospect)(6)

     —          —          —          —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

Total

     612,628         26,310         638,938         
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

(1) Reserves reported on a wet in-situ basis and include adjustments for loss and dilution modifying factors.
(2) In estimating the reserves, we used approximately $110 per tonne (FCA basis) for coking coal and $70-$84 per tonne (FCA basis) for sized and washed steam coal.
(3) All mines except Tomusinsky Open Pit are 96.6% owned by us. Tomusinsky Open Pit is 74.5% owned by us. Reserves are presented on an assumed 100% basis.
(4) Mined coal is processed at Krasnogorskaya Washing Plant, Sibir Washing Plant, Tomusinskaya Washing Plant, Kuzbasskaya Washing Plant and Sibirginskaya Processing Unit. The average coal recovery factor is estimated to be 73% (within the range of 53-77%).
(5) Heat value is reported on a moisture- and ash-free basis.
(6) Not considered by IMC in their review because these prospects presently do not have mine plans.

The table below sets forth our reserves attributable to our Bluestone mines as of December 31, 2012.

 

Complex

   Proved reserves      Probable reserves      Total(1)(2)(3)      Heat  Value(4)      % Sulfur  
     (In thousands of tonnes)      (In Btu/lb)         

Keystone Surface

     36,038         33,051         69,089         14,724         0.75   

Keystone Underground

     12,866         5,647         18,513         14,724         0.75   

Justice Energy Surface

     6,345         3,025         9,370         14,626         0.97   

Justice Energy Underground

     4,048         8,358         12,406         14,626         0.97   

Dynamic Energy Surface

     10,443         5,300         15,743         14,611         1.01   

Dynamic Energy Underground

     15,285         12,544         27,829         14,611         1.01   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

Total

     85,025         67,925         152,950         
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

(1) Reserves reported on a wet in-situ basis and include adjustments for loss and dilution modifying factors.
(2) In estimating the reserves, we used $130 per tonne (FCA basis) for coking coal and $55 per tonne (FCA basis) for steam coal.
(3) Mined coal is processed at our local washing plants at the Keystone, Justice Energy and Dynamic Energy operations. The average coal recovery factor is estimated to be within the range of 44.3-53.9%.
(4) Heat value is reported on a moisture- and ash-free basis.

 

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As of December 31, 2012, we had iron ore reserves (proved and probable) totaling 192.3 million tonnes at an average iron grade of 28.4%. The table below summarizes iron ore reserves by mine.

 

Mine

   Proved reserves      Probable reserves      Total(1)(2)(3)      Grade  (Fe%)(4)  
     (In thousands of tonnes)  

Korshunovsky Open Pit

     62,961         44,874         107,835         25.4   

Rudnogorsky Open Pit

     50,925         33,507         84,432         32.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     113,886         78,381         192,267         28.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Reserves reported on a wet in-situ basis and include adjustments for loss and dilution modifying factors.
(2) In estimating the reserves, we used $120 per tonne (CPT basis).
(3) All mines are 85.6% owned by us. Reserves are presented on an assumed 100% basis.
(4) The average iron ore recovery factor is estimated to be within the range of 74-86%.

Limestone

Our limestone mineral reserves are based on exploration drilling and geological data, and are that part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. Each year we update our limestone mineral reserve calculations based on actual production and other factors, including economic viability and any new exploration data. Our reserves, consisting of proven and probable reserves, meet the requirements set by the SEC in its Industry Guide 7. Information on our limestone mineral reserves has been prepared by our internal mining engineers as of December 31, 2012. To prepare this information our internal mining engineers used resource and reserve estimates, actual and forecast production, operating costs, capital costs, geological plan maps, geological cross sections, mine advance maps in plan and cross section and price projections.

Proven reserves presented in accordance with Industry Guide 7 may be combined with probable reserves only if the difference in the degree of assurance between the two classes of reserves cannot be readily defined and a statement is made to that effect. Our limestone proven and probable reserves are presented as combined in this document because, though our deposits have been drilled to a high degree of assurance, due to the methodology used in Russia to estimate reserves the degree of assurance between the two categories cannot be readily defined.

The subsoil license for our limestone mineral reserves is issued for defined boundaries and expires in January 2014. Our declared limestone reserves are contained within the current license boundary. Based on Russian law and practice, as evidenced by publicly available information, including a number of court cases, it is reasonably likely that an incumbent subsoil user will be granted license extension through the end of the expected operational life of the deposit. License extension is being granted subject to the licensee not being in violation of the material terms of the license. The cost for the license extension is not substantial. See “— Regulatory Matters — Subsoil Licensing in Russia — Extension of licenses.” We intend to extend our license for limestone deposit expected to remain productive subsequent to its license expiry date. However, license extension is not guaranteed and is to a certain extent subject to the discretion of regulatory authorities.

Therefore, we present our limestone mineral reserves in two categories. Material contained in the production schedule and cash flow that is expected to be mined prior to the license expiration date is referred to as “Within Subsoil License Term Reserves” and material contained in the production schedule and cash flow that is expected to be mined after the license expiration date is referred to as “Outside Subsoil License Term Reserves.”

 

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As of December 31, 2012, we had limestone reserves (proven and probable) totaling 16.4 million tonnes at 55.2% calcium oxide.

 

Reserves(1)(2)(3)

   Within Subsoil
License Term
     Outside Subsoil
License Term
     Total      Grade
(% CaO)
 
     (In millions of tonnes)  

Pugachevsky Open Pit

     2.1         14.3         16.4         55.2   

 

(1) Reserve estimates use the tonnages that are expected to be mined, taking into account dilution and losses.
(2) We own 100% of Pugachevsky Open Pit, the holder of the subsoil license for the Pugachevsky limestone quarry. Reserves are presented for the mine on an assumed 100% ownership basis.
(3) In estimating our reserves we use an average price of $6.39 per tonne of commodity limestone and currency conversions are carried out at average official exchange rates of the CBR.

Steel Segment

Our steel segment comprises production and sale of semi-finished steel products, carbon and special steel long products, carbon and stainless flat steel products and high value-added metal products, including wire products, stampings and forgings. Within these product groups, we are further able to tailor various steel grades to meet specific end-user requirements. Our steel segment is supported by our mining segment, which includes iron ore concentrate and coke, and our ferroalloys segment, which includes ferronickel, ferrochrome and ferrosilicon.

Our steel segment has production facilities in Russia, Lithuania, the United Kingdom and Ukraine. Our total steel output was 6.1 million tonnes in 2010, 6.1 million tonnes in 2011 and 6.5 million tonnes in 2012.

Description of key products

Pig iron. Pig iron is an iron alloy with usual carbon content of above 2% which is produced from smelting iron ore feed (sinter, pellets and other ore materials) in the blast furnace. Liquid pig iron is used as an intermediate product in the manufacturing of steel. Cold pig iron can be used as charging material for steel manufacturing in electric arc furnaces and in manufacturing of cast iron in cupolas. Cold pig iron is brittle. We sell small volumes of pig iron from our Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant to third parties.

Semi-finished products. Semi-finished products typically require further milling before they are useful to end consumers. We offer semi-finished billets, blooms and slabs. Billets and blooms are precursors to long products and have a square cross section. The difference between billets and blooms is that blooms have a larger cross-section which is more than eight inches and is broken down in the mill to produce rails, I-beams, H-beams and sheet piling. Slabs are precursors to flat products and have a rectangular cross section. Such types of products can be produced both by continuous casting of liquid steel and by casting of liquid steel in casting forms with subsequent drafting on blooming mills. We offer our customers billets and blooms produced by Izhstal, Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant and Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant, as well as slabs produced by Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant.

Long steel products. Long steel products are rolled products used in many industrial sectors, particularly in the construction and engineering industries. They include various types of products, for example, rebar, calibrated long steel products and wire rod, which could be supplied both in bars and coils in a wide range of sizes. Our long products are manufactured at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, Izhstal and Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant in Russia and Invicta Merchant Bar in the United Kingdom.

We offer our customers a wide selection of long steel products produced from various kinds of steel, including rebar, calibrated long steel products, steel angles, round products, surface-conditioned steel products, wire rod and others.

 

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Flat steel products. Flat steel products are manufactured by multiple drafting slabs in forming rolls with subsequent coiling or cutting into sheets. Plates are shipped after hot rolling or heat treatment. Coiled stock can be subject to cutting lengthwise into slit coils or crosswise into sheets. Stainless steel is used to manufacture plates and cold-rolled sheets in coils and flat sheets. Hot-rolled plates and carbon and alloyed coiled rolled products are manufactured at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant.

Stampings and forgings. Stampings are special parts stamped from metal billets. Forgings are special products made through the application of localized compressive forces to metal. Forged metal is stronger than cast or machined metal. Our forgings and stampings are offered on a made-to-order basis according to minimum batches depending on the products’ sizes. Our product offerings include rollers and axles used in vehicle manufacturing; gears and wheels; bars; and others. Our stampings and forgings are produced at Urals Stampings Plant, including its branches in Izhevsk and Chelyabinsk.

Wire products and seized rolling. Wire products are the result of processing of wire rod and rolled band which are ready for use in manufacturing and consumer applications. Our wire products are manufactured at Izhstal, Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant and Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant in Russia and Mechel Nemunas in Lithuania. Our wide-ranging wire products line includes spring wire; bearing wire; precision alloy wire; high and low carbon concrete reinforcing wire; galvanized wire; copper-coated and bright welding wire; various types of nails; steel wire ropes specially engineered for the shipping, aerospace, oil and gas and construction industries; aerials for electric trams and buses; steel wire ropes for passenger and freight elevators; general-purpose wire; steel straps and clips; chain link fences; welded (reinforcing) meshes; and others.

The following table sets out our production volumes by primary steel product categories and main products within these categories.

 

     2012      2011      2010  
     (In thousands of tonnes)  

Pig Iron

     4,161         3,728         4,149   

Semi-Finished Steel Products, including:

     2,596         2,046         2,212   

Carbon and Low-Alloyed Semi-Finished Products

     2,592         1,513         1,783   

Long Steel Products, including:

     3,161         3,590         3,515   

Stainless Long Products

     13         12         12   

Alloyed Long Products

     265         329         383   

Rebar

     2,018         2,091         1,901   

Wire Rod

     441         597         713   

Low-Alloyed Engineering Steel

     564         396         341   

Flat Steel Products, including:

     523         539         443   

Stainless Flat Products

     27         48         46   

Carbon and Low-Alloyed Flat Products

     496         491         397   

Forgings, including:

     72         85         76   

Stainless Forgings

     5         4         3   

Alloyed Forgings

     48         53         45   

Carbon and Low-Alloyed Forgings

     18         24         28   

Stampings

     111         117         97   

Wire Products, including:

     952         997         869   

Wire

     755         774         672   

Ropes

     54         62         58   

Steel manufacturing process and types of steel

The most common steel manufacturing processes are production in a basic oxygen furnace, or BOF, and production in an electric arc furnace, or EAF.

 

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In BOF steel manufacturing, steel is produced with less than 2% carbon content. The principal raw materials used to produce steel are liquid pig iron and scrap metal. The molten steel, depending on the products in which it will be used, undergoes additional refining and is mixed with manganese, nickel, chrome, titanium and other components to give it special properties. Approximately 70% of the world’s steel output is made in BOFs.

In EAF steel manufacturing, steel is generally produced from remelted scrap metal. Heat to melt the scrap metal is supplied from high-voltage electricity that arcs within the furnace between graphite electrodes and the scrap metal. This process is suitable for producing almost all steel grades, including stainless steel; however, it is limited in its use for production of high-purity carbon steel. Approximately 30% of the world’s steel output is made in EAFs.

Steel products are broadly subdivided into two categories — flat and long products. Flat products are hot-rolled or cold-rolled coils and sheets that are used primarily in manufacturing industries, such as the white goods and automotive industries. Long products are used for construction-type applications (beams, rebar) and the engineering industry. To create flat and long products, molten steel is cast in continuous-casting machines or casting forms (molds). The molten steel crystallizes and turns into semi-finished products in the form of blooms, slabs or ingots. Ingots and blooms have a square cross-section and are used for further processing into long products. Slabs have a rectangular cross-section and are used to make flat products. All products are rolled at high temperatures, a process known as hot rolling. They are drawn and flattened through rollers to give the metal the desired dimensions and strength properties. Some flat steel products go through an additional step of rolling without heating, a process known as cold rolling and is used to create a permanent increase in the hardness and strength of the steel. After cold rolling, annealing in furnaces with gradual cooling that softens and stress-relieves the metal is periodically required. Oil may be applied to the surfaces for protection from rust.

The properties of steel (strength, solidity, plasticity, magnetization, corrosion-resistance) may be modified to render it suitable for its intended future use by the addition by smelting of small amounts of other metals into the structure of the steel, varying the steel’s chemical composition. For example, the carbon content of steel can be varied in order to change its plasticity, or chrome and nickel can be added to produce stainless steel. Resistance to corrosion can be achieved through application of special coatings (including polymeric coatings), galvanization, copper coating or tinning, painting and other treatments.

Steel production facilities

Most of our metallurgical plants have obtained a certificate of quality under ISO international standards. For example, the main manufacturing processes at Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant, Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, Urals Stampings Plant, Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant and Izhstal are ISO 9001:2008 certified. Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant is also certified under environmental protection standard ISO 14001.

Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant

Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant produces rolled products and semi-finished products for further milling in Russia or our internal needs. Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant is sintering production for blast furnaces, BOF/EAF steel mill with rolling production. It produces semi-finished steel products, and flat and long carbon and stainless steel products. Its customer base is largely comprised of customers from the construction, engineering and hardware industries. We acquired Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant in 2001.

The plant sources its coking coal concentrate needs from Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and Yakutugol, its iron ore needs from Korshunov Mining Plant and its nickel needs from Southern Urals Nickel Plant. In 2006, coke production and special steel production were separated from Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant into separate entities, including Mechel Coke, which were wholly-owned subsidiaries of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. In August 2007, ownership of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant’s special steel operations was transferred to the Chelyabinsk branch of Urals Stampings Plant. In June 2010, a 100% interest in Mechel Coke was transferred to Mechel Mining.

 

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Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant’s principal production lines include a BOF workshop equipped with three converters; two EAF workshops equipped with electric arc ovens of 100 and 125 tonnes, respectively; five concasting machines; a blooming mill for 200-320 millimeter billets; five long products rolling mills for 6.5-190 millimeter round bars and 75-156 millimeter square bars, wire rod, rebar steel, bands and long products; a hot-rolled flat product workshop with a thick sheet continuous rolling mill for hot-rolled sheets of up to 1,800 millimeters wide and up to 20 millimeters thick; a semi-continuous rolling mill for up to 1,500 millimeters wide and up to 6 millimeters thick hot-rolled coils; a cold-rolled product workshop for 0.3-4 millimeter cold-rolled stainless sheet. In addition, we have at our Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant four sintering machines and three blast furnaces. The following table sets forth the capacity, the capacity utilization rate and the planned increase in capacity for each of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant’s principal production areas.

 

Production Area

   Capacity
in 2012
     Capacity
Utilization
Rate in 2012
    Planned
Increase
(2013-2015)
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Sintering

     5,120         100.0     132   

Pig Iron

     4,300         96.8     —    

Steel-making

     5,177         95.7     —    

Rolling

     4,751         96.2     —    

Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant produced approximately 5.0 million tonnes of raw steel and 4.6 million tonnes of rolled products in 2012.

In the second half of 2007, we began an upgrade of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant’s arc-furnace melting shop No. 6 to increase the slab concaster production capacity to 1.2 million tonnes per year. Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche S.p.A. (“Danieli”), an Italian supplier of equipment and plants to the metals industry, is the basic equipment provider for the concasting machine and the out-of-furnace processing complex. In July 2010, we commissioned new production complex in arc-furnace melting shop No. 6 which consists of ladle furnace, vacuum degasser and a slab concaster. Currently, the slab concaster is in commercial operation.

In 2008, we initiated construction of a universal rail and structural rolling mill at the Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. The project is aimed at producing new types of large section structural shapes (including beams, angles, rails, channels and special sections) with total output 1.1 million tonnes per annum. The project requires $714.5 million in capital investments. On June 30, 2008, Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant entered into a contract with Danieli for supply of the universal rolling mill. The total amount of the contract is €220.0 million. In order to perform design, construction-and-assembling and pre-commissioning works on the rolling mill, on October 29, 2008, Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant signed a contract with the Chinese construction company Minmetals Engineering Co. Ltd. (“Minmetals”). The contract is concluded on a turnkey basis with a total value of $261.0 million. In 2012, the construction of the building for finishing and dispatching of rail mill products was completed. At present, assemblage and adjustment of the equipment on the mill train are being carried out. The launch of the universal rolling mill is scheduled for 2013.

We expect that the main target customers for the universal mill products will be Russian Railways and construction companies. On November 13, 2008, Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant and Russian Railways signed an agreement for supply of rails for the period until 2030. The annual minimum supply volume is fixed at 400 thousand tonnes of rail. Performance under the agreement is subject to the commissioning of the universal rail and structural steel mill at the Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant.

In December 2010, Mechel Materials started the assembling of the main manufacturing equipment of the grinding-mixing complex for Portland blast-furnace slag cement production with 1.6 million tonnes capacity per annum on the premises of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. The main raw material will be blast furnace slag produced by Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, which will result in non-waste production of pig iron at the facility. This complex will be the first Russian facility producing high-quality Portland blast-furnace slag cement

 

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of certain grade (CEMIII/A). Portland blast-furnace slag cement is widely used in construction industry for production of reinforced concrete structures. The general contractor is Austrian FMW GmbH. The amount to be invested is estimated at $174.4 million. The commissioning of the grinding-mixing complex is planned for the second quarter of 2013.

Izhstal

Izhstal is a special steel producer located in the western Urals city of Izhevsk, in the Republic of Udmurtia, a Russian administrative region also known as Udmurtia. Its customer base is largely comprised of companies from the aircraft, defense, engineering, automotive and construction industries. We acquired Izhstal in 2004.

Izhstal’s principal production facilities include two EAFs of 30 and 40 tonnes; two ladle furnaces and a ladle vacuum oxygen decarburizer; a blooming mill for 100-220 millimeter square billets; three medium-sized long products rolling mills for 30-120 millimeter round bars, 30-90 millimeter square bars, bands and hexagonal bars; and one continuous small sort wire mill for 5.5-29 millimeter round, 12-28 millimeter square and 12-27 millimeter hexagonal light sections, reinforced steel and bands. In January 2011, stampings production was separated and transferred to the Izhevsk branch of Urals Stampings Plant. In June 2011, wire products production, which includes various drawing machines, a pickling line, bell furnaces and patenting lines, was spun-off into a branch of Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant. The following table sets forth the capacity, the capacity utilization rate and the planned increase in capacity for each of Izhstal’s principal production areas.

 

Production Area

   Capacity
in 2012
     Capacity
Utilization
Rate in 2012
    Planned
Increase
(2013-2015)
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Steel-making

     351         95.1     —    

Rolling

     420         98.2     —    

Wire products and seized rolling

     6         86.5     —    

Izhstal produced approximately 333.8 thousand tonnes of raw steel, 412.2 thousand tonnes of rolled products and approximately 5.2 thousand tonnes of wire products and seized rolling in 2012.

In order to improve Izhstal’s efficiency, in the second half of 2007 we began the first stage of an upgrade at the Izhstal mill, including the installation of a new modern electric arc furnace with a total capacity of 40 tonnes, an out-of-furnace processing complex and a new concasting machine, in addition to reconstruction of rolling mill No. 250 and the disposal of outdated open-hearth furnaces. The new electric steel-making complex was commissioned in 2010 and currently the equipment is in commercial operation. Reconstruction of rolling mill No. 250 which had been suspended due to the global financial and economic crisis of 2008-2009 was resumed in October 2010. The rolling mill was commissioned in 2011 and currently the production facilities are in commercial operation. The upgrade process resulted in: (1) significant reductions in consumption of metal, natural gas and electric power in rolled product manufacturing, (2) improvements in product quality to meet current international standards and expansion of product range, and (3) environmental improvements.

Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant

Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant is a wire products plant in Beloretsk, in the southern Ural Mountains, that produces wire rod and a broad range of wire products from semi-finished steel products supplied by Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. Its customers are largely from the construction and railways repair industries. We acquired Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant in 2002.

Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant’s principal production lines include a steel-rolling workshop equipped with a wire mill for production of 5.5-13.5 millimeter wire rod; a number of wire products workshops equipped with drawing, rewinding, wire stranding, cabling and closing machines and heat treatment furnaces, wire annealing

 

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and galvanizing, patenting and galvanizing lines; low relaxation prestressed concrete wire and strand lines and a cold rolling line. In June 2011, wire products production facilities were transferred to Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant from Izhstal. The following table sets forth the capacity, the capacity utilization rate and the planned increase in capacity for each of Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant’s principal production areas.

 

Production Area

   Capacity
in 2012
     Capacity
Utilization
Rate in 2012
    Planned
Increase
(2013-2015)
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Rolling

     630         100.0     —    

Wire products

     590         95.5     —    

Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant produced a total of 565.5 thousand tonnes of wire products in 2012. Rolled products production amounted to a total of 630.0 thousand tonnes, out of which 489.6 thousand tonnes were further processed into wire products and 140.7 thousand tonnes constituted the output volume of wire rod for third party customers.

Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant

Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant is a wire products plant in the Republic of Karelia, an administrative region in the northwest of Russia near the Finnish border that produces low carbon welding, general-purpose and structural wire, nails and steel bright and polymeric-coated chain link fences. The plant uses wire rod supplied by Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant and Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant. The plant’s customers are largely from the construction industry. We acquired Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant in 2002.

Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant’s principal production facilities include drawing and chain linking machines and nail-making presses. The following table sets forth the capacity, the capacity utilization rate and the planned increase in capacity for Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant’s principal production area.

 

Production Area

   Capacity
in 2012
     Capacity
Utilization
Rate in 2012
    Planned
Increase
(2013-2015)
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Wire products

     130         91.7     —    

Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant produced 119.2 thousand tonnes of wire products in 2012.

Urals Stampings Plant

Urals Stampings Plant produces stampings and forgings from special steels and heat-resistant and titanium alloys for the aerospace, oil and gas, heavy engineering, railway transportation, power and other industries. Urals Stampings Plant sources its special steel needs from Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. We acquired Urals Stampings Plant in 2003.

Principal production facilities of Urals Stampings Plant and its branches in Izhevsk and Chelyabinsk include 1.5-25 tonne swages and hydraulic presses. The following table sets forth the capacity, the capacity utilization rate and the planned increase in capacity for Urals Stampings Plant’s principal production area.

 

Production Area

   Capacity
in 2012
     Capacity
Utilization
Rate in 2012
    Planned
Increase
(2013-2015)
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Stampings and forgings

     213         85.9     —    

Urals Stampings Plant produced 182.7 thousand tonnes of special steel stampings and forgings in 2012.

 

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Mechel Nemunas

Mechel Nemunas is a Lithuanian wire products plant that produces drawn, annealed and seized wire, nails, steel wire fiber and chain link fences. Its customers are primarily from the construction industry. We acquired Mechel Nemunas in 2003.

Mechel Nemunas’s principal production facilities include drawing machines and nail-making presses with shank threading, chain linking machines and bell furnaces. The following table sets forth the capacity, the capacity utilization rate and the planned increase in capacity for Mechel Nemunas’s principal production area.

 

Production Area

   Capacity
in 2012
     Capacity
Utilization
Rate in 2012
    Planned
Increase
(2013-2015)
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Wire products

     90         94.8     —     

Mechel Nemunas produced 85.3 thousand tonnes of wire products in 2012.

Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant

Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant is a Ukrainian plant located in Donetsk, which specializes in the production of continuous cast billets and rolled round billets from high-quality grades of steel with thermal treatment. The plant’s customers are largely from the automotive and shipbuilding industries. We acquired Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant in December 2011.

Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant’s principal production facilities include an EAF of 130 tonnes; a ladle furnace; a vacuum degasser; a concasting machine; and a blooming workshop equipped with heat treatment machines. The following table sets forth the capacity, the capacity utilization rate and the planned increase in capacity for each of Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant’s principal production areas.

 

Production Area

   Capacity
in 2012
     Capacity
Utilization
Rate in 2012
    Planned
Increase
(2013-2015)
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Steel-making

     1,100         45.9     —     

Rolling

     1,100         5.5     —     

Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant produced 504.9 thousand tonnes of raw steel and 60.5 thousand tonnes of rolled products in 2012.

 

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Sales of steel products

The following table sets forth our revenues by primary steel segment product categories and our main products within these categories (including as a percentage of total steel segment revenues) for the periods indicated. Steel segment sales data presented in “— Steel Segment” do not include intercompany sales.

 

     2012     2011     2010  

Revenues

   Amount      % of
Revenues
    Amount      % of
Revenues
    Amount      % of
Revenues
 
     (In millions of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Pig Iron

     110.1         1.6     122.6         1.7     63.5         1.1

Semi-Finished Products, including:

     1,163.2         17.1     1,300.1         18.2     1,235.6         22.1

Carbon and Low-Alloyed Semi-Finished Products(1)

     993.2         14.6     1,072.6         15.0     1,091.9         19.5

Long Steel Products, including:

     2,884.9         42.4     3,076.5         43.0     2,266.8         40.6

Stainless Long Products

     42.2         0.6     33.5         0.5     51.8         0.9

Other Long Products

     1,030.4         15.1     1,183.2         16.5     777.2         13.9

Rebar

     1,689.0         24.8     1,645.5         23.0     1,150.3         20.6

Wire Rod

     123.3         1.8     214.3         3.0     287.5         5.1

Flat Steel Products, including:

     635.8         9.4     739.5         10.3     487.3         8.7

Stainless Flat Products

     147.2         2.2     224.2         3.1     204.6         3.7

Carbon and Low-Alloyed Flat Products

     488.6         7.2     515.3         7.2     253.6         4.5

Forgings, including:

     152.9         2.2     167.0         2.3     121.0         2.2

Stainless Forgings

     39.4         0.6     43.1         0.6     22.8         0.4

Other Forgings

     113.5         1.6     123.9         1.7     98.2         1.8

Stampings

     289.7         4.3     302.3         4.2     191.4         3.4

Wire Products, including:

     888.9         13.1     944.2         13.2     722.9         12.9

Wire

     593.1         8.7     641.9         9.0     491.5         8.8

Ropes

     83.1         1.2     92.6         1.3     75.2         1.3

Other Wire Products

     212.7         3.1     209.7         2.9     156.2         2.8

Steel Pipes

     260.6         3.8     240.6         3.4     114.8         2.1

Other

     417.3         6.1     261.6         3.7     382.9         6.9
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     6,803.4         100     7,154.4         100     5,586.2         100
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Excludes revenues from slab sales.

The following table sets forth by percentage of sales the regions in which our steel segment products were sold for the periods indicated.

 

Region(1)

   2012     2011     2010  

Russia

     56.5     53.5     54.7

Other CIS

     10.6     6.4     7.0

Europe

     19.1     23.3     17.9

Asia

     3.3     0.8     2.8

Middle East(2)

     7.5     10.8     14.7

United States

     0.9     1.8     0.3

Other

     2.1     3.4     2.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     100     100     100
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) The regional breakdown of sales is based on the geographic location of our customers, and not on the location of the end users of our products, as our customers are often distributors that resell and, in some cases, further export our products.

 

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(2) Our steel segment sales to Middle East primarily go to Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran, which together accounted for 82.6% of the total steel segment sales to Middle East in 2012. We did not have any direct sales to Iran and Syria in 2012, and we have no plans to make such direct sales in the future.

In 2012, the five largest customers of our steel segment products were Al-Ittefaq Steel Products Co. (semi-finished products), Pervouralsk New Pipe Plant (long steel products, semi-finished products, wire rod and flat steel products), Donetsksteel (semi-finished products and long steel products), Amesco FZE (semi-finished products and wire rod) and Magellan Corporation (long steel products), which together accounted for 5.5% of our steel segment sales.

In 2012, we continued operations with the related metallurgical plants. We also continued selling semi-finished products, long steel products, flat steel products and pig iron to Metallurg-Trust. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions.” These transactions furthered all parties’ interests in expanding our group’s operations and products range in the steel market and allowing the related metallurgical plants access to our group’s strong supply and sales networks. Revenues from sales to the related metallurgical plants and Metallurg-Trust amounted to 11.0% of our steel segment sales in 2012.

The majority of our steel segment export sales are made to end users in non-sanctioned countries on CFR basis, and the minority of our steel products is exported to independent distributors and traders on FOB basis. Contracts with distributors and traders generally specify certain ports to which we must deliver our products. The distributors and traders take delivery of our products at these locations, and further on-sell the products to other distributors or end users. When these distributors take delivery of our products, we are provided in certain instances with documentation showing the further destination of our products. We do not have control over the final destination of our products, contractually or otherwise. We refer to such sales as “indirect sales”.

Based on such documentation, we are aware that certain of our products are sold into and can be re-sold to countries that are subject to international trade restrictions or economic embargoes that prohibit and/or materially restrict certain persons (for instance, U.S. incorporated entities and U.S. citizens or residents) from engaging in commercial, financial or trade transactions with such countries, including Iran, Syria and Belarus (the “Sanctioned Countries”). We estimate that approximately 1.4% of our total sales in 2012 were sold in the Sanctioned Countries, of which 0.9% were indirect sales by independent distributors and traders to other distributors or end users and 0.5% were direct sales to customers in Belarus.

We are aware of governmental initiatives in the United States and elsewhere to adopt laws, regulations or policies prohibiting or materially restricting transactions with or investment in, or requiring divestment from, entities doing business with the Sanctioned Countries. We recognize that acts prohibiting or restricting the foregoing can sometimes be applied to our company and that dealings with the Sanctioned Countries can have an adverse effect on our business reputation.

 

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The following table sets forth information on our domestic and export sales of our primary steel product categories for the periods indicated. We define exports as sales by our Russian and foreign subsidiaries to customers located outside their respective countries. We define domestic sales as sales by our Russian and foreign subsidiaries to customers located within their respective countries. See note 24 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Products

       2012             2011             2010      
     (In millions of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Pig Iron

     110.1        122.6        63.5   

Domestic Sales

     46.2     17.7     62.7

Export

     53.8     82.3     37.3

Semi-Finished Steel Products

     1,163.2        1,300.1        1,235.6   

Domestic Sales

     26.9     26.9     18.2

Export

     73.1     73.1     81.8

Long Steel Products

     2,884.9        3,076.5        2,266.8   

Domestic Sales

     83.3     81.9     76.1

Export

     16.7     18.1     23.9

Flat Steel Products

     635.8        739.5        487.3   

Domestic Sales

     87.6     86.1     92.2

Export

     12.4     13.9     7.8

Forgings

     152.9        167.0        121.0   

Domestic Sales

     83.7     78.4     74.5

Export

     16.3     21.6     25.5

Stampings

     289.7        302.3        191.4   

Domestic Sales

     93.7     91.9     92.7

Export

     6.3     8.1     7.3

Wire Products

     888.9        944.2        722.9   

Domestic Sales

     80.7     78.2     79.1

Export

     19.3     21.8     20.9

Steel Pipes

     260.6        240.6        114.8   

Domestic Sales

     96.1     98.9     99.9

Export

     3.9     1.1     0.1

Other

     417.3        261.6        382.9   

Domestic Sales

     99.0     96.9     93.9

Export

     1.0     3.1     6.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     6,803.4        7,154.4        5,586.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Domestic Sales

     75.0     72.2     67.2

Export

     25.0     27.8     32.8

The end users of our steel products vary. Our rebars are principally used in the construction industry. The main end users of our wire rods are small wire-drawing operations. Our carbon sheet is used in the construction (covers, floor plates), automotive (spare parts) and pipe manufacturing industries. Our high-quality round bars are used in various moving parts manufactured by the automotive industry (spare parts, gear boxes), the machinery industry (hydraulic devices, drill bits), the shipbuilding industry (forged parts), the aircraft industry (spare parts for turbines and gears) and other industries. Our forgings and stampings are primarily used in the automotive, aerospace, petrochemical, textile and food and consumer goods sectors.

 

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The following table sets forth by percentage a breakdown of our shipment volumes of all products produced in Russia by industry sector within the Russian market in 2012.

 

Use by Industry

   Metal
Works,
Wire Products
Plants
    Pipe
Factories
    Construction     Engineering     Railway
Construction,
Repair
    Power
Generation
    Other
Industries(1)
 

Semi-Finished Steel Products

     83.3     2.5     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0     14.2

Long Steel Products

     1.1     2.5     46.7     3.6     1.7     18.6     25.8

Flat Steel Products

     1.4     3.6     19.9     7.6     0.1     18.8     48.6

Forgings

     3.7     44.5     0.0     9.2     0.0     33.6     9.0

Stampings

     0.1     0.0     0.0     12.5     70.7     4.3     12.4

Wire Products

     0.2     0.5     23.7     3.2     0.6     30.0     41.8

Steel Pipes

     0.0     0.0     25.6     0.0     0.0     66.1     8.3

 

  (1) Including the defense, aerospace, petrochemical, textile, food and consumer goods sectors.

Marketing and distribution

We use flexible sales strategies that are tailored to our customers and the markets we serve. Our overall sales strategy is to develop long-term, close partnerships with the end users of our products. As part of our end-user strategy, we research sales to distributors to identify the end user and directly market our steel capabilities and products to these customers. With respect to our largest end-user customers, we have established working committees, composed of our manufacturing engineers and customer personnel. These committees meet quarterly to monitor the performance of our products and ensure that our customers’ specifications and quality requirements are consistently met. These committees also provide customers with the opportunity to discuss their future needs with us. Our sales force also regularly follows up with these and many of our other customers. We attend industry conferences and advertise in industry periodicals to market our products and capabilities. Through these efforts, we have established a strong brand identity for Mechel throughout Russia and other countries of the CIS, Central and Eastern Europe, South-East Asia and the Middle East (in particular, Turkey and Saudi Arabia).

Mechel Service Global, through its subsidiaries, provides end-user customers in Russia, the CIS, Europe and Turkey with our steel products. Mechel Service Global’s subsidiaries help us to develop and service our long-standing customer relationships by providing highly specialized technical sales and service to our customers.

In 2012, most of our production facilities handled their domestic wholesales independently, and our export wholesales were marketed by Mechel Trading.

We also market and sell steel products sourced from, and supply our products as well as products we purchase on the market to, the related metallurgical plants. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions.”

Domestic sales

Our Russian steel production facilities Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, Izhstal and Urals Stampings Plant are located in large industrial areas and have long-standing relationships with local wholesale customers. Mechel Service, a Russian subsidiary of Mechel Service Global, has 83 storage sites in 68 cities throughout Russia to serve our end-user customers, which helps us to establish long-standing customer relationships by virtue of proximity to both production and customers. Mechel Service had 2,025 employees as of December 31, 2012.

 

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Export sales

Most of the exports in our steel segment are made to end users in non-sanctioned countries and minority to independent distributors and traders, which then sell our products to end users. Our subsidiary Mechel Trading has a branch office in Belgium and a representative office in Turkey.

Since 2010, we have been developing sales of high-quality rolled steel products to local end-user customers in Europe through Mechel Service Global’s subsidiaries by means of establishment and launching of new centers for processing of high-quality rolled steel products to meet the requirements of our customers. Our production facilities supply high-quality rolled steel products to the subsidiaries of Mechel Service Global in Western Europe either directly, or through the logistics center in the Port of Antwerp. Our logistics center in the Port of Antwerp also allows us to sell high-quality rolled steel products to manufacturing and service companies on a walk-in basis.

Distribution

Rail transportation is used for most of shipments from our production facilities and warehouses to our end customers, wholesale warehouses or seaports.

Market share and competition

In our core export markets, we primarily compete with Russian and Ukrainian producers. The leading global steel manufacturers have been increasingly focused on value-added and higher-priced products. The principal competitive factors include price, distribution, product quality and customer service.

In the Russian market, we compete on the basis of price and quality of steel products, their added value, product range and service, technological innovation and proximity to customers. The Russian steel industry is characterized by a relatively high concentration of production, with the six largest integrated steel producers, including ourselves, accounting for 84.0% of overall domestic crude steel output in 2012, according to Metal Expert.

The following is a brief description of Russia’s five largest steel producers excluding ourselves:

 

   

Novolipetsk Metallurgical Works OAO (“NLMK”) is Russia’s largest steel manufacturer by volume, accounting for 18.0% of the volume of Russian commodity steel production in 2012. The company produces primarily flat products (hot-rolled and cold-rolled), including galvanized products. NLMK exported 70.7% of its products in 2012. Domestically, NLMK’s largest customers are in the construction and oil and gas industries, followed by companies in the automotive sector. NLMK also controls iron ore producer Stoylensky GOK. The company’s steel facilities are located in Lipetsk, to the southeast of Moscow. NLMK also controls Maxi-Group OAO in Russia, which operates two steel production sites in the Sverdlovsk region: square billet and long steel producer Nizhneserginsky Hardware & Metallurgical Works and long steel and wire products producer Berezovsky Electro-Steel Works. These facilities are managed by the NLMK-Long steel OOO which had a 2.8% share in domestic commodity steel products output in 2012.

 

   

Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works OAO (“MMK”) is Russia’s second largest steel manufacturer by volume, accounting for 17.5% of the volume of Russian commodity steel products output (including long products, flat products and semi-finished products) in 2012. MMK’s product mix is comprised mostly of flat products, representing 83.8% of its commercial steel products output (including semis) in 2012. Domestically, MMK controls a significant portion of the supplies to the oil and gas and automotive sectors. MMK exported 31.5% of its output in 2012. Its production facilities are located in Magnitogorsk in the southern Urals.

 

   

Evraz Group S.A., whose Russian operations include the steel producers Nizhny Tagil Metallurgical Works OAO, ZapSib and Kuznetsky Metallurgical Works OAO, is Russia’s third largest steel

 

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manufacturer by volume on a consolidated basis, accounting for 16.2% of Russia’s total commodity steel products output in 2012. Evraz Group focuses on the production of long products, including rebars, wire rods and profiled rolled products (such as rails, beams and channels). Evraz Group also controls iron ore producers Kachkanar GOK OAO and Vysokogorsky GOK OAO and coking coal producer Yuzhkuzbassugol Coal Company OAO, and has an equity investment in Raspadskaya OAO, which produces coking coal.

 

   

Severstal OAO had a 14.9% share by volume of Russian commodity steel products output in 2012. The company specializes in flat products which constitute a significant part of its production. Severstal is the second-leading producer of flat products and controls 28.8% of Russia’s total flat products output. Domestic sales accounted for 58.0% of Severstal’s output in 2012, with the oil and gas industry and automotive sector as its leading customers. Severstal also controls coal producer VorkutaUgol and iron ore producers Karelsky Okatysh and Olenegorsky GOK, which satisfy a portion of Severstal’s coking coal and iron ore requirements.

 

   

Metalloinvest Management Company OOO (“Metalloinvest”), whose Russian assets consist of Oskolsky Electric Metallurgical Works OAO (“OEMK”) and Ural Steel OAO, had a 6.8% share of Russian commodity steel products output. OEMK produces only long products, and Ural Steel produces both long and flat products. Metalloinvest exported 66.2% of its commodity steel production in 2012. The company’s production facilities are located in the Central and Urals federal districts of Russia. Metalloinvest also controls Russia’s largest iron ore and pellets production facilities: Lebedinsky GOK OAO and Mikhailovsky GOK OAO.

 

Source: Company websites; Metal Expert.

These six companies, including ourselves, can be divided into two groups by product type. MMK, Severstal and NLMK focus mainly on flat products, while we, Evraz Group and Metalloinvest produce primarily long products. Mechel is the second largest and most comprehensive producer of special steel and alloys in Russia, and accounted for 20.0% of total Russian special steel output by volume in 2012, according to Chermet and Metal Expert. We are also the second largest producer of long steel products (excluding square billets) in Russia by volume, with significant market shares in both regular long steel products and special steel long products, according to Metal Expert and Chermet.

In the Russian non-special steel long products category, our primary products and our market position by production volume in 2012 were as follows, according to Metal Expert:

 

   

Reinforcement bar (“rebar”) — In rebar, we compete in the 6-40 millimeters range. In 2012, the largest domestic rebar producers were Evraz Group (25.0%), Mechel (21.2%), NLMK-Long steel (18.5%) and Abinsk Electric Steel Works (7.3%).

 

   

Wire rod — There were five major producers of wire rod in Russia in 2012: Mechel (34.2%), NLMK-Long steel (19.4%), Evraz Group (18.6%), MMK (14.8%) and Severstal (12.4%).

OEMK, an electric arc furnace steel mill specializing in carbon and special steel long products and our nearest special steel competitor, is located in the southwest of Russia and serves customers in the pipe, engineering and ball-bearing industries.

According to Metal Expert and Chermet, we were one of the leading producers in Russia of special steel long products (bearing, tool, high-speed and stainless long steel) in 2012, producing 11.7% of the total Russian output by volume, and we had significant shares of Russian 2012 production volumes of stainless long products (13.3%), tool steel (20.7%) and high-speed steel (41.3%).

 

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The following tables set forth additional information regarding our 2012 market shares in Russia for various categories of steel products.

All long products (excluding square billets)

 

Manufacturer

   Production      Market Share
by  Production

Volume
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Evraz Group S.A.

     5,423         31.4

Mechel OAO

     3,004         17.4

NLMK-Long steel OOO

     1,749         10.1

MMK OAO

     1,740         10.0

Severstal OAO

     1,104         6.4

Metalloinvest Management Company OOO

     820         4.7

Other

     3,453         20.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     17,293         100.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Source: Metal Expert.

Long products — Wire rod(1)

 

Manufacturer

   Production      Market Share
by  Production

Volume
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Mechel OAO

     917         34.2

NLMK-Long steel OOO

     521         19.4

Evraz Group S.A.

     500         18.6

MMK OAO

     398         14.8

Severstal OAO

     333         12.4

Other

     17         0.6
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     2,686         100.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Source: Metal Expert.

 

(1) Including wire rod further processed into wire and other products within the same holding company.

Long products — Rebar

 

Manufacturer

   Production      Market Share
by Production
Volume
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Evraz Group S.A.

     1,819         25.0

Mechel OAO

     1,542         21.2

NLMK-Long steel OOO

     1,351         18.5

Abinsk Electric Steel Works OOO

     535         7.3

Revyakino Metal-Rolling Plant OAO

     420         5.8

Other

     1,622         22.2
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     7,289         100.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Source: Metal Expert.

 

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Flat stainless steel

 

Manufacturer

   Production      Market Share
by Production
Volume
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Mechel OAO

     25.3         54.7

VMZ Red October

     19.3         41.8

Other

     1.6         3.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     46.2         100.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Source: Metal Expert.

Wire products

 

Manufacturer

   Production      Market Share
by Production
Volume
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Mechel OAO

     674.0         36.1

Severstal-Metiz OAO

     393.1         21.0

MMK-Metiz OAO

     323.9         17.3

NLMK-Long steel OOO

     281.8         15.1

Evraz Group S.A.

     171.3         9.2

Other

     23.8         1.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     1,867.9         100.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Source: Prommetiz, manufacturers’ data.

Wire products — Spring wire

 

Manufacturer

   Production      Market Share
by Production
Volume
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Mechel OAO

     46.9         57.3

Severstal-Metiz OAO

     26.5         32.4

MMK-Metiz OAO

     8.4         10.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     81.8         100.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Source: Manufacturers’ data.

Wire products — High-tensile wire

 

Manufacturer

   Production      Market Share
by Production
Volume
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Severstal-Metiz OAO

     58.4         50.7

Mechel OAO

     49.1         42.6

MMK-Metiz OAO

     7.7         6.7
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     115.2         100.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Source: Manufacturers’ data.

 

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Raw materials

The principal raw materials we use in pig iron production are iron ore products (sinter of our own production and purchased oxidized pellets), coke and limestone. Pig iron is made in blast furnaces. For sinter production we use iron ore concentrate. Iron ore concentrate is converted into sinter at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. In 2012, our steel-making operations used 6.2 million tonnes of iron ore feed, approximately 24% in the form of pellets and 76% in the form of sinter, and we internally sourced 8% of our total iron ore concentrate requirements during this period. Korshunov Mining Plant supplied our steel segment with 0.3 million tonnes of iron ore concentrate in 2012. In 2012, we purchased most of the remaining part of our iron ore feed from Russian suppliers such as Karelsky Okatysh, Mikhailovsky GOK and Bakalskoye Rudoupravlenie, as well as Kazakh suppliers such as Sokolov-Sarbai Mining Production Association under monthly, quarterly and annual contracts on market terms.

We process coking coal concentrate into coke at Mechel Coke and Moscow Coke and Gas Plant. In 2012, our production facilities used 4.5 million tonnes of coking coal concentrate (including 3.4 million tonnes used by Mechel Coke and 1.1 million tonnes used by Moscow Coke and Gas Plant), and 56% of total usage was sourced internally. Coke is used both in pig iron production at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant and in our ferroalloys production. In 2012, we produced and internally used approximately 2.5 million tonnes of coke as well as produced and sold another approximately 1.1 million tonnes of coke to third parties.

We internally source all of our limestone requirements from our Pugachevsky Open Pit. In 2012, we supplied approximately 1,152.5 thousand tonnes of limestone to our steel production facilities.

We produce 58% of steel in basic oxygen furnaces. In steel-making, scrap is used in the composition of feedstock, and we are approximately 27% self-sufficient in this raw material, which amounts to 520 thousand tonnes of scrap, sourcing the balance from various scrap traders. We generate our own scrap supply through Mechel Vtormet, our scrap metal processing company.

In 2012, we used nickel sourced from Southern Urals Nickel Plant and Normetimpeks ZAO in the production of stainless and other special steels. In 2012, our production facilities used 4.4 thousand tonnes of nickel (including 2.2 thousand tonnes at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, 1.6 thousand tonnes at the Chelyabinsk branch of Urals Stampings Plant and 0.6 thousand tonnes at Izhstal) of which 83% was supplied by ferronickel produced at Southern Urals Nickel Plant and 17% was purchased from third parties.

In 2012, our production facilities used 29.3 thousand tonnes of ferrosilicon (including 26.2 thousand tonnes at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, 0.5 thousand tonnes at the Chelyabinsk branch of Urals Stampings Plant and 2.6 thousand tonnes at Izhstal), almost all of which was supplied by Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant.

In 2012, our production facilities used 15.0 thousand tonnes of ferrochrome (including 12.0 thousand tonnes at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant and 3.0 thousand tonnes at Izhstal) of which 83% was supplied by Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant and 17% was purchased from third parties.

Steel-making requires significant amounts of electricity to power electric arc furnaces and rolling mills and to convert coal to coke. In 2012, our steel and ferroalloys operations consumed approximately 4.5 billion kWh of electricity, of which 2.1 billion kWh was used at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, 2.4 billion kWh was used at other Russian facilities and 0.6 billion kWh was used at Mechel Campia Turzii, Mechel Targoviste, Laminorul Plant and Ductil Steel. Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant and Moscow Coke and Gas Plant have power co-generation facilities, which are operated by Mechel Energo. In 2012, these facilities produced 1.4 billion kWh of electricity, yielding 21% self-sufficiency overall for our group, which consumed 7.2 billion kWh of electricity in 2012. The balance was purchased in the wholesale and retail electricity markets. Aside from Southern Kuzbass Power Plant and Toplofikatsia Rousse, which ran on steam coal in 2012, our power-generating facilities work on blast furnace and coke gas, which are by-products of our steel-making operations, and natural gas, which we purchase from Novatek and Gazprom. In 2012, we consumed 2,232.2 million cubic meters of blast furnace gas,

 

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563.3 million cubic meters of coke gas and 1,166.7 million cubic meters of natural gas. In 2012, Southern Kuzbass Power Plant and Toplofikatsia Rousse consumed 1.6 million tonnes of steam coal sourced from our own coal mining assets.

Large amounts of water are also required in the production of steel. Water serves as a resolvent, accelerator and washing agent. Water is used to cool the steel, to carry away waste, to help produce and distribute heat and power and to dilute liquids. One of the principal sources of water is rivers, and many of our facilities recirculate a portion of water used for their production needs. For example, Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant sources 90.5% of its water needs from recycled water and the rest from a local river. Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant sources 100% of its water needs from a local river. Southern Urals Nickel Plant sources 34.3% of its water needs through recycling and 65.7% from a local river. To date, water consumption from local rivers has not resulted in any significant environmental issues, although we make no assurances that such issues will not arise in the future. The companies effect payments for the use of water resources and we believe their emissions and discharges are within the permissible limits.

Transportation costs are a significant component of our production costs and a factor in our price-competitiveness in export markets. Rail transportation is our principal means of transporting raw materials from our mines to processing facilities and products to domestic customers and to ports for shipment overseas. For a description of our railway freight and forwarding subsidiary, see “— Mining Segment — Marketing and distribution” above.

For a description of how seasonal factors impact our use and reserve levels of raw materials see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Trend Information.”

Trade restrictions

Trade restrictions in the form of tariffs and duties are widespread in the steel industry. However, we are less exposed than most other Russian steel producers to these trade restrictions as restrictions on Russian exports have mainly been directed against flat products, whereas most of our exports consist of long products, such as wire rods and rebar. In addition, the abolition by the Russian government of steel export duties in 2002 has also effectively improved exports of Russian steel. In the future the Russian government may restore export duties on steel products and may also impose export duties on some raw materials, such as coal and iron ore concentrate.

In 2012, approximately 0.6% of our steel segment export sale revenues were derived from sales of steel products that were subject to import restrictions. We describe below the main applicable trade restrictions in our key markets.

European Union

Our sales to third parties in the E.U. from our Russian steel facilities were approximately $87.3 million or 1.3% of our total steel segment revenues in 2012. Through 2012, the Russian government and the E.U. had an export quota system in place set forth in the E.U.-Russia Steel Agreement whereby Russian exports to the E.U. were limited to certain stipulated quantities for each product category. Upon Russia’s entry into the WTO in 2012, the E.U.-Russia Steel Agreement terminated and Russian steel products imported to the E.U. market should enjoy the free trade regime.

The E.U. has imposed antidumping duties on certain of our steel exports. In particular, an antidumping E.U. import duty in the amount of 50.7% was applicable to steel ropes and cables manufactured by our Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant until October 2007. After a review procedure conducted by the E.U. in October 2007, this duty was reduced to 36.2% and imposed for a period of five years. In October 2012, the European Commission initiated an expiry review of the antidumping measures applicable to imports of steel ropes and cables. See “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry — We face certain trade restrictions in the export of certain of our steel and ferroalloy products to the E.U.”

 

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United States

The United States has a quota system in place with respect to imports of hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon quality steel and thick steel plate. Intergovernmental quota agreements provide for quotas and reference prices on Russian exports of these products to the United States. In 2012, the quota covered approximately 0.6% of our steel segment products exported from Russia to the U.S. The U.S. Department of Commerce has recently conducted a review of an agreement on carbon steel and re-confirmed the terms of the existing distribution system.

Ferroalloys Segment

Our ferroalloys segment produces and sells low-ferrous ferronickel, ferrochrome and ferrosilicon produced at Southern Urals Nickel Plant, Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant and Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant, respectively. On December 19, 2012, production at Southern Urals Nickel Plant was halted due to the continued decline in demand for nickel on global markets and unfavorable forecast for its recovery in 2013. The following table sets forth our production volumes for each of our ferroalloys segment products.

 

     2012      2011      2010  
     (In thousands of tonnes)  

Ferrosilicon

     85.2         82.7         89.9   

Ferrochrome

     83.5         97.7         81.4   

Nickel

     9.8         16.9         16.8   

Description of key products

Ferrosilicon. Ferrosilicon is used in ferrous metallurgy as a deoxidizer or as an alloying element for production of electrotechnic, spring wire, corrosion-resistant and heat resistant steel grades, or as a pig iron modifier. In nonferrous metallurgy, ferrosilicon is used as a reducing agent for production of nonferrous metals and alloys. We produce two types of ferrosilicon: with 65% and 75% silicon content in the alloy. The ferrosilicon we produce is a high-C ferrosilicon, which contains 0.1% carbon. We offer our customers ferrosilicon from our Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant.

Low-ferrous ferronickel. Low-ferrous ferronickel is an alloy of iron and nickel used in production of corrosion-resistant and heat resistant steel grades. Southern Urals Nickel Plant offers low-ferrous ferronickel to export customers, as well as to a number of companies within Russia and within our group.

Ferrochrome. High-carbon ferrochrome is used in the iron industry to alloy construction steel and heat-resistant and stainless steels. We produce high-carbon ferrochrome at our Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant and we use it internally within our group and export and sell within Russia.

Mining and manufacturing processes

Nickel ore. Both the Sakhara and Buruktal mining operations run by our Southern Urals Nickel Plant are typical of Russian open pit mines of their size. The weathered lateritic ore and overburden (the layers of soil covering the ore-bearing stratum) are loaded by electric and diesel shovels and dragline into haul trucks without any drilling or blasting. The ore is stockpiled, reclaimed and then loaded into railcars for shipment to Southern Urals Nickel Plant. Overburden waste is hauled to dumping locations inside the mined-out pits whenever possible or placed in dumps adjacent to the pit.

Low-ferrous ferronickel. Nickel ores from both mines are transported by rail to our nickel production plant in Orsk, which lies east of the southern extremity of the Ural Mountains, close to the border with Kazakhstan. At this plant, ores are mixed in a ratio of 70% of Buruktal ore and 30% of Sakhara ore and sintered in sintering machines. Sinter with the addition of coke, sulfur pyrite and limestone is smelted in shaft furnaces that produce

 

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matte. This matte is then divided into converter matte and waste slag in horizontal converters. Converter matte is processed into nickel monoxide and nickel monoxide is further processed into ferronickel. Ferronickel is shipped by rail transportation from Orsk station, as well as by motor transport, to our Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, to other Russian customers and for international delivery.

Ferrosilicon. Ferrosilicon is produced in electric arc furnaces in a continuous ore smelting process. Silicon is reduced from quartzite with coke and coal carbon and alloyed with steel cutting iron. Ferrosilicon is discharged from the furnace periodically. After cooling, metal ingots are split and sorted into various commercial fractions.

Ferrochrome. High-carbon ferrochrome is produced in electric arc furnaces in a continuous ore smelting process. Chrome and iron are reduced from chrome ore concentrate with coke carbon, with over 7% of the carbon being dissolved in this alloy. High-carbon ferrochrome is discharged from the furnace periodically. After cooling, metal ingots are split and sorted into various commercial fractions.

Nickel ore and nickel production

Southern Urals Nickel Plant produces nickel in Orsk in the Orenburg region, in the southern part of Russia’s Ural Mountains, and operates two open pit nickel ore mines, Sakhara and Buruktal. The Sakhara mine is located east of the Ural Mountains in the Chelyabinsk region, about 370 kilometers north of Orsk. The Buruktal mine is located east of the southern tip of the Ural Mountains, in the Orenburg region, close to the border with Kazakhstan. It is located 230 kilometers east of Orsk. Both the Buruktal and Sakhara mines have railway spurs connected to the Russian rail system, which is controlled by Russian Railways. We acquired Southern Urals Nickel Plant in 2001.

The table below sets forth the subsoil licenses used by our nickel mines and the expiration dates thereof.

 

License Area

   License Holder     License
Expiry Date
  Status(1)     Area
(sq. km)
    Year
Production
Commenced
    Surface
Land Use
Rights

Buruktal

     Southern Urals Nickel Plant      December 2013     In production        11.9        1969      Lease, ownership

Sakhara

     Southern Urals Nickel Plant      April 2013     Conservation        2.2        1994      Lease

 

(1) “In production” refers to sites that are currently producing nickel ore. “Conservation” refers to sites where no mining activity is conducted, measures for mine conservation and land reclamation are being taken.

The table below summarizes our nickel ore and nickel production for the periods indicated.

 

     2012     2011     2010  

Mine

   Tonnes      Grade
(% Ni)
    Tonnes      Grade
(% Ni)
    Tonnes      Grade
(% Ni)
 
     (In thousands of tonnes)(1)  

Buruktal

     1,031.5         1.04     2,063.4         1.04     2,014.3         1.06

Sakhara

     528.7         1.02     926.3         1.02     845.3         1.00
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

Total ore production

     1,560.2         1.03     2,989.7         1.03     2,859.6         1.04
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

Nickel production

     9.8           16.9           16.8      
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

(1) Volumes are reported on a wet basis.

Chrome ore and silicate nickel ore production

Through our acquisition of Oriel Resources in April-October 2008, we acquired a 100% interest in the Voskhod chrome project (“Voskhod”) and a 90% interest in the Shevchenko nickel project (“Shevchenko”), both located in northwestern Kazakhstan. In January 2009, we acquired the remaining 10% interest in Shevchenko, giving us a current 100% interest in both Voskhod and Shevchenko.

 

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Oriel Resources holds two licenses to mine chrome ore at the Voskhod deposit in the Aktyubinsk region and silicate nickel ore at the Shevchenko deposit in the Kustanay region, and owns a processing plant located near the Voskhod underground mine.

Voskhod is located in the Chrometau district of the Aktyubinsk region 110 kilometers east of Aktobe and seven kilometers northeast of Chrometau. The site is accessed by road from Chrometau, which lies on the highway from the regional center of Aktobe. Associated chrome ore mining commenced at the Voskhod underground mine in December 2008 and ore production in commercial volumes commenced in July 2009. The mining plant is designed to reach output of 1.3 million tonnes of chrome ore and 0.6-0.7 million tonnes of chromite ore concentrate per annum. Chrome ore concentrate from Voskhod is used in the Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant in Russia, which is another asset acquired in 2008 as part of Oriel Resources. The subsoil license relating to the chrome deposit at Voskhod was issued by the Government of Kazakhstan in 2004 for a period of 25 years.

The Shevchenko deposit of silicate nickel ore is located in Kazakhstan’s Kustanay region and we plan to produce nickel ore there using the in-situ leaching method for further processing into nickel-containing marketable products. The subsoil license relating to the silicate nickel ore deposit at Shevchenko was issued by the Government of Kazakhstan in 1997 for a period of 20 years. Shevchenko is a development stage mineral asset without reportable reserves. Currently, relevant engineering studies are being undertaken.

The table below sets forth the subsoil licenses used by our chrome ore and silicate nickel ore properties and the expiration dates thereof.

 

License Area

  License Holder   License
Expiry Date
  Status   Area
(sq. km)
  Year
Production
Commenced
  Surface
Land Use
Rights
 

Voskhod

  Voskhod-Oriel   October 2029   In production   1.54   2008     Lease   

Shevchenko

  Kazakhstansky Nickel Mining
Company
  March 2017   Feasibility study   103.8   n/a     Lease   

In 2012, we produced 736.1 thousand tonnes of chrome ore and 379.0 thousand tonnes of chromite ore concentrate.

Quartzite production

Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant holds the license for the exploration and mining of the Uvatskoye deposit of quartzite and quartzite sandstones, a raw material for ferrosilicon production. The deposit is accessible by unpaved road and located 20 kilometers southwest of Nizhneudinsk in the Irkutsk region. In 2011, we conducted successful technological tests of an experimental batch of quartzite for smelting of ferrosilicon. We completed the exploration of the southern area of the Uvatskoye deposit and registered the quartzite reserves with governmental authorities. In 2012, we conducted a series of preparatory works aimed at improving transport infrastructure for the raw materials supply to our Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant. In 2013, we plan to commence quartzite mining on the southern area of the Uvatskoye deposit. In addition, we continue the exploration of the other two areas at the Uvatskoye deposit, which is scheduled for completion in 2014.

The table below sets forth the subsoil license held in respect of our quartzite project and the expiration date thereof.

 

License Area

   License Holder      License
Expiry Date
     Status      Area
(sq. km)
     Year
Production
Commenced
     Surface
Land Use
Rights
 

Uvatskoye

     Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant         July 2033         Exploration         18.21         n/a         Lease   

 

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Ferroalloys production facilities

Southern Urals Nickel Plant

Southern Urals Nickel Plant includes a sinter plant equipped with five sintering machines; a melting workshop equipped with eight shaft furnaces and 14 thirty-tonne converters; and a roasting workshop equipped with two electric arc furnaces with a capacity of 12 MW each. The plant can produce up to 17,500 tonnes per year of low-ferrous ferronickel in pure nickel equivalent.

The following table sets forth the capacity, the capacity utilization rate and the planned increase in capacity for Southern Urals Nickel Plant’s principal production area.

 

Production Area

   Capacity in
2012
     Capacity
Utilization
Rate in 2012
    Planned
Increase
(2013-2015)
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Low-ferrous ferronickel

     17.1         57.2     —    

Southern Urals Nickel Plant produced 9,782 tonnes of nickel in 2012.

Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant

Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant is the largest enterprise in Eastern Siberia producing high grade ferrosilicon. Ferrosilicon is used in the steel-making industry for manufacturing carbon and stainless steel deoxidizers of most kinds of steel grades or alloying elements for production of insulating, acid-proof and heatproof steel grades, or pig iron modifier, as well as reducing agents for production of nonferrous metals and alloys. Approximately 5-6 kg of ferrosilicon is used in every tonne of steel produced. Ferrosilicon is a primary raw material for alloyed steels produced by Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. We acquired Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant in 2007.

The main production facilities of the plant include four ore-thermal ovens with a capacity of 25 megavolt-amperes (“MVA”). In October 2010, we signed contracts with Siberian Plant of Electrothermal Equipment (Sibelectrotherm JSC, Novosibirsk) for the supply of four ore-thermal ovens with the capacity of 33 MVA each to replace the existing ovens. After the project’s completion Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant’s production capacity will increase by 30% and its power consumption will be reduced by 10-13%. In March 2012, one of four new ore-thermal ovens was launched and the trial smelting of ferrosilicon was conducted. We intend to commence commercial operations of the oven in the second quarter of 2013.

The following table sets forth the capacity, the capacity utilization rate and the planned increase in capacity for Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant’s principal production area.

 

Production Area

   Capacity
in 2012
     Capacity
Utilization
Rate in 2012
    Planned
Increase
(2013-2015)
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Ferrosilicon

     87.6         97.2     —     

Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant produced 85,182 tonnes of ferrosilicon in 2012.

Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant

Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant is a modern metallurgical enterprise, which specializes in the production of high-carbon ferrochrome from chrome ore for use predominantly in the production of stainless steel. Recovery of chrome from chrome ore occurs by the agency of metallurgical coke in the presence of a quartzite flux. The plant is situated in the small town of Tikhvin, 200 kilometers southeast of St. Petersburg, Russia. It comprises four ore-smelting open electric AC furnaces with gasproof enclosure and a total capacity of 22.5 MVA each. For effective

 

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cleaning of a steam-and-gas mixture, four dry gas cleaning plants with pulsed regeneration are used at the plant. The Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant’s annual capacity is 140,000 basic tonnes of high-carbon ferrochrome. The plant commenced production in April 2007 using imported chrome ore. Since April 1, 2009, the plant has moved to high-carbon ferrochrome production using only concentrate from the Voskhod chrome processing plant. The plant consumes 330,000 tonnes of chromite ore concentrate per annum. In February 2012, the workshop for production of briquettes out of small-fraction chrome ore concentrate was launched at Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant. The design capacity of the workshop is 5.5 thousand tonnes of chrome briquettes per month. Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant is certified under environmental protection standard ISO 14001.

The following table sets forth the capacity, the capacity utilization rate and the planned increase in capacity for Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant’s principal production area.

 

Production Area

   Capacity
in 2012
     Capacity
Utilization
Rate in 2012
    Planned
Increase
(2013-2015)
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Ferrochrome (60% basic chrome content in the alloy)

     125.0         76.6     —    

Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant produced 83.5 thousand tonnes of ferrochrome with 68.8% chrome content in the alloy in 2012.

Sales of ferroalloy products

The following table sets forth our revenues by primary ferroalloys segment product categories (including as a percentage of total ferroalloys segment revenues) for the periods indicated. Ferroalloys segment sales data presented in “— Ferroalloys Segment” do not include intersegment sales.

 

     2012     2011     2010  

Revenues

   Amount      % of
Revenues
    Amount      % of
Revenues
    Amount      % of
Revenues
 
     (In millions of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Nickel(1)

     165.7         39.8     255.2         53.7     251.6         55.3

Ferrosilicon

     65.6         15.7     84.7         17.8     91.7         20.1

Ferrochrome

     131.3         31.5     105.7         22.3     93.6         20.6

Other

     54.2         13.0     29.6         6.2     18.3         4.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     416.7         100     475.2         100     455.2         100
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Sales of nickel contained in ferronickel and converter matte.

The following table sets forth by percentage of sales the regions in which our ferroalloys segment products were sold for the periods indicated.

 

Region(1)

   2012     2011     2010  

Russia

     30.4     27.8     24.2

Other CIS

     2.5     3.0     1.3

Europe

     49.0     56.2     61.4

Asia

     12.1     7.6     8.8

Middle East

     0.4     0.0     0.1

United States

     5.4     5.1     4.0

Other

     0.2     0.3     0.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     100     100     100
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) The regional breakdown of sales is based on the geographic location of our customers, and not on the location of the end users of our products, as our customers are often distributors that resell and, in some cases, further export our products.

 

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In 2012, our ferroalloys segment sales outside of Russia were principally to Europe. Sales in Europe accounted for 49.0% of our total ferroalloys segment sales. The following table sets forth information about the five largest customers of our ferroalloys segment products, which together accounted for 43.2% of our ferroalloys segment sales in 2012.

 

Customer

   % of Total
Ferroalloys
Segment
Sales
    Product    % of Total
Products
Sales
 

A&M Trading

     11.8   Nickel      20.6
     Chrome      11.4

Stratton Metal Resources

     10.7   Nickel      27.0

Outokumpu Rossija Oy.

     9.1   Nickel      22.9

Scanalloys Ltd.

     6.0   Chrome      18.5
     Ferrosilicon      0.9

Mitsui & Co.

     5.6   Chrome      14.4
     Ferrosilicon      6.9

The following table sets forth information on our domestic and export sales of our primary ferroalloy categories for the periods indicated. We define exports as sales by our Russian and foreign subsidiaries to customers located outside their respective countries. We define domestic sales as sales by our Russian and foreign subsidiaries to customers located within their respective countries. See note 24 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Products

   2012     2011     2010  
     (In millions of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Nickel(1)

     165.7        255.2        251.6   

Domestic Sales

     10.9     7.7     7.4

Export

     89.1     92.3     92.6

Ferrosilicon

     65.6        84.7        91.7   

Domestic Sales

     80.9     87.3     73.8

Export

     19.1     12.7     26.2

Ferrochrome

     131.3        105.7        93.6   

Domestic Sales

     5.7     8.7     7.8

Export

     94.3     91.3     92.2

Other

     54.2        29.6        18.3   

Domestic Sales

     25.8     34.5     39.3

Export

     74.2     65.5     60.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     416.7        475.2        455.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Domestic Sales

     22.2     23.8     22.1

Export

     77.8     76.2     77.9

 

(1) Sales of nickel contained in ferronickel and converter matte.

Marketing and distribution

Domestic sales

Nickel is supplied to the Russian domestic market, primarily within our group. Only 10.9% of total nickel revenues were received from domestic sales in 2012.

In 2012, ferrosilicon was sold to Russian domestic consumers such as Severstal, TMZ TD, MMK, SMR and EvrazHolding, which together accounted for 57.8% of the total ferrosilicon sales by revenue and 9.1% of the total ferroalloys segment revenues.

 

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Metallurg-Trust, Zlatoust Metallurgical Works, Metallurgicheskiy zavod Petrostal, Severstal and OEMK were our major domestic ferrochrome customers in 2012, which together accounted for 5.5% of the total ferrochrome sales and 1.7% of the total ferroalloys segment revenues.

Domestic sales are conducted directly by our production facilities.

We supply ferroalloy products to the Russian market under annual contracts with monthly adjustment of prices and volumes. Price adjustments are based on the domestic spot market prices.

Export sales

In 2012, ferronickel export sales were primarily delivered to the following customers: Stratton Metal Resources, Outokumpu Rossija Oy, A&M Trading, Glencore International AG and MBR Metals, which together accounted for 89.1% of our total ferronickel sales and 35.4% of our total ferroalloys segment revenues. Prices are settled on the basis of nickel prices quoted by the London Metal Exchange (“LME”), less a certain discount. The ferronickel is delivered by railway from Southern Urals Nickel Plant to either the port of St. Petersburg or to the Russian-Finnish border.

In 2012, ferrosilicon export sales were primarily delivered to the following customers: ACTS Trading Corporation, Mitsui & Co., Daitoku Kogyo Co., Scanalloys Ltd. and Global Commerce, which together accounted for 19.0% of our total ferrosilicon sales and 3.0% of our total ferroalloys segment revenues. Deliveries to Japanese customers were effected on CIF delivery terms (including transportation by railway, handling in ports of Vanino and Vostochny and use major container lines to major Japanese ports and insurance). We mostly sell ferrosilicon on spot basis.

In 2012, our five largest export ferrochrome customers were Scanalloys Ltd., Mitsui & Co., A&M Trading, SiderAlloys and Minmetals Xingjiang, which together accounted for 60.4% of our total ferrochrome sales and 19.0% of our total ferroalloys segment revenues. Ferrochrome was delivered mainly by railway to the port of St. Petersburg, and small tonnages were delivered to Eastern Europe by trucks. We mostly sell ferrochrome on spot basis.

Market share and competition

According to Metal Expert, Mechel is the third largest Russian producer of ferrosilicon and the third largest producer of ferrochrome by volume. In 2012, we had a 12.6% market share by volume of Russian ferrosilicon production and a 17.9% market share by volume of Russian ferrochrome production.

Following is a brief description of Russia’s other largest ferroalloy producers, according to Metal Expert and the companies’ data:

 

   

Kuznetsk Ferroalloys OAO (“Kuznetsk Ferroalloys”) is the largest Russian ferrosilicon producer, with a 46.5% market share by production volume in 2012. It controls Yurginsk Ferroalloys Plant OAO. Kuznetsk Ferroalloys produces microsilica and quartzite. It is primarily export-oriented, having exported 96.9% of its ferrosilicon production volume in 2012.

 

   

Serov Ferroalloys Plant OAO (“Serov”) is the largest Russian ferrochrome producer, with a 42.9% market share by production volume in 2012. It also produces ferrosilicon, having a 6.4% production share in 2012. The plant is controlled by the industrial group ENRC, which is one of the largest ferrochrome producers in the world, according to CRU. Serov also produces ferrosilicochrome. Serov exported 83.0% of its ferrochrome production volume in 2012, and almost all of the ferrosilicon it produced in 2012 was supplied domestically.

 

   

Chelyabinsk Electro-Metallurgical Plant OAO (“ChEMK”) is the second largest Russian ferrochrome producer, with a 38.2% market share by production volume in 2012. It is also the second largest

 

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ferrosilicon producer with a 19.2% production share in 2012. In addition it produces silicomanganese and silicocalcium. ChEMK exports most of its production. In 2012, it exported 94.7% and 67.7% by volume of its ferrochrome and ferrosilicon production, respectively.

The following tables set forth additional information regarding our 2012 market shares in Russia for certain ferroalloy products.

Ferroalloys — Ferrosilicon

 

Manufacturer

   Region    Production      Market Share
by Production
Volume, %
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Kuznetsk Ferroalloys OAO

   Kemerovo      303.4         46.5

Chelyabinsk Electro-Metallurgical Plant OAO

   Chelyabinsk      125.4         19.2

Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant OOO

   Irkutsk      82.2         12.6

Yurginsk Ferroalloys Plant OAO

   Kemerovo      81.1         12.4

Serov Ferroalloys Plant OAO

   Sverdlovsk      41.8         6.4

Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant OAO

   Lipetsk      18.4         2.8
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

        652.3         100.0
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Source: Metal Expert.

Ferroalloys — Ferrochrome

 

Manufacturer

   Region    Production      Market Share
by Production
Volume, %
 
     (In thousands of tonnes, except for percentages)  

Serov Ferroalloys Plant OAO

   Sverdlovsk      176.3         42.9

Chelyabinsk Electro-Metallurgical Plant OAO

   Chelyabinsk      157.2         38.2

Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant OOO

   Leningrad      73.8         17.9

Klyuchevsk Ferroalloys Plant OAO

   Sverdlovsk      3.9         1.0
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

        411.2         100.0
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Source: Metal Expert.

Mineral reserves (ferroalloys)

Chrome ore

Our chrome ore reserves are based on exploration drilling and geological data, and are that part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. Each year we update our reserve calculations based on actual production and other factors, including economic viability and any new exploration data. Our chrome ore reserves consist of proven and probable reserves.

IMC has independently assessed our chrome ore assets by reviewing pertinent data, including resources, reserves, manpower requirements, environmental issues and the life-of-mine plans relating to productivity, production, operating costs, capital expenditures and revenues. In IMC’s view, all chrome ore reserves estimates have been substantiated by evidence obtained by it in site visits and observation and are supported by details of drilling results, analyses and other evidence and takes account of all relevant information supplied by us to IMC.

IMC confirms that our chrome ore reserves estimates are presented in accordance with JORC and meet the standards set by the SEC in its Industry Guide 7. Chrome ore reserve estimates thus represented are referred to as JORC Ore Reserves.

 

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Despite IMC’s review, the chrome ore reserve estimates contained herein inherently include a degree of uncertainty and depend to some extent on geological assumptions and statistical inferences which may ultimately prove to have been unreliable. Consequently, reserve estimates should be regularly revised based on actual production experience or new information and should therefore be expected to change. Notably, should we encounter mineralization or formations different from those predicted by past drilling, sampling and similar examinations, reserve estimates may have to be adjusted and mining plans may have to be altered in a way that might adversely affect our operations. Moreover, if the price of chrome ore declines, or stabilizes at a price lower than recent levels, or if production costs increase or recovery rates decrease, it may become uneconomical to recover reserves containing relatively lower grades of mineralization and consequently our reserves may decrease. Conversely, should the price of chrome ore stabilize at a materially higher price than currently assumed, or if production costs decrease or recovery rates increase, it may become economical to recover material at lower grades than that assumed here and consequently our reserves may increase.

In previous years, we reported our reserves under the standards of United States Geological Survey Circular 831 (“USGS”). Since 2012, we have begun reporting our chrome ore reserves and resources under the JORC Code. Both USGS and JORC Code comply with the requirements set out in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Given the global nature of the markets in which we operate and the broad international acceptance of JORC reporting standards, we believe that reporting our reserves and resources under the JORC Code provides users of our disclosures with more readily-understandable and transparent information.

The subsoil license relating to the chrome deposit at Voskhod was issued by the Government of Kazakhstan in 2004 for a period of 25 years.

As of December 31, 2012, Voskhod had total proven and probable reserves of 20.3 million tonnes, including 18.2 million tonnes of proven and 2.1 million tonnes of probable reserves at an average grade of 30.4% Cr2O3 with projected recovery of rate of 86.2%. In estimating our reserves we use an average contract price of $252 per tonne of chrome ore concentrate and currency conversions are carried out at average official exchange rates of the Central Bank of Kazakhstan.

Nickel ore

The subsoil licenses for our nickel mineral deposits are issued for defined boundaries and expire in December and April 2013 for Buruktal and Sakhara, respectively.

As of December 31, 2012, our nickel deposits ceased to meet the criteria for recognition of proven and probable reserves as we considered uneconomic the extraction of nickel from our Buruktal and Sakhara mines due to the downturn in the nickel price in 2012.

We will continue to evaluate the economic viability of nickel extraction from these mines and if the market conditions improve there will be the potential to state proven and probable reserves of nickel in the future periods.

Based on Russian law and practice, as evidenced by publicly available information, including a number of court cases, it is reasonably likely that an incumbent subsoil user will be granted license extension through the end of the expected operational life of the deposit. License extension is being granted subject to the licensee not being in violation of the material terms of the license. The cost for the license extension is not substantial. See “— Regulatory Matters — Subsoil Licensing in Russia — Extension of licenses.” We intend to extend our licenses for nickel deposits expected to remain productive subsequent to their license expiry dates. However, license extension is not guaranteed and is to a certain extent subject to the discretion of regulatory authorities.

 

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Trade restrictions

In February 2008, an antidumping duty in the amount of 17.8% was imposed on exports to the E.U. of ferrosilicon produced by our Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant for a period of five years. In February 2013, the European Commission initiated an expiry review of the antidumping measures applicable to imports of ferrosilicon. We cannot predict the outcome of this review and whether the antidumping duty will be renewed.

Power Segment

Our power segment generates and sells electricity to our group companies and to external customers. It enables us to market high value-added products made from our steam coal, such as electricity and heat energy, and to increase the electric power self-sufficiency of the mining and steel segments of our business. Our power segment consists of a power generating plant, Southern Kuzbass Power Plant with installed capacity of 554 MW, power generation facilities at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, Moscow Coke and Gas Plant, Urals Stampings Plant and Zlatoust Metallurgical Plant with installed capacity of 229 MW, 30 MW, 3.5 MW and 6 MW, respectively, and a power distribution company, Kuzbass Power Sales Company. Our subsidiary Mechel Energo manages our power business. In addition, we hold a 100% stake in Toplofikatsia Rousse, a power plant in Bulgaria. In December 2012, we signed an agreement to sell our stake in Toplofikatsia Rousse and expect the transaction to close in May 2013. See “Item 3. Key Information — Recent Developments — Disposal of Toplofikatsia Rousse.”

Below is a brief description of the power facilities we currently own.

The following table sets out total volumes of electricity production by our power segment.

 

     2012      2011      2010  
     (In million kWh)  

Electricity

     4,272.6         3,920.9         4,019.6   

Southern Kuzbass Power Plant

The Southern Kuzbass Power Plant is located in Kaltan in the Kemerovo region, which is south of Russia’s coal-rich Kuzbass district. It has a total installed capacity of 554 MW and installed heat capacity of 506 Gcal/h. The electricity output of the plant for the year ended December 31, 2012 was 2,119.7 million kWh. The heat power generated by the plant for the year ended December 31, 2012 was 771.1 thousand Gcal. We acquired Southern Kuzbass Power Plant in 2007.

The Southern Kuzbass Power Plant uses steam coal as fuel, which is supplied to it from local sources, including our Southern Kuzbass Coal Company. In 2012, it consumed 1.4 million tonnes of steam coal sourced from Southern Kuzbass Coal Company.

The generation facilities of the Southern Kuzbass Power Plant are listed below:

 

Generation Unit No.

   Year of
Manufacture
     Month and Year of
Commissioning at
Southern Kuzbass
Power Plant
   Installed
Capacity
(MW)
     Electricity
Production in
2012 (million kWh)
 

VK-50-2 LMZ

     1950       April 1951      53         323.3   

VK-50-2 LMZ

     1950       November 1951      53         346.4   

VK-50-2 LMZ

     1950       August 1952      53         332.8   

VK-50-2 LMZ

     1952       February 1953      53         24.6   

T-115-8,8 LMZ

     1996       December 2003      113         542.4   

T-88/106-90 LMZ

     1953       July 1954      88         49.5   

VK-50-2 LMZ

     1954       December 1954      53         142.4   

T-88/106-90 LMZ

     1953       September 1956      88         358.3   
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

           554         2,119.7   
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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The plant sells electricity and capacity on the wholesale market only, as well as heat energy directly to consumers. In Russia it is common for thermal power plants to produce and sell heat energy, sometimes in the form of industrial steam and sometimes in the form of hot water, for business and residential heating and household use, which is distributed in towns and cities by a network of hot water distribution pipes. Southern Kuzbass Power Plant’s heat energy is distributed at regulated prices in the form of hot water in Kaltan and Osinniki.

Kuzbass Power Sales Company

Kuzbass Power Sales Company is the largest power distribution company in the Kemerovo region. Its marketed power volume in 2012 amounted to 10.8 billion kWh. We acquired Kuzbass Power Sales Company in 2007. The addition of Kuzbass Power Sales Company, along with Southern Kuzbass Power Plant, allows us to improve the utilization of our existing power co-generation capabilities and provides a base for growth in the power industry.

Kuzbass Power Sales Company sells electricity on the retail market. The company sells electricity to households, social infrastructure companies, housing and public utilities and large industrial companies. Due to its area of operation, its primary industrial customers are in the mining and processing industries. It supplies electricity to end-consumers directly and also through three regional agents.

The company is included in the Register of Guaranteeing Suppliers of the Kemerovo region. For a discussion of guaranteeing suppliers, see “— Regulatory Matters — Regulation of Russian Electricity Market — Sales of electricity — Retail electricity market.”

Mechel Energo

Mechel Energo’s core activity is the generation and sale of electricity, capacity, and heat energy in the form of hot water and steam. In addition, it coordinates the supply of energy to our production facilities. The company has separate business units in the cities of Izhevsk and Chebarkul, as well as branches in the cities of Mezhdurechensk, Chelyabinsk, Beloretsk and Vidnoye. Mechel Energo also performs the functions of the sole executive body of its subsidiaries: Southern Kuzbass Power Plant and Kuzbass Power Sales Company.

Mechel Energo supplies heat energy (in the form of hot water and steam) at regulated prices to its consumers, including residential consumers and commercial customers, of the cities of Vidnoye, Chelyabinsk, Chebarkul, Beloretsk, Guryevsk, Mezhdurechensk, Myski and Izhevsk.

Mechel Energo has co-generation facilities and operates using mainly blast furnace gas and coke oven gas, which is a by-product of steel-making, and natural gas, which we purchase from Novatek and Gazprom.

Mechel Energo’s sales amounted to 6.7 billion kWh of electricity and 4.7 million Gcal of heat energy in 2012.

Capital Investment Program

We continually review our capital investment program in light of our cash flow, liquidity position, results of operations and market conditions. In light of the above factors, we may adjust our capital investment program. In particular, in view of our conservative outlook with respect to the financial and commodity markets’ development for 2013, we have reduced our planned capital expenditures for 2013 by approximately 56% as compared to 2012. See “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Financial Condition and Financial Reporting — We have a substantial amount of outstanding indebtedness” and “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Financial Condition and Financial Reporting — We will require a significant amount of cash to fund our capital investment program.”

 

 

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Our capital investment program includes capital spending of up to $1.6 billion for the three-year period of 2013-2015. Our capital investment program is primarily targeted at expanding the mining segment and increasing the efficiency of the steel segment and includes, among others, investments of approximately $1.1 billion in mining, approximately $280.7 million in steel, approximately $23.9 million in ferroalloys and approximately $34.3 million in power segment. However, our ability to fully realize our capital investment program is constrained by our ability to generate cash flow, obtain additional financing and refinance or restructure existing indebtedness. Attracting debt financing for our capital expenditures on commercially reasonably terms may be particularly challenging given our current levels of indebtedness. We may be limited to obtaining financing on a project finance basis which may impose more restrictions on the operations of the project or require the economic returns of the project to be shared with investors or lenders.

In the mining segment we expect to direct approximately $281.5 million to the development of the Elga coal deposit in 2013-2015. Investments in Southern Kuzbass Coal Company will amount to $566.0 million. We will invest approximately $133.9 million in 2013-2015 for increasing coal production at Sibirginskaya Underground. In the iron ore business, we will invest approximately $77.9 million in Korshunov Mining Plant.

The steel segment projects are targeted at expanding the share of high value-added products which we produce, while maintaining existing output, and are mainly focused on Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. The main project, initiated in 2008, is the construction of a universal rail and structural rolling mill aimed at increasing rolling capacity to 1.1 million tonnes and decreasing the proportion of lower-value semi-finished product sales by increasing the production of high-quality rolled steel products and rails. The project is planned to be completed in 2013.

The table below sets forth the major items of our capital expenditures by segment and facility for the three-year period of 2013-2015 (including cumulatively the expenditures made since the launch of the relevant project).

 

    

Planned Increase in Capacity

and/or Other Improvement

  Approximate
Total Planned
Expenditures(1)
    Year of
Project
Launch
    Estimated
Year of
Completion
 
     (In millions of U.S. dollars)  

Mining Segment

        

Maintenance expenditures

   Maintaining current coal and iron ore mining and coal and iron ore concentrate production     400        2013        2015   

Yakutugol

        

Construction of a rail line to the Elga coal deposit and the development of the Elga coal deposit

   Providing access to and the development of the coal deposit with increase of production capacity     2,100        2009        2015   

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company

        

Increase of coal production at Sibirginskaya Underground

   Increase production output to 2.4 million tonnes per annum     250        2009        2015   

Steel Segment

        

Maintenance expenditures

   Maintaining current output capacity     104        2013        2015   

Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant

        

Construction of rolling facilities in blooming building

   Introducing new types of rolled products for construction industry with a design capacity of 1.1 million tonnes per annum     715        2009        2013   

Reconstruction of oxygen-converter production

   Increase of cast weight to 152 tonnes     90        2009        2017   

Ferroalloys segment

        

Maintenance expenditures

   Maintaining current output capacity     19        2013        2015   

 

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Planned Increase in Capacity

and/or Other Improvement

  Approximate
Total Planned
Expenditures(1)
    Year of
Project
Launch
    Estimated
Year of
Completion
 
     (In millions of U.S. dollars)  

Power segment

        

Maintenance expenditures

   Maintaining current output capacity     33        2013        2015   

Transport division

        

Maintenance expenditures

   Maintaining current output capacity     17        2013        2015   

Port Posiet

        

Technical modernization of Port Posiet

   Increase of cargo-handling capacity to 9.0 million tonnes per annum     149        2009        2014   

Other

        

Mechel Materials

        

Construction of grinding-mixing complex for Portland cement and Portland blast-furnace slag cement production

   Design capacity of 1.6 million tonnes of Portland cement per annum     174        2009        2013   

 

(1) We estimate that approximately $0.6 billion of the aforementioned planned expenditures for these projects were made within 2012. In 2012, we spent $0.9 billion in total for capital expenditures.

Research and Development

We maintain research programs at the corporate level and at certain of our business units to carry out research and applied technology development activities. At the corporate level, we have a Department of Metallurgical Production Technology Development at Mechel-Steel Management (seven employees), a Production and Technical Department at Mechel Mining Management (fifteen employees) and a Production and Technical Department at Mechel Ferroalloys Management (three employees). In December 2008, we established Mechel Engineering with a headcount of 426 employees to carry out design and engineering works to increase the efficiency of our mining business. Mechel Engineering has a head office in Novosibirsk and three offices in Russia’s regions. Geological services provided by Mechel Engineering include: (1) geological survey work related to prospecting and developing minerals and coal deposits; (2) hydrogeological survey work; (3) monitoring of geological environment; (4) preparation of geological materials for feasibility studies and preparation of geological reports with reserves estimation; (5) test drilling (methane drainage borehole); and (6) computer simulation of coal and ore deposits.

In the course of our research and development we also contract with third party consultants and Russian research institutions.

In addition to these activities performed at our corporate level, each of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant, Southern Urals Nickel Plant and Urals Stampings Plant have specialized research divisions with a total of 157 employees involved in the improvement of existing technologies and products.

Our research and development expenses in the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were not significant.

Insurance

Most of our Russian production facilities have no comprehensive insurance coverage against the risks associated with the business in which we operate, other than insurance required under the Russian law, existing collective agreements, loan agreements or other undertakings. Our Russian facilities have various compulsory insurance policies: liability of the owner of a hazardous facility for injury in an accident at a hazardous facility, legal liability for pollution, third-party liability motor vehicle insurance and other forms of insurance. Some of

 

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our facilities provide their workers with medical insurance and accident and health insurance in accordance with existing collective employment agreements. In addition, almost all of our Russian facilities have motor vehicle insurance, property insurance (real property and machinery insurance, goods), third-party liability insurance and cargo.

Some of our international production facilities are not covered by comprehensive insurance typical for such operations in Western countries. However, they all have the compulsory insurance coverage required under the law of their respective jurisdictions: motor vehicle insurance, pollution legal liability insurance, employer liability etc. Furthermore, some of our international production facilities also carry insurance coverage for their property (real property and machinery insurance, goods), liability (third-party liability, professional and product liability), cargo (including freight insurance), as well as medical insurance and accident and health insurance for their workers.

Environmental Protection

Similar to other companies operating in the industries in which we operate, our activities may have an adverse impact on the environment due to discharge of coal and coke dust and other pollutants and hazardous materials into atmosphere, discharge of polluted waste water into the environment and generation of waste and hazardous materials that need to be disposed of or reused without serious damage to the environment.

Our environmental policy has the following key components:

 

   

implement formal environmental management systems that are aligned with applicable international standards;

 

   

identify, assess, monitor, control and manage significant environmental risks;

 

   

establish clear and meaningful environmental objectives and targets aimed at continuous improvement;

 

   

implement, maintain and regularly test emergency response plans;

 

   

identify potential environmental emergencies; and

 

   

comply with all applicable laws and regulations and when practicable, strive to exceed those requirements.

We have been developing and implementing environmental programs at all of our mining, steel, ferroalloys and power subsidiaries. Such programs include measures to enforce our adherence to the requirements and limits imposed on air and water pollution, as well as allocation of industrial waste, introduction of environmentally friendly industrial technologies, the construction of purification and filtering facilities, the repair and reconstruction of industrial water supply systems, the installation of metering systems, reforestation and the recycling of water and industrial waste.

Regulatory Matters

Licensing of Operations in Russia

We are required to obtain numerous licenses, authorizations and permits from Russian governmental authorities for our operations. Some of our companies need to obtain licenses, authorizations and permits to carry out their activities, including, among other things, for:

 

   

the use of subsoil, which is described in more detail in “— Subsoil Licensing in Russia” below;

 

   

the use of water resources;

 

   

the discharge of pollutants into the environment;

 

   

the handling of hazardous waste;

 

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storage and use of explosive, flammable and/or hazardous materials;

 

   

operation of industrial facilities featuring fire and explosion hazard (including mining and surveying activities);

 

   

fire control and security;

 

   

medical operations;

 

   

mine surveying;

 

   

loading and unloading operations;

 

   

transportation activities; and

 

   

storage, processing and sale of scrap.

The Federal Law “On Licensing of Certain Types of Activities,” dated May 4, 2011, as amended (the “Licensing Law”), as well as other laws and regulations, set forth the activities subject to licensing and establish procedures for issuing licenses.

Under Licensing Law, generally, licenses may be issued for indefinite term. Licenses for the use of natural resources may be issued for various periods. Upon the expiration of a license, it may be extended upon application by the licensee, but usually subject to prior compliance with regulations.

Regulatory authorities maintain considerable discretion in the timing of issuing licenses and permits. The requirements imposed by these authorities may be costly, time-consuming and may result in delays in the commencement or continuation of exploration or extraction operations. Further, private individuals and the public at large possess rights to comment on and otherwise participate in the licensing process, including through challenges in the courts. For example, individuals and public organizations may make claims or applications to the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use regarding subsoil abuse, damage to the subsoil and general environmental issues. The Federal Agency for Subsoil Use is required by law to review such claims and applications and to respond to those who file them. The agency can initiate further investigation in the course of reviewing claims and applications, and such investigations can lead to suspension of the subsoil license if the legal grounds for such suspension are identified in the course of the investigation. In addition, citizens may make claims in court against state authorities for failing to enforce environmental requirements (for example, if a breach by the licensee of its license terms caused damage to an individual’s health, legal interests or rights), and pursuant to such a claim the court may order state authorities to suspend the subsoil license. Accordingly, the licenses we need may not be issued, or if issued, may not be issued in a timely fashion, or may impose requirements which restrict our ability to conduct our operations or to do so profitably.

As part of their obligations under licensing regulations and the terms of our licenses and permits, some of our companies must comply with numerous industrial standards, employ qualified personnel, maintain certain equipment and a system of quality controls, monitor operations, maintain and make appropriate filings and, upon request, submit specified information to the licensing authorities that control and inspect their activities.

Subsoil Licensing in Russia

In Russia, mining minerals requires a subsoil license from the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use with respect to an identified mineral deposit. In addition to subsoil license, a subsoil user needs to obtain rights (through ownership, lease or other right) to use a land plot covering the surface of the area where such licensed mineral deposit is located. In addition, as discussed above, operating permits are required with respect to specific mining activities.

The primary law regulating subsoil licensing is the Federal Law “On Subsoil,” dated February 21, 1992, as amended (the “Subsoil Law”), which sets out the regime for granting licenses for the exploration and extraction of mineral resources. The Procedure for Subsoil Use Licensing, adopted by Resolution of the Supreme Soviet of

 

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the Russian Federation on July 15, 1992, as amended (the “Licensing Regulation”), also regulates the licensing of exploration and extraction of mineral resources. According to both the Subsoil Law and the Licensing Regulation, subsurface mineral resources are subject to the jurisdiction of the federal authorities.

Among different licenses required for mining minerals in Russia, the two major types of licenses are: (1) an exploration license, which is a non-exclusive license granting the right of geological exploration and assessment within the license area, and (2) an extraction license, which grants the licensee an exclusive right to produce minerals from the license area. In practice, many of the licenses are issued as combined licenses, which grant the right to explore, assess and produce minerals from the license area. A subsoil license defines the license area in terms of latitude, longitude and depth. The subsoil user has the right to develop and use, including sell, mineral resources extracted from the license area for a specified period. The Russian Federation, however, retains ultimate state ownership of all subsoil mineral resources.

There are two major types of payments with respect to the extraction of minerals: (1) periodic payments for the use of subsoil under the Subsoil Law; and (2) the mineral extraction tax under the Russian Tax Code. Failure to make these payments could result in the suspension or termination of the subsoil license. The Subsoil Law-mandated payments are not material to our mining segment’s results of operations. For coal, the mineral extraction tax ranges from 11 to 57 rubles per tonne depending on the type of coal. For iron ore and for nickel, the mineral extraction tax is 4.8% and 8%, respectively. In 2012, we incurred mineral extraction taxes in the amount of $63.7 million, which is included in the statement of income and comprehensive income as extraction related overheads.

Currently, extraction licenses and combined licenses are awarded by tender or auction conducted by special auction commissions of the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use. While such auction or tender may involve a representative of the relevant region, the separate consent of regional authorities is generally not required in order to issue subsoil licenses. The winning bidder in a tender is selected on the basis of the submission of the most technically competent, financially attractive and environmentally sound proposal that meets published tender terms and conditions. At an auction, the success of a bid is determined by the attractiveness of the financial proposal. In limited circumstances, extraction licenses may also be issued without holding an auction or tender, for instance to holders of exploration licenses who discover mineral resource deposits through exploration work conducted at their own expense. Regional authorities may issue extraction licenses for “common” mineral resources, such as clay, sand or limestone.

Pursuant to the Subsoil Law, a subsoil plot is provided to a subsoil user as a “mining allotment,” i.e. a geometric block of subsoil. Preliminary mining allotment boundaries are determined at the time the license is issued. Exact mining allotment boundaries are established upon the approval of a development plan by state mining supervision authorities and an environmental examination committee. These exact boundaries are certified in a mining allotment plan issued to the license holder. The exact mining allotment boundaries are incorporated into the license as an integral part. Pursuant to Resolution No. 118 of the Government of the Russian Federation dated March 3, 2010, a special commission comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology, the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use, Rosprirodnadzor, Rostekhnadzor and relevant local authorities approve development plans and other project documentation relating to the use of subsoil plots.

The term of the license is set forth in the license. Prior to January 2000, exploration licenses could have a maximum term of five years, extraction licenses a maximum term of 20 years, and combined exploration, assessment and extraction licenses a maximum term of 25 years. After amendments to the Subsoil Law in January 2000 and in August 2004, exploration licenses still have a maximum term of five years; in the event that a prior license with respect to a particular field is terminated early (for example, when a license is withdrawn due to non-usage of the licensed subsoil), an extraction license may have a one year term until a new licensee is determined, but is generally granted to another user for the term of the expected operational life of the field based on a feasibility study; and combined exploration, assessment and extraction licenses can be issued for the term of

 

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the expected operational life of the field based on a feasibility study. These amendments did not affect the terms of licenses issued prior to January 2000, but permit licensees to apply for extensions of such licenses for the term of the expected operational life of the field in accordance with the amended Subsoil Law. The term of a subsoil license runs from the date the license is registered with the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use.

Issuance of licenses

Subsoil licenses are issued by the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use. Most of the currently existing extraction licenses owned by companies derive from: (1) pre-existing rights granted during the Soviet era and up to the enactment of the Subsoil Law to state-owned enterprises that were subsequently reorganized in the course of post-Soviet privatizations; or (2) tender or auction procedures held in the post-Soviet period. The Russian Civil Code, the Subsoil Law and the Licensing Regulation contain the major requirements relating to tenders and auctions. The Subsoil Law allows extraction licenses to be issued without a tender or auction procedure only in limited circumstances, such as instances when a mineral deposit is discovered by the holder of an exploration license at its own expense during the exploration phase.

Extension of licenses

The Subsoil Law permits a subsoil licensee to request an extension of an extraction license for the term of the expected operational life of the subsoil plot in order to complete the extraction from the subsoil plot covered by the license or the procedures necessary to vacate the land once the use of the subsoil is complete, provided the user is not in violation of the terms and conditions of the license and the relevant regulations.

In order to extend the period of a subsoil license, a company must file an application with territorial authorities of the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use to amend the license. In addition, as we have seen in practice, a subsoil licensee may be required to prepare and provide to the authority amended technical documentation and development plan of the deposit under the license justifying the requested extension. The costs associated with the license extension are generally not substantial and mainly relate to preparing amendments to the technical documentation and development plan of the subsoil plot. Application to extend the period of subsoil license is typically made six months before its expiration.

To the best of our knowledge, derived from publicly available information, the relevant governmental authorities when determining whether to approve an amendment (including an extension) of a license consider the following: (1) the grounds for the amendments, with specific information as to how the amendments may impact payments by the licensee to the federal and local budgets; (2) compliance of the licensee with the conditions of the license; and (3) the technical expertise and financial capabilities that would be required to implement the conditions of the amended license. In particular, we are aware of a number of mining companies which have been granted an extension of their Russian mining licenses for the past few years. In addition, we have successfully extended certain of our subsoil licenses which were due to expire for the entire term of the expected operational life of the subsoil plots. The terms of the licenses were extended in accordance with the amendments we made to the development plans of the subsoil plots. Furthermore, as evidenced by a number of court cases during the past several years, license extensions are being rejected predominantly on the grounds of subsoil users being in violation of the material terms of the licenses. Though current regulation does not specify what license terms are material, current practice suggest that regulatory authorities tend to treat as material terms of the license the terms related to license payments, production levels and operational milestones.

The factors that may, in practice, affect a company’s ability to obtain the approval of license amendments (including extensions) include: (1) its compliance with the license terms and conditions; (2) its management’s experience and expertise relating to subsoil issues; and (3) the relationship of its management with federal and/or local governmental authorities, as well as local governments. For a description of additional factors that may affect Russian companies’ ability to extend their licenses, see “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry — Our business could be adversely affected if we fail to obtain or extend necessary subsoil licenses and mining and other permits or fail to comply with the terms of our subsoil licenses

 

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and mining and other permits.” See also “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to the Russian Federation — Legal risks and uncertainties — Deficiencies in the legal framework relating to subsoil licensing subject our licenses to the risk of governmental challenges and, if our licenses are suspended or terminated, we may be unable to realize our reserves, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects” and “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to the Russian Federation — Legal risks and uncertainties — Weaknesses relating to the Russian legal system and legislation create an uncertain investment climate.”

Transfer of licenses

Licenses may be transferred only under certain limited circumstances that are set forth in the Subsoil Law, including the reorganization or merger of the licensee or in the event that an initial licensee transfers its license to a newly established legal entity in which it has at least a 50% ownership interest, provided that the transferee possesses the equipment and authorizations necessary to conduct the exploration or extraction activity covered by the transferred license.

Maintenance and termination of licenses

A license granted under the Subsoil Law is accompanied by a licensing agreement. The law provides that there will be two parties to any subsoil licensing agreement: the relevant state authorities and the licensee. The licensing agreement sets out the terms and conditions for the use of the subsoil.

Under a licensing agreement, the licensee makes certain environmental, safety and extraction commitments. For example, the licensee makes an extraction commitment to bring the field into extraction by a certain date and to extract an agreed-upon volume of natural resources each year. The licensing agreement may also contain commitments with respect to the social and economic development of the region. When the license expires, the licensee must return the land to a condition which is adequate for future use. Although most of the conditions set out in a license are based on mandatory rules contained in Russian law, certain provisions in a licensing agreement are left to the discretion of the licensing authorities and are often negotiated between the parties. However, commitments relating to safety and the environment are generally not negotiated.

The fulfillment of a license’s conditions is a major factor in the good standing of the license. If the subsoil licensee fails to fulfill the license’s conditions, upon notice, the license may be terminated or the subsoil user’s rights may be restricted by the licensing authorities. However, if a subsoil licensee cannot meet certain deadlines or achieve certain volumes of exploration work or extraction output as set forth in a license, it may apply to amend the relevant license conditions, though such amendments may be denied.

The Subsoil Law and other Russian legislation contain extensive provisions for license termination. A licensee can be fined or the license can be suspended or terminated for repeated breaches of the law, upon the occurrence of a direct threat to the lives or health of people working or residing in the local area, or upon the occurrence of certain emergency situations. A license may also be terminated for violations of “material” license terms. Although the Subsoil Law does not specify which terms are material, failure to pay subsoil taxes and failure to commence operations in a timely manner have been common grounds for limitation or termination of licenses. Consistent underproduction and failure to meet obligations to finance a project would also be likely to constitute violations of material license terms. In addition, certain licenses provide that the violation by a subsoil licensee of any of its obligations may constitute grounds for terminating the license.

Rosprirodnadzor routinely conducts scheduled and unscheduled inspections for compliance by subsoil users with the terms of their licenses and reports violations to the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use. The Federal Agency for Subsoil Use examines Rosprirodnadzor’s reports and, if it finds that these violations constitute sufficient grounds for terminating the license, the Commission for Termination of Subsoil Licenses considers the nature of these violations and recommends that the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use either (i) revoke the license; (ii) notify the subsoil user about the identified violations and potential termination of the license if the subsoil user fails to

 

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rectify the identified violations within a prescribed period of time; or (iii) consider that the actions described in (i) and (ii) above are unreasonable and accept the information provided by the subsoil user.

If the licensee does not agree with a decision of the licensing authorities, including a decision relating to the termination of a license or the refusal to change an existing license, the licensee may appeal the decision through administrative or judicial proceedings. In certain cases prior to termination, the licensee has the right to attempt to cure the violation within three months of its receipt of notice of the violation. If the issue has been resolved within such a three month period, no termination or other action may be taken.

Land Use Rights in Russia

Russian legislation prohibits the carrying out of any commercial activity, including mineral extraction, on a land plot without appropriate surface land use rights. Land use rights are needed and obtained for only the portions of the license area actually being used, including the plot being mined, access areas and areas where other mining-related activity is occurring.

Under the Land Code, companies generally have one of the following rights with regard to land in the Russian Federation: (1) ownership; (2) right of perpetual use; or (3) lease.

A majority of land plots in the Russian Federation are owned by federal, regional or municipal authorities which, through public auctions or tenders or through private negotiations, can sell, lease or grant other use rights to the land to third parties.

Companies may also have a right of perpetual use of land that was obtained prior to the enactment of the Land Code; however, the Federal Law “On Introduction of the Land Code,” dated October 25, 2001, with certain exceptions, requires companies using land pursuant to rights of perpetual use by July 1, 2012 either to purchase the land from, or to enter into a lease agreement relating to the land with, the relevant federal, regional or municipal authority acting as owner of the land. Failure to transfer the title by January 1, 2013 triggers administrative liability. In case of the lease, the companies can still purchase such land after July 1, 2012 provided that they have registered the lease relating to the land.

Our mining subsidiaries generally have entered into long-term lease agreements for their surface land within the specified license mining area. Under Russian law, a lessee generally has a priority right to enter into a new land lease agreement with a lessor upon the expiration of a land lease. In order to renew a land lease agreement, the lessee must apply to the lessor (usually state or municipal authorities) for a renewal prior to the expiration of the agreement. Any land lease agreement for a term of one year or more must be registered with the relevant state authorities.

Environmental Legislation in Russia

We are subject to laws, regulations and other legal requirements relating to the protection of the environment, including those governing the discharge of substances into the air and water, the formation, distribution and disposal of hazardous substances and waste, the cleanup of contaminated sites, flora and fauna protection and wildlife protection. Issues of environmental protection in Russia are regulated primarily by the Federal Law “On Environmental Protection,” dated January 10, 2002, as amended (the “Environmental Protection Law”), as well as by a number of other federal, regional and local legal acts.

Since 2008, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology has been working on significant amendments to the Environmental Protection Law and other regulations. These draft amendments are actively being discussed by industry representatives and other interested parties such as the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. These amendments have not yet been submitted to the Russian legislative bodies, however, several draft documents are already being considered by the Russian government. The amendments intend to improve the distribution of functions among state environmental agencies at both the federal and regional levels, as well as to strengthen liability for companies’ non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations.

 

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Among other things, the draft amendments contemplate that charges for environmental impact exceeding regulatory thresholds (norms) may be increased by twenty five times the current amounts commencing on January 1 of the year next to the year when the adopted draft amendments are published and may be increased by one hundred times the current amounts after three years from the date when the draft amendments enter into force. Furthermore, fines for environmental violations may be increased by up to 20 times the current amounts. See “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry — More stringent environmental laws and regulations or more stringent enforcement or findings that we have violated environmental laws and regulations could result in higher compliance costs and significant fines and penalties, clean-up costs and compensatory damages, or require significant capital investment, or even result in the suspension of our operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operation and prospects.”

Pay-to-pollute

The Environmental Protection Law and other Russian environmental protection legislation establish a “pay-to-pollute” regime administered by federal and local authorities. “Pay-to-pollute” (or payments for environmental pollution) is a form of mandatory reimbursement to the Russian government for damage caused to the environment.

The Russian government has established standards relating to the permissible impact on the environment and, in particular, limits for emissions and disposal of substances, waste disposal and resource extraction. A company may obtain temporary approval for exceeding these statutory limits from Rosprirodnadzor, depending on the type and scale of any environmental impact. Such approval is conditional upon the development by the company of a plan for reducing of the emissions or disposals to the standard limits which must be cleared with Rosprirodnadzor. The emission reduction plan is generally required to be implemented within a specific period. If, by the end of that period, a company’s discharges of pollutants are still in excess of the statutory limits, a new emission reduction plan must be submitted to Rosprirodnadzor for approval.

Fees for the discharge per tonne of each contaminant into air and water and fees for waste disposal are established by governmental authorities. These fees are based on a sliding scale for both the statutory or individually approved limits on emissions and effluents and for pollution in excess of these limits: the lowest fees are imposed for pollution within the statutory limits, intermediate fees are imposed for pollution within the individually approved temporary limits, and the highest fees are imposed for pollution exceeding such limits (above-limit fees). Payments of above-limit fees for violation of environmental legislation do not relieve a company from its responsibility to take environmental protection measures and undertake restoration and clean-up activities. In 2012, in Russia, we incurred above-norms/above-limit fees and penalties in the amount of approximately $3.9 million.

Environmental expert review

According to the Federal Law “On Environmental Expert Review” dated November 23, 1995, as amended (the “EER Law”), environmental expert review is a process of verifying compliance of business or operational documentation with environmental standards and technical regulations established pursuant to the EER Law for the purpose of preventing a negative environmental impact of such business or operations. The EER Law provides for the main principles for conducting environmental expert review and for the type of documentation which is subject to such review.

In relation to our operating companies, all documentation underlying the issuance of some of our licenses, in particular licenses issued by federal authorities to conduct activities related to collection, usage, decontamination, transportation and disposal of hazardous wastes, are subject to environmental expert review.

Review of documentation related to capital construction is regulated under the Urban Development Code. The Urban Development Code provides for governmental inspection to verify the compliance of project

 

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documentation with relevant technical regulations, including sanitary-epidemiological and environmental regulations, requirements for the protection of objects of cultural heritage, as well as fire, industrial, nuclear and other kinds of safety requirements, and compliance with the results of engineering surveys with relevant technical regulations.

Environmental enforcement authorities

Currently state environmental regulation is administered by several federal services and agencies and their regional subdivisions, in particular, Rosprirodnadzor, the Federal Service for Hydrometrology and Environmental Monitoring, the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use, the Federal Agency for Forestry, the Federal Agency for Water Resources and some others. Included in these agencies’ sphere of responsibility are environmental preservation and control, enforcement and observance of environmental legislation, drafting and approving regulations and filing court claims to recover environmental damages. The statute of limitations for such claims is 20 years.

The Russian federal government and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology are responsible for coordinating the work of the federal services and agencies engaged in state environmental regulation.

The structure of environmental enforcement authorities described above was established in 2004. This structure was subjected to certain changes in 2008 and 2010. In particular, the Ministry of Natural Resources was transformed into the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology and Rostekhnadzor was put under its supervision. In late 2010, this structure was further changed and all powers previously held by Rostekhnadzor in terms of environmental control, permits and fees administration were transferred to Rosprirodnadzor.

Environmental liability

If the operations of a company violate environmental requirements or cause harm to the environment or any individual or legal entity, a court action may be brought to limit or ban these operations and require the company to remedy the effects of the violation. Any company or employees that fail to comply with environmental regulations may be subject to administrative and/or civil liability, and individuals may be held criminally liable. Courts may also impose clean-up obligations on violators in lieu of or in addition to imposing fines or other penalties to compensate for damages.

Subsoil licenses generally require certain environmental commitments. Although these commitments can be substantial, the penalties for failing to comply and the reclamation requirements are generally low; however, failure to comply with reclamation requirements can result in a suspension of mining operations.

Reclamation

We conduct our reclamation activities for land damaged by production in accordance with the Basic Regulation on Land Reclamation, Removal, Preservation, and Rational Use of the Fertile Soil Layer, approved by Order No. 525/67 of December 22, 1995, of the Ministry of Natural Resources. In general, our reclamation activities involve both a technical stage and a biological stage. In the first stage, we backfill the pits, grade and terrace mound slopes, level the surface of the mounds, and add clay rock on top for greater adaptability of young plants. In the biological stage, we plant conifers (pine, larch, cedar) on horizontal and gently sloping surfaces and shrubs and bushes to reinforce inclines. Russian environmental regulations do not require mines to achieve the approximate original contour of the property as is required, for example, in the United States. In 2012, we incurred reclamation costs in Russia and the United States of approximately $4.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

 

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Kyoto Protocol

In December 1997, in Kyoto, Japan, the signatories to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change established individual, legally binding targets to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions by developed nations. This international agreement, known as the Kyoto Protocol, came into force on February 16, 2005. At the Doha 2012 United Nations Climate Change Conference Russia, Japan and some other countries announced suspension of their participation in the Kyoto Protocol. Therefore, we do not currently anticipate that further implementation of the Kyoto Protocol will have any material impact on our business.

Technical Regulations

We are subject to various technical regulations and standards which apply to industrial manufacturing businesses. The Federal Law No. 184-FZ “On Technical Regulation” dated December 27, 2002, as amended (the “Technical Regulation Law”) has introduced a new regime for the development, enactment, application and enforcement of mandatory rules applicable to production, manufacturing, storage, transportation, sales and certain other operations and processes, as well as new regulations relating to the quality of products and processes, including technical regulations, standards and certification. It was expected that these rules or technical regulations would replace the previously adopted state standards (the so-called GOSTs). However, most technical regulations have not been implemented yet, and, in the absence of such technical regulations, the existing federal laws and regulations, including GOSTs, that prescribe rules for different products and processes remain in force to the extent that they protect health, property, the environment and/or consumers. In addition, the federal standardization authority has declared GOSTs and interstate standards adopted before July 1, 2003 to be the applicable national standards.

In certain circumstances, companies are required to obtain certification of compliance with applicable technical regulations, standards and terms of contracts. A number of our products must be certified. Where certification is not mandatory, a company may elect voluntary certification by applying for a compliance certificate from the relevant authorities. Following the issuance of such certificate, the applicant has the right to use the relevant compliance mark on its products.

Health and Safety Regulations in Russia

Due to the nature of our business, much of our activity is conducted at industrial sites by large numbers of workers, and workplace safety issues are of significant importance to the operation of these sites.

The principal law regulating industrial safety is the Federal Law “On Industrial Safety of Hazardous Production Facilities,” dated July 21, 1997, as amended (the “Safety Law”). The Safety Law applies, in particular, to production facilities and sites where certain activities are conducted, including sites where lifting machines are used, where alloys of ferrous and non-ferrous metals are produced, where hazardous substances are stored and used (including allowed concentrations) and where certain types of mining is done. There are also regulations that address safety rules for coal mines, the production and processing of ore, the blast-furnace industry, steel smelting, alloy production and nickel production. Additional safety rules also apply to certain industries, including metallurgical and coke chemical enterprises and the foundry industry.

The recent amendments to the Safety Law determine hazardous production facilities of four classes from class IV to class I, with class IV being less hazardous and class I being the most hazardous. The safety and compliance requirements set up by the Safety Law apply to each facility depending on their class of hazard. Each existing hazardous production facility should be re-registered with the state register by January 1, 2014 and be assigned with a hazard class.

Any construction, reconstruction, liquidation or other activities in relation to regulated industrial sites is subject to a state industrial safety review. Any deviation from project documentation in the process of construction, reconstruction or liquidation of industrial sites is prohibited unless reviewed by a licensed expert organization and approved by Rostekhnadzor.

 

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In addition, the recent amendments to the Safety Law introduce an alternative form of industrial safety regulation that is based on risk assessment rather than prescriptions of obligatory requirements and standards imposed by Rostekhnadzor. A company that operates a hazardous production facility may develop a safety case, a document which describes that the facility has been designed and operated in a way to limit any risks of major accident. The Safety Law considers that in drafting the safety case, the relevant companies will be able to refer to specific safety arrangements and safety analyses as confirmation of having certain safety measures in place. To make these arrangements fully operational further changes will need to be introduced into relevant laws and regulations.

Companies that operate such production facilities and sites have a wide range of obligations under the Safety Law and the Labor Code of Russia of December 30, 2001, as amended (the “Labor Code”). In particular, they must limit access to such sites to qualified specialists, maintain industrial safety controls and carry insurance for third-party liability for injuries caused in the course of operating industrial sites. Russian regulations require these companies to enter into contracts with professional emergency response units or create their own emergency response services in certain cases, conduct personnel trainings and drills, create systems to cope with and notify the authorities of accidents and maintain these systems in good working order. Effective from January 1, 2014, companies that operate industrial sites of hazard classes I and II must implement industrial safety management systems to prevent accidents and incidents at hazardous production facilities and develop certain emergency response plans.

Companies that operate production sites of hazard classes I and II and handle hazardous substances in quantities set by the law must also prepare declarations of industrial safety which summarize the risks associated with operating a particular production site and measures the company has taken and will take to mitigate such risks and use the site in accordance with applicable industrial safety requirements. Such declarations must be adopted by the chief executive officer of the company, who is personally responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the data contained therein. The industrial safety declaration as well as a state industrial safety review are required for the issuance of a license permitting the operation of a hazardous production facility.

Rostekhnadzor has broad authority in the field of control and management of industrial safety. In case of an accident, a special commission led by a representative of Rostekhnadzor conducts a technical investigation of the cause. The company operating the hazardous production facility where the accident took place bears all costs of an investigation. Rostekhnadzor officials have the right to access production sites and may inspect documents to ensure a company’s compliance with safety rules. Rostekhnadzor may suspend for up to 90 days or initiate a court decision to terminate operations of companies and/or impose administrative liability on officers of such companies.

Any company or individual violating industrial safety rules may incur administrative and/or civil liability, and individuals may also incur criminal liability. A company that violates safety rules in a way that negatively impacts the health of an individual may also be obligated to compensate the individual for lost earnings, as well as health-related damages.

Russian Antimonopoly Regulation

The Federal Law “On Protection of Competition,” dated July 26, 2006, as amended (the “Competition Law”), provides for a mandatory pre-approval by the FAS of the following actions:

 

   

other than in respect to financial organizations, such as banks, an acquisition by a person (or its group) of more than 25% of the voting shares of a Russian joint-stock company (or one-third of the interests in a Russian limited liability company), except upon incorporation, and the subsequent increase of these stakes to more than 50% of the total number of the voting shares and more than 75% of the voting shares (one-half and two-thirds of the interests in a Russian limited liability company), or acquisition by a person (or its group) of ownership or rights of use with respect to the core production assets and/or intangible assets of an entity which are located in Russia if the balance sheet value of such assets

 

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exceeds 20% of the total balance sheet value of the core production and intangible assets of such entity, or obtaining rights to determine the conditions of business activity of a Russian entity or to exercise the powers of its executive body by a person (or its group), or an acquisition by a person (or its group) of more than 50% of the voting shares (interests) of a foreign entity, which has supplied goods, works and/or services to Russia in an amount exceeding 1 billion rubles in the preceding year, or other rights to determine the conditions of business activity of such entity or to exercise the powers of its executive body, if, in any of the above cases, the aggregate asset value of an acquirer and its group together with a target and its group (excluding the asset value of the seller and its group, if as a result of the acquisition the seller and its group cease to determine the conditions of business activity of the target) exceeds 7 billion rubles and at the same time the total asset value of the target and its group exceeds 250 million rubles, or the total annual revenues of such acquirer and its group, and the target and its group for the preceding calendar year exceed 10 billion rubles and at the same time the total asset value of the target and its group exceeds 250 million rubles, or an acquirer, and/or a target, or any entity within the acquirer’s group or a target’s group are included in the Register of Entities Having a Market Share in Excess of 35% on a Particular Commodity Market (the “Monopoly Register”);

 

   

mergers and consolidations of entities, other than financial organizations, if their aggregate asset value (the aggregate asset value of the groups of persons to which they belong) exceeds 7 billion rubles, or total annual revenues of such entities (or groups of persons to which they belong) for the preceding calendar year exceed 10 billion rubles, or if one of these entities is included in the Monopoly Register; and

 

   

founding of a business entity, if its charter capital is paid by the shares (or limited liability company interests) and/or the assets (other than cash) of another business entity (other than financial organization) or the newly founded business entity acquires shares (or limited liability company interests) and/or the assets (other than cash) of another business entity based on a transfer act or a separation balance sheet and rights in respect of such shares (or limited liability company interests) and/or assets (excluding monetary funds) as specified above, at the same time provided that the aggregate asset value of the founders (or group of persons to which they belong) and the business entities (or groups of persons to which they belong) which shares (or limited liability company interests) and/or assets (other than cash) are contributed to the charter capital of the newly founded business entity exceeds 7 billion rubles, or total annual revenues of the founders (or group of persons to which they belong) and the business entities (or groups of persons to which they belong) which shares (or limited liability company interests) and/or assets are contributed to the charter capital of the newly founded business entity for the preceding calendar year exceed 10 billion rubles, or if a business entity whose shares (or limited liability company interests) and/or assets (other than cash) are contributed to the charter capital of the newly founded business entity is included in the Monopoly Register.

The above requirements for a mandatory pre-approval by the FAS will not apply if the transactions are performed by members of the same group, if the information about such a group of persons was disclosed to the antimonopoly authority and there were no changes within one month prior to the date of the transaction within that group of persons. In such cases, the FAS must be notified of the transactions subsequently in accordance with Russian anti-monopoly legislation. Furthermore, the requirement for a mandatory approval of transactions described in the first bullet point above will not apply if the transactions are performed by members of the same group where a company and individual or an entity, if such an individual or an entity holds (either due to its participation in this company or based on the authorities received from other persons) more than 50% of the total amount of votes in the equity (share) capital of this company. In such cases, the FAS must be notified of the transaction as described in the next paragraph.

The Competition Law provides for a mandatory post-transactional notification (within 45 days of the closing) to the FAS in connection with actions specified above if the aggregate asset value or total annual revenues of an acquirer and its group, and a target and its group for the preceding calendar year exceed 400 million rubles and at the same time the total asset value of the target and its group exceeds 60 million rubles.

 

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A transaction entered into in violation of the above requirements may be invalidated by a court decision pursuant to a claim brought by the FAS if the FAS proves to the court that the transaction leads or could lead to the limitation of competition in the relevant Russian market. The FAS may also issue binding orders to companies that have violated the applicable antimonopoly requirements and bring court claims seeking liquidation, split-up or spin-off of business entities if a violation of antimonopoly laws was committed by such business entities. In addition, a company may be subject to the administrative fine of an amount from 150 to 250 thousand rubles for the failure to file a FAS post-transactional notification and from 300 to 500 thousand rubles for the failure to file an application for FAS pre-approval of the transaction.

Under the Competition Law, a company with a dominant position in the relevant market is prohibited from misusing its dominant position. Specifically, such company is prohibited from:

 

   

establishing and maintaining monopolistically high or monopolistically low prices of goods;

 

   

withdrawing goods from circulation, if the result of such withdrawal is an increase in the price of goods;

 

   

imposing contractual terms upon a counterparty which are unprofitable for the counterparty or not related to with the subject matter of agreement (i.e., terms that are economically or technologically unjustified);

 

   

reducing or terminating, without economical or technological justification, production of goods if there is a demand for the goods or orders for their delivery have been placed and it is possible to produce them profitably;

 

   

refusing or evading, without economical or technological justification, to enter into a contract with customers in cases when the production or delivery of the relevant goods is possible;

 

   

establishing without economical, technological or other justification different prices for the same goods;

 

   

establishing unjustifiably high or unjustifiably low price of a financial service by a financial organization;

 

   

creating discriminatory conditions;

 

   

creating barriers to entry into the market for the relevant goods or forcing other companies to leave the market;

 

   

violating pricing procedures established by law; and

 

   

manipulating prices in the wholesale and/or retail electricity (capacity) markets.

When a company is included in the register of entities with a market share exceeding 35% in the relevant market or with a dominant position in the relevant market, it may be subject to additional FAS oversight. In addition, in the event of breach of any terms of business conduct required by the FAS, the FAS may initiate proceedings to investigate a breach of antimonopoly laws. If a breach of the antimonopoly laws is identified, the FAS may initiate administrative proceedings which may result in the imposition of a fine calculated on the basis of the annual revenues received by the company in the market where such breach was committed. Such fines may include an administrative fine of an amount from 300 thousand to one million rubles or, if such violation has led or may lead to the prevention, limitation or elimination of competition, an administrative fine of up to 15% of the proceeds of sales of all goods, works and services in the market where such violation was committed, but not more than 2% of gross proceeds of sale of all goods, works and services for the year preceding the year of the violation. Russian legislation also provides for criminal liability of company managers for violations of certain provisions of antimonopoly legislation. Furthermore, for systematic violations, a court may order, pursuant to a suit filed by the FAS, a compulsory split-up or spin-off of the violating company, and no affiliation can be preserved between the new entities established as result of such a mandatory reorganization. The same liability

 

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will apply to a company not formally included in the register of entities with a market share exceeding 35% in the relevant market or with a dominant position in the relevant market if it is proved that such company occupies a dominant position on the basis of review of various facts, information and documents.

The FAS has determined certain of our companies to have a dominant position in certain markets and these companies are subject to directive issued by the FAS which impose certain restrictions on their commercial activities. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry — Antimonopoly regulation could lead to sanctions with respect to the subsidiaries we have acquired or established or our prices, sales volumes and business practices.”

The Strategic Industries Law

The Strategic Industries Law adopted on April 29, 2008 and subsequently amended in 2010 and 2011 regulates foreign investments in companies with strategic importance for the national defense and security of the Russian Federation (“Strategic Companies”). The Strategic Industries Law provides an exhaustive list of strategic activities, engagement in which makes a company subject to restrictions. Among others, the list of such activities includes exploration and/or production of natural resources on subsoil plots of federal importance. Subsoil plots of federal importance include plots with deposits of uranium, diamonds, high-purity quartz ore, nickel, cobalt, niobium, lithium, beryllium, tantalum, yttrium-group rare-earth metals and platinoid metals. They also include deposits of oil, gas, vein gold and copper which are above certain size limits specified in the Subsoil Law, as well as subsoil plots of the internal sea, territorial sea and continental shelf; and subsoil plots, the use of which requires the use of land plots included in the category of national defense and security land. The Strategic Subsoil List was first officially published in Rossiyskaya Gazeta on March 5, 2009. Services rendered by business entities included into the register of natural monopolies pursuant to the Federal Law “On Natural Monopolies,” dated August 17, 1995, as amended, with certain exceptions, are also considered to constitute strategic activity. Furthermore, the activity of a business entity which is deemed to occupy a dominant position in the production and sale of metals and alloys with special features which are used in production of weapons and military equipment is also deemed to be a strategic activity. The production and distribution of industrial explosives is also deemed to be activity of strategic importance for national defense and homeland security.

Investments resulting in a foreign investor or a group of entities obtaining control over a Strategic Company require prior approval from state authorities. The procedure for issuing such consent will involve a special governmental commission on the control of foreign investments (the “Governmental Commission”), which was established by a government resolution dated July 6, 2008 as the body responsible for granting such consents, and the FAS, which is authorized to process applications for consent from foreign investors and to issue such consents based on the decisions of the Governmental Commission. “Control” for these purposes means an ability to determine, directly or indirectly, decisions taken by a Strategic Company, whether through voting at the general shareholders’ (or limited liability company interest-holders’) meeting of the Strategic Company, participating in the board of directors or management bodies of the Strategic Company, or acting as the external management organization of the Strategic Company or otherwise. Thus, generally, “control” will be deemed to exist if any foreign investor or a group of entities acquires more than 50% of the shares (or limited liability interests) of a Strategic Company, or if by virtue of a contract or ownership of securities with voting rights it is able to appoint more than 50% of the members of the board of directors or of the management board of a Strategic Company. However, there are special provisions for Strategic Companies involved in the exploration or extraction of natural resources on plots of federal importance (“Subsoil Strategic Companies”): a foreign investor or group of entities is considered to have control over a Subsoil Strategic Company when such foreign investor or group of entities holds directly or indirectly 25% or more of the voting shares of the Subsoil Strategic Company or holds the right to appoint its sole executive officer and/or 25% or more of its management board or has the unconditional right to elect 25% or more of its board of directors.

Furthermore, in case a foreign investor or its group of entities which is a holder of securities of a Strategic Company, Subsoil Strategic Company or other entity which exercises control over these companies becomes a direct or indirect holder of voting shares in amount which is considered to give them direct or indirect control

 

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over these companies in accordance with the Strategic Industries Law due to a change in the allocation of votes resulting from the procedures provided by Russian law (e.g. as a result of a buy-back by the relevant company of its shares, conversion of preferred shares into common shares or holders of preferred shares becoming entitled to vote at a general shareholders’ meeting in cases provided by Russian law), such shareholders will have to apply for state approval of their control within three months of receiving such control. If the Governmental Commission refuses to grant the approval the shareholders shall sell the relevant part of their respective shares or participatory interest, and if they do not comply with this requirement, a Russian court can deprive such foreign investor or its group of entities of the voting rights in such Strategic Company upon a claim of the competent authority. In such cases, the shares of the foreign investor are not counted for the purposes of establishing a quorum and reaching the required voting threshold at the general shareholders’ meeting of the Strategic Company.

Any transfers of a stake, or certain rights, in a Strategic Company or in a Subsoil Strategic Company between foreign investors that are (i) companies controlled by the Russian Federation or (ii) companies controlled by Russian nationals, provided that such Russian nationals are Russian tax residents and do not have dual nationality, will not require prior approval from the state authorities.

If a foreign investor or its group of entities obtains control over a Strategic Company in violation of the Strategic Industries Law, the relevant transaction is void, and in certain cases a Russian court can deprive such foreign investor or group of entities of the voting rights in such Strategic Company upon a claim by the competent authority. In addition, resolutions of the general shareholders’ meetings or other management bodies of a Strategic Company adopted after a foreign investor or group of entities obtained control over the Strategic Company in violation of the Strategic Industries Law, as well as transactions entered into by the Strategic Company after obtaining such control, may be held invalid by a court upon a claim by the competent authority. See “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to the Russian Federation — Legal risks and uncertainties — Expansion of limitations on foreign investment in strategic sectors could affect our ability to attract and/or retain foreign investments.”

Employment and Labor Regulations in Russia

Labor matters in Russia are governed primarily by the Labor Code. In addition to this core legislation, relationships between employers and employees are regulated by federal laws, such as the Law “On Employment in the Russian Federation,” dated April 19, 1991, as amended, and the Law “On Compulsory Social Insurance Against Industrial Accidents and Occupational Diseases,” dated July 24, 1998, as amended; legal acts of executive authorities; and local government acts related to labor issues.

Employment contracts

As a general rule, employment contracts for an indefinite term are entered into with all employees. Russian labor legislation generally disfavors fixed-term employment contracts. However, an employment contract may be entered into for a fixed term of up to five years in certain cases where labor relations may not be established for an indefinite term due to the nature of the duties or the conditions of the performance of such duties, as well as in other cases expressly identified by the Labor Code or other federal law. In some cases it is also possible to enter into an employment contract for the employee to perform specified tasks. All terms and conditions of employment contracts are regulated by the Labor Code.

Under Russian law, employment may be terminated by mutual agreement between the employer and the employee at the end of the term of a fixed-term employment contract or on the grounds set out in the Labor Code as described below. An employee has the right to terminate his or her employment contract with a minimum of two weeks’ notice (or one month’s notice for a company’s chief executive officer), unless the employment contract is terminated before the notice period ends by mutual agreement between employer and employee.

 

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An employer may terminate an employment contract only on the basis of the specific grounds enumerated in the Labor Code, including:

 

   

liquidation of the enterprise or downsizing of staff;

 

   

failure of the employee to comply with the position’s requirements due to incompetence, as confirmed by the results of an attestation;

 

   

repeated failure of the employee to fulfill his or her work duties without valid reason, provided that the employee has been disciplined previously;

 

   

entering the workplace under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or other intoxicating substances;

 

   

a single gross breach by an employee of his or her work duties, including truancy;

 

   

disclosure of state secrets or other confidential information, which an employee has come to know during fulfillment of his professional duties;

 

   

embezzlement, willful damage or destruction of assets, and misappropriation as confirmed by a court decision or a decision by another competent government authority;

 

   

failure to comply with safety requirements in the workplace if such failure to comply caused injuries, casualties or catastrophe; and

 

   

provision by the employee of false documents upon entry into the employment contract.

An employee dismissed from an enterprise due to downsizing or liquidation is entitled to receive compensation and salary payments for a certain period of time, depending on the circumstances.

The Labor Code also provides protections for specified categories of employees. For example, except in cases of liquidation of an enterprise and other events specified in the Labor Code, an employer cannot dismiss minors, pregnant women, mothers with a child under the age of three, single mothers with a child under the age of 14 or other persons caring for a child under the age of 14 without a mother.

Any termination by an employer that is inconsistent with the Labor Code requirements may be invalidated by a court, and the employee may be reinstated. Lawsuits resulting in the reinstatement of illegally dismissed employees and the payment of damages for wrongful dismissal are increasingly frequent, and Russian courts tend to support employees’ rights in most cases. Where an employee is reinstated by a court, the employer must compensate the employee for unpaid salary for the period between the wrongful termination and reinstatement, as well as for mental distress.

Work time

The Labor Code generally sets the regular working week at 40 hours. Any time worked beyond 40 hours per week, as well as work on public holidays and weekends, must be compensated at a higher rate.

For employees working in hazardous or harmful conditions, the regular working week is decreased by four hours in accordance with government regulations. Some of our production employees qualify for this reduced working week.

Annual paid vacation leave under the law is 28 calendar days. Our employees who work in mines and pits or work in harmful conditions may be entitled to additional paid vacation ranging from 7 to 42 working days.

The retirement age in the Russian Federation is 60 years for males and 55 years for females. However, employees who work in underground and open pit mines or do other work in potentially harmful conditions have the right to retire at an earlier age. The rules defining such early retirement ages are established by the Federal Law “On Labor Pensions in the Russian Federation,” dated December 17, 2001, as amended.

 

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Salary

The minimum monthly salary in Russia, as established by federal law, is 5,205 rubles. Although the law requires that the minimum wage be at or above a minimum subsistence level, the current minimum wage is generally considered to be less than a minimum subsistence level.

Strikes

The Labor Code defines a strike as the temporary and voluntary refusal of workers to fulfill their work duties with the intention of settling a collective labor dispute. Russian legislation contains several requirements for legal strikes. Participation in a legal strike may not be considered by an employer as grounds for terminating an employment contract, although employers are generally not required to pay wages to striking employees for the duration of the strike. Participation in an illegal strike may be adequate grounds for termination of employment.

Trade unions

Although Russian labor regulations have decreased the authority of trade unions compared with the past, they retain influence over employees and, as such, may affect the operations of large industrial companies in Russia, such as Mechel. In this regard, our management routinely interacts with trade unions in order to ensure the appropriate treatment of our employees and the stability of our business.

The activities of trade unions are generally governed by the Federal Law “On Trade Unions, Their Rights and Guarantees of Their Activity,” dated January 12, 1996, as amended (the “Trade Union Law”). Other applicable legal acts include the Labor Code, which provides for more detailed regulations relating to activities of trade unions.

The Trade Union Law defines a trade union as a voluntary union of individuals with common professional and other interests that is incorporated for the purposes of representing and protecting the rights and interests of its members. National trade union associations, which coordinate activities of trade unions throughout Russia, are also permitted.

As part of their activities, trade unions may:

 

   

negotiate collective contracts and agreements such as those between the trade unions and employers, federal, regional and local governmental authorities and other entities;

 

   

monitor compliance with labor laws, collective contracts and other agreements;

 

   

access work sites and offices, and request information relating to labor issues from the management of companies and state and municipal authorities;

 

   

represent their members and other employees in individual and collective labor disputes with management;

 

   

organize and participate in strikes; and

 

   

monitor redundancy of employees and seek action by municipal authorities to delay or suspend mass layoffs.

Russian laws require that companies cooperate with trade unions and do not interfere with their activities. Trade unions and their officers enjoy certain guarantees as well, such as:

 

   

legal restrictions as to rendering redundant employees elected or appointed to the management of trade unions;

 

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protection from disciplinary punishment or dismissal on the initiative of the employer without prior consent of the management of the trade union and, in certain circumstances, the consent of the relevant trade union association;

 

   

retention of job positions for those employees who stop working due to their election to the management of trade unions;

 

   

protection from dismissal for employees who previously served in the management of a trade union for two years after the termination of the office term, except where a company is liquidated or the employer is otherwise entitled to dismiss the employee; and

 

   

provision of necessary equipment, premises and vehicles by the employer for use by the trade union free of charge, if provided for by a collective bargaining contract or other agreement.

If a trade union discovers any violation of work condition requirements, notification is sent to the employer with a request to cure the violation and to suspend work if there is an immediate threat to the lives or health of employees. The trade union may also apply to state authorities and labor inspectors and prosecutors to ensure that an employer does not violate Russian labor laws. Trade unions may also initiate collective labor disputes, which may lead to strikes.

To initiate a collective labor dispute, trade unions present their demands to the employer. The employer is then obliged to consider the demands and notify the trade union of its decision. If the dispute remains unresolved, a reconciliation commission attempts to end the dispute. If this proves unsuccessful, collective labor disputes are generally referred to mediation or labor arbitration. Although the Trade Union Law provides that those who violate the rights and guarantees provided to trade unions and their officers may be subject to disciplinary, administrative and criminal liability, no specific consequences for such violations are set out in Russian legislation.

Regulation of Russian Electricity Market

Industry background

The Russian utilities sector landscape has undergone dramatic changes within the past several years, since the introduction of electricity industry reform under Government Resolution “On Restructuring of Electricity Industry of the Russian Federation” No. 526 dated July 11, 2001 (“Resolution No. 526”). The monopoly RAO Unified Energy System of Russia OAO (the “UES”) was liquidated and separated in to separate businesses: electricity and heat generation, transmission (high voltage trunk grid), distribution (medium- and low-voltage infrastructure) and supply (sale of electricity to customers).

The electricity generation sector is now principally comprised of six thermal wholesale generating companies (called “OGKs” based on the Russian acronym for Wholesale Generating Company), one hydro wholesale generating company (named RusHydro), 14 territorial generating companies (“TGKs”), RAO Eastern Energy Systems OAO, Inter RAO OAO, various nuclear generation complexes (owned and/or operated by the Rosenergoatom Concern OJSC), as well as a number of independent regional diversified electricity producers and suppliers (Irkutskenergo OAO, Bashkirenergo OAO, Tatenergo OAO, Novosibirskenergo OAO).

Pursuant to the Federal Law “On Specific Features of the Functioning of the Electricity Industry during the Transitional Period and on Introduction of Amendments into Certain Laws of the Russian Federation and Abolishing Certain Laws of the Russian Federation in connection with the Adoption of the Federal Law “On the Electricity Industry” No. 36-FZ dated March 26, 2003 (the “Transitional Period Law”), companies and individuals, as well as affiliated entities operating within one wholesale market pricing zone, are prohibited from combining activities relating to electricity distribution and/or dispatching with electricity generation and/or sale, through simultaneously owning, or using on any other legal basis, assets which are directly used for electricity distribution and/or dispatching and assets which are directly used for electricity generation and/or sale.

 

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Amendments to the Transitional Period Law adopted in December 2011 introduced an enforcement mechanism with respect to affiliated companies which do not comply with the law. Pursuant to the amendments to the Transitional Period Law, if these requirements are not met, the FAS is entitled to file an application seeking a court order for forced reorganization to separate the assets in case they are combined within one company, or, in case of they are combined among affiliated companies, for a forced sale at a public auction first, of assets owned and directly used in electricity generation and/or sale and second, if the sale of electricity generation and/or sale assets is not possible, of assets owned and directly used in electricity distribution.

Sales of electricity

The Russian electricity market consists of wholesale and retail electricity and capacity markets. The wholesale electricity and capacity market encompasses European territory of the Russian Federation, the Urals and Siberia and is divided into two pricing zones. The first pricing zone includes European territory of the Russian Federation and the Urals and the second pricing zone includes Siberia. This market provides a framework for large-scale, often interregional, energy trades. The retail electricity market operates within all Russian regional territories and provides a framework for mid-scale and end-consumer energy trades. This market is regulated by the respective Regional Energy Committees, or RECs.

Wholesale electricity market

The wholesale market is a system of contractual relationships between all of its participants linked together by the process of production, transmission, distribution, purchase and sale and consumption of electricity. This unified energy system encompasses six regional unified energy systems, which are the following: North-West, Central, Urals, Mid-Volga, South and Siberia.

The wholesale market participants mainly include:

 

   

producers of electricity and capacity: generating companies (OGKs, TGKs and various other generators);

 

   

electricity supply companies (energy traders) which have purchased electricity and capacity for further resale on wholesale and retail markets;

 

   

purchasers of electricity and capacity: major power consumers and generating companies which at certain points in time may elect to purchase electricity to fulfill their supply obligations instead of generating their own; and

 

   

grid companies (to cover electricity losses sustained in transmission and distribution of electricity).

The infrastructure of the wholesale market is operated by the Non-profit Partnership Market Council and the Trade System Administrator OAO (the “TSA”) which organize the trading; a system operator established in the form of an open joint-stock company (the “System Operator”) by the former UES; the Federal Grid Company (the “FGK”), which owns and runs the federal transmission network of the electric grids; OAO Holding IDGC, which owns and runs region transmission networks of the electric grids; and the Financial Settlement Center ZAO, which is a clearance and settlement organization for the wholesale electricity and capacity market.

Currently electricity is traded on the basis of the following trading mechanisms:

Regulated bilateral contracts

Regulated contracts are effectively take-or-pay obligations at regulated prices defined by the FTS for electricity and capacity volumes. The volumes of electricity to be traded by the generators under regulated contracts are set up by the FTS annually based on percentages of the volumes of electricity generated in the previous year. The volumes of electricity traded under regulated contracts have gradually declined for the wholesale market when it became fully liberalized in 2011. Starting from January 1, 2011, electricity is traded at non-regulated prices, except for electricity intended for supply to households.

 

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A generator may provide the volumes of electricity it must sell under regulated contracts either through own generation or through the purchase of electricity on the spot market at market prices. Similarly, its customers receive electricity at regulated prices in the volumes agreed under the regulated contracts, regardless of their actual needs, and can freely trade the imbalance on the spot market at market prices (either by purchasing additional volumes, if needed, or selling the excess electricity volumes).

Non-regulated bilateral contracts

Electricity supply volumes which are not agreed upon under regulated contracts, as well as all new generation capacity commissioned after January 1, 2007, can be traded by participants of the wholesale market under non-regulated contracts, on the “one-day-ahead” spot market or on the balancing market. All terms of electricity supply under non-regulated contracts are subject to free negotiation between sellers and purchasers.

Retail electricity market

The retail market currently includes sales companies that do not generate electricity, but purchase it from generators on the wholesale market.

The retail electricity market operates on the following main principles: (1) end consumers are free to choose between sales companies; (2) end consumers purchase at free prices set on the market, except for contracts with “guaranteeing suppliers”; and (3) “guaranteeing suppliers” cannot refuse to enter into a contract with an end consumer.

“Guaranteeing suppliers” sell electricity under prices that take account of: (1) the prices on the wholesale electricity market; (2) the sales premium of the particular guaranteeing supplier set by respective regional authorities; and (3) the prices for electricity transmission and distribution through electricity networks.

Heat market

Heat markets are regional retail markets and heat prices are regulated and set within the general guidelines provided by the FTS and by regional authorities. Minimum and maximum prices for heat energy traded on the retail markets are set by the FTS separately for each administrative region of Russia for a period of at least one year. Regional authorities establish the prices for relevant territories within the range set by the FTS and subject to the types and prices of fuel used to produce the heat and the volumes of heat purchased on the relevant territory.

Our Southern Kuzbass Power Plant delivers heat energy (in the form of hot water) at regulated prices to residential and commercial customers in Kaltan and Osinniki. Mechel Energo delivers heat energy (in the form of hot water and steam) at regulated prices to residential and commercial customers in the cities of Vidnoe, Chelyabinsk, Chebarkul, Beloretsk, Guryevsk, Mezhdurechensk, Myski and Izhevsk.

U.S. Environmental, Health, Safety and Related Regulation

The Bluestone companies, like the rest of the coal mining industry in the United States, are subject to a variety of federal, state and local laws and regulations with respect to matters such as: the pollution, protection, investigation, reclamation and restoration of the environment, human and animal health and safety, and natural resources; the use, generation, handling, transport, treatment, storage, recycling, disposal, presence, release and threatened release of and exposure to hazardous substances or waste; noise, odor, mould, dust and nuisance; and cultural and historic resources, land use and other similar matters. We are required to incur significant costs to comply with these requirements.

 

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Violators of the laws summarized below may generally be subject to fines, in most cases applicable on a per day, per violation basis. In some cases even seemingly minor violations may add up to significant penalties. In addition, most U.S. environmental, health and safety laws authorize citizen suits, permitting third parties to make claims for violations of law.

We endeavor to conduct our operations in compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, but violations may occur from time to time. If we fail to comply with any present or future regulations, we could be subject to liabilities, required changes to or the suspension or curtailment of operations, and fines and penalties. In addition, such regulations could restrict our ability to expand our facilities or could require us to acquire costly equipment or incur other significant expenses. Often, private suits for personal injury, property damage or diminution, or similar claims may be initiated in connection with alleged regulatory infractions.

Certain environmental laws impose liability for the costs of removal or remediation of hazardous or toxic substances on an owner, occupier or operator of real estate, even if such person or company was unaware of or not responsible for the presence of such substances. Soil and groundwater contamination may have occurred at, near or arising from some of our facilities, including instances in which contamination may have existed prior to our ownership or occupation of a site. As a result, we may incur cleanup costs in such potential removal, remediation or reclamation efforts.

From time to time new legislation or regulations are enacted, or existing requirements are changed, and it is difficult to anticipate how such regulations will be implemented and enforced. We continue to evaluate the necessary steps for compliance with regulations as they are enacted.

The following is a summary of various U.S. environmental, health and safety and similar regulations that we believe have a material impact on our U.S. coal business in West Virginia.

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act and corresponding West Virginia law

The federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, establishes mining, environmental protection and reclamation requirements for all aspects of surface mining, as well as many aspects of underground mining. States that have adopted comprehensive mining regulatory programs may obtain federal approval and become the regulatory authority with primary control and enforcement of these standards. The West Virginia Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act (“SCMRA”) was enacted as an approved state program for administration of the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.

SCMRA and the rules promulgated thereunder set forth detailed design, construction, reclamation and performance standards for surface and underground mines that parallel the requirements of the federal regulations. SCMRA prohibits any person from engaging in surface mining operations without a permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”). Permit requirements generally track, but are not identical to, the federal regulations. The state regulations, for example, contain special procedures for ascertaining the ownership, control and compliance status of the applicant. In addition, provisions relating to bonding, prospecting and inactive status differ from the federal regulations.

Underground coal mining operations must also maintain permits for their above-ground effects. Permit requirements include submitting a subsidence control plan that describes the type of mining to be conducted and its probable surface impacts. The plan must generally include measures to minimize subsidence and related damages.

The U.S. Department of Interior is considering new standards governing new permit applications under the federal program. These new standards would pertain to the restoration of mountaintops affected by surface mining and would develop a federal definition of “material damage” that would apply to existing watershed area protections. It would also remove the rights of states to revise or grant exemptions to federal restoration standards

 

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and could require surface mining companies to obtain additional information on the environmental conditions near their operations, monitor such conditions before and after mining and change or close operations if unpermitted damage to the area occurs.

Applications for new permits or renewal of existing permit in the U.S. are subject to public notice and comments. As part of or as a result of this process, third parties, including non-governmental organizations or individuals, can require amendments or object to such permits in administrative proceedings, and in some cases can initiate litigation in a court of law to challenge an agency decision. These actions can delay the permit application or renewal process significantly and, if successful, can prevent the continuation or commencement of our operations. We typically make applications to renew these permits 120 days prior to the expiration of the permit.

Administrative enforcement provisions include civil penalties, cessation orders and permit revocation. Appeals from DEP actions are heard by the Surface Mining Board and limited judicial review is available upon appeal to the circuit court of the county in which the mine is located. Suits by private citizens may also be brought to obtain injunctions or damages.

Prospecting activity must be preceded by a notice of intent to prospect. Where more than a specified amount of coal is to be removed, public notice and an opportunity for comments must be given before obtaining the required approval from DEP.

Under SCMRA, surface mining operations must also comply with monitoring requirements and effluent limitations set forth in the federal Clean Water Act. In addition, the state Water Pollution Control Act requires that a permit be obtained to construct, install, modify, reopen, operate or abandon any mine, quarry or preparation plant from which any discharges or pollution are expected. See below for further discussion of the Clean Water Act and other water related regulatory issues.

Like its federal counterpart, SCMRA also provides for the designation of certain areas as unsuitable for all or certain types of surface mining.

The West Virginia Abandoned Mine Lands and Reclamation Act, created pursuant to Title IV of SCMRA, establishes an abandoned mine reclamation fund for reclamation and restoration activities and preventive and remedial measures associated with past mining.

Surety bonds and mine closure costs

Federal and state laws require mining operations to obtain surety bonds or other forms of financial security to secure payment of certain long-term obligations, including mine closure and reclamation costs, state workers’ compensation costs and other miscellaneous obligations. Many of these bonds are renewable on an annual basis. In recent years, surety bond premiums have been fluctuating increased and the market terms of surety bonds have generally become less favorable. The number of companies willing to issue surety bonds has also declined during some periods. We cannot predict with certainty our future ability to obtain, or the cost of, bonds that may be required for our U.S. coal operations.

Mine safety and health

The U.S. coal mining industry is subject to extensive and comprehensive regulation with respect to worker health and safety. In 1977 the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act (the “Act”) consolidated all federal health and safety regulations of the mining industry (coal and non-coal) under a single statutory scheme. The Act strengthened and expanded the rights of miners, and enhanced the protection of miners from retaliation for exercising those rights. The Act also created the Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”), which administers the provisions of the Act and enforces compliance with mandatory safety and health standards. MSHA has authority over all mining and mineral processing operations in the United States, regardless of size,

 

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number of employees, commodity mined or method of extraction. The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission independently reviews MSHA’s enforcement actions. West Virginia also maintains a program for mine safety and health regulation, inspection and enforcement.

In response to certain highly publicized mine incidents over the years, legislative and regulatory bodies at the federal and state levels, including MSHA, have promulgated or proposed various new statutes, regulations and policies relating to mine safety and mine emergencies, including the federal MINER Act passed in 2006. Some of the new obligations include, for example, improved technologies and safety practices, tracking and communication, emergency response plans and equipment. Various states, including West Virginia, have also enacted new laws to address similar subjects. In addition, federal black lung benefits laws and coal industry health benefits laws, among others, may impact us. Regulatory efforts in this area are ongoing. At this time, it is not possible to predict with accuracy the full effect of new and future U.S. mine health and safety regulation on our business.

Clean Air Act (“CAA”)

The CAA and corresponding state rules regulate emissions of materials into the air and affect our U.S. coal operations both directly and indirectly. Certain “sources” of air pollution, for example, including coal preparation and processing operations, must obtain and maintain operating permits, which are generally reviewed every five years and contain compliance requirements such as compliance certification, testing, monitoring, reporting and record-keeping. Such operations are also subject to emission restrictions, including for particulate matter and fugitive dust. The CAA also indirectly affects coal mining operations by extensively regulating the emissions of coal-fuelled power plants and industrial boilers. In general, there has been increased interest in recent years in legislation focused on power plant emissions. Construction of new sources of air pollution (including in some cases reconstruction and modification of existing sources) also triggers preconstruction review and approval by authorities, with typically more stringent control technology and permitting requirements.

Some of the CAA requirements that may materially directly or indirectly affect our operations are briefly described below. West Virginia has also promulgated regulations relating to acid rain, emissions limitations for specific pollutants, and permit standards for the construction, major modification or relocation of major stationary sources of air pollution. Standards governing air pollution from coal refuse disposal, coal preparation plants, coal handling operations and ambient air quality for particular pollutants, as well as procedures relating to air pollution emergencies, are also established under the state regulations.

 

   

Acid rain. One of the regulatory programs established under the CAA concerns the control of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide (“NOx”), precursors of acid deposition. Through an emission allowance and trading program, Title IV of the CAA imposes a two-phase “cap” on total sulfur dioxide emissions from sources including electric utilities. All of the Phase I and Phase II allowances offered by the EPA have been purchased each year since there is no minimum bid requirement. In general, affected power plants have also sought to comply with these requirements by switching to lower sulfur fuels, installing pollution control equipment, and reducing electricity generation levels. The program also directs EPA to impose NOx emissions rate limits on coal-fired electricity generating sources. At this time, we believe that these regulations have affected coal prices but we cannot predict with certainty the future effect of these CAA provisions on our business.

 

   

Emissions standards for particulate matter and ozone. A significant component of the CAA is the national ambient air quality standard (“NAAQS”) program, which addresses pervasive pollution that endangers public health and welfare. NAAQS have been established for a number of pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone. For each of these pollutants, NAAQS are set at certain levels and areas that do not meet one or more of the NAAQS are known as “non-attainment” areas and must comply with a number of special requirements. NAAQS are to be reviewed and revised as appropriate at least every five years. In recent years the EPA has made a number of decisions regarding the NAAQS program that have been the subject of controversy and litigation, and may have important implications for future regulation under the CAA. Regulation and enforcement of new standards for

 

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particulate matter and ozone will affect many power plants, especially in non-attainment areas, and significant emissions control expenditures may be required to meet these current and emerging standards.

 

   

Clean Air Interstate Rule. The Clean Air Interstate Rule (“CAIR”) is a program for approximately 28 eastern states, including West Virginia, that contributes to downwind states’ nonattainment of NAAQS. The CAIR applies to sulfur dioxide and NOx. It interacts with, and in some cases supersedes, other existing programs under the CAA such as the Acid Rain program, the Regional Haze rule and the NOx SIP Call. The CAIR requires states to revise their State Implementation Plans (“SIPs”) to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide and NOx. The CAIR has been the subject of litigation since its promulgation; a December 2008 appeals court decision left the CAIR in place until the EPA issues a new rule to replace the CAIR in accordance with the court’s previous decision. In July 2011, the EPA finalized the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (requiring significant reductions in sulfur dioxide and NOx emissions from power plants in the eastern U.S.) to replace the CAIR, but it is currently stayed pending judicial review. All of the foregoing could adversely affect the purchase of our coal by customers.

 

   

Clean Air Mercury Rule. In 2005, the Clean Air Mercury Rule (“CAMR”) became the first regulation to directly address mercury contamination. The rule would have applied to new and existing coal-fuelled electric utility steam generating units nationwide and creates a cap-and-trade system. Each affected unit would be required to have a continuous emission monitoring system or an effective long-term system that can trap an uninterrupted sample of mercury, and maintain records and report periodically to demonstrate compliance with the mercury limits. The rule, however, was vacated during litigation, and was replaced by the EGU Mercury and Air Toxics Standard (“EGU MATS”) finalized on April 16, 2012. In addition, before the court vacated the CAMR, some states had either adopted the CAMR or adopted state specific rules to regulate mercury emissions from power plants that are more stringent than the CAMR. The implementation of the EGU MATS and state mercury and air toxics controls may adversely affect the demand for coal.

 

   

Regional haze. The EPA has initiated a regional haze program to address visibility issues in and around national parks and wilderness areas. Among other things, the program requires state permitting authorities to consider the effects of new major facilities on federally protected lands, and may require existing facilities to undertake additional pollution control measures. Under the Regional Haze Rule, affected states were required to submit regional haze SIPs by December 17, 2007 aiming at identifying facilities that would have to reduce emissions and comply with stricter emission limitations. Although the vast majority of states failed to submit their plans on time and the EPA issued a Finding of Failure to Submit SIPs on January 15, 2009 (74 Fed. Reg. 2392), it had taken no enforcement action against states to finalize implementation plans and was slowly dealing with the state Regional Haze SIPs that were submitted, resulting in the National Parks Conservation Association initiating litigation against the EPA in the D. C. Circuit Court of Appeals in August 2012 for failure to enforce the rule (National Parks Conservation Act v. EPA, D.C.Cir). Industry groups, including the Utility Air Regulatory Group have intervened (Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA. D.C. Cir 12-1342, 8/6/2012). This program may result in additional emissions restrictions from new coal-fueled power plants whose operations may impair visibility at and around federally protected areas. This program may also require certain existing coal-fueled power plants to install additional control measures designed to limit haze-causing emissions, such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic chemicals and particulate matter, and these limitations could affect the future market for coal.

Climate change

Burning coal results in significant emissions of carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas (“GHG”) and considered by many to be one of the key contributors to global warming and climate change. Regulation of GHG in the United States is currently subject to complicated domestic and international political, policy and economic considerations. As the issue of climate change becomes more politically charged, U.S. federal and state regulators are seeking to respond to a variety of public concerns.

 

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This regulatory response may impact our operations directly if we become regulated for our emissions of GHGs or for the GHG contents of the coal that we sell to our customers. The regulatory response may also impact our operations indirectly if new regulations apply to our customers that negatively impact the demand for our products.

Between 2007 and 2009, a number of proposals that would have established a federal comprehensive GHG trading program failed to obtain sufficient congressional support to be adopted. As a result, since 2009 the current U.S. administration has pursued an approach involving the adoption of new regulations under existing environmental laws, such as the Clean Air Act, rather than seeking new legislative authority. The U.S. Supreme Court, in its 2007 decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, confirmed that the EPA has statutory authority to classify carbon dioxide and other GHGs as pollutants and regulate them under the Clean Air Act. This was confirmed in the Court’s 2011 decision in American Electric Power v. Connecticut.

In its first major action on GHGs, in 2009 the EPA issued a final rule mandating the annual reporting of GHG emissions from a wide variety of emission sources in the United States, including coal-fired power plants, beginning with the calendar year 2010. Although coal mines had been excluded from the reporting obligation imposed by the 2009 rule, on July 12, 2010, the EPA published a final rule for mandatory reporting of GHGs from underground coal mines and several other industrial sources beginning with the calendar year 2011.

In addition, on December 15, 2009, the EPA issued an “endangerment” finding stating that carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. This finding set the stage for a series of further rules and regulations and established the legal basis for potential direct regulation of GHG emissions from many sources, including coal mines and coal-fired power plants. On May 13, 2010, the EPA issued a final rule that established thresholds for the regulation of GHG emissions from major sources. This rule defines when permits under the New Source Review (the “NSR”), Prevention of Significant Deterioration (the “PSD”) and Title V Operating Permit programs are required for new and existing industrial facilities. This final rule ‘tailors’ the requirements of existing CAA permitting programs to limit which facilities will be required to obtain PSD and Title V permits, generally to those with a “potential to emit” 25,000 tonnes per year or more of GHGs. This category clearly includes coal-fired power plants and other coal-fired industrial production facilities. This means that although we may not be directly affected by this new permitting initiative in the near term, many of our customers will be.

In the absence of a comprehensive federal program applicable to GHG emissions, a number of state and regional GHG initiatives have also been developed. These include state laws and regulations such as California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and the rules implemented by the California Air Resources Board pursuant to that statute’s mandate, as well as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which is an agreement between 10 East Coast states to cap and reduce GHG emissions from the power sector. Furthermore, over the past several years environmental non-governmental organizations in the U.S. have made use of both federal and state laws to block permitting for the construction of new coal-fired power plants, as a result of which few such facilities have broken ground. For example, in 2009 and 2010 construction did not begin on a single new coal-fired facility.

In November 2011, the EPA issued an amendment delaying to April 1, 2013 the reporting deadline for underground coal mines and certain other source categories to file their first annual reports disclosing GHG emissions. On March 27, 2012, the EPA proposed a New Source Performance Standard rule that limits CO2 emissions from new fossil fuel burning power plants to 1,000 pounds of CO2 emissions for every one megawatt hour of power generated. This standard is achievable by most natural gas-fired power plants but is not economically achievable given current technology for coal-fired power generation. This rule, if effective, will likely prevent the construction of new coal-fired power generation for the foreseeable future. Federal legislation that would variously suspend or eliminate EPA’s regulatory authority over GHGs has been introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate.

 

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In addition to federal GHG regulations, there are several new state programs to limit greenhouse gas emissions and others have been proposed. State and regional climate change initiatives are taking effect before federal action. Beginning January 1, 2009, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (“RGGI”), a regional GHG cap-and-trade program calling for a ten percent reduction of emissions by 2018, was established by ten Northeastern states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont). In October 2011, the California Air Resources Board adopted regulations that establish a statewide cap and trade program to control GHG emissions. The program will take effect in 2013.

Current and future regulations applicable to GHG emissions, including carbon dioxide, may increase the costs of using coal as a fuel for power generation. Accordingly, as new requirements take effect there is a risk that coal may not be used as a fuel for new generating facilities or that existing coal-fired power plants may seek to reduce their emissions by switching to other fuels such as natural gas or, in some cases, cease their operations entirely. Reduced demand for coal may thus adversely impact our U.S. coal operations.

Clean Water Act (“CWA”) and Safe Drinking Water Act (“SDWA”)

The CWA establishes a number of programs designed to restore and protect the quality of U.S. waters by limiting the discharge of pollutants into such waters. These programs include the NPDES permit program, the dredge and fill permit program and municipal wastewater treatment programs. Coal extraction and related activities subject to the West Virginia SCMRA and Water Pollution Control Act are exempt from certain of these requirements.

 

   

The NPDES system implements the CWA’s prohibition on unauthorized discharges by requiring a permit for every discharge of pollutants from a point source to navigable waters of the United States. NPDES permits give the permittee the right to discharge specified pollutants from specified outfalls, usually for a period of five years. The permit normally sets numerical limits on the discharges and imposes conditions on the permittee (including filing periodic discharge and monitoring reports); discharges that require a permit include industrial process wastewater, non-contact cooling water and collected or channeled storm water runoff. The CWA also requires many facilities to develop and maintain plans for preventing and responding to spills of hazardous substances, called Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plans (“SPCC”), and certain high-volume hazardous substance handling/storage facilities are required to prepare and maintain a more extensive plan called a Facility Response Plan. When a water discharge occurs and one or more parameters are outside the approved limits permitted in an NPDES permit, these exceedances of permit limits are self-reported to the pertinent agency. The agency may impose penalties for each such release in excess of permitted amounts. If factors such as heavy rains or geologic conditions cause persistent releases in excess of amounts allowed under NPDES permits, costs of compliance can be material, fines may be imposed, or operations may have to be idled until remedial actions are possible. In addition, the CWA has citizen suit provisions which allow individuals or organized groups to file suit against permit holders or the EPA or state agencies for failure to enforce all aspects of the CWA. Such actions have recently been filed against other companies.

 

   

EPA has generally delegated NPDES permitting authority to West Virginia. West Virginia water pollution law is generally broader than that of its federal counterparts. For example, among other things, state law regulates discharges into all waters of the state, including groundwater, and requires permits for the construction of disposal systems. Recently, however, the EPA has been taking a more active role in NPDES permit issuance, and pursuant to the EPA guidance and a new DEP policy on implementation of the state’s narrative water quality standards, the issuance of new and renewed NPDES permits in West Virginia has been curtailed and/or delayed. The EPA published guidance in a July 21, 2011 Final Memorandum entitled “Improving EPA Review of Appalachian Surface Coal Mining Operations under the Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and the Environmental Justice Executive Order” (“EPA Mining Guidance”). The EPA Mining Guidance

 

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establishes threshold conductivity levels to be used as a basis for evaluating compliance with narrative water quality standards. Conductivity is a measure that reflects levels of various salts present in water. The EPA Administrator stated that these water quality standards may be difficult for most mining operations to meet. Furthermore, the DEP has pending litigation against the EPA to challenge the water quality standards in the EPA’s guidance documents. It is, as a consequence, not possible to predict with certainty the ability of mining companies to obtain required NPDES permits for new or expanded mining operations, or renewed permits, or the timing of either.

 

   

Coal companies are required to obtain 404 Permits from the Corps generally authorizing the disposal of fill material from coal mining activities into the waters of the United States, for the purpose of creating slurry ponds, water impoundments, refuse disposal areas, valley fills for excess spoil disposal, and other mining activities. 404 Permits have been the subject of repeated court challenges and heightened regulatory oversight, which has resulted in delays in obtaining these permits and has increased permitting costs. In addition, in recent years both “nationwide” and “individual” permits have been invalidated, including in West Virginia. Although it is still possible to receive such permits, since implementation of a new federal oversight initiative in June 2009, few 404 Permits have been issued. For example, in January 2011, for the first time EPA cancelled a federal water permit after it was issued when it rescinded a CWA permit held by another coal mining company for a surface mine in Appalachia, and in June 2011 the Corps announced it would suspend the use of the “nationwide” permit for the construction of valley fills and refuse impoundments under CWA Section 404, by surface coal operations in West Virginia and other Appalachian states. It is also widely expected that some pending 404 Permit applications will be denied. Although we have no immediate need for new 404 Permits to continue its current mining operations in the short term, some of our future mine plans (including the continuation of existing mines) would require the issuance of such permits to proceed. It is difficult to predict whether, in light of the regulatory environment, such 404 Permits will be issued to us in the future. If we cannot obtain them, our coal production operations in the coming years could be subject to substantial disruption.

 

   

The SDWA primarily targets public water systems, which generally includes any system for the provision of water to the public for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances if such system has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves at least 25 individuals. This broad definition can include informal and transient water systems (e.g., businesses such as coal mining operations having their own wells or water supplies for on-site workers). West Virginia state law prohibits the installation or establishment of any system or method of drainage, water supply or sewage disposal without first obtaining a permit from the Bureau of Public Health. The Department of Health and Human Resources has promulgated rules which adopt the National Drinking Water Regulations under the SDWA. These rules, among other things, require chlorination of public water systems and set fluorination standards.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”)

CERCLA and similar state laws create liabilities for the investigation and remediation of releases of hazardous substances into the environment and for damages to natural resources. Our current and former coal mining operations incur, and will continue to incur, expenditures associated with the investigation and remediation of facilities and environmental conditions, including underground storage tanks, solid and hazardous waste disposal and other matters under these environmental laws. We also must comply with reporting requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (“EPCRA”) and the Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”).

 

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CERCLA is designed to address comprehensively the problems associated with contaminated land, especially inactive and abandoned hazardous waste sites, listed on the “National Priorities List” (“NPL”). Many states maintain analogous programs.

 

   

CERCLA’s central provisions authorize EPA to clean up these sites using money from the so-called “Superfund” (generated by tax revenues) and then to recover the cleanup costs from so-called “potentially responsible parties” (“PRPs”) who have contributed to the contamination. In addition, private parties may implement EPA-approved cleanups.

 

   

Under CERCLA a PRP’s liability is strict, joint, several and retroactive; in other words, liability may be imposed regardless of fault, may relate to historical activities or contamination, may require one party to bear the costs of the entire cleanup and has no requirement that the party’s activities or hazardous substances be proven to have actually caused the contamination. Categories of liable parties under CERCLA include current owners, lessees and operators, former owners, lessees and operators, waste generators or arrangers, and transporters. Accordingly, it is possible for us to become subject to investigation or cleanup obligations (or related third-party claims) in connection with onsite or offsite contamination issues, including those caused by predecessors.

 

   

CERCLA contains a “cost recovery” provision generally authorizing one PRP to initiate a private claim against another PRP for cleanup liabilities.

The magnitude of the liability and the cost of complying with environmental laws with respect to particular sites cannot be predicted with certainty due to the lack of specific information available, the potential for new or changed laws and regulations, the development of new remediation technologies, and the uncertainty regarding the timing of remedial work. As a result, we may incur material liabilities or costs related to environmental matters in the future and such environmental liabilities or costs could adversely affect our results and financial condition. In addition, there can be no assurance that changes in laws or regulations would not result in additional costs and affect the manner in which we are required to conduct our operations.

Other U.S. environmental, health and safety laws

We are or may be required to comply with a number of additional federal, state and local environmental, health, safety and similar requirements in addition to those discussed above, including, for example, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”), the Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”), the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) and others.

E.U. REACH

On June 1, 2007, the E.U. enacted regulations on the registration, evaluation, authorization and restrictions on the use of chemicals, known as REACH. The purpose of REACH is to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment, including the promotion of alternative methods of assessment of hazards of chemical substances.

REACH requires foreign manufacturers importing their chemical substances into the E.U., as well as E.U. manufacturers producing such substances in quantities of one tonne or more per year, to register these substances with the European Chemicals Agency (“ECHA”) and provide the information about the registered substances usage and utilization to the competent authorities of the E.U. Member States and downstream users upon request. To comply with REACH requirements, we have created dedicated internal working groups, procured external consultants’ advice and budgeted for REACH procedures expenses. Prior to December 1, 2008, we pre-registered with the ECHA substantially all of the substances that we intended to export to or produce in the E.U. As a next step, we successfully registered with the ECHA the substances that we export to or produce in the E.U. in an amount over 1,000 tonnes per year, and which are subject to REACH registration, namely: ferroalloys, coke-chemicals and pig iron exported to the E.U. This registration was completed prior to December 1, 2010 in compliance with the REACH implementation schedule. Currently, we are preparing for the

 

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next stage of the registration process. The next registration under REACH for substances in the 100-1,000 tonnes per year tonnage band is to be completed prior to June 1, 2013. We intend to complete the registration process within the relevant deadlines.

Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and other information in this document. This Item 5 contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those discussed in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including the risks described in Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors and under the caption “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

In this Item 5, the term “domestic” describes sales by a subsidiary within the country where its operations are located. The term “export” describes cross-border sales by a subsidiary regardless of its location. See note 24 to the consolidated financial statements.

History of Incorporation

Mechel OAO was incorporated on March 19, 2003, as a joint-stock company holding shares and interests in the charter capitals of various mining and steel companies owned by Igor Zyuzin, Vladimir Iorich and companies controlled by them. These individuals acted in concert from 1995 until December 2006 pursuant to an agreement which required them to vote in the same way. During the period from March through December 2006, Mr. Iorich disposed of his entire interest in Mechel OAO to Mr. Zyuzin, and the agreement terminated on December 21, 2006.

Business Structure

Segments

We have organized our businesses into four segments:

 

   

the mining segment, comprising the production and sale of coal (metallurgical and steam), coke and chemical products, iron ore and limestone, which supplies raw materials to our steel segment and also sells substantial amounts of raw materials to third parties, and includes logistical assets, such as our seaports on the Sea of Japan and on the Sea of Azov and our railway transportation assets;

 

   

the steel segment, comprising the production and sale of semi-finished steel products, carbon and special long products, carbon and stainless flat products, high value-added metal products, including wire products, forgings and stampings, and our river port on the Kama River, a tributary of the Volga River;

 

   

the ferroalloys segment, comprising the production and sale of nickel ore, low-ferrous ferronickel, ferrochrome and ferrosilicon, which supplies raw materials to our steel segment and also sells substantial amounts of raw materials to third parties; and

 

   

the power segment, comprising power generating facilities, which supply power to our mining, steel and ferroalloys segments and also sells a portion of the power generated to third parties, and a power distribution company.

 

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The table below sets forth by segment our key mining, steel, ferroalloys and power subsidiaries, presented in chronological order by date of acquisition.

 

Name

  Location of
Assets
 

Product/Business

  Date Control
Acquired
  Voting
Interest(1)%
 

Mining Segment

       

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company

  Russia   Coking coal, steam coal, anthracite and PCI   January 1999     96.6

Tomusinsky Open Pit

  Russia   Coking coal, steam coal   January 1999     74.5

Korshunov Mining Plant

  Russia   Iron ore concentrate   October 2003     85.6

Port Posiet

  Russia   Seaport: coal warehousing and loading   February 2004     97.1

Mechel Coke

  Russia   Coke and chemical products   June 2006     100.0

Moscow Coke and Gas Plant

  Russia   Coke and chemical products   October 2006     99.5

Yakutugol(2)

  Russia   Coking coal, steam coal   October 2007     100.0

Port Temryuk

  Russia   Seaport: coal and metal transshipment   March 2008     100.0

Mechel Bluestone Inc.

  United States   Coking coal, steam coal   May 2009     100.0

Steel Segment

       

Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant

  Russia   Semi-finished steel products, carbon and stainless long and flat steel products   December 2001     94.2

Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant

  Russia   Wire products   May 2002     93.3

Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant

  Russia   Long steel products, wire products   June 2002     91.5

Urals Stampings Plant

  Russia   Stampings and forgings   April 2003     93.8

Mechel Nemunas

  Lithuania   Wire products   October 2003     100.0

Izhstal

  Russia   Carbon and special steel long products, seized rolling and wire products   May 2004     90.0

Port Kambarka

  Russia   River port   April 2005     90.4

HBL Holding

  Germany  

Steel trading and distribution,

servicing, cutting and processing steel products, warehousing system

  September 2008     100.0

Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant

  Ukraine   Semi-finished steel products and long steel products   December 2011     100.0

Ferroalloys Segment

       

Southern Urals Nickel Plant

  Russia   Ferronickel   December 2001     84.1

Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant

  Russia   Ferrosilicon   August 2007     100.0

Oriel Resources

  Russia,
Kazakhstan
  Chrome and nickel mining and processing   April 2008     100.0

Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant

  Russia   Ferrochrome   April 2008     100.0

Power Segment

       

Southern Kuzbass Power Plant

  Russia   Electricity generation   April 2007     98.3

Kuzbass Power Sales Company

  Russia   Electricity distribution   June 2007     72.1

 

(1) The percentages provided in this table are as of December 31, 2012. Some of our Russian subsidiaries have preferred shares outstanding that have voting rights commensurate with common shares if dividends on those shares have not been paid. We have calculated voting interests by including these preferred shares for subsidiaries where dividends have not been paid.

 

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(2) Effective as of the end of the first quarter of 2008, the subsoil license to the Elga coal deposit was transferred from Elgaugol to Yakutugol. Elgaugol was liquidated in September 2009.

Intersegment sales

We are an integrated mining, steel, ferroalloys and power group. Our group companies supply materials to other companies in the same reporting segment or different reporting segments. For example, for the year ended December 31, 2012:

 

   

The mining segment supplied approximately 8% of the steel segment’s iron ore concentrate requirements, 100% of the steel segment’s coke requirements, 100% of the power segment’s coal requirements and approximately 63% of the ferroalloys segment’s coal requirements;

 

   

The ferroalloys segment supplied approximately 93% of the steel segment’s requirements in ferrochrome, ferrosilicon and ferronickel;

 

   

The mining segment supplied approximately 92% of coke for use in the production of ferronickel, ferrochrome and ferrosilicon by the ferroalloys segment;

 

   

The steel segment supplies wires, ropes, wire products and other metal products to the mining segment for use in its day-to-day operations; and

 

   

The power segment supplied approximately 21% of our group’s overall electricity requirements.

The prices at which we record these transfers are based on market prices, and these transactions are eliminated as intercompany transactions for the purposes of our consolidated financial statements. For the purposes of the period-on-period discussion of the results of operations by segments, such transfers are included in segment revenues and cost of goods sold.

Recent acquisitions

Set out below are our key acquisitions during the periods under review in this section. For more detail see note 3 to the consolidated financial statements. The financial information for the periods presented herein may not be directly comparable from period to period due to these acquisitions.

Laminorul Plant. Laminorul Plant is a steel plant located in Braila (Romania) and listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, RASDAQ market. On February 25, 2010, we acquired 100% of shares of Donau Commodities S.R.L. which holds 90.9% of shares of Laminorul Plant for consideration of $11.9 million. In February 2013, we sold 90.9% of shares of Laminorul Plant together with other our assets in Romania. See also “Item 3. Key Information — Recent Developments.”

Ramateks. Ramateks is a Turkish steel trading group engaged in the distribution of construction and stainless steel long products as well as other types of steel products. We acquired 100% of Ramateks in June 2010 for $3.0 million.

Femax. Femax is a trading company operating in the Czech and Slovak markets, selling steel and steel products and providing a number of services. We acquired 95.0% of Femax in July 2010 for $1.9 million.

Toplofikatsia Rousse. Toplofikatsia Rousse is a power plant located on the bank of the Danube River in close proximity to the harbor of Rousse, Bulgaria. We acquired a 49% stake in Toplofikatsia Rousse in December 2007 for $73.5 million. We increased our stake in Toplofikatsia Rousse to 100% by purchasing the remaining stake of 51% in December 2010 for approximately $71.9 million. In December 2012, we signed an agreement to sell 100% of shares of Toplofikatsia Rousse and we expect the transaction to close in May 2013. See also “Item 3. Key Information — Recent Developments.”

 

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Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant. Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant is a steel plant located in Donetsk, Ukraine. We acquired 100% of shares of Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant in December 2011 for $537 million to be paid in monthly installments during the period from December 2011 to December 2018. Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant specializes in the production of continuous cast billets and rolled round billets from high-quality grades of steel with thermal treatment.

Cognor Stahlhandel. Cognor Stahlhandel is a distributor of steel products in Central and Eastern Europe. We acquired a 100% stake of Cognor Stahlhandel in September 2012 for $29.1 million. In January 2013, Cognor Stahlhandel GmbH was renamed to Mechel Service Stahlhandel Austria GmbH.

Lomprom Rostov. Lomprom Rostov LLC is a scrap collecting and processing company located in the Rostov region. We acquired 100% of Lomprom Rostov LLC in November 2012 for $0.1 million.

Bluestone acquisition

In May 2009, we acquired, through Mechel Bluestone Inc., a newly formed Delaware corporation, 100% of the shares and interests in the companies conducting the coking coal business of Bluestone Coal Corp. in West Virginia. The aggregate consideration was $436.4 million paid in cash, approximately 83.3 million of our preferred shares and two contingent payments (as described below), less the amount exceeding the target debt of $132.0 million of the acquired business. The first contingent payment was agreed to be a contingent share value right (“CVR”) that would guarantee a target total shareholder return from the preferred shares after five years from the closing date of the acquisition. Any potential CVR cash payment due to the actual total return from the preferred shares being less than or equal to the target return was to be paid on the fifth anniversary of the closing date and was to equal the amount by which the target value exceeded the sum of the aggregate market value of the preferred shares and all dividends received. The starting target value was set at $986.1 million, which could be increased up to $1,585.0 million to reflect additional tonnes of reserves and resources in excess of certain levels, which were to be identified through additional drilling within two years of the closing date and verified by an independent engineer, and decreased by the amount of any damages (capped at $200.0 million for CVR purposes) and set-offs effected by Mechel. The starting target value of the CVR was increased by the parties by $3.5 million in June 2010 as a result of an agreement to settle a third-party litigation. Mechel Mining guaranteed the obligations of our subsidiaries who undertook to make the CVR payment. The CVR payment obligation was further supported by a pledge of the shares of Mechel Bluestone Inc. and its subsidiaries. The second contingent payment is a contingent cash payment to be made within five years from the closing date based on additional coal reserves and resources identified within two years under a planned drilling program and verified by an independent engineer. The additional tonnes are to be paid for at the price of $3.04 per tonne if the payment occurs on the fifth anniversary of the closing date, and the price is discounted in the case of earlier payment. The drilling program was conducted through July 2011 and in September 2011 we received a letter prepared by Weir International, Inc., an independent engineer. The letter appears to state that approximately 54.8 million tonnes of additional coal resources were identified pursuant to the drilling program. Based on our review of the letter, we believe that the contents of the letter do not support its conclusions, and for that and a number of other reasons the letter is deficient and fails to satisfy the contractual requirements for establishing the second contingent payment. The sellers have expressed disagreement with our view of the Weir letter and we have requested more supporting data and information in order to further evaluate the results of the drilling program. Mechel Mining guaranteed the obligations of our subsidiaries who undertook to make the second contingent cash payment in the amount of $1.0 billion. The total fair value of the purchase consideration at the closing date amounted to $1,447.2 million. The amount recorded as a liability in respect of the drilling program was $25.7 million as of December 31, 2012.

We completed the listing of the preferred shares on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) in May 2010. In March 2011, the market value of the preferred shares distributed as part of the consideration to the former owners of Bluestone plus the cumulative dividends due to them exceeded $1,787.1 million, as calculated per the terms of the merger agreement, which resulted in the automatic extinguishment of the CVR. Following the

 

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automatic extinguishment of the CVR, we executed an amendment to the merger agreement which confirmed that our obligations in relation to the CVR contingent payment, pledge agreements relating to all the outstanding stock and capital membership in the Bluestone companies in favor of the Seller, and the CVR guarantee issued by Mechel Mining have been released. In addition, Mr. Zyuzin has been released from obligation to vote his common shares in favor of the dividends on preferred shares.

Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations and Financial Condition

Cyclical nature of business and impact of macroeconomic factors

Our mining and ferroalloys businesses sell significant amounts of coal, iron ore and ferroalloys to third parties and our revenues depend significantly on these sales. Cyclical and other changes in the world market prices of these products affect the results of our mining and ferroalloys operations. The changes in these prices result from factors which are beyond our control, such as market supply and demand. The global coal, iron ore and ferroalloys supply and demand balance is strongly influenced by interdependent global economic and industrial demand cycles, as well as supply chain-related constraints such as shipping capacity, availability of rolling stock, transportation bottlenecks, production disruptions and natural disasters. Prices of the products of our mining and ferroalloys business have varied significantly in the past and could vary significantly in the future. See “— Price trends for products” below. See also “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry — We operate in cyclical industries, and any local or global downturn, whether or not primarily affecting the mining and/or steel industries, may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.”

The steel industry is highly cyclical in nature because the industries in which steel customers operate are cyclical and sensitive to changes in general economic conditions. The demand for steel products thus generally correlates to macroeconomic fluctuations in the economies in which we sell our products, as well as in the global economy. The prices of our steel products are influenced by many factors, including demand, worldwide production capacity, capacity utilization rates, raw materials costs, exchange rates, trade barriers and improvements in steel-making processes. Steel prices also typically follow trends in raw materials prices and increases in market prices for steel may lag behind increases in production costs, including raw materials.

Demand for steel, particularly long steel products in which we believe we are the most competitive in the Russian market, is closely tied to the construction industry in the markets in which we sell our products. The construction business in Russia, the principal market for our products, was severely impacted by the global financial crisis and the sharp economic slowdown in Russia. As a result of the critical role of steel in infrastructural and overall economic development, the steel industry tends to track macroeconomic factors such as gross domestic product (“GDP”) and industrial output.

The global financial crisis and sharp economic slowdown which started in 2008 seriously impacted global GDP growth in 2008 and 2009 and the recovery was slow in 2010. Global real GDP grew at 4.3% in 2010, at 2.7% in 2011 and at 2.3% in 2012, according to the World Bank. According to Rosstat, Russia recorded GDP growth of 4.3% in 2010, of 4.3% in 2011 and of 3.4% in 2012. The slowdown in economic growth and severe constraints in capital spending, both globally and in Russia, led to poor demand for our products and a substantial decrease in the prices for our products in 2009. We generally observed signs of improvement in our core markets in 2010. Growth continued during the first nine months of 2011, until another wave of slowdown of the global economy led to a decline in demand and prices for our products. Although the beginning of 2012 demonstrated some optimism in our key markets, debt problems in Europe and slowing growth in China in the second half of 2012 resulted in weak demand and low prices. See “— Price trends for products.”

Trade and competition

Mining products and many types of steel products are considered commodities and treated as fungible in the world markets. As such, we compete with steel producers and mining companies with operations in different

 

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countries. The main competitive advantages that steel producers can secure are based on quality and production cost. Generally, steel producers in economically developed regions compete primarily based on quality of steel, while we and other steel producers in developing countries compete in the international market based primarily on price. With respect to our mining products, such as iron ore, nickel and coal, quality, production costs and transportation capabilities are key areas where companies seek a competitive advantage.

As the production and consumption of steel are closely linked to economic development and industrial capacity in general, many countries have enacted measures to protect their domestic steel industries from international competition, particularly from countries with a lower average cost of production. Several key steel importing countries currently have import restrictions in place on steel products or may introduce them in the future. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry — We face certain trade restrictions in the export of certain of our steel and ferroalloy products to the E.U.”

We benefit from import tariffs that Russia has in place for certain steel products. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry — We benefit from Russia’s tariffs and duties on imported steel, many of which have been reduced upon Russia’s WTO membership and may be eliminated in the future.”

Consolidation trends in the steel and mining industries

The global financial crisis sharply slowed the pace of consolidation in the steel industry. Despite demand growth witnessed during 2010, 2011 and 2012, growth in steel-making capacity still exceeds steel demand. There is now significant over-capacity in the global steel sector which is putting pressure on operators’ profitability. Future consolidation in the steel industry should enable steel producers to maintain more consistent performance through cycles in the steel industry by achieving greater efficiency and economies of scale.

We, along with other Russian steel producers, tend to focus on vertical integration rather than consolidation, which ensures access to a stable supply of raw materials, particularly coking coal and iron ore. Our vertical integration helps us to better manage the effects of raw materials supply constraints and also provides us with an opportunity to capture higher margins in sales by our mining segment to third parties.

The mining industry has also experienced consolidation in recent years. In 2010, INR Energy, a privately held coal company, sold its West Virginia coal mining operations to Cliffs Natural Resources, an international mining company. Cumberland Resources, a U.S. privately held coal producer, was acquired by Massey Energy, a U.S. company and one of the largest producers of Central Appalachian coal. In 2011, there was another series of large-scale transactions. Walter Energy, Inc., a producer of coking coal in southern Appalachia, acquired Canada’s Western Coal Corp. to become one of the world’s largest producers of coking coal. Alpha Natural Resources acquired Massey Energy Co., creating the world’s third largest coking coal producer behind BHP Billiton-Mitsubishi Alliance and Teck Resources Ltd. Arch Coal Inc. acquired International Coal Group, a U.S. coal producer in the Appalachia region, making Arch Coal the second largest U.S. producer of coking coal. Peabody Energy, Inc. acquired a controlling interest in Macarthur Coal Ltd., the world’s largest producer of seaborne low-volatile PCI. China’s Winsway Coking Coal Holdings Ltd. and Japan’s Marubeni Corp. acquired Canadian metallurgical coal producer Grande Cache Coal Corp. Whitehaven Coal has agreed to buy another Australian coal company, Aston Resources, to create one of Australia’s largest coal producers. Yanzhou Coal Mining Co., China’s fourth biggest coal producer, bought Gloucester Coal Ltd. to gain more mines and port access in Australia.

Consolidation among suppliers in the mining industry has led to a stronger bargaining position among mining companies vis-à-vis steel producers. As we are vertically integrated in both the “upstream” and “downstream” sides of the mining and steel segments, we are not as affected by consolidation among suppliers as some of our competitors.

 

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Price trends for products

Coking coal and steam coal

Average contract prices for premium hard coking coal in calendar year 2011 were $289 per tonne (FOB Australia), up from $191 per tonne (FOB Australia) in calendar year 2010, according to CRU. Previously, the contract price for premium hard coking coal was $129 on the same basis, in JFY 2009/2010, according to CRU. The hard coking coal spot price increased during the beginning of 2010 and reached $250 per tonne (FOB Australia) in April 2010. By the end of 2010, however, prices had declined to $225 per tonne (FOB Australia), according to CRU. There was no significant volatility in spot prices in 2010 due to the stable development of global steel industry. Minor price fluctuation occurred due to seasonal factors and traders stocking activity. At the beginning of 2011, hard coking coal spot prices increased sharply to $350 per tonne (FOB Australia) due to supply disruptions caused by heavy floods in Queensland, Australia, according to CRU. Since then, coal supply has normalized and spot prices decreased to $305 per tonne in June 2011, according to CRU. In the final quarter of 2011, the price declined sharply to $235 per tonne in November, according to CRU. In the first quarter of 2012, the contract price was set at $235 per tonne, while spot prices declined from $219 per tonne (FOB Australia) in January to $210 per tonne (FOB Australia) in March due to sluggish demand, according to CRU. As a result, the contract price for the second quarter of 2012 was reduced to $210 per tonne. Nevertheless, industrial actions at BMA operated mines led to an increase in spot prices to $224 per tonne in June, and the contract price for third quarter was settled at $225 per tonne, according to CRU. In the third quarter of 2012, the spot market for hard coking coal became oversupplied and the price declined sharply to $140 per tonne (FOB Australia) in September. As a result, the contract price for the last quarter of 2012 was set at $170 per tonne, according to CRU. The supply-side has been forced to react to significantly lower prices and output reductions occurring in China, the United States and Australia. Furthermore, demand strengthened and spot prices slightly increased to $157 per tonne (FOB Australia) in December 2012, according to CRU.

Prices for steam coal reached $86 per tonne (CIF Amsterdam/Rotterdam/Antwerp) at the beginning of 2010 and then declined to $73 per tonne (CIF Amsterdam/Rotterdam/Antwerp) by the end of the first quarter of 2010, according to Platts. Prices increased further during 2010 and reached $122 per tonne (CIF Amsterdam/Rotterdam/Antwerp) at end of 2010, according to Platts. The main reason for this price growth was the stable growth of the global economy. In the first six months of 2011, prices for steam coal fluctuated around 2010 year-end levels, according to Platts. The price for steam coal was $123 per tonne (CIF Amsterdam/Rotterdam/Antwerp) in June 2011, according to Platts. In the final quarter of 2011, steam coal prices decreased to $111 per tonne in December, according to Platts. During the first half of 2012, steam coal prices declined from $106 per tonne (CIF Amsterdam/Rotterdam/Antwerp) in January to $87 per tonne in June, according to Platts. In the second half of 2012, prices for steam coal were generally stable fluctuating around $90 per tonne, according to Platts.

Iron ore

Average contract prices for iron ore in calendar year 2012 were $120 per tonne, down from $163 in 2011, but still up from $106 per tonne in 2010 (Southern System fines, 65% elemental iron, 6% moister, FOB Brazil), according to CRU. Spot prices began to rise in the middle of 2009, when growing global production of steel coupled with strong demand for imported iron ore from China pushed prices to the level of $105 per tonne (CFR China) by the end of 2009 and $142 per tonne (CFR China) by the end of the first quarter of 2010, according to CRU. Prices increased further during 2010 and reached $186 per tonne (CFR China) in April, and after a decline in the middle of the year prices begin to rise again and reached $173 per tonne (CFR China) at end of 2010, according to CRU. The main reasons for price growth in 2010 were stable demand for ore imports from China and the Indian governments’ measures restricting iron ore exports. In the first six months of 2011, iron ore prices continued their surge as a result of strong Chinese demand. In the fourth quarter of 2011, iron ore spot prices began to decline reaching the bottom at $139 per tonne (CFR China) in December. During the first half of 2012, prices adjusted upwards and were generally stable fluctuating around $147 per tonne (CFR China), according to CRU. In the third quarter of 2012, spot prices for iron ore fell to $108 per tonne (CFR China) in September due

 

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to weak steel market in China and intensified destocking of steel-making raw materials at mills. Tighter supplies, combined with an uptick in interest from China, triggered increases for iron ore prices to $135 per tonne (CFR China) in December 2012, according to CRU. Average spot prices in 2012 were $135 per tonne (CFR China), down from $176 per tonne in 2011 and $153 per tonne in 2010, according to CRU.

Coke

Growing demand from the steel industry and increasing coking coal prices led to a recovery in coke prices since the second half of 2009. By the end of 2010, the Russian domestic price for coke reached 11,720 rubles per tonne (including VAT, FCA basis), according to Metal-Courier, and the export price for Chinese coke grew to $450 per tonne (12.5% ash, FOB basis), according to CRU. In the first six months of 2011, prices for coke increased rapidly and then adjusted downwards, following the trend in the coking coal price. The export price for Chinese coke was $380 per tonne (12.5% ash, FOB basis) in December 2011, according to CRU, while the Russian domestic price for coke was 10,442 rubles per tonne (including VAT, FCA basis), according to Metal-Courier. Throughout 2012, Russian domestic prices for coke were decreasing due to sluggish demand and falling coking coal prices and reached 7,588 rubles per tonne (including VAT, FCA basis) in December, according to Metal-Courier. The export price for Chinese coke also declined from $370 per tonne (12.5% ash, FOB basis) in January to $265 per tonne (12.5% ash, FOB basis) in December, according to CRU.

Nickel

On the LME nickel prices increased during 2010 and reached $24,111 per tonne at the end of 2010, according to CRU, since the demand for nickel in Asia and in the rest of the world was steadily improving. Nickel prices reached a high of $28,252 per tonne in February 2011, and then declined through the end of the year due to increased supply and slow demand growth. Nickel prices declined to $18,154 per tonne in December 2011, according to CRU. In February 2012, nickel prices increased to $20,465 per tonne. The rally was supported by positive news on China. Then the prices declined to $15,658 per tonne due to rising inventories on the LME and an increasing amount of uncertainty about a surplus in primary nickel supply, European demand and prospects for growth in China. Then the prices rebounded back to $17,407 per tonne in December 2012 driven by QE3 and China’s approval of a $157 billion infrastructure program.

Ferrochrome

Ferrochrome prices increased during 2010 and reached $2,668 per tonne of chrome content (spot delivered Europe) by the end of 2010, according to CRU, since the demand in all the regions has substantially improved. Ferrochrome prices declined during 2011 due to excessive material supply to the market and slow demand growth. Ferrochrome prices declined to $2,315 per tonne of chrome content in December 2011, according to CRU. At the beginning of 2012, ferrochrome prices slightly increased, but by the end of the year declined to $2,116 per tonne of chrome content due to surplus on the world market, according to CRU.

Ferrosilicon

Ferrosilicon prices increased during 2010 and reached $1,625 per tonne (75% Si, CIF Japan) by the end of 2010, according to CRU. The surge in ferrosilicon prices in the last months of 2010 was driven by curtailments in power supplies of Chinese ferrosilicon producers, due to the Chinese governments’ five-year energy-saving plan. Ferrosilicon prices were relatively stable during the first nine months of 2011, according to CRU. Prices decreased in the final quarter of 2011 due to decreased demand in China and in international markets. Ferrosilicon prices declined to $1,425 per tonne (75% Si, CIF Japan) at the end of 2011, according to CRU. In the second quarter of 2012, ferrosilicon prices slightly increased to $1,445 per tonne (75% Si, CIF Japan) in May and then began to fall due to slow demand and reached $1,340 per tonne (75% Si, CIF Japan) in October. By the end of the year ferrosilicon prices grew to $1,375 per tonne (75% Si, CIF Japan) as electricity costs in China increased, according to CRU.

 

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Steel

Prices for steel products increased during 2010 and reached $639 per tonne for rebar in the Russian domestic market and $600 per tonne for square billets (Russian export) at the end of 2010, according to Metal-Courier. The price increase was driven by increasing raw materials costs and steadily improving demand. Russian domestic rebar consumption grew by 23.6% in 2010, according to Metal-Courier. In 2011, steel prices were generally higher as compared to 2010. During 2011, steel prices generally increased until August. In August 2011, the price for rebar reached $859 per tonne in the Russian domestic market and the export price for square billets increased to $681 per tonne, according to Metal-Courier. In the final quarter of 2011, steel prices declined on the back of deteriorating demand. The Russian domestic price for rebar declined to $694 per tonne and the export price for square billets declined to $591 per tonne in December 2011, according to Metal-Courier. In the first quarter of 2012, the price for rebar reached $752 per tonne in the Russian domestic market and the export price for square billets increased to $609 per tonne, according to Metal-Courier. The export price for square billets decreased further during 2012. In the fourth quarter of 2012, steel prices declined on the back of deteriorating demand. The Russian domestic price for rebar declined to $646 per tonne and the export price for square billets declined to $513 per tonne in December 2012, according to Metal-Courier.

Freight costs

During the periods under review, ocean freight rates on the basic world routes remained volatile. In 2010, time-charter rates on Panamax type vessels fluctuated within the range from $20,000 to $30,000 per day and by the end of the year decreased to $12,000-$15,000 per day due to an excess supply of new vessels entering the market. In 2011, an average time-charter rate on Panamax type vessels also amounted to $12,000-$15,000 per day. In 2012, ocean freight rates were generally weak with Panamax vessel time charter averages peaking only at a high of $13,877 per day and falling to a low of $3,389 per day with an annualized average of $7,684 per day. An increase in ocean freight rates may be caused by the U.S. dollar falling against world currencies, an increase in world oil prices, as well as seasonal factors. Such an increase in ocean freight rates will affect our freight costs.

Freight costs are a significant concern for Russian steel producers and mining companies, as distances in Russia are vast and major steel producing and mining areas tend to be located far from developed year-round port facilities.

Exchange rates

Our products are typically priced in rubles for Russian and the CIS sales and in U.S. dollars or euros for international sales. Our direct costs, including raw materials, labor and transportation costs are largely incurred in rubles and other local currencies, while other costs, such as interest expenses, are incurred in rubles, euros and U.S. dollars. The mix of our revenues and costs is such that a depreciation in real terms of the ruble against the U.S. dollar tends to result in a decrease in our costs relative to our revenues, while an appreciation of the ruble against the U.S. dollar in real terms tends to result in an increase in our costs relative to our revenues.

 

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Results of Operations

The following table sets forth our consolidated statement of income data for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2012     2011     2010  

Revenues

   Amount     % of
Revenues
    Amount     % of
Revenues
    Amount     % of
Revenues
 
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Revenue, net

     11,274,933        100.0     12,541,145        100.0     9,746,646        100.0

Cost of goods sold

     (8,024,210     (71.2 )%      (8,236,807     (65.7 )%      (6,179,612     (63.4 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     3,250,723        28.8     4,304,338        34.3     3,567,034        36.6

Selling, distribution and operating expenses

     (4,148,598     (36.8 )%      (2,464,234     (19.6 )%      (2,034,822     (20.9 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

     (897,875     (8.0 )%      1,840,104        14.7     1,532,212        15.7

Other income and (expense), net

     (479,426     (4.3 )%      (667,537     (5.3 )%      (563,008     (5.8 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income from continuing operations, before income tax and discontinued operations

     (1,377,301     (12.2 )%      1,172,567        9.3     969,204        9.9

Income tax expense

     (179,155     (1.6 )%      (360,750     (2.9 )%      (276,630     (2.8 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income from continuing operations

     (1,556,456     (13.8 )%      811,817        6.5     692,574        7.1

Net loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax

     (108,429     (1.0 )%      (8,370     (0.1 )%      (600     0.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

     (1,664,885     (14.8 )%      803,447        6.4     691,974        7.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less: Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests

     317        0.0     (75,562 )     (0.6 )%      (34,761 )     (0.4 )% 

Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO

     (1,664,568     (14.8 )%      727,885        5.8     657,213        6.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less: Dividends on preferred shares

     (79,056     (0.7 )%      (78,281     (0.6 )%      (8,780     (0.1 )% 

Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders of Mechel OAO

     (1,743,624     (15.5 )%      649,604        5.2     648,433        6.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2012 compared to year ended December 31, 2011

Net revenues

Consolidated revenues decreased by $1,266.2 million, or 10.1%, to $11,274.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $12,541.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011.

The sales decrease was due to a decrease of sales prices across all our major segments, as well as a decrease of coking coal, nickel and ferrosilicon sales volumes in our mining and ferroalloys segments. This decrease was partially offset by the impact on our consolidated revenues of our acquisitions of Cognor Stahlhandel and Lomprom Rostov in the amount of $79.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

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The following table sets forth our net revenues by segment, including a breakdown by sales to third parties and other segments.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  

Net Revenues by Segment

   2012     2011  
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars,
except percentages)
 

Mining segment

    

To third parties

     3,297,560        4,173,799   

To ferroalloys segment

     97,066        175,829   

To power segment

     44,801        45,223   

To steel segment

     575,627        797,178   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     4,015,054        5,192,029   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Steel segment

    

To third parties

     6,803,413        7,154,417   

To ferroalloys segment

     6,377        7,062   

To power segment

     148,265        146,875   

To mining segment

     113,265        156,479   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     7,071,320        7,464,833   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ferroalloys segment

    

To third parties

     416,721        475,254   

To power and mining segments

     194        1,047   

To steel segment

     87,218        198,144   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     504,133        674,445   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Power segment

    

To third parties

     757,239        737,675   

To steel segment

     317,826        321,021   

To ferroalloys segment

     85,650        104,768   

To mining segment

     80,398        81,018   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     1,241,113        1,244,482   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Eliminations

     1,556,687        2,034,644   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated revenues

     11,274,933        12,541,145   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

% from mining segment

     29.2     33.3

% from steel segment

     60.3     57.0

% from ferroalloys segment

     3.7     3.8

% from power segment

     6.7     5.9

Mining segment

Our total mining segment sales decreased by $1,177.0 million, or 22.7%, to $4,015.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $5,192.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2011.

Coking coal concentrate sales to third parties decreased by $770.5 million, or 34.7%, to $1,453.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $2,223.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of sales prices decrease of $614.1 million and sales volumes decrease of $156.4 million. The sales prices decrease is explained by the sharp decrease in international coking coal prices. In the first quarter of 2012, hard coking coal spot prices decreased to $215 per tonne (FOB Australia), according to Platts. During the whole year of 2012 the coal market remained well-balanced. Spot prices increased to $221 per tonne in the second quarter of 2012, according to Platts. The price declined to $175 and $155 in third and fourth quarters of 2012, respectively, according to Platts.

 

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The volume of coking coal concentrate sold to third parties decreased by 678 thousand tonnes, or 7.0%, to 8,957 thousand tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2012 from 9,635 thousand tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2011. The decrease in sales volumes during the period was mainly due to lower sales from Bluestone, which corresponded to the general trend of lower exports of coking coal from the United States in 2012. Reduction of the United States exports was mainly due to lower demand from consumers in Europe, which accounts for most of the exports, as well as in Latin America, Japan and South Korea.

The volume of coking coal sold to third parties increased at Yakutugol and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and decreased at Bluestone. Yakutugol’s coking coal sales volumes increased by 362 thousand tonnes, or 8.0%, to 4,903 thousand tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2012 from 4,541 thousand tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2011. Southern Kuzbass Coal Company’s coking coal sales volumes increased by 128 thousand tonnes, or 5.3%, to 2,551 thousand tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2012 from 2,423 thousand tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2011. Bluestone’s coking coal sales volumes to third parties decreased by 1,138 thousand tonnes, or 43.1%, to 1,502 thousand tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2012 from 2,640 thousand tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2011.

Coke sales to third parties decreased by $83.3 million, or 22.2%, to $291.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $374.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease of $108.9 million in sales prices that was partially offset by an increase of $25.6 million in sales volumes. The decrease in sales prices was driven by the decrease in the price of coking coal, the key raw material in the production of coke. The sales volume increase is explained by the increase of coke sales to the Russian market following the decrease of sales to the ferroalloys segment as a result of the suspension of operations at Southern Urals Nickel Plant in the third quarter of 2012.

Coke supplied to the steel segment decreased by $85.5 million, or 14.4%, to $509.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $595.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. The decrease of $143.3 million was due to a decrease of sales prices, which was partially offset by a $57.8 million increase in sales volumes. The increase in sales volumes is explained by the increase in pig iron production volumes by 12.0% following the absence of planned repairs of the blast furnace at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant in 2012.

Chemical products sales to third parties decreased by $0.9 million, or 1.2%, to $75.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $76.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease in sales prices. Sales prices decreased due to the decrease in the price of coking coal, the key raw material in the production of chemical products.

Anthracite and PCI sales to third parties decreased by $17.8 million, or 2.5%, to $703.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $720.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease of $115.7 million in sales prices that was partially offset by an increase of $97.9 million in sales volumes. Sales prices decreased due to the decrease in the price of coking coal, the key raw material in the production of anthracite and PCI. Sales volume increased due to our increasing production volumes of PCI instead of steam coal.

Steam coal sales to third parties decreased by $77.5 million, or 35.1%, to $143.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $220.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease of $88.6 million in sales volumes that was partially offset by an increase of $11.2 million in sales prices. Our share of domestic market sales decreased from 58.73% in the year ended December 31, 2011 to 51.38% in the year ended December 31, 2012 as our sales prices in the domestic market are lower than export prices. The average sales price in the domestic market was $48 per tonne on FCA basis but $89 per tonne on FCA basis in the export market for the year ended December 31, 2012. As a result, we experienced an increase in sales prices on steam coal sales to third parties, due to an increase of the share of export as well as supply on the internal market. The decrease in sales volumes was mainly due to the realization of our strategy of increasing PCI production and sales instead of steam coal.

 

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Steam coal supplied to the power and ferroalloys segments decreased by $29.7 million, or 59.6%, to $20.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $49.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease of $8.1 million in sales prices and a decrease of $21.6 million in sales volumes. The sales volumes decrease is explained by the suspension of operations at Southern Urals Nickel Plant in the third quarter of 2012.

Sales of iron ore to third parties increased by $74.6 million, or 20.2%, to $444.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $370.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of an increase of $197.4 million in sales volumes that was partially offset by a decrease of $122.8 million in sales prices. The decrease in sales prices was due to a decrease in international iron ore prices. The year average spot iron ore price (63.5% Fe dry, CIF) decreased by 23% from $176 per tonne in the year ended December 31, 2011 to $135 per tonne in the year ended December 31, 2012, according to CRU. The increase in third-party sales volumes was due to the decrease in intra-group supplies.

Supplies of iron ore to the steel segment decreased by $140.8 million, or 87.5%, to $20.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $160.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease of $4.1 million in sales prices and a decrease of $136.7 million in sales volumes. Sales volumes decreased because the share of iron ore consumed at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant produced by Korshunov Mining Plant decreased from 23.1% in the year ended December 31, 2011 to 3.2% in the year ended December 31, 2012 following the increased demand for iron ore in the international markets. Sales prices decreased due to a decrease in the price of iron ore in the Russian market: our average sales prices for iron ore to the third parties on FCA basis decreased by 27.6%.

Excluding intersegment sales, export sales remained stable at the level of 73.0% of mining segment sales in the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to 73.3% in the year ended December 31, 2011.

Steel segment

Our steel segment revenues decreased by $393.5 million, or 5.3%, to $7,071.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $7,464.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. Steel segment sales in 2012 in domestic and export markets had different trends: demand in our export market was subdued due to unstable economic and political conditions, while demand in our domestic market was strong. Consumption of steel products in Russia increased by 5.2% in the year ended December 31, 2012 to 44.5 million tonnes from 42.3 million tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2011, according to Metal Expert.

Semi-finished products sales decreased by $136.9 million, or 10.5%, to $1,163.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $1,300.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease of $102.5 million in sales prices and a decrease of $34.4 million in sales volumes. Sales prices decreased due to a decrease in the international prices for billets: the billet year average price (square billet, FOB Black Sea) decreased by 11% to $564 per tonne in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $635 per tonne in the year ended December 31, 2011, according to Metal Expert. The decrease of third-party sales volumes was due to the decrease of sales volumes at Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant following the decrease of its production volumes due to steel scrap shortages in Ukraine and temporary suspension of its operations in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Other long products sales decreased by $152.8 million, or 12.9%, to $1,030.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $1,183.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease of $111.1 million in sales prices and a decrease of $41.7 million in sales volumes. The decrease in sales prices was mainly driven by the decrease in the prices of steel-making raw materials (iron ore, coking coal etc.). Sales volumes decreased because of the weakening of demand in the international markets in 2012.

Wire rod sales decreased by $91.0 million, or 42.4%, to $123.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $214.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease of $6.4 million in sales

 

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prices and a decrease of $84.6 million in sales volumes. The decrease in sales prices was driven by a decrease in the international price for wire rod: the wire rod year average price (wire rod, FOB Black Sea) decreased by 6-12% to $611-659 per tonne in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $694-701 per tonne in the year ended December 31, 2011, according to Metal Expert. Sales volumes decreased because of a decrease in production volumes by 26% following the repairs of rolling mill at Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant in 2012.

Stainless flat products sales decreased by $76.9 million, or 34.3%, to $147.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $224.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease of $25.7 million in sales prices and a decrease of $51.2 million in sales volumes. The decrease in sales prices was driven by the decrease in domestic prices during 2012: the year average price for stainless flat steel (cold-rolled, 08X18H10T steel grade, 2 mm, Russia domestic, ex-warehouse, excl. VAT) decreased by 20% to $4,269 per tonne in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $5,342 per tonne in the year ended December 31, 2011, according to Metal Expert. Sales volumes decreased due to weakening of the demand in the European market.

Other flat product sales decreased by $26.7 million, or 5.2%, to $488.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $515.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease of $59.5 million in sales prices, which was partially offset by an increase of $32.8 million in sales volumes. The decrease in sales prices was driven by a decrease in domestic and international prices during 2012: the year average price for hot-rolled coil (Russia exports, FOB Black Sea) decreased by 17% to $578 per tonne in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $693 per tonne in the year ended December 31, 2011, according to Metal Expert. The increase in sales volumes was due to the increase in sales of flat rolled steel following the acquisition of Cognor Stahlhandel in September 2012.

Wire sales decreased by $48.8 million, or 7.6%, to $593.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $641.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease of $40.1 million in sales prices and a decrease of $8.6 million in sales volumes. The decrease in sales prices was driven by the decrease in the prices of wire rod, which is the main input for wire production. Sales volumes decreased because of the weakening of demand in the international markets in 2012.

These negative trends were partially offset by the increase of non-core products and services sales by $155.6 million, or 59.5%, to $417.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $261.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. This increase was due to the increase of scrap metal sales to the related metallurgical plants following the development of our relationships with these plants and the acquisition of Lomprom Rostov in 2012.

Excluding intersegment sales, export sales were 25.0% of steel segment sales in the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to 27.8% in the year ended December 31, 2011. The proportion of our export sales decreased due to the weakening of demand in the European markets in 2012.

Ferroalloys segment

Nickel sales to third parties decreased by $89.4 million, or 35.0%, to $165.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $255.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease of $45.7 million in sales prices and a decrease of $43.7 million in sales volumes. Sales prices decreased due to the decrease in nickel quotes at the LME, which we use to determine our contract prices. The year average nickel price decreased to $17,526 per tonne in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $22,831 per tonne in the year ended December 31, 2011, according to CRU. Our nickel sales volumes decreased by 1.9 thousand tonnes, or 17.1%, to 9.5 thousand tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2012 from 11.4 thousand tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to the suspension of operations at Southern Urals Nickel Plant in the third quarter of 2012.

Nickel supplies to the steel segment decreased by $87.0 million, or 76.2%, to $27.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $114.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease of

 

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$8.7 million in sales prices and a decrease of $78.3 million in sales volumes. The decrease of sales volumes is explained by the suspension of operations at Southern Urals Nickel Plant in the third quarter of 2012. Sales prices decreased due to a decrease in the price of nickel in the Russian market: our average sales prices for nickel to the third parties on FCA basis decreased by 25.2%.

Ferrosilicon sales to third parties decreased by $19.1 million, or 22.6%, to $65.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $84.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease of $7.6 million in sales volumes and a decrease of $11.6 million in sales prices. Sales prices decreased due to a decrease in the price of ferrosilicon for sale in Russia and for export, mainly Japan and South Korea, which was related to weakening demand as stocks rose. In addition, cheaper supplies of Chinese origin that were shipped through Vietnam put prices under pressure. Chinese export prices fell to $1,370 per tonne in December 2012 from $1,440 per tonne in January 2012, according to CRU. Decrease of sales volumes was due to the increase of stocks in transit to the customer as at December 31, 2012 following the increase of delivery period.

Ferrosilicon supplies to the steel segment decreased by $5.2 million, or 11.4%, to $40.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $45.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease of $3.6 million in sales prices and a decrease of $1.6 million in sales volumes. The decrease in sales volumes was due to the decrease in stainless steel production volumes in our steel segment companies by 27.0% in the year ended December 31, 2012.

Chrome sales to third parties increased by $25.5 million, or 24.1%, to $131.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $105.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of an increase of $39.2 million in sales volumes, which was partially offset by a decrease of $13.7 million in sales prices. Sales volumes increased because of the increase of export sales volumes following the strengthening of Asian markets.

Chrome supplies to the steel segment decreased by $18.1 million, or 50.5%, to $17.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $35.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease of $5.2 million in sales prices and a decrease of $13.0 million in sales volumes. The decrease in sales volumes was due to the decrease of stainless steel production volumes in our steel segment companies by 27.0% in the year ended December 31, 2012.

Excluding intersegment sales, export sales were 77.8% of ferroalloys segment sales in the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to 76.2% in the year ended December 31, 2011. The increase in the proportion of our export sales was mainly due to the strong demand for chrome on the Asian market.

Power segment

Our power segment revenues slightly decreased by $3.4 million, or 0.3%, to $1,241.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $1,244.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011.

Electricity sales to third parties increased by $90.6 million, or 15.6%, to $671.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $580.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of an increase of $76.1 million in sales volumes and an increase of $14.4 million in sales prices. Sales prices increased as a result of further liberalization of government constrains on sales prices in the Russian electricity market. The increase of sales volumes was due to the increase of the number of customers following the expansion of Mechel Energo subsidiaries to various regions of Russia.

This increase was partially offset by the decrease of other revenue by $71.0 million, or 45.2%, to $85.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $156.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to the decrease of revenue from electricity networks usage following the disposal of Electroset in December 2011.

 

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Intersegment sales decreased by $22.9 million, or 4.5%, to $483.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $506.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of the decrease of electricity sales volumes to the ferroalloys segment following the decrease of its production volumes.

Southern Kuzbass Power Plant and Mechel Energo contributed $11.5 million to the power segment revenues through power generation capacity sales to third parties in the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to $14.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011.

Cost of goods sold and gross margin

The consolidated cost of goods sold was 71.2% of consolidated revenues in the year ended December 31, 2012, as compared to 65.7% of consolidated revenues in the year ended December 31, 2011, resulting in a decrease in consolidated gross margin to 28.8% in the year ended December 31, 2012 from 34.3% for the year ended December 31, 2011. Cost of goods sold primarily consists of costs relating to raw materials (including products purchased for resale), direct payroll, depreciation and energy. The table below sets forth cost of goods sold and gross margin by segment for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, including as a percentage of segment revenues.

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2012
    Year Ended
December 31, 2011
 

Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Margin by Segment

   Amount     % of Segment
Revenues
    Amount      % of Segment
Revenues
 
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Mining segment

         

Cost of goods sold

     2,130,959        53.1     2,324,189         44.8

Gross margin

     1,884,096        46.9     2,867,839         55.2

Steel segment

         

Cost of goods sold

     6,026,304        85.2     6,341,260         84.9

Gross margin

     1,045,017        14.8     1,123,573         15.1

Ferroalloys segment

         

Cost of goods sold

     539,454        107.0     643,624         95.4

Gross margin

     (35,321     (7.0 )%      30,821         4.6

Power segment

         

Cost of goods sold

     931,760        75.1     932,060         74.9

Gross margin

     309,351        24.9     312,422         25.1

Mining segment

Mining segment cost of goods sold decreased by $193.2 million, or 8.3%, to $2,131.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $2,324.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. The mining segment’s gross margin percentage decreased to 46.9% in the year ended December 31, 2012 from 55.2% in the year ended December 31, 2011.

The decrease in the mining segment’s gross margin percentage is explained by the decrease of coking coal, anthracite and PCI and iron ore FCA sales prices in the export and domestic markets by 36.4%, 20.0% and 30.6%, respectively.

Coal production cash costs per tonne (see “— “Cash Costs per Tonne” Measure”) at Southern Kuzbass Coal Company increased by $2.8 per tonne, or by 7.3%, from $38.0 in the year ended December 31, 2011 to $40.8 in the year ended December 31, 2012, mainly due to an:

 

   

increase in personnel expenses by $0.7 per tonne due to the indexation of salary rates of production personnel; and

 

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increase in raw materials expenses by $2.1 per tonne due to the increase in fuel, spare parts and explosive materials prices.

Production cash costs of coal at Yakutugol decreased by 8.8% following the recovery from the collapse at Neryungrinskaya Washing Plant that occurred in 2011.

Coke production cash costs decreased by 21.5% at Moscow Coke and Gas Plant and by 28.1% at Mechel Coke following the decrease of coking coal concentrate purchase prices.

Average production cash costs for coal produced by the Bluestone companies decreased by 1.3%, mainly due to a 33.0% decrease in royalties expenses caused by the decrease of coal sales prices (royalties are calculated in the proportion to the coal sales revenues).

Production cash costs of iron ore increased by 9.8% due to the increase of costs of fuel and personnel expenses by 23.0% and 15.3%, respectively.

Steel segment

Steel segment cost of goods sold decreased by $315.0 million, or 5.0%, to $6,026.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $6,341.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. Steel segment cost of goods sold was 85.2% of the segment’s revenues in the year ended December 31, 2012, as compared to 84.9% in the year ended December 31, 2011, resulting in a slight decrease of gross margin from 15.1% to 14.8%.

The stable gross profit margin was due to the decrease of sales prices by 5.8% on average accompanied by a similar decrease of average production costs per tonne due to the decrease of raw materials purchase prices (scrap metal, coke and ferroalloys).

Ferroalloys segment

Ferroalloys segment cost of goods sold decreased by $104.2 million, or 16.2%, to $539.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $643.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. Ferroalloys segment cost of goods sold was 107.0% of the segment’s revenues in the year ended December 31, 2012, as compared to 95.4% in the year ended December 31, 2011, resulting in a decrease of gross margin from 4.6% to negative 7.0%. The decrease of cost of sales in absolute amounts is attributable to the decrease of nickel sales volumes to third parties and group companies by 32.5% following the suspension of operations at Southern Urals Nickel Plant in the third quarter of 2012. In addition, the decrease of sales volumes and the decrease of sales prices for all products led to the deterioration of the segment gross profit margin.

Power segment

Power segment cost of goods sold decreased by $0.3 million, or 0.0%, to $931.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $932.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. Power segment gross margin percentage slightly decreased to 24.9% in the year ended December 31, 2012 from 25.1% in the year ended December 31, 2011.

“Cash Costs per Tonne” Measure

In this document, we present cash costs per tonne for coal, coke and iron ore production for each significant production facility of our mining segment. Cash costs per tonne is a performance indicator that is not defined according to U.S. GAAP. Cash costs per tonne includes various production costs, such as raw materials, auxiliary materials, wages and social taxes of production personnel, electricity, gas and fuel costs, repairs and maintenance of production equipment, costs of mining works, mineral extraction tax and royalty payments, but excludes non-cash items such as depreciation, depletion and write-down of inventories to their net realizable value. We use this

 

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indicator to evaluate the performance of individual production subsidiaries and their ability to generate cash. Cash costs per tonne is a widely used performance indicator in the mining industry to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of mining operations. We believe that investors use this indicator in addition to the financial information prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP to evaluate the performance of our companies. Consequently, this information must be considered supplementary and should not be regarded as a substitute for the performance indicators prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The reconciliation of mining segment production cash costs per tonne for the year ended December 31, 2012 is presented below:

 

     In Thousands of
Tonnes
     Cash Cost,
U.S. Dollars
per Tonne
     In Thousands
of U.S.
Dollars
 

Coal — Southern Kuzbass Coal Company — sales to third parties

     7,245         41         295,537   

Coal — Southern Kuzbass Coal Company — intersegment sales

     987         41         40,273   

Coal — Yakutugol — sales to third parties

     8,435         32         268,097   

Coal — Yakutugol — intersegment sales

     0         32         0   

Coal — Bluestone — sales to third parties

     1,981         97         192,637   

Coal — Bluestone — intersegment sales

     0         97         0   

Iron ore — Korshunov Mining Plant — sales to third parties

     4,157         45         185,867   

Iron ore — Korshunov Mining Plant — intersegment sales

     251         45         11,223   

Coke — Moscow Coke and Gas Plant — sales to third parties

     778         245         190,561   

Coke — Moscow Coke and Gas Plant — intersegment sales

     149         245         36,413   

Coke — Mechel Coke — sales to third parties

     277         183         50,698   

Coke — Mechel Coke — intersegment sales

     2,301         183         421,243   

Depreciation

           201,729   

Depletion

           92,767   

Write-down of inventory to their net realizable value

           18,399   

Cost of coal produced by third companies and re-sold by our trading subsidiaries, including intersegment sales

           53,409   

Costs of other products and services (coking products, washing services) and costs of other subsidiaries

           72,108   
        

 

 

 

Total mining segment cost of sales

           2,130,959   
        

 

 

 

 

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The reconciliation of mining segment production cash costs per tonne for the year ended December 31, 2011 is presented below:

 

     In Thousands of
Tonnes
     Cash Cost,
U.S. Dollars
per Tonne
     In Thousands
of U.S.
Dollars
 

Coal — Southern Kuzbass Coal Company — sales to third parties

     6,772         38         257,410   

Coal — Southern Kuzbass Coal Company — intersegment sales

     1,189         38         45,183   

Coal — Yakutugol — sales to third parties

     8,469         35         295,166   

Coal — Yakutugol — intersegment sales

     0         35         0   

Coal — Bluestone — sales to third parties

     3,206         99         315,840   

Coal — Bluestone — intersegment sales

     0         99         0   

Iron ore — Korshunov Mining Plant — sales to third parties

     2,711         41         110,451   

Iron ore — Korshunov Mining Plant — intersegment sales

     1,669         41         68,004   

Coke — Moscow Coke and Gas Plant — sales to third parties

     862         273         235,278   

Coke — Moscow Coke and Gas Plant — intersegment sales

     87         273         23,795   

Coke — Mechel Coke — sales to third parties

     154         212         32,516   

Coke — Mechel Coke — intersegment sales

     2,275         212         481,893   

Depreciation

           185,280   

Depletion

           128,558   

Write-down of inventory to their net realizable value

           16,605   

Cost of coal produced by third companies and re-sold by our trading subsidiaries, including intersegment sales

           70,205   

Costs of other products and services (coking products, middlings, washing services) and costs of other subsidiaries

           58,007   
        

 

 

 

Total mining segment cost of sales

           2,324,189   
        

 

 

 

 

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Selling, distribution and operating expenses

Selling, distribution and operating expenses increased by $1,684.4 million, or 68.4%, to $4,148,6 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $2,464.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as a result of an increase of selling and distribution expenses in the mining segment, an increase of provisions for amounts due from related parties in the mining and steel segments and impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets in the steel and ferroalloys segments. As a percentage of consolidated revenues, selling, distribution and operating expenses increased to 36.8% in the year ended December 31, 2012 from 19.6% in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly due to an increase of provisions for amounts due from related parties and impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets that was not recognized in 2011. Our selling, distribution and operating expenses consist primarily of selling and distribution expenses, taxes other than income tax, loss on the write off of property, plant and equipment, provision for doubtful accounts, amounts due from related parties, impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets and general, administrative and other operating expenses. The table below sets forth these costs by segment for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, including as a percentage of segment revenues.

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2012
    Year Ended
December 31, 2011
 

Selling, Distribution and Operating Expenses by Segment

   Amount      % of Segment
Revenues
    Amount     % of Segment
Revenues
 
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Mining segment

         

Selling and distribution expenses

     871,141         21.7     843,097        16.2

Taxes other than income tax

     71,978         1.8     42,628        0.8

Allowance (recovery of allowance) for doubtful accounts

     4,574         0.1     (3,967     (0.1 )% 

Accretion expense

     3,075         0.1     4,340        0.1

Provision for amounts due from related parties

     22,668         0.6     —         0.0

Loss on write off of property, plant and equipment

     7,294         0.2     8,225        0.2

General, administrative and other operating expenses

     259,087         6.5     282,132        5.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     1,239,818         30.9     1,176,455        22.7
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Steel segment

         

Selling and distribution expenses

     613,457         8.7     614,094        8.2

Taxes other than income tax

     44,579         0.6     46,568        0.6

Loss on write off of property, plant and equipment

     3,463         0.0     1,965        0.0

Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets

     583,985         8.3     —         0.0

Provision for amounts due from related parties

     896,445         12.7     —          0.0

Accretion expense

     1,172         0.0     1,402        0.0

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     7,850         0.1     3,275        0.0

General, administrative and other operating expenses

     258,623         3.7     264,521        3.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     2,409,574         34.1     931,825        12.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ferroalloys segment

         

Selling and distribution expenses

     26,106         5.2     22,135        3.3

Taxes other than income tax

     8,374         1.7     11,699        1.7

Loss on write off of property, plant and equipment

     598         0.1     816        0.1

Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets

     123,906         24.6     —         0.0

Allowance (recovery of allowance) for doubtful accounts

     9,216         1.8     (722     (0.1 )% 

Accretion expense

     705         0.1     822        0.1

General, administrative and other operating expenses

     55,670         11.0     40,983        6.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     224,575         44.5     75,733        11.2
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Power segment

         

Selling and distribution expenses

     251,256         20.2     256,940        20.6

Taxes other than income tax

     2,215         0.2     1,893        0.2

Loss on write off of property, plant and equipment

     74         0.0     —         0.0

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     6,706         0.5     84        0.0

Accretion expense

     68         0.0     95        0.0

General, administrative and other operating expenses

     14,312         1.2     21,211        1.7
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     274,631         22.1     280,223        22.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Mining segment

Selling and distribution expenses consisted almost entirely of transportation expenses related to our selling activities, and increased by $28.0 million, or 3.3%, to $871.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $843.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly due to the increase of iron ore and anthracite and PCI sales volumes by 40.2%. As a percentage of mining segment revenues, selling and distribution expenses increased from 16.2% to 21.7% due to a decrease of 21.0% in sales revenue from sales to third parties and simultaneous increase of 3.3% in selling and distribution expenses.

Taxes other than income tax include property and land taxes, as well as other taxes. Taxes other than income tax increased by $29.3 million, or 68.9%, to $72.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $42.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. The increase was due to the accrual of additional mineral extraction tax to Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, Yakutugol and Tomusinsky Open Pit for the years 2008-2011 of $27.1 million following the results of tax audits of these companies.

Allowance for doubtful accounts changed by $8.5 million to $4.6 million expenses in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $4.0 million income in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to the change in exposure to losses on its accounts receivable. In accordance with our accounting policy, we apply specific rates to overdue accounts receivable depending on the history of cash collections and future expectations of conditions that might impact the collectibility.

Loss on write off of property, plant and equipment decreased by $0.9 million, or 11.3%, to $7.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $8.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to the decrease of obsolete property, plant and equipment objects that are not planned for further use in production process at Yakutugol and Moscow Coke and Gas Plant.

In 2012, based on our future expectations we made a provision of $22.7 million for the advances issued to the related metallurgical plants. See note 9 to the consolidated financial statements. No such provisions were recognized in the year 2011.

General, administrative and other expenses consist of payroll and payroll taxes, depreciation, rent and maintenance, legal and consulting expenses, office overheads and other expenses. These expenses decreased by $23.0 million, or 8.2%, to $259.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $282.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly as a result of the decrease of contributions to the non-state pension fund. Salaries and related social taxes decreased by $4.1 million, or 2.6%, to $151.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $155.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly as a result of the decrease of the number of administrative personnel in the segment companies. Legal and consulting fees and insurance services decreased by $4.9 million, or 27.5%, to $13.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $18.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to the decreased use of consulting services in 2012. Rent and maintenance, business travel expenses, bank charges and office expenses decreased by $3.6 million, or 10.2%, to $32.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $35.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly as a result of the cost cutting procedures implemented by our management. Social expenses decreased by $17.3 million, or 85.3%, to $3.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $20.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly as a result of the absence of contributions made by our mining subsidiaries to the non-state pension fund in 2011. Other administrative and operating expenses increased by $6.9 million, mainly due to the following:

 

   

in 2011, we recognized the costs of removal of the negative environmental impact of Bluestone mining operations of $8.4 million. No such expenses were recognized in 2012; and

 

   

in 2012, we made an accrual for Suncoke claim against Bluestone as a result of Bluestone’s failure to perform obligations under contracts to supply coal to Suncoke in 2008 of $16.6 million.

 

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Steel segment

Selling and distribution expenses for our steel segment consisted almost entirely of transportation expenses related to our selling activities. Such expenses decreased by $0.6 million, or 0.1%, to $613.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $614.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly due to a decrease in export sales volumes by 8.4% which was partially offset by an increase of railway tariffs in Russia by 6.6%. As a percentage of steel segment revenues, selling and distribution expenses increased to 8.7% in the year ended December 31, 2012 from 8.2% in the year ended December 31, 2011. This percentage increased because sales prices for all our steel products decreased by 5.8% (on average), while railway tariffs, which represent the main distribution expense, increased by 6.6% on average.

Taxes other than income tax include property and land taxes and other taxes. These taxes decreased by $2.0 million, or 4.2%, to $44.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $46.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. As a percentage of segment revenues, these taxes remained stable at 0.6%. Property and land taxes decreased by $1.4 million, or 3.6%, to $36.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $38.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly due to ruble depreciation of 5.8%.

Allowance for doubtful accounts changed by $4.6 million, or 139.7%, to $7.8 million expenses in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $3.3 million expenses in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to the increase of allowance rates in the year ended December 31, 2012 following the deterioration in the collectibility of accounts receivable.

In 2012, based on our future expectations in relation to the recoverability of trade and other balances from the related metallurgical plants and fair value of the assets pledged as security under the Estar Loan Agreement we made a provision of $896.4 million for these balances. See note 9 to the consolidated financial statements. No such expenses were recognized in the year 2011.

Loss on write off of property, plant and equipment increased by $1.5 million, or 76.3%, to $3.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $2.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to an increase in the amount of unused property, plant and equipment written off by our steel production subsidiaries.

As a result of the decrease in commodity prices, the weakness of the European market and the lack of positive prospects for the recovery of the European market, we recognized impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets in relation to our Romanian subsidiaries, Mechel Nemunas, Cognor Stahlhandel and Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant of $584.0 million. See “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Financial Condition and Financial Reporting — We may incur impairments to goodwill or other long-lived assets which could negatively affect our future profits” and note 23 to the consolidated financial statements. No such expenses were recognized in 2011.

General, administrative and other expenses decreased by $5.9 million, or 2.2%, to $258.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $264.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, and increased as a percentage of segment revenues to 3.7% in the year ended December 31, 2012 from 3.5% in the year ended December 31, 2011. Payroll and related social taxes increased by $3.6 million, or 2.6%, to $143.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $139.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to the redundancy payments to the employees of our Romanian subsidiaries made in accordance with the statutory requirements. Social expenses (including pension expenses) decreased by $5.8 million, or 24.7%, to $17.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $23.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly due to cuts in our social programs in 2012. Rent and maintenance, business travel expenses, bank charges and office expenses decreased by $8.3 million, or 15.7%, to $44.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $52.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly due to the cost cutting measures implemented by our management. Professional expenses, which include auditing, accounting, legal and engineering fees and insurance services decreased by $2.8 million, or 16.4%, to $14.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $17.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to the decreased use of consulting services in 2012. Other administrative and operating expenses increased by $7.4 million, or 23.4%, to $39.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $31.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly due to the acquisition of Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant in December 2011 and Cognor Stahlhandel in September 2012.

 

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Ferroalloys segment

Selling and distribution expenses, consisting predominately of transportation expenses related to our selling activities, increased by $4.0 million, or 17.9%, to $26.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $22.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. As a percentage of the ferroalloys segment revenues, selling and distribution expenses increased to 5.2% in the year ended December 31, 2012 from 3.3% in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly due to an increase in the share of chrome export sales in the ferroalloys segment sales revenue to third parties to 38.2% from 26.7%.

Taxes other than income tax decreased by $3.3 million, or 28.4%, to $8.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $11.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to the fact that the withholding tax asset of $2.7 million related to Oriel Resources was written-off in 2011. As a percentage of segment revenues, these taxes remained stable at the level of 1.7%. Property and land taxes decreased by $2.1 million, or 48.1%, to $2.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $4.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to the suspension of operations at Southern Urals Nickel Plant in the third quarter of 2012.

Allowance for doubtful accounts changed by $9.9 million, or 1,375.9%, to $9.2 million expenses in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $0.7 million income in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to an increase of outstanding accounts receivable provided as of December 31, 2012, as well as the increase of allowance rates in the year ended December 31, 2012 following the deterioration of the collectibility of accounts receivable.

Loss on write off of property, plant and equipment decreased by $0.2 million, or 26.8%, to $0.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $0.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to a decrease in the amount of property, plant and equipment written off by our production subsidiaries.

As a result of the continued downturn in the nickel price and margin deterioration, we recognized impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets in relation to Southern Urals Nickel Plant and Kazakhstansky Nickel Mining Company of $123.9 million. See “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Financial Condition and Financial Reporting — We may incur impairments to goodwill or other long-lived assets which could negatively affect our future profits” and note 23 to the consolidated financial statements. No such expenses were recognized in 2011.

General, administrative and other expenses increased by $14.7 million, or 35.8%, to $55.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $41.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. Payroll and related social taxes increased by $15.8 million, or 75.7%, to $36.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $20.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to the suspension of operations at Southern Urals Nickel Plant in the third quarter of 2012 which required the recognition in operating expenses of all expenses related to the payments to production employees during idle hours. Social expenses (including pension expenses) decreased by $1.5 million, or 34.2%, to $3.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $4.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly due to the reduction in a number of social projects in which our production subsidiaries participate. Rent and maintenance, business travel expenses, bank charges and office expenses decreased by $0.8 million, or 15.6%, to $4.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $4.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly due to the effect of overall cost-cutting measures implemented by our management. Professional expenses, which include auditing, accounting, legal and engineering fees and insurance services, increased by $0.1 million, or 7.7%, to $2.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $1.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. Other administrative and operating expenses increased by $1.1 million, or 12.2%, to $10.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $9.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly due to the suspension of operations at Southern Urals Nickel Plant in the third quarter of 2012 which required the recognition in operating expenses of all such expenses.

Power segment

In 2012, selling and distribution expenses consisted almost entirely of electricity transmission costs incurred by our Kuzbass Power Sales Company for the usage of the power grid through which electricity is distributed to

 

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end consumers. These costs are incurred by all power distribution companies pursuant to agreements between the distribution company and the grid operator. These expenses decreased by $5.7 million, or 2.2%, to $251.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $256.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to the ruble depreciation.

Taxes other than income tax increased by $0.3 million, or 17.0%, to $2.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $1.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly due to the increase of ecological payments by Southern Kuzbass Power Plant.

Allowance for doubtful accounts changed by $6.6 million to $6.7 million expenses in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $0.1 million expenses in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly due to the increase of allowance rates in the year ended December 31, 2012 following the deterioration in the collectibility of accounts receivable.

General, administrative and other expenses decreased by $6.9 million, or 32.6%, to $14.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $21.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to the cancellation of the payments for environmental breaches of $3.3 million accrued to Southern Kuzbass Power Plant in 2011 and successfully challenged in court in 2012.

Operating income

Operating income changed by $2,738.0 million, or 148.8%, to $897.9 million loss in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $1,840.1 million income in the year ended December 31, 2011. Operating income as a percentage of consolidated revenues decreased to negative 8.0% in the year ended December 31, 2012 from 14.7% in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly due to the decrease of the gross margin in the mining, steel and ferroalloys segments and recognition of losses related to impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets in the steel and ferroalloys segments, and losses from provision for amounts due from related parties in the steel and mining segments as explained above.

The table below sets out operating income by segment, including as a percentage of segment revenues.

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2012
    Year Ended
December 31, 2011
 

Operating Income by Segment

   Amount     % of Segment
Revenues
    Amount     % of Segment
Revenues
 
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Mining segment

     644,278        16.0     1,691,385        32.6

Steel segment

     (1,364,557     19.3     191,749        2.6

Ferroalloys segment

     (259,896     (51.6 )%      (44,912     (6.7 )% 

Power segment

     34,720        2.8     32,199        2.6

Elimination of intersegment unrealized (profit) loss(1)

     47,580          (30,317  
  

 

 

     

 

 

   

Consolidated operating income

     (897,875       1,840,104     
  

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

(1) Our management evaluates the performance of our segments before the elimination of unrealized profit in inventory balances of segments that was generated by the segments but not recognized as profit in our consolidated financial statements until the sale of such inventories to third parties. Therefore, we present our segments before such elimination, and such elimination is presented separately. The change in intersegment unrealized profit adjustment in the year ended December 31, 2012 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2011 was due to the decrease in gross margin of our mining segment in 2012, that resulted from a decrease in the sales prices.

 

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Mining segment

Mining segment operating income decreased by $1,047.1 million, or 61.9%, to $644.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $1,691.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. The operating margin percentage decreased to 16.0% in the year ended December 31, 2012 from 32.6% in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly due to the decrease of coking coal, anthracite and PCI, coke and iron ore sales prices, the increase of selling and distribution expenses and the recognition of provision for the amounts due from related parties.

Steel segment

Steel segment operating income decreased by $1,556.3 million, or 811.6%, to a $1,364.6 million loss in the year ended December 31, 2012 from a $191.7 million income in the year ended December 31, 2011. The operating margin percentage decreased to negative 19.3% in the year ended December 31, 2012 from 2.6% in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly due to the decrease of gross profit margin following the decrease of sales prices for all main products, the suspension of operations of the Romanian companies and Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant in the fourth quarter of 2012 and recognition of losses from impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets of these subsidiaries and Cognor Stahlhandel, as well as provision for amounts due from the related metallurgical plants.

Ferroalloys segment

Ferroalloys segment operating loss increased by $215.0 million, or 478.7%, to a $259.9 million loss in the year ended December 31, 2012 from a $44.9 million loss in the year ended December 31, 2011. The operating margin percentage decreased to negative 51.6% in the year ended December 31, 2012 from negative 6.7% in the year ended December 31, 2011, mainly due to the decrease of gross profit margin following the decrease in sales prices for all segment products and the recognition of loss from impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets at Southern Urals Nickel Plant and Kazakhstansky Nickel Mining Company.

Power segment

Power segment operating income increased by $2.5 million, or 7.8%, to $34.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $32.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. The operating margin percentage slightly increased to 2.8% in the year ended December 31, 2012 from 2.6% in the year ended December 31, 2011.

Other income and expense, net

Other income and expense, net consists of income (loss) of equity investees, interest income, interest expense, other income and foreign exchange gain. The table below sets forth these costs for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, including as a percentage of revenues.

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2012
    Year Ended
December 31, 2011
 

Other Income and Expense, Net

   Amount     % of
Revenues
    Amount     % of
Revenues
 
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Income from equity investees

     475        0.0     304        0.0

Interest income

     70,509        0.6     16,785        0.1

Interest expense

     (669,353     (5.9 )%      (560,548     (4.5 )% 

Other income (loss), net

     30,232        0.3     (7,002     (0.1 )% 

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

     88,711        0.8     (117,076     (0.9 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     (479,426     (4.3 )%      (667,537     (5.3 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Income from equity investees consists of our share of income from our equity investments, such as various investments of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and Cognor Stahlhandel.

Interest income increased by $53.7 million, or 320.0%, to $70.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $16.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to the accrual of interest on the related metallurgical plants loan balance. This loan was provided in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Interest expense increased by $108.8 million, or 19.4%, to $669.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $560.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to the increase of our indebtedness level, as well as the increase of weighted average interest rate from 8.1% in the year ended December 31, 2011 to 8.2% in the year ended December 31, 2012.

Other income increased by $37.2 million, or 531.8%, to a $30.2 million income in the year ended December 31, 2012 from a $7.0 million loss in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to the receipt in 2012 of dividends on investments accounted at cost of $26.0 million.

Foreign exchange gain (loss) changed by $205.8 million, or 175.8%, to a $88.7 million gain in the year ended December 31, 2012 from a $117.1 million loss in the year ended December 31, 2011. This foreign exchange gain was primarily attributable to gains from the revaluation of the U.S. dollar denominated syndicated loan arrangement for refinancing of the acquisition of Yakutugol and Oriel Resources, as well as our obligation to pay for the shares of Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant on an installment basis through December 2018.

Income tax expense

Income tax expense decreased by $181.6 million, or 50.3%, to $179.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $360.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to an overall decrease of operating income. Our effective tax rate decreased to negative 13.6% from 30.8%, mainly due to the recognition of losses from impairment of goodwill and provision for the loan provided to the related metallurgical plants that do not decrease the taxable income of our subsidiaries.

Net loss from discontinued operations

Net loss from discontinued operations increased by $100.1 million, or 1,195.4%, to $108.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $8.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to the recognition of impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets of Toplofikatsia Rousse of $97.9 million following the signing of the agreement for disposal of the subsidiary in December 2012. See “Item 3. Key Information — Recent Developments — Disposal of Toplofikatsia Rousse.”

Net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests, net of income tax

Net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests decreased by $75.9 million, or 100.4%, to a $0.3 million gain in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $75.6 million expenses in the year ended December 31, 2011. The minority interest in the income of our subsidiaries in the year 2012 was $10.0 million for Korshunov Mining Plant and $35.0 million for Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and its subsidiaries that was offset by the minority interest in the loss of Southern Urals Nickel Plant of $23.8 million and the loss of Romanian companies of $21.6 million.

Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders of Mechel

Due to the decrease of operating income in our mining, steel and ferroalloys segments as a result of recognition of losses from impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets as well as provision for amounts due from the related metallurgical plants and increase of losses from discontinued operations, net (loss) income attributable to our shareholders changed by $2,392.5 million, or 328.7%, to a $1,664.6 million loss in the year ended December 31, 2012 from a $727.9 million income in the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

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Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders of Mechel

Net (loss) income attributable to our common shareholders changed by $2,393.2 million, or 368.4%, to a $1,743.6 million loss in the year ended December 31, 2012 from a $649.6 million income in the year ended December 31, 2011. This is comparable with the change of net (loss) income attributable to shareholders of Mechel because there were no significant changes in the amounts of dividends on preferred shares.

Year ended December 31, 2011 compared to year ended December 31, 2010

Net revenues

Consolidated revenues increased by $2,794.5 million, or 28.7%, to $12,541.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $9,746.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2010.

Across our segments, our acquisitions in the year ended December 31, 2011 did not have significant impact on our consolidated revenues. The sales increase was due to both increase in sales volumes and sales prices across all our major products.

 

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The following table sets forth our net revenues by segment, including a breakdown by sales to third parties and other segments.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  

Net Revenues by Segment

           2011                     2010          
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except percentages)  

Mining segment

    

To third parties

     4,173,799        3,055,914   

To ferroalloys segment

     175,829        140,024   

To power segment

     45,223        37,520   

To steel segment

     797,178        622,706   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     5,192,028        3,856,164   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Steel segment

    

To third parties

     7,154,417        5,586,224   

To ferroalloys segment

     7,062        4,961   

To power segment

     146,875        128,304   

To mining segment

     156,479        114,188   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     7,464,833        5,833,677   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ferroalloys segment

    

To third parties

     475,254        455,199   

To power and mining segments

     1,047        516   

To steel segment

     198,144        173,337   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     674,445        629,052   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Power segment

    

To third parties

     737,675        649,309   

To steel segment

     321,021        269,342   

To ferroalloys segment

     104,768        65,873   

To mining segment

     81,018        73,800   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     1,244,482        1,058,324   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Eliminations

     2,034,644        1,630,571   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated revenues

     12,541,145        9,746,646   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

% from mining segment

     33.3     31.4

% from steel segment

     57.0     57.3

% from ferroalloys segment

     3.8     4.7

% from power segment

     5.9     6.7

Mining segment

Our total mining segment sales increased by $1,335.9 million, or 34.6%, to $5,192.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $3,856.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2010.

Coking coal concentrate sales to third parties increased by $766.0 million, or 52.6%, to $2,223.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $1,457.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2010 as a result of sales prices increase of $530.0 million and sales volumes increase of $236.0 million. The sales prices increase is explained by the sharp increase in international coking coal prices. At the beginning of 2011, hard coking coal spot prices increased sharply to $350 per tonne (FOB Australia) due to supply disruptions caused by heavy floods in Queensland, Australia, according to CRU. Since then, coal supply has normalized and spot prices decreased to $305 per tonne in June 2011, according to CRU. In the final quarter of 2011, the price declined to $235 per tonne in November, according to CRU.

 

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The volume of coking coal concentrate sold to third parties increased by 1,343 thousand tonnes, or 16.2%, to 9,635 thousand tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2011 from 8,292 thousand tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2010. The increase in sales volumes during the period was due to increased demand from foreign customers due to Australian coal supply disruptions, as described above.

The volume of coking coal sold to third parties increased at Yakutugol’s and Bluestone, and increased slightly at Southern Kuzbass Coal Company. Yakutugol’s coking coal sales volumes increased by 670 thousand tonnes or 17% from 3,871 thousand tonnes to 4,541 thousand tonnes. Bluestone’s coking coal sales volumes to third parties increased by 565 thousand tonnes, or 27.2%, to 2,640 thousand tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2011 from 2,075 thousand tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2010. Southern Kuzbass Coal Company’s coking coal sales volumes slightly increased by 82 thousand tonnes, or 4%, from 2,340 thousand tonnes to 2,423 thousand tonnes.

Coke sales to the third parties increased by $14.7 million, or 4.1%, to $374.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $360.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of an increase of $48.9 million in sales prices, which was partially offset by a decrease of $34.1 million in sales volumes. The increase in sales prices was driven by the increase in the price of coking coal, the key raw material in the production of coke. The sales volume decrease is explained by the decrease in Moscow Coke and Gas Plant’s coke sales to domestic customers.

Coke supplied to the steel segment increased by $64.3 million, or 12.1%, to $595.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $531.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. $97.7 million of the increase was due to an increase of sales prices, which was partially offset by a $33.4 million decrease in sales volumes. The decrease in sales volumes is explained by a 10% decrease in pig iron production volumes at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant following planned repairs of the blast furnace in the second quarter of 2011.

Chemical products sales to third parties increased by $28.0 million, or 57.7%, to $76.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $48.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2010 as a result of an increase of $22.3 million in sales prices and a slight increase of $5.7 million in sales volumes. Sales prices increased due to the increase in the price of coking coal, the key raw material in the production of chemical products.

Anthracite and PCI sales to third parties increased by $423.9 million, or 142.8%, to $720.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $296.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of an increase of $87.5 million in sales prices and an increase of $336.4 million in sales volumes. Sales prices increased due to the increase in the price of coking coal, the key raw material in the production of anthracite and PCI. Sales volume increased due to our increasing production volumes of PCI instead of steam coal.

Steam coal sales to third parties decreased by $140.7 million, or 38.9%, to $220.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $361.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2010 as a result of a decrease of $74.9 million in sales prices and $65.8 million in sales volumes. Although our share of domestic market sales increased from 25.5% in the year ended December 31, 2010 to 58.7% in the year ended December 31, 2011, sales prices in the domestic market are lower than export prices. The sales price in the domestic market was $47 per tonne on FCA basis but $92 per tonne on FCA basis in the export market for the year ended December 31, 2011. As a result, we experienced a decrease in sales prices on steam coal sales to third parties. The decrease in sales volumes was mainly due to the realization of our strategy of increasing PCI production and sales instead of steam coal.

Steam coal supplied to the power and ferroalloys segments increased by $19.2 million, or 62.8%, to $49.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $30.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly as a result of an increase in sales prices due to an increase in the price of steam coal in the Russian market: our average sales prices for steam coal to the third parties on FCA basis increased by 8%.

 

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Sales of iron ore to third parties increased by $31.3 million, or 9.2%, to $370.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $338.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of an increase of $90.3 million in sales prices that was partially offset by a decrease of $59.0 million in sales volumes. The increase in sales prices was due to an increase in international iron ore prices. The year average spot iron ore price (63.5% Fe dry, CIF) increased by 15% from $153 per tonne in 2010 to $176 per tonne in 2011, according to CRU. The decrease in third-party sales volumes was due to the increase in intra-group supplies.

Supplies of iron ore to the steel segment increased by $116.4 million, or 261.9%, to $160.9 million, in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $44.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of an increase of $39.5 million in sales prices and an increase of $77.0 million in sales volumes. Sales volumes increased because the share of iron ore consumed at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant produced by Korshunov Mining Plant increased from 7.5% in the year ended December 31, 2010 to 23.1% in the year ended December 31, 2011 following decreased demand for iron ore in the international markets. Sales prices increased due to an increase in the price of iron ore in the Russian market: our average sales prices for iron ore to the third parties on FCA basis increased by 38%.

Excluding intersegment sales, export sales were 73.3% of mining segment sales in the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to 65.6% in the year ended December 31, 2010. The increase in the proportion of our export sales was due to the higher export volumes of coking coal concentrate to take advantage of higher sales prices in foreign markets. Average coking coal concentrate prices on a Free Carrier (FCA) basis in the year ended December 31, 2011 were $191.1 per tonne in foreign markets, compared to $188.8 per tonne in the domestic market.

Steel segment

Our steel segment revenues increased by $1,631.2 million, or 28.0%, to $7,464.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $5,833.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. Steel segment sales in 2011 in domestic and export markets had different trends: demand in our export market was subdued due to unstable economic and political conditions, while demand in our domestic market was quite strong. Consumption of steel products in Russia increased by 12.5% in the year ended December 31, 2011 to 41.7 million tonnes from 37.1 million tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2010, according to Metal Expert.

Semi-finished products sales increased by $64.7 million, or 5.2%, to $1,300.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $1,235.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of an increase of $207.9 million in sales prices offset by a decrease of $143.3 million in sales volumes. Sales prices increased due to an increase in the international prices for billets: the billet year average price (square billet, FOB Black Sea) increased by 21% to $635 per tonne in 2011 from $526 per tonne in 2010, according to Metal Expert. The decrease of third-party sales volumes was due to the increase in intra-group supplies.

Other long products sales increased by $406.0 million, or 52.2%, to $1,183.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $777.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of an increase of $185.9 million in sales prices and an increase of $220.1 million in sales volumes. The increase in sales prices was mainly driven by the increase in the prices of steel-making raw materials (iron ore, coking coal etc.). Sales volumes increased because of the strengthening of demand in the domestic market in 2011, in particular as a result of high demand in key consuming industries, such as automotive and machine-building industries.

Rebar sales increased by $495.2 million, or 43.1%, to $1,645.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $1,150.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of an increase of $293.0 million in sales prices and an increase of $202.2 million in sales volumes. The increase in sales prices was driven by an increase in domestic and international prices during 2011: the year average rebar price (Russia domestic, ex-warehouse, central region, excl. VAT) increased by 21% to $760 per tonne in 2011 from $626 per tonne in 2010, according to Metal Expert. Sales volumes increased because of strong domestic demand: Russian rebar consumption increased by 28% to 6.5 million tonnes in 2011 from 5.1 million tonnes in 2010, according to Metal Expert.

 

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Pig iron sales increased by $59.1 million, or 93.1%, to $122.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $63.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of an increase of $22.4 million in sales prices and an increase of $36.7 million in sales volumes. The increase in sales prices was driven by the increase in the price of the main raw materials for pig iron production, iron ore and coke. Sales volumes increased because sales of pig iron produced by our related metallurgical plant Usipar increased.

Stainless flat products sales increased by $19.6 million, or 9.6%, to $224.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $204.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of an increase of $34.4 million in sales prices, which was partially offset by a decrease of $14.7 million in sales volumes. The increase in sales prices was driven by the increase in domestic prices during 2011: the year average price for stainless flat steel (cold-rolled, 08X18H10T steel grade, 2-3 mm, Russia domestic, ex-warehouse, excl. VAT) increased by 12% to $5,182 per tonne in 2011 from $4,609 per tonne in 2010, according to Metal Expert. Sales volumes decreased due to weakening of the demand in the European market.

Other flat product sales increased by $261.6 million, or 103.2%, to $515.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $253.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of an increase of $93.9 million in sales prices and an increase of $167.8 million in sales volumes. The increase in sales prices was driven by an increase in domestic and international prices during 2011: the year average price for hot-rolled coil (Russia exports, FOB Black Sea) increased by 13% to $695 per tonne in 2011 from $615 per tonne in 2010, according to Metal Expert. The increase in sales volumes was due to the increase in sales of flat rolled steel produced by our related metallurgical plant Mir Steel.

Stampings sales increased by $110.9 million, or 58.0%, to $302.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $191.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of an increase of $70.7 million in sales prices and an increase of $40.2 million in sales volumes. Sales prices increased due to the increase in steel products prices. Sales volumes increased due to a growth in demand in major consuming industries due to the recovery after the global economic slowdown.

Wire sales increased by $150.4 million, or 30.6%, to $641.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $491.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of an increase of $73.9 million in sales prices and an increase of $76.5 million in sales volumes. The increase in sales prices was driven by the increase in the prices of wire rod, which is the main input for wire production. Sales volumes increased because of increased demand from key consuming industries, such as the construction, automotive and machine-building industries.

Wire ropes sales increased by $17.4 million, or 23.2%, to $92.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $75.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of an increase of $13.9 million in sales prices and an increase of $3.6 million in sales volumes. The increase in sales prices was driven by the increase in the prices of wire, which is the main input for wire ropes production. The minor increase in sales volumes was due to steady demand from key consuming industries, such as cranes production, lifting machine-building, mining and construction.

Excluding intersegment sales, export sales were 27.8% of steel segment sales in the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to 32.9% in the year ended December 31, 2010. The proportion of our export sales decreased due to strong domestic demand growth that outpaced demand growth from export markets and the expansion of Mechel Service Global’s distribution network in new local markets.

Ferroalloys segment

Nickel sales to third parties increased by $3.5 million, or 1.4%, to $255.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $251.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of an increase of $13.8 million in sales prices, which was partially offset by a decrease of $10.3 million in sales volumes. Sales

 

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prices increased due to the increase in nickel quotes at the LME, which we use to determine our contract prices. The year average nickel price increased to a high as $22,895 per tonne in 2011 from $21,809 per tonne in 2010, according to CRU. Our nickel sales volumes decreased by 0.5 thousand tonnes or 4.1% to 11.4 thousand tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2011 from 11.9 thousand tonnes in the year ended December 31, 2010 due to the increase in intra-group supplies.

Nickel supplies to the steel segment increased by $15.6 million, or 15.8%, to $114.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $98.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of an increase of $11.9 million in sales prices and an increase of $3.6 million in sales volumes. Sales volumes increased due to the 4.9% increase in stainless steel production volumes in our steel segment companies in the year ended December 31, 2011. Sales prices increased due to an increase in the price of nickel in the Russian market: our average sales prices for nickel to the third parties on FCA basis increased by 14%.

Ferrosilicon sales to third parties decreased by $6.9 million, or 7.6%, to $84.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $91.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly as a result of a decrease of $12.5 million in sales volumes which was only partially offset by an increase of $5.6 million in sales prices. Sales prices increased due to the increase of sales into the domestic, rather than export, market, where prices are generally higher. The decrease in sales volumes was due to the increase in intra-group supplies.

Ferrosilicon supplies to the steel segment increased by $7.3 million, or 19.0%, to $45.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $38.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2010 mainly due to the increase in sales volumes. Sales volumes increased due to a 4.9% increase in stainless steel production volumes in our steel segment companies in the year ended December 31, 2011.

Chrome sales to third parties increased by $12.2 million, or 13.0%, to $105.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $93.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly as a result of an increase of $13.6 million in sales volumes. Sales volumes increased because of the increase of export sales volumes following the strengthening of international markets.

Chrome supplies to the steel segment were stable, and increased by $0.1 million, or 0.4%, to $35.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $35.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2010.

Excluding intersegment sales, export sales were 76.2% of ferroalloys segment sales in the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to 77.9% in the year ended December 31, 2010. The decrease in the proportion of our export sales was mostly due to the strong demand for ferrosilicon and more favorable prices for all ferroalloy products in our domestic market.

Power segment

Our power segment revenues increased by $186.2 million, or 17.6%, to $1,244.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $1,058.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2010.

Electricity sales to third parties increased by $22.6 million, or 4.1%, to $580.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $558.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of an increase of $70.0 million in sales prices, which was partially offset by a decrease of $47.4 million in sales volumes. Sales prices increased as a result of further liberalization of government constrains on sales prices in the Russian electricity market. The decrease in electricity sales volumes is explained by the increase of intersegment sales volumes by 35.5%.

Intersegment sales increased by $97.8 million, or 23.9%, to $506.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $409.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of increase of electricity sales volumes to the steel, mining and ferroalloys segments following the increase of production volumes across all our segments.

 

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Southern Kuzbass Power Plant and Mechel Energo contributed $14.2 million to the power segment revenues through power generation capacity sales to third parties in the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to $26.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2010.

Cost of goods sold and gross margin

The consolidated cost of goods sold was 65.7% of consolidated revenues in the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to 63.4% of consolidated revenues in the year ended December 31, 2010, resulting in a decrease in consolidated gross margin to 34.3% in the year ended December 31, 2011 from 36.6% for the year ended December 31, 2010. Cost of goods sold primarily consists of costs relating to raw materials (including products purchased for resale), direct payroll, depreciation and energy. The table below sets forth cost of goods sold and gross margin by segment for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, including as a percentage of segment revenues.

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2011
    Year Ended
December 31, 2010
 

Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Margin by Segment

   Amount      % of Segment
Revenues
    Amount      % of Segment
Revenues
 
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Mining segment

          

Cost of goods sold

     2,324,189         44.8     1,764,522         45.8

Gross margin

     2,867,839         55.2     2,091,644         54.2

Steel segment

          

Cost of goods sold

     6,341,260         84.9     4,729,914         81.1

Gross margin

     1,123,573         15.1     1,103,763         18.9

Ferroalloys segment

          

Cost of goods sold

     643,624         95.4     535,511         85.1

Gross margin

     30,821         4.6     93,541         14.9

Power segment

          

Cost of goods sold

     932,060         74.9     759,314         71.7

Gross margin

     312,422         25.1     299,010         28.3

Mining segment

Mining segment cost of goods sold increased by $559.7 million, or 31.7%, to $2,324.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $1,764.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. The mining segment’s gross margin percentage increased to 55.2% in the year ended December 31, 2011 from 54.2% in the year ended December 31, 2010.

The increase in the mining segment’s gross margin percentage is explained by the increase of coking coal and iron ore FCA sales prices in the export and domestic markets by 27.8% and 29.1%, respectively.

Coal production cash costs per tonne (see “— “Cash Costs per Tonne” Measure”) at Southern Kuzbass Coal Company increased by $6.9 per tonne or by 22.2% from $31.1 in the year ended December 31, 2010 to $38.0 in the year ended December 31, 2011 mainly due to an:

 

  a) increase in repairs expenses by $1.9 per tonne due to the planned repairs of various production and transport equipment;

 

  b) increase in personnel expenses by $1.3 per tonne due to the indexation of salary rates of production personnel; and

 

  c) increase in raw materials expenses by $2.2 per tonne due to the increase in fuel prices.

 

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Production cash costs of coal at Yakutugol increased by 25.0% due to the increase in fuel prices by 27.6%, electricity costs by 19.8%, personnel expenses by 42.7% and costs of mining works by 38.1%. The increases are all largely attributable to the collapse at Neryungrinskaya Washing Plant during the first quarter of 2011.

Coke production cash costs at Moscow Coke and Gas Plant increased by 39.8% and at Mechel Coke by 37.0% following the increase of coking coal concentrate purchase prices.

Average production cash costs for coal produced by the Bluestone companies increased by 11.5%, mainly due to a 41.2% increase in royalties expenses caused by the increase of coal sales prices (royalties are calculated in the proportion to the coal sales revenues).

Production cash costs of iron ore increased by 16.3% due to the increase of costs of fuel and personnel expenses by 26.2% and 9.9% respectively.

Steel segment

Steel segment cost of goods sold increased by $1,611.3 million, or 34.1%, to $6,341.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $4,729.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. Steel segment cost of goods sold was 84.9% of the segment’s revenues in the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to 81.1% in the year ended December 31, 2010, resulting in a decrease of gross margin from 18.9% to 15.1%.

The decrease of gross profit margin in comparison with the increase of the sales prices for major products is mainly explained by a decrease in Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant’s gross profit margin by 2.3% due to a 10% decrease of pig iron production volumes following the planned repairs of the blast furnace in the second quarter of 2011 and a corresponding increase in fixed production costs per tonne. The aggregate share of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant’s gross profit margin in the total gross profit margin of steel segment is more than 60% and the decrease in Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant’s gross profit margin lowered the steel segment’s gross profit margin by more than 1.4%.

Ferroalloys segment

Ferroalloys segment cost of goods sold increased by $108.1 million, or 20.2%, to $643.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $535.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. Ferroalloys segment cost of goods sold was 95.4% of the segment’s revenues in the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to 85.1% in the year ended December 31, 2010, resulting in a decrease of gross margin from 14.9% to 4.6%. This increase is attributable to increases of electricity prices and coke purchase prices that outpaced increases in the sales prices of ferroalloy products. For example, electricity tariffs increased 12.0% at Southern Urals Nickel Plant and 30.5% at Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant, while coke purchase prices increased 12.8% at Southern Urals Nickel Plant and 22.4% at Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant.

Power segment

Power segment cost of goods sold increased by $172.7 million, or 22.8%, to $932.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $759.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. Power segment gross margin percentage decreased to 25.1% in the year ended December 31, 2011 from 28.3% in the year ended December 31, 2010. The decrease is explained by the increase of steam coal and middlings purchase prices. Steam coal and middlings are major raw materials for electricity production.

“Cash Costs per Tonne” Measure

In this document, we present cash costs per tonne for coal, coke and iron ore production for each significant production facility of our mining segment. Cash costs per tonne is a performance indicator that is not defined

 

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according to U.S. GAAP. Cash costs per tonne includes various production costs, such as raw materials, auxiliary materials, wages and social taxes of production personnel, electricity, gas and fuel costs, repairs and maintenance of production equipment, costs of mining works, mineral extraction tax and royalty payments, but excludes non-cash items such as depreciation, depletion and write-down of inventories to their net realizable value. We use this indicator to evaluate the performance of individual production subsidiaries and their ability to generate cash. Cash costs per tonne is a widely used performance indicator in the mining industry to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of mining operations. We believe that investors use this indicator in addition to the financial information prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP to evaluate the performance of our companies. Consequently, this information must be considered supplementary and should not be regarded as a substitute for the performance indicators prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The reconciliation of mining segment production cash costs per tonne for the year ended December 31, 2011 is presented below:

 

     In Thousands of
Tonnes
     Cash Cost,
U.S. Dollars
per Tonne
     In Thousands
of U.S.
Dollars
 

Coal — Southern Kuzbass Coal Company — sales to third parties

     6,772         38         257,410   

Coal — Southern Kuzbass Coal Company — intersegment sales

     1,189         38         45,183   

Coal — Yakutugol — sales to third parties

     8,469         35         295,166   

Coal — Yakutugol — intersegment sales

     0         35         0   

Coal — Bluestone — sales to third parties

     3,206         99         315,840   

Coal — Bluestone — intersegment sales

     0         99         0   

Iron ore — Korshunov Mining Plant — sales to third parties

     2,711         41         110,451   

Iron ore — Korshunov Mining Plant — intersegment sales

     1,669         41         68,004   

Coke — Moscow Coke and Gas Plant — sales to third parties

     862         273         235,278   

Coke — Moscow Coke and Gas Plant — intersegment sales

     87         273         23,795   

Coke — Mechel Coke — sales to third parties

     154         212         32,516   

Coke — Mechel Coke — intersegment sales

     2,275         212         481,893   

Depreciation

           185,280   

Depletion

           128,558   

Write-down of inventory to their net realizable value

           16,605   

Cost of coal produced by third companies and re-sold by our trading subsidiaries, including intersegment sales

           70,205   

Costs of other products and services (coking products, middlings, washing services) and costs of other subsidiaries

           58,007   
        

 

 

 

Total mining segment cost of sales

           2,324,189   
        

 

 

 

The reconciliation of mining segment production cash costs per tonne for the year ended December 31, 2010 is presented below:

 

     In Thousands of
Tonnes
     Cash Cost,
U.S. Dollars
per Tonne
     In Thousands
of U.S.
Dollars
 

Coal — Southern Kuzbass Coal Company — sales to third parties

     6,405         31         199,185   

Coal — Southern Kuzbass Coal Company — intersegment sales

     1,551         31         48,232   

Coal — Yakutugol — sales to third parties

     5,588         28         155,747   

Coal — Yakutugol — intersegment sales

     0         28         0   

Coal — Bluestone — sales to third parties

     2,434         88         214,763   

Coal — Bluestone — intersegment sales

     0         88         0   

Iron ore — Korshunov Mining Plant — sales to third parties

     3,283         35         115,033   

Iron ore — Korshunov Mining Plant — intersegment sales

     611         35         21,417   

 

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     In Thousands of
Tonnes
     Cash Cost,
U.S. Dollars
per Tonne
     In Thousands
of U.S.
Dollars
 

Coke — Moscow Coke and Gas Plant — sales to third parties

     994         182         181,400   

Coke — Moscow Coke and Gas Plant — intersegment sales

     187         182         34,054   

Coke — Mechel Coke — sales to third parties

     103         167         17,125   

Coke — Mechel Coke — intersegment sales

     2,370         167         395,934   

Depreciation

           155,879   

Depletion

           108,862   

Write-down of inventory to their net realizable value

           (6,614

Cost of coal produced by third companies and re-sold by our trading subsidiaries, including intersegment sales

           44,194   

Costs of other products and services (coking products, middlings, washing services) and costs of other subsidiaries

           79,312   
        

 

 

 

Total mining segment cost of sales

           1,764,522   
        

 

 

 

Selling, distribution and operating expenses

Selling, distribution and operating expenses increased by $429.4 million, or 21.1%, to $2,464.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $2,034.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly due to an increase of selling and distribution expenses and general, administrative and other operating expenses across all our segments. As a percentage of consolidated revenues, selling, distribution and operating expenses decreased to 19.6% in the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to 20.9% in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly due to the increase in the consolidated revenue in the year ended December 31, 2011 in comparison with the year ended December 31, 2010. Our selling, distribution and operating expenses consist primarily of selling and distribution expenses, taxes other than income tax, loss on the write off of property, plant and equipment, provision for doubtful accounts and general, administrative and other operating expenses. The table below sets forth these costs by segment for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, including as a percentage of segment revenues.

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2011
    Year Ended
December 31, 2010
 

Selling, Distribution and Operating Expenses by Segment

   Amount     % of Segment
Revenues
    Amount     % of Segment
Revenues
 
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Mining segment

        

Selling and distribution expenses

     843,097        16.2     657,716        17.1

Taxes other than income tax

     42,628        0.8     55,166        1.4

Recovery of allowance for doubtful accounts

     (3,967     (0.1 )%      (7,365     (0.2 )% 

Accretion expense

     4,340        0.1     3,531        0.1

Loss on write off of property, plant and equipment

     8,225        0.2     2,993        0.1

General, administrative and other operating expenses

     282,132        5.4     193,710        5.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     1,176,454        22.7     905,750        23.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Steel segment

        

Selling and distribution expenses

     614,094        8.2     524,857        9.0

Taxes other than income tax

     46,568        0.6     42,855        0.7

Loss on write off of property, plant and equipment

     1,965        0.0     3,039        0.1

Accretion expense

     1,402        0.0     1,871        0.0

Allowance (recovery of allowance) for doubtful accounts

     3,275        0.0     (7,773     (0.1 )% 

General, administrative and other operating expenses

     264,521        3.5     241,358        4.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     931,824        12.5     806,206        13.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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     Year Ended
December 31, 2011
    Year Ended
December 31, 2010
 

Selling, Distribution and Operating Expenses by Segment

   Amount     % of Segment
Revenues
    Amount     % of Segment
Revenues
 
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Ferroalloys segment

        

Selling and distribution expenses

     22,135        3.3     19,197        3.1

Taxes other than income tax

     11,699        1.7     9,581        1.5

Loss on write off of property, plant and equipment

     816        0.1     4,744        0.8

Recovery of allowance for doubtful accounts

     (722     (0.1 )%      (308     (0.0 )% 

Accretion expense

     822        0.1     1,018        0.2

General, administrative and other operating expenses

     40,983        6.1     36,352        5.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     75,733        11.2     70,583        11.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Power segment

        

Selling and distribution expenses

     256,940        20.6     233,459        22.1

Taxes other than income tax

     1,893        0.2     3,138        0.3

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     84        0.0     3,987        0.4

Accretion expense

     95        0.1     126        0.0

General, administrative and other operating expenses

     21,211        1.7     11,572        1.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     280,223        22.5     252,282        23.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Mining segment

Selling and distribution expenses consisted almost entirely of transportation expenses related to our selling activities, and increased by $185.4 million, or 28.2%, to $843.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $657.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly due to the increase of coking coal and anthracite and PCI sales volumes on 34.0%. As a percentage of mining segment revenues, selling and distribution expenses decreased from 17.1% to 16.2% due to an increase of 36.6% in sales revenue from sales to third parties and an increase of only 28.2% in selling and distribution expenses.

Taxes other than income tax include property and land taxes, as well as other taxes. Taxes other than income tax decreased by $12.5 million, or 22.7%, to $42.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $55.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. Yakutugol recognized $15.7 million and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company recognized $5.8 million in income from recalculation of mineral extraction tax for the years 2008-2010.

Recovery of allowance for doubtful accounts changed by $3.4 million to $4.0 million income in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $7.4 million income in the year ended December 31, 2010, due to the change in exposure to losses on its accounts receivable. In accordance with our accounting policy, we apply specific rates to overdue accounts receivable depending on the history of cash collections and future expectations of conditions that might impact the collectibility.

Loss on write off of property, plant and equipment increased by $5.2 million, or 174.8%, from $3.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, to $8.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, as obsolete property, plant and equipment objects will not be used further in production processes at Yakutugol and Moscow Coke and Gas Plant.

General, administrative and other expenses consist of payroll and payroll taxes, depreciation, rent and maintenance, legal and consulting expenses, office overheads and other expenses. These expenses increased by $88.4 million, or 45.6%, to $282.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $193.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2010 as a result of the overall expansion of our group’s activities, annual increases in

 

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salaries. Salaries and related social taxes increased by $29.9 million, or 23.8%, to $155.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $125.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly because of the annual increase in salaries at our production subsidiaries and the increase in effective UST rates at our Russian subsidiaries to 34.0% from 26.0%. Legal and consulting fees and insurance services increased by $3.1 million, or 20.8%, to $18.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $14.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, due to increased use of consulting services in 2011. Rent and maintenance, business travel expenses, bank charges and office expenses increased by $4.0 million, mainly due to the overall expansion of our group’s activities. Social expenses increased by $17.4 million, or 620.1%, to $20.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $2.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly due to a contribution of $8.9 million to the non-statutory pension fund made by our mining subsidiaries. Other administrative and operating expenses increased by $34.0 million, mainly because in 2010, we recognized a $12.6 million reduction in pension liabilities at Yakutugol following the transfer of employees to our steel segment companies. No such gains were recognized in the year 2011. In addition, in 2011, losses of $7.1 million from the collapse at Neryungrinskaya Washing Plant were recognized.

Steel segment

Selling and distribution expenses for our steel segment consisted almost entirely of transportation expenses related to our selling activities. Such expenses increased by $89.2 million, or 17.0%, to $614.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $524.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2010 mainly due to an increase in sales volumes by 7.8%. As a percentage of steel segment revenues, selling and distribution expenses decreased to 8.2% in the year ended December 31, 2011 from 9.0% in the year ended December 31, 2010. This percentage decreased because sales prices for all our steel products increased by 18.8% (on average), while railway tariffs, which represent the main distribution expense, increased by only 6.1% on average.

Taxes other than income tax include property and land taxes and other taxes. These taxes increased by $3.7 million, or 8.6%, to $46.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $42.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. As a percentage of segment revenues, these taxes decreased from 0.7% to 0.6%. Property and land taxes increased by $2.1 million, or 5.8%, to $38.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $36.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly due to ruble appreciation of 3.2%.

Allowance for doubtful accounts changed by $11.0 million, or 142.1%, to $3.3 million expenses in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $7.8 million income in the year ended December 31, 2010, due to the increase of allowance rates in the year ended December 31, 2011 following the deterioration in the collectibility of accounts receivable.

Loss on write off of property, plant and equipment decreased by $1.0 million, or 35.3%, from $3.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, to $2.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2011, due to a decrease in the amount of unused property, plant and equipment written off by our steel production subsidiaries.

General, administrative and other expenses increased by $23.2 million, or 9.6%, to $264.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $241.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, and decreased as a percentage of segment revenues to 3.5% in the year ended December 31, 2011 from 4.1% in the year ended December 31, 2010. Payroll and related social taxes increased by $17.3 million, or 14.2%, to $139.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $122.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, due to the annual salary increase at our production subsidiaries, as well as the increase of effective UST rates at our Russian subsidiaries from 26.0% to 34.0%. Social expenses (including pension expenses) increased by $5.5 million, or 30.6%, to $23.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $18.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly due to the expansion of our social programs in 2011. Rent and maintenance, business travel expenses, bank charges and office expenses increased by $14.2 million, or 36.7%, to $52.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $38.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly due to the overall

 

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expansion of our group’s activities. Professional expenses, which include auditing, accounting, legal and engineering fees and insurance services increased by $0.5 million, or 3.0%, to $17.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $16.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, primarily due to the appreciation of the ruble by 3.2%. Other administrative and operating expenses decreased by $14.3 million, or 31.1%, to $31.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $45.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly due to recognition of gain from the reduction by $9.6 million in pension liabilities at Mechel-Remservice.

Ferroalloys segment

Selling and distribution expenses, consisting predominately of transportation expenses related to our selling activities, increased by $2.9 million, or 15.3%, to $22.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $19.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. As a percentage of the ferroalloys segment revenues, selling and distribution expenses increased to 3.3% in the year ended December 31, 2011 from 3.1% in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly due to an increase in the share of chrome export sales in chrome sales revenue to third parties to 35.8% from 34.1%.

Taxes other than income tax increased by $2.1 million, or 22.1%, to $11.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $9.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, due to the derecognition of the withholding tax of $2.7 million related to Oriel Resources. As a percentage of segment revenues, these taxes increased to 1.7% in the year ended December 31, 2011 from 1.5% in the year ended December 31, 2010. Property and land taxes remained stable, decreased by $0.1 million, or 2.7%, to $4.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $4.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2010.

Recovery of allowance for doubtful accounts changed by $0.4 million to $0.7 million income in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $0.3 million income in the year ended December 31, 2010, due to decrease of outstanding accounts receivable provided as of December 31, 2011, as well as the decrease of allowance rates in the year ended December 31, 2011 following the improvement of the collectibility of accounts receivable.

Loss on write off of property, plant and equipment decreased by $3.9 million to $0.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $4.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, due to a decrease in the amount of property, plant and equipment written off by our production subsidiaries.

General, administrative and other expenses increased by $4.6 million, or 12.7%, to $41.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $36.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. Payroll and related social taxes increased by $4.3 million, or 26.3%, to $20.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $16.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, due to the annual increase in salaries in our production subsidiaries. Social expenses (including pension expenses) increased by $1.4 million, or 45.1%, to $4.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $3.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly due to an increase in a number of social projects in which our production subsidiaries participate. Rent and maintenance, business travel expenses, bank charges and office expenses decreased by $0.6 million, or 10.3%, to $4.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $5.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly due to the effect of overall cost-cutting measures implemented by our management. Professional expenses, which include auditing, accounting, legal and engineering fees and insurance services, increased by $0.1 million, or 9.6%, to $1.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $1.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, primarily due to the appreciation of the ruble by 3.2%. Other administrative and operating expenses decreased by $0.7 million, or 7.4%, to $9.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $9.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly due to the recognition in 2010 of $2.2 million in expenses related to the development of the Uvatskoye deposit. No such expenses were recognized in 2011.

Power segment

In 2011, selling and distribution expenses consisted almost entirely of electricity transmission costs incurred by our Kuzbass Power Sales Company for the usage of the power grid through which electricity is distributed to

 

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end consumers. These costs are incurred by all power distribution companies pursuant to agreements between the distribution company and the grid operator. These expenses increased by $23.5 million, or 10.1%, to $256.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $233.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, due to increases in electricity transmission costs following the increase of transmission tariffs and an increase in the volume of electricity transmitted through the power grid.

Taxes other than income tax decreased by $1.2 million, or 39.7%, to $1.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $3.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, due to the appreciation of the ruble.

Allowance for doubtful accounts changed by $3.9 million to $0.1 million expenses in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $4.0 million expenses in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly due to the decrease of allowance rates in the year ended December 31, 2011 following the improvement in the collectibility of accounts receivable.

General, administrative and other expenses increased by $9.6 million, or 83.3%, to $21.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $12.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, due to the payments of $3.3 million accrued to Southern Kuzbass Power Plant for environmental breaches.

Operating income

Operating income increased by $307.9 million, or 20.1%, to $1,840.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $1,532.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. Operating income as a percentage of consolidated revenues decreased to 14.7% in the year ended December 31, 2011 from 15.7% in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly due to the decrease in gross margin of steel, ferroalloys and power segments as explained above.

The table below sets out operating income by segment, including as a percentage of segment revenues.

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2011
    Year Ended
December 31, 2010
 

Operating Income by Segment

   Amount     % of Segment
Revenues
    Amount     % of Segment
Revenues
 
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Mining segment

     1,691,385        32.6     1,185,892        30.8

Steel segment

     191,748        2.6     297,557        5.1

Ferroalloys segment

     (44,912     (6.7 )%      22,958        3.6

Power segment

     32,199        2.6     46,729        4.4

Elimination of intersegment unrealized (profit) loss(1)

     (30,317       (20,924  
  

 

 

     

 

 

   

Consolidated operating income

     1,840,104          1,532,212     
  

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

(1) Our management evaluates the performance of our segments before the elimination of unrealized profit in inventory balances of segments that was generated by the segments but not recognized as profit in our consolidated financial statements until the sale of such inventories to third parties. Therefore, we present our segments before such elimination, and such elimination is presented separately. The increase in intersegment unrealized profit adjustment in the year ended December 31, 2011 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2010 was due to the increase in gross margin of our mining segment in 2011, that resulted from an increase in the sales prices.

Mining segment

Mining segment operating income increased by $505.5 million, or 42.6%, to $1,691.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $1,185.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. The operating margin percentage increased to 32.6% in the year ended December 31, 2011 from 30.8% in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly due to the increase of coking coal and iron ore sales prices.

 

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Steel segment

Steel segment operating income decreased by $105.8 million, or 35.6%, to $191.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $297.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. The operating margin percentage decreased to 2.6% in the year ended December 31, 2011 from 5.1% in the year ended December 31, 2010, due to the decrease of gross profit margin following the increase of production costs at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant and Romanian subsidiaries.

Ferroalloys segment

Ferroalloys segment operating income decreased by $67.9 million, or 295.7%, to a $44.9 million loss in the year ended December 31, 2011 from a $23.0 million income in the year ended December 31, 2010. The operating margin percentage decreased to negative 6.7% in the year ended December 31, 2011 from positive 3.6% in the year ended December 31, 2010, mainly due to the decrease of gross profit margin following the increase of production costs at Southern Urals Nickel Plant and Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant.

Power segment

Power segment operating income decreased by $14.5 million, or 31.1%, to $32.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $46.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. The operating margin percentage decreased to 2.6% in the year ended December 31, 2011 from 4.4% in the year ended December 31, 2010, due to the decrease of gross profit as a result of the increase in coal purchase prices.

Other income and expense, net

Other income and expense, net consists of income (loss) of equity investees, interest income, interest expense, other income and foreign exchange gain. The table below sets forth these costs for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, including as a percentage of revenues.

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2011
    Year Ended
December 31, 2010
 

Other Income and Expense, Net

   Amount     % of
Revenues
    Amount     % of
Revenues
 
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Income from equity investees

     304        0.0     1,184        0.0

Interest income

     16,786        0.1     17,167        0.2

Interest expense

     560,548        (4.5 )%      (558,284     (5.7 )% 

Other loss, net

     (7,002     (0.1 )%      (8,531     (0.1 )% 

Foreign exchange loss

     (117,076     (0.9 )%      (14,544     (0.1 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     (667,536     (5.3 )%      (563,008     (5.8 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from equity investees decreased in 2011 in comparison with the year 2010 by 74.4%, or by $0.9 million, due to the consolidation of Toplofikatsia Rousse on December 9, 2010. From January 1 to December 9, 2010, Toplofikatsia Rousse had a net income and was accounted for as an equity investee. Income from equity investees consists of our share of income from our equity investments, such as various investments of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company.

Interest income decreased by $0.4 million, or 2.2%, to $16.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $17.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2010.

Interest expense increased by $2.3 million, or 0.4%, to $560.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $558.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

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Other loss decreased by $1.5 million, or 17.9%, to $7.0 million loss in the year ended December 31, 2011 from a $8.5 million loss in the year ended December 31, 2010.

Foreign exchange loss increased by $102.5 million, or 705.0%, to $117.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $14.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. This foreign exchange loss was primarily attributable to losses from the revaluation of our USD denominated syndicated loan arrangement used in refinancing the acquisition of Yakutugol and Oriel Resources.

Income tax expense

Income tax expense increased by $84.1 million, or 30.4%, to $360.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $276.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, due to an overall increase of operating income. Our effective tax rate increased to 30.9% from 28.6%, mainly due to an increase in the share of income before income tax of our non-Russian subsidiaries operating in jurisdictions with higher rates in our consolidated income before income tax for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to the year ended December 31, 2010.

Net loss from discontinued operations

As a result of the deterioration of Toplofikatsia Rousse financial results due to the increase of coal purchase prices net loss from discontinued operations increased by $7.8 million, or 1,295.4%, to $8.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 from $0.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2011.

Net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests increased by $40.8 million, or 117.4%, to $75.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $34.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. The minority interest in the income of our subsidiaries in the year 2011 was $27.8 million for Korshunov Mining Plant and $46.9 million for Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and its subsidiaries.

Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders of Mechel

Due to the increase of operating income in our mining segment net income attributable to our shareholders increased by $70.7 million, or 10.8%, to $727.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $657.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2010.

Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders of Mechel

Net income attributable to our common shareholders decreased by $1.2 million, or 0.2%, to $649.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 from $648.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. This change was lower than the increase in net income attributable to all our shareholders due to the $69.5 million increase in the payment of dividends on preferred shares.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Capital requirements

We expect that our principal capital requirements in the near future will be for financing the repayment of maturing debt and high priority and regular maintenance capital expenditures.

Our business is heavily dependent on machinery for the production of steel and steel products, as well as investments in our mining operations. Investments to maintain and expand production facilities are, accordingly,

 

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an important priority and have a significant effect on our cash flows and future results of operations. We intend to focus our capital spending on the implementation of projects that we view as key to carrying out our business strategy and improve free cash flow. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — Capital Investment Program” for the objectives of our capital investment program and its details. Over the next three years, i.e., 2013-2015, we expect our capital expenditures on our metals production facilities to total approximately $0.3 billion, approximately 83% of which will be in 2013-2014, and approximately 17% in 2015. We intend to spend approximately $0.3 billion for the development of the Elga coal deposit during the period from 2013 to 2015. We intend to finance our capital investments with cash flow from operations and external financing sources and/or equity. We also plan to procure off-balance sheet project type financing for the planned development of the Elga coal deposit.

Our strategy has shifted from growing our business through acquisition and expansion opportunities to extracting the maximum value from our existing assets. We now intend to concentrate on efficiency improvements and modernization of the business lines, which we expect will increase the business’ overall profitability. We may also consider selective disposal of assets which do not fit our main strategy directions. However, we do not exclude the possibility of further growth through acquisitions in a medium or long-term perspective. Historically, funding of acquisitions has come from cash flows from existing operations and external financing sources.

Our total outstanding debt as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $9,390.2 million and $9,383.4 million, respectively. See “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” for information regarding the type of financial instruments, the maturity profile of debt, currency and interest rate structure.

In 2012 and 2011, we paid dividends of $186.4 million and $210.2 million, respectively, out of which $79.1 million and $78.3 million, respectively, was paid on preferred shares. See “Item 8. Financial Information — Dividend Distribution Policy” for a description of our dividend policy.

Capital resources

Historically, our major sources of cash have been cash generated from operations, bank loans and ruble bonds, and we expect these sources will continue to be our principal sources of cash in the future. For financing of our capital investment program we have also relied on financings secured by foreign export credit agency guarantees. We may also raise cash through equity and debt financings in international capital markets. The proceeds obtained from the divestment of non-core assets, announced as such by the board of directors in September 2012, are also expected to provide the source of liquidity. In the future we may consider using off-balance sheet financing arrangements.

The table below summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2012     2011     2010  
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     1,311,328        882,538        (147,704

Net cash used in investing activities

     (839,137     (2,618,232     (1,120,406

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (792,006     2,079,034        1,210,126   

Net cash provided by operating activities was $1,311.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 as compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $882.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 and net cash used in operating activities of $147.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2010. The operating cash inflows were derived from payments received from sales of our mining, steel, ferroalloy and power products, reduced by cash disbursements for direct labor, raw materials and parts, selling, distribution and operating expenses, interest expense and income taxes.

 

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Net cash provided by operating activities before changes in working capital items was $639.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2012. Below we analyze major changes in working capital items which in the aggregate accounted for $671.4 million in cash provided by operating activities, resulting in net cash provided by operating activities of $1,311.3 million.

Working capital items accretive to operating cash flows:

 

   

a decrease in inventories of $634.5 million due to a significant decrease of finished goods and raw materials held in stock at the warehouses of Mechel Service Global, Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, Mechel Carbon, Mechel Trading and Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant as of December 31, 2012 as compared to December 31, 2011. The main reason for the change in the stock level was the decrease in production volumes across all our segments as a result of the continuation of weak demand in the European and Russian markets;

 

   

a decrease in other current assets of $99.7 million primarily due to a decrease of VAT and other taxes receivable of Yakutugol, Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant and Southern Urals Nickel Plant in the year ended December 31, 2012;

 

   

an increase in accounts payable of $73.0 million due to a significant growth in accounts payable of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, Mecheltrans, Southern Kuzbass Coal Company which was partly offset by the decrease in accounts payable of trading houses;

 

   

an increase in accrued taxes and other liabilities of $59.4 million due to an increase in taxes payable, wages and salaries and interest accrued for the year ended December 31, 2012;

 

   

a decrease in accounts receivable of $66.3 million primarily due to the decrease in sales of mining products by Mechel Carbon and Mechel Mining Trading House and the decrease in sales of steel products by Mechel Service Global;

 

   

dividends in the amount of $26.0 million received from investments accounted at cost; and

 

   

unrecognized income tax losses of $17.6 million.

Working capital items reducing operating cash flows:

 

   

net change in balances with related parties of $241.9 million primarily due to transactions with the related metallurgical plants;

 

   

a decrease in advances received of $56.4 million of Mechel Trading and Mechel Service Global; and

 

   

current assets and liabilities of $6.7 million presented as discontinued operations of Toplofikatsia Rousse.

Net cash provided by operating activities before changes in working capital items was $1,542.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. Below we analyze major changes in working capital items which in the aggregate accounted for $660.3 million in cash used in operating activities, resulting in net cash provided by operating activities of $882.5 million.

Working capital items accretive to operating cash flows:

 

   

an increase in accounts payable of $257.6 million due to an overall increase in purchase volumes and purchase prices across all our segments in the year ended December 31, 2011;

 

   

net change in balances with related parties of $390.9 million primarily due to transactions with the related metallurgical plants and Usipar; and

 

   

an increase in accrued taxes and other liabilities of $13.9 million due to an increase in taxes payable, wages and salaries and interest accrued for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

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Working capital items reducing operating cash flows:

 

   

an increase in accounts receivable of $318 million primarily due to an increase in sales of mining products by Mechel Carbon and increase in sales by new foreign subsidiaries of Mechel Service Global;

 

   

an increase in inventories of $763.4 million due to a significant increase of finished goods and raw materials held in stock at the warehouses of Mechel Service Global, Mechel Carbon, Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant and HBL Holding as of December 31, 2011 as compared to December 31, 2010. The main reason for the change in the stock level was the increase in production volumes across all our segments and higher pricing for new materials;

 

   

a decrease in advances received of $145.6 million of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, Mechel Trading, Mechel Materials and Mechel Carbon;

 

   

an increase in other current assets of $81 million primarily due to an increase of VAT and income tax receivable, advances paid and capitalized bank origination fees in the year ended December 31, 2011; and

 

   

current assets and liabilities of $12.5 million presented as discontinued operations of Toplofikatsia Rousse.

Net cash used in investing activities was $839.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 and $2,618.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. Substantially all of the cash used for investing activities in the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 related to capital expenditures and the acquisition of businesses. Capital expenditures relating to purchases of property, plant and equipment and purchases of mineral licenses amounted to $1,028.8 million and $1,827 million in the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Expenditures related to the acquisition of businesses and investments in our subsidiaries amounted to $57 million and $75.7 million in the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Net cash used in financing activities was $792 million in the year ended December 31, 2012 and net cash provided by financing activities was $2,079 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. We received debt proceeds of $3,977.8 million and repaid debt of $4,405.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2012, and received debt proceeds of $5,938.7 million and repaid debt of $3,583.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011.

Liquidity

We had cash and cash equivalents of $295.0 million as of December 31, 2012 and $642.6 million as of December 31, 2011. Our cash and cash equivalents were held in rubles (59.2% and 18.2% as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively), U.S. dollars (28.0% and 67.3% as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively), euros (4.9% and 8.2% as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively) and certain other currencies of the CIS and Eastern Europe.

As of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we had unused credit lines of approximately $580.9 million and $904.1 million, respectively, out of total available credit lines of $9,971.2 million and $10,300.9 million, respectively. These credit lines permit drawings at a weighted average interest rate of approximately 8.2% and 8.1% as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

The following table summarizes our liquidity as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

 

Estimated Liquidity

   December 31,
2012
     December 31,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 
     (In millions of U.S. dollars)  

Cash and cash equivalents

     295.0         642.6         340.4   

Amounts available under credit facilities

     580.9         904.1         943.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total estimated liquidity

     875.9         1,546.7         1,284.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Short-term debt (short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt) decreased by $1,190.6 million, or 45%, to $1,460.8 million as of December 31, 2012 from $2,651.4 million as of December 31, 2011.

Long-term debt net of current portion increased by $1,197.5 million, or 18%, to $7,929.5 million as of December 31, 2012 from $6,732.0 million as of December 31, 2011. This increase was attributable to bond issuances and new financing received from Sberbank, VTB Bank, Gazprombank and various other banks.

Our working capital decreased by $912.3 million, or 68.4%, to $421.1 million as of December 31, 2012 from $1,333.4 million as of December 31, 2011. The main reasons of the decrease in working capital were (i) the provision for the amount due from related metallurgical plants and the Estar Group of $896.4 million, (ii) the decrease in cash and cash equivalents by $347.7 million, and (iii) the decrease in inventory amounted to $519.7 million as a result of reduction in production volumes due to the weakness of the European and Russian markets.

Outlook for 2013

Our objective is to ensure that our group meets its liquidity requirements, continues capital expenditures, repays borrowings as they fall due, and continues as a going concern. To accomplish that, we will continue to seek to obtain additional financing and renew or refinance existing facilities as described below as well as decrease the level of inventories, primarily through reducing our purchasing, production and delivery expenses. On this basis we expect operating cash flows to provide an increased source of funds in 2013 to be available for debt servicing and capital expenditures.

To refinance debt falling due in 2013, we intend to use our operating cash flow, obtain new long-term borrowing facilities and renew or refinance existing arrangements. In 2013, we intend to continue to issue additional ruble bonds and obtain bank borrowings to extend the maturity profile of our debt portfolio and reduce the pressure on our cash flows to enable us to continue to finance our operations and major capital projects without increasing our total debt. Our ability to incur additional debt, however, is limited by our restrictive covenants. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Restrictive Covenants.”

We believe that cash generated from operations, current cash and short-term investments on hand, and short-term and long-term committed borrowings under our credit facilities will be sufficient to meet our working capital requirements, anticipated capital expenditures and scheduled debt payments in 2013. Furthermore, we believe that we have sufficient flexibility in deferring our non-critical capital expenditures in case specific project financing is not obtained and in managing our working capital to provide further financial flexibility as needed.

Debt Financings in 2013

In April 2013, Mechel entered into a 40.0 billion ruble (approximately $1.3 billion) credit facility agreement with VTB Bank for a period of 5 years. The facility allows a 15-month grace period and is to be repaid in equal installments on a quarterly basis. The proceeds will be mainly used to refinance existing indebtedness with VTB Bank as well as to refinance other obligations of the companies within our group (including redemption of ruble bonds). See also note 26(c) to the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2013, our subsidiaries Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant and Urals Stampings Plant entered into revolving credit facilities with Gazprombank for a total amount of 3.3 billion rubles (approximately $106.9 million). The purpose of the facilities is working capital financing. The term of the facilities is three years with the term of each tranche of up to 24 months. The facilities provide for a bullet repayment. See also note 26(c) to the consolidated financial statements.

In March and April 2013, our subsidiary Mecheltrans entered into two non-revolving credit facilities with Moscow Credit Bank for a total amount of $88 million for a period of one year each with a bullet repayment. The facilities are provided for the purpose of working capital financing. See also note 26(c) to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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In February 2013, Mechel Trading re-drew a tranche under the $150.0 million credit line with Alfa-Bank in the amount of $50.0 million, which was previously repaid in January 2013. The repayment will be made in February 2014. The proceeds were used for working capital and trade financing.

Debt Financings in 2012

During the course of 2012, we amended and refinanced certain credit facilities, through extending some of our existing credit facilities, amending financial covenants in certain credit facility agreements and obtaining new financings to refinance our existing short-term debt. See “Description of Certain Indebtedness” and “Russian bonds” for a summary description of the terms of these facilities.

In December 2012, our subsidiaries Yakutugol and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and a syndicate of banks coordinated by ING Bank N.V., Société Générale, UniCredit, JSCB Rosbank and ABN AMRO Bank N.V. entered into an amendment and restatement agreement to the existing pre-export facility agreements for a total amount of $1.0 billion. The amendments provide that the loan, which was in a monthly repayment phase, will be repayable in equal monthly installments until August 2015 following a grace period of 12 months.

In December 2012, following the repayment of the initial drawdown under a revolving credit line extended to Mechel Trading by Sberbank under a long-term framework agreement entered into in October 2011, Mechel Trading re-drew $100.0 million under this credit line.

In October 2012, Southern Kuzbass Coal Company obtained four non-revolving credit lines for 5 years from Sberbank for a total amount of 24 billion rubles (approximately $772.3 million) with a 3-year grace period. The purpose of the credit lines is working capital financing. As of December 31, 2012, we had drawn down 15.1 billion rubles (approximately $497.2 million) under the credit lines.

In April 2012, we extended our existing loans from VTB Bank in the total amount of approximately $460.0 million for a period of up to 3 years. We also extended our existing loans from Gazprombank in the total amount of approximately $750.0 million for a period of 3 to 5 years.

In April 2012, our subsidiaries Yakutugol and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company entered into non-revolving credit facility agreements with Gazprombank for a total amount of $500 million for a period of up to 5 years for the purpose of funding operational activities and re-financing our short-term debt.

In April 2012, we completed placement of our non-convertible interest-bearing BO-05, BO-06, BO-07, BO-11 and BO-12 series exchange bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 15.0 billion rubles (approximately $506.1 million). The proceeds were used to refinance some of our short-term debt.

In February 2012, we completed placement of our non-convertible interest-bearing BO-04 series exchange bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 5.0 billion rubles (approximately $167.3 million). The proceeds were used to refinance some of our short-term debt.

In January 2012, Mechel Trading refinanced its existing loans with Alfa-Bank through a new revolving line in the amount of $150.0 million with the ability to draw tranches and with the final repayment to be made not later than October 2016. The proceeds were used for working capital and trade financing.

Debt Financings in 2011

During the course of 2011, we obtained the following major debt financings. See “Description of Certain Indebtedness” and “Russian bonds” for a summary description of the terms of these facilities.

In October 2011, Mechel Trading obtained a revolving yearly renewable credit line from Sberbank in the amount of $130.0 million for 3 years for the purposes of working capital, intra-group and pre-export financing. The credit line was made available under the long-term framework agreement with Sberbank. The initial drawdown was fully repaid in October and December 2012 to allow further drawdowns.

 

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In October 2011, our subsidiary Mechel Energo obtained a credit line for 2 years from Gazprombank in the amount of 3.0 billion rubles (approximately $102.1 million). The credit line was provided for the purpose of financing our day-to-day operations. In April 2012, we extended the credit line for up to 3.5 years and the amount of the credit line was increased up to 5.0 billion rubles.

In October 2011, our subsidiary Mechel Trading obtained a credit facility in the amount of $180.0 million to refinance a portion of our short-term loans. The loan facility has been provided by syndicate of banks, ING Bank N.V., Barclays Capital Inc. and ZAO Unicredit Bank, for a period of 3 years with 18-month grace period. As of December 31, 2012, this facility was fully drawn.

In June 2011, Yakutugol obtained a non-revolving credit line for 5 years from Eurasian Development Bank in amount of 2.8 billion rubles (approximately $95.3 million) with 24-month grace period for the sole purpose of financing the development of the Elga coal deposit. As of December 31, 2012, the facility was fully drawn.

In June 2011, we completed placement of our non-convertible interest-bearing bonds of the 17th, 18th and 19th series in the aggregate amount of 15.0 billion rubles. The proceeds were used to refinance our short-term debt.

In March 2011, our subsidiary Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant obtained a revolving credit line for a period of 1.5 years from Gazprombank in the amount of 6.0 billion rubles (approximately $204.2 million) for the purpose of financing our day-to-day operations. In September 2011, the available limit was increased up to 11.0 billion rubles (approximately $374.3 million) and the period was extended up to 5 years. In April 2012, we extended the credit line for up to 5 years and the amount of the credit line was decreased back to 6.0 billion rubles.

In March 2011, our subsidiary Mechel Service obtained a revolving credit line from Gazprombank totaling 3 billion rubles (approximately $102.1 million) for a period of 1.5 years. The purpose of the credit line is working capital financing. In October 2011, we agreed with the lender to increase the amount of the credit line up to 4.0 billion rubles (approximately $136.1 million) and extend its period up to 2 years. In April 2012, we extended the credit line for up to 3.5 years and the amount of the credit line was increased up to 11.0 billion rubles.

In February 2011, our subsidiary Mechel Trading House obtained a revolving credit line from Gazprombank totaling 3 billion rubles (approximately $102.1 million) for a period of 1.5 years. The purpose of the loan is to finance the working capital of the company. In October 2011, the amount of the credit line was increased up to 4.0 billion rubles (approximately $136.1 million) and the term was extended for a period of up to 2 years. In April 2012, the parties agreed to terminate the facility.

In February 2011, we completed two placements of our non-convertible interest-bearing bonds of the 15th and 16th series in the aggregate amount of 10.0 billion rubles. The proceeds were used to fund the working capital of our group, refinance the existing loan agreements, as well as to finance the construction of the Elga coal complex and other investment projects of our group.

On February 7, 2011, our subsidiary Southern Kuzbass Coal Company obtained a credit line in the amount of 6.2 billion rubles (approximately $211.0 million) to finance the construction of the second area at Sibirginskaya Underground. The loan facility has been provided by TransCreditBank OAO for a period of 5 years with an amortized monthly repayment starting on February 2014 until December 2015 and is to be repaid in full by February 6, 2016. Interest rate under the loan agreement is set at 3M Mosprime plus 4.95% per year. The borrower’s obligations under the loan agreement are guaranteed by Mechel Mining and Yakutugol. The borrower’s obligations under the loan agreement are secured by a pledge of its assets and equipment to be purchased with the proceeds received under the loan agreement at a total amount of $30.0 million.

 

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Debt Financings in 2010

During the course of 2010, we obtained the following major debt financings. See “Description of Certain Indebtedness” and “Russian bonds” for a summary description of the terms of these facilities.

In December 2010, we obtained a credit line totaling 10 billion rubles (approximately $329.3 million) from VTB Bank. In November 2011, the credit line was increased up to 13 billion rubles (approximately $442.2 million). As of December 31, 2012, we had drawn 13.0 billion rubles (approximately $428.0 million) of this credit facility which was used to refinance our existing indebtedness and to finance our working capital.

In October 2010, our subsidiary Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant obtained a credit line totaling 15.0 billion rubles (approximately $493.9 million) from Sberbank. As of December 31, 2012, we had fully drawn this credit facility, which was used to refinance some of our short-term debt.

In September 2010, we signed a loan agreement in the amount of $219.4 million and €192 million to finance a universal rolling mill installation project at our subsidiary Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. The loan facility has been provided by BNP Paribas, Gazprombank and UniCredit. As of December 31, 2012, we had drawn $282.1 million under this credit facility.

In September 2010, we refinanced our New Oriel Resources and New Yakutugol facilities, which were executed in 2009, with a pre-export facility in the amount of $2.0 billion.

In September 2010, we completed two placements of our non-convertible interest-bearing bonds of the 13th and 14th series in the aggregate amount of 10.0 billion rubles. The proceeds were used to fund the working capital of our group and to refinance existing loan agreements, as well as to finance the construction of the Elga coal complex and other investment projects of our group.

In April 2010, we completed placement of our non-convertible interest-bearing bonds of BO-03 series in the aggregate amount of 5.0 billion rubles. The proceeds were used to fund the working capital of our group and to refinance existing loan agreements, as well as to finance the construction of the Elga coal complex and other investment projects of our group.

In March 2010, we completed placement of our non-convertible interest-bearing bonds of BO-02 series in the aggregate amount of 5.0 billion rubles. The proceeds were used to fund the working capital of our group and to refinance existing loan agreements, as well as to finance the construction of the Elga coal complex and other investment projects of our group.

Debt Financings in 2009

As a result of the economic downturn and a sharp decline in demand and prices for our products starting from August 2008 and continuing into the first half of 2009, as well as due to a substantial increase in our total indebtedness in 2007 and early 2008 that was incurred mostly for the acquisition of Yakutugol in 2007 and Oriel Resources in 2008, we experienced a liquidity shortage in late 2008 and early 2009. We also breached various financial and non-financial covenants in our loan agreements at that time.

Starting in late 2008 and throughout 2009, we worked with our Russian and international lenders to obtain additional debt financing and to restructure major loans in order to finance our operations, continue to make the minimum levels of capital investments in our business and meet scheduled debt payments. In late 2008 and early 2009, to address our liquidity shortage we obtained several major loans from Russian state-owned banks, including:

 

   

Loan from VTB Bank. In November 2008, we obtained three one-year credit facilities in the total amount of 15 billion rubles ($560 million) from VTB Bank. The credit facilities were initially due to

 

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mature in November 2009 but, in December 2009, were extended until 2012. We fully drew on this facility to fund the operations of Yakutugol, Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. In April 2012, we amended the credit facilities for Yakutugol and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company in the amount of 13.6 billion rubles (approximately $458.9 million) to, among others, extend them until 2015.

 

   

Loan from Sberbank. In November 2008, we obtained a credit facility in the amount of 3.3 billion rubles ($112.3 million). The facility was initially due to mature in August 2009, but, in August 2009, was extended to August 2010. We fully repaid the facility in August 2010.

 

   

Loans from Gazprombank. In February 2009, we obtained two credit facilities in the total amount of $1.0 billion from Gazprombank. The facilities were initially repayable in quarterly installments starting from the first quarter of 2010 through the first quarter of 2012 but in February 2010 the maturity of the facilities was extended to 2013-2015. We fully drew on these facilities to partially repay the Yakutugol and Oriel Facility Agreements.

In July 2009, we completed the restructuring and refinancing of our Oriel Resources and Yakutugol facilities with a syndicate of 27 international and Russian banks. Our principal objective in negotiating the debt restructuring was to prolong loan repayments scheduled in year 2009 to year 2010 or later and reset the covenants in order to give us more time and flexibility to meet our debt obligations in anticipation of a recovery in commodity and steel prices. The loan agreements were modified as follows:

 

   

New Yakutugol Facility Agreement. This facility was amended for an amount equal to $1.6 billion. The repayment of the loan provided for equal monthly installments from September 2009 to December 2012.

 

   

New Oriel Resources Facility Agreement. The facility was refinanced for an amount equal to $1.0 billion. The maturity of the loan was extended from July 2009 to December 2012 and provided for equal monthly installments from July 2010 to December 2012.

Through the course of 2009, we also placed three series of ruble bonds in the total principal amount of 15.0 billion rubles ($503.9 million). See “Russian bonds” for a summary description of the terms of these bonds.

Restrictive Covenants

Our loan agreements contain a number of covenants and restrictions, which include, but are not limited to, financial ratios, maximum amount of debt, minimum value of shareholder’s equity and certain cross-default provisions. The covenants also include, among other restrictions, limitations on: (1) indebtedness of certain companies in our group; (2) amount of dividends on our common and preferred shares; and (3) amounts that can be spent for capital expenditures, new investments and acquisitions. Covenant breaches if not waived generally permit lenders to demand accelerated repayment of principal and interest.

The table below sets out the requirements of our most significant restrictive debt covenants and the actual ratios/amounts as of December 31, 2012.

 

Restrictive Covenant

  

Requirements

   Actual as of
December 31, 2012
 

Mechel’s Shareholder Equity

   greater than or equal to $4.0 billion    $ 4,135,944,000   

Ratio of Mechel’s Net Borrowings to EBITDA

   shall not exceed 5.5:1      7.2:1   

Ratio of Mechel’s EBITDA to Net Interest Expense

   shall not be less than 2.65:1      1.85:1   

Mechel’s Net Borrowings

   shall not exceed $11.0 billion    $ 9,613,020,000   

 

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As of December 31, 2012, we were not in compliance with a number of financial covenants in various loan agreements, but received appropriate waivers from the lenders and agreed with them to amend certain covenants under the credit facilities, including our major debt financings. For a description of the current terms of our loan agreements see “— Description of Certain Indebtedness.”

In April 2013, we received consents and covenant amendments relating to the following breaches under various long-term and short-term loans totaling $5,952.6 million, some of them constituting cross-defaults under other loans. Several of these loans required us to have a net borrowings to EBITDA ratio not exceeding 5.5:1; and as of December 31, 2012, our actual net borrowings to EBITDA ratio was 7.2:1. These terms have been amended as follows: (i) as of June 30, 2013, the ratio of our net borrowings to EBITDA shall not exceed 7.5:1, and (ii) as of June 30, 2017, the ratio shall not exceed 3.5:1. In addition, several of these loans required us to have an EBITDA to net interest expense ratio not less than 2.65:1; and as of December 31, 2012, our actual EBITDA to net interest expense ratio was 1.85:1. These terms have been amended as follows: (i) as of June 30, 2013, an EBITDA to net interest expense ratio shall not be less than 1.5:1, and (ii) as of June 30, 2017, an EBITDA to net interest expense ratio shall not be less than 4.0:1. We also received a consent in relation to non-compliance with the net borrowings to EBITDA ratio which applied to our subsidiary Mechel Mining and should not have exceeded 3.5:1 as of December 31, 2012.

For the purposes of calculating the financial covenants in all relevant loan agreements, Mechel’s EBITDA and shareholder equity definitions have been amended to reflect any write-offs and impairments in connection with the Estar Group and any disposed entities.

Under certain credit facilities, Mechel has restrictions on payment of dividends based on the ratio of net borrowings to EBITDA. The most restrictive covenants prohibit the payment of dividends if: (i) the ratio of net borrowings to EBITDA is greater than 3.0:1; (ii) the amount of dividends exceeds 60% of our net profit for the respective year; and (iii) the amount of dividends on our preferred shares exceeds 20% of our net profit for the respective year. Also, if Mechel records a loss as shown in the financial statements, the amount of permitted dividends paid on our preferred shares shall be limited to 7.5 million rubles (approximately $244.9 thousand) for any such financial year.

The maximum allowed level for the net borrowings is $11.0 billion or, as per some loan agreements, $10.5 billion excluding financial lease obligations.

As of December 31, 2012, we had a $18.4 million debt with breached covenants and no waivers received from the lenders. The debt includes $13.8 million of long-term debt that was reclassified to short-term liabilities due to covenants breach.

In accordance with our projections, we intend and have the ability to meet the covenants during and for the year ending December 31, 2013.

Description of Certain Indebtedness

Credit Facility for Southern Kuzbass Coal Company from Sberbank

General

On October 9, 2012, Sberbank opened four credit lines to our subsidiary Southern Kuzbass Coal Company in the total amount of 24 billion rubles (approximately $772.3 million) for the purpose of working capital financing. As of December 31, 2012, we had drawn 15.1 billion rubles (approximately $497.2 million) under the credit lines. As of December 31, 2012, we were not in compliance with certain financial covenants. On April 5, 2013, we obtained the waiver from the lender to cure such non-compliance and agreed with the lender to amend certain covenants.

 

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Interest rate and interest period

Interest is payable at a floating rate of 12.1% per year for the drawdowns in rubles and 10.5% per year for the drawdowns in rubles with a built-in cross-currency derivative instrument. The interest rate may be increased by 1% depending on compliance with certain metrics.

The interest is to be paid every 3 months.

Guarantee

The borrower’s obligations under the credit facility are guaranteed by Mechel, Yakutugol and Mechel Mining.

Repayment and prepayments

The credit lines were provided for a period of 5 years with a 3-year grace period. Each credit line is repayable in eight equal installments starting from December 2015.

The borrower does not have the right to prepay two out of four tranches with a built-in derivative instrument. The borrower may prepay the other two tranches in full or in part with a 30 day prior notice given to the lender. The prepayment is subject to a fee calculated based on a specified formula.

Covenants and other matters

Mechel Mining must ensure that: (i) the ratio of Mechel Mining’s net borrowings to EBITDA does not exceed 4.25:1 as of June 30, 2013, 3.5:1 as of December 31, 2013 and 3.0:1 as of June 30, 2014 and thereafter, provided that if during any period the ratio of net borrowings to EBITDA is 3.0:1 or less, Mechel Mining shall procure that the ratio of 3.0:1 continues to apply thereafter; (ii) the ratio of Mechel Mining’s EBITDA to net interest expenses does not fall below 3.5:1 as of June 30, 2013, 4.0:1 as of December 31, 2013 and 4.0:1 as of June 30, 2014 and thereafter; and (iii) Mechel Mining’s shareholder equity equals or exceeds $3.0 billion.

Furthermore, for the purpose of the covenant compliance test Mechel Mining’s EBITDA definition has been amended to reflect any income attributable to any acquisition or disposal that has occurred during the previous relevant period. Mechel Mining’s shareholder equity definition has been amended to add back (i) an amount attributable to impairment of tangible or intangible assets including goodwill; and (ii) an amount equal to the result from discontinued operations of Mechel Mining.

The credit facility agreements are governed by Russian law.

Club Facility for Mechel Trading

General

On October 18, 2011, our subsidiary Mechel Trading signed a credit facility agreement in the amount of $180.0 million to refinance a portion of our short-term loans. The credit facility has been provided by syndicate of banks, ING Bank N.V., Barclays Capital Inc. and ZAO Unicredit Bank. As of December 31, 2012, we were not in compliance with certain financial covenants. On April 11, 2013, we obtained the waiver from the lenders to cure such non-compliance and agreed with the lenders to amend certain covenants.

Interest rate and interest period

Interest under the facility is payable at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.75% per year, or at a fixed rate as may be agreed with the lenders. The interest is to be paid every 3 months.

 

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Guarantee

The borrower’s obligations under the credit facility are guaranteed by Mechel and Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant.

Repayment and prepayments

The credit facility is repayable in seven equal installments starting on April 15, 2013 and each date falling on a consecutive 3 month-intervals thereafter. The borrowers may prepay the loan with a 10 business day prior notice to the respective lender. The minimum prepayment amount is $10.0 million.

Under the credit facility agreement, the borrower is obliged to prepay 50% of the facility amount outstanding as of December 31, 2013 unless certain milestones during 2013 are met. Such prepayment would have to be made not later than December 31, 2013.

Covenants and other matters

Under the credit facility agreement, acquisitions by our group in any given year are permitted if the aggregate value of such acquisitions does not exceed: (i) $5.0 million, when the ratio of our net borrowings to EBITDA exceeds 3.5:1; or (ii) $300.0 million, when the ratio of our net borrowings to EBITDA is 3.5:1 or less.

Under the credit facility agreement, Mechel may pay dividends: (i) on our common and preferred shares, if its ratio of net borrowings to EBITDA is less than or equal to 3.0:1 and the aggregate amount of all dividends does not exceed 60% of Mechel’s net profit for the respective financial year; and (ii) on our preferred shares, if such dividends do not exceed 20% of Mechel’s net profit, provided that no default occurs or would occur as result of such payment. If Mechel records a loss as shown in the financial statements, the amount of permitted dividends paid on our preferred shares shall be limited to 7.5 million rubles (approximately $244.9 thousand) for any such financial year.

Under the credit facility agreement, Mechel must ensure that: (i) the ratio of its net borrowings to EBITDA does not exceed 7.5:1 as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013 and 6.0:1 as of June 30, 2014, provided that if during any period the ratio of net borrowings to EBITDA is 3.0:1 or less, Mechel shall procure that at any time thereafter the ratio of 3.0:1 continues to apply thereafter; (ii) its shareholder equity does not fall below $4.0 billion at any time; (iii) the borrower’s equity does not fall below $40.0 million at any time; and (iv) the ratio of EBITDA to net interest expenses does not fall below 1.5:1 as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013 and 1.9:1 as of June 30, 2014.

The credit facility agreement also contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants, including negative pledge provisions and limitation on lending to third parties.

The credit facility agreement is governed by English law.

Credit Facility from Eurasian Development Bank

General

On June 22, 2011, Yakutugol signed a credit facility agreement in the amount of 2.8 billion rubles (approximately $95.3 million) for the sole purpose of financing the development of the Elga coal deposit. The loan has been provided by the Eurasian Development Bank. As of December 31, 2012, we were not in compliance with certain financial covenants. On April 2, 2013, we obtained the waiver from the lender to cure such non-compliance and agreed with the lender to amend certain covenants.

 

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Interest rate and interest period

The interest rate under the facility was initially set at 8.16% per year, but increased to 9.16% per year on July 19, 2012. The lender has the right to change the interest rate with a 60-day prior notice if, for example, an event having a material adverse effect on the economic, financial and political situation in Russia occurs.

Interest is paid on a quarterly basis.

Guarantee

The borrower’s obligations under the credit facility are guaranteed by Mechel. On April 2, 2013, we obtained the bank’s consent to replace Mechel’s guarantee with Mechel Mining’s guarantee.

Repayment and prepayments

The facility has a term of 5 years with the principal amount to be repaid in equal quarterly installments starting from June 2012. The borrower may prepay the loan in full or in part with a 10 business day prior notice on the first payment date after the first anniversary of the credit facility. The minimum amount of each prepayment may not be less than 100.0 million rubles (approximately $3.1 million).

Covenants and other matters

Starting from June 30, 2013, the financial covenants must be tested in respect of Mechel Mining group. Under the credit facility, we must ensure that: (i) the ratio of Mechel Mining’s net borrowings to EBITDA does not exceed 4.25:1 as of June 30, 2013, 3.5:1 as of December 31, 2013 and 3.0:1 as of June 30, 2014 and thereafter, provided that if during any period the ratio of net borrowings to EBITDA is 3.0:1 or less, Mechel Mining shall procure that the ratio of 3.0:1 continues to apply thereafter; and (ii) the ratio of Mechel Mining’s EBITDA to net interest expenses does not fall below 3.5:1 as of June 30, 2013, 4.0:1 as of December 31, 2013 and 4.0:1 as of June 30, 2014 and thereafter. Furthermore, for the purpose of the covenant compliance test Mechel Mining’s EBITDA definition has been amended to reflect any income attributable to any acquisition or disposal that has occurred during the previous relevant period. Mechel Mining’s shareholder equity definition has been amended to add back (i) an amount attributable to impairment of tangible or intangible assets including goodwill; and (ii) an amount equal to the result from discontinued operations of Mechel Mining.

The credit facility agreement is governed by Russian law.

Credit Facility for Mechel Trading from Sberbank

General

In December 2012, following the repayment of the initial drawdown under a revolving credit line extended to Mechel Trading by Sberbank under a long-term framework agreement entered into in October 2011, Mechel Trading re-drew $100.0 million under this credit line (two tranches for $25.0 million and $75.0 million). The purpose of the credit line is working capital, intra-group and pre-export financing. As of December 31, 2012, we were not in compliance with certain financial covenants. On April 5, 2013, we obtained the waiver from the lender to cure such non-compliance and agreed with the lender to amend certain covenants.

Interest rate and interest period

The interest rate under both tranches is payable at LIBOR3M plus a margin of 4% quarterly.

Guarantee

The borrower’s obligations under the credit facility are guaranteed by Mechel and Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant.

 

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Repayment and prepayments

Each tranche is to be fully repaid as a lump sum, with the repayment dates for the first tranche in the amount of $25.0 million and the second tranche in the amount of $75.0 million being April 1, 2013 and December 19, 2013, respectively. The first tranche was duly repaid on April 1, 2013.

The borrower may prepay any of two tranches with the prior written consent received from the lender not later than 5 business days before the advance of extra prepayment fees are to be paid under the respective facility agreement.

Covenants and other matters

Mechel must ensure that: (i) the ratio of the net borrowings to EBITDA does not exceed 7.5:1 as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013; (ii) the ratio of EBITDA to net interest expenses does not fall below 1.5:1 as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013; (iii) all the time Mechel’s shareholder equity exceeds or equals $3.0 billion; and (iv) Mechel’s ratio of its total net borrowings does not exceed $10.5 billion. Finance lease liabilities are not included in net borrowings for the purpose of the calculation of the ratios mentioned above.

The credit facility also contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants, notice provisions and events of default, including change of control and cross-defaults to other debt.

The credit facility agreement is governed by Russian law.

Credit Facility for Mechel from VTB Bank

General

On December 27, 2010, VTB Bank opened a credit line for Mechel for the total amount of 10.0 billion rubles (approximately $329.3 million) to finance our general activity. In November 2011, the amount of credit line was increased up to 13.0 billion rubles (approximately $442.2 million). As of December 31, 2012, the facility was fully drawn. On December 31, 2012, we were not in compliance with certain financial covenants under the credit facility agreement.

On April 10, 2013, we executed an amendment to the loan agreement increasing the amount of the facility to 40.0 billion rubles (approximately $1.3 billion). The term of the facility was extended to 5 years and the covenants were amended. The proceeds will be mainly used to refinance existing indebtedness with VTB Bank as well as to refinance other obligations of the companies within our group (including redemption of ruble bonds).

Interest rate and interest period

The interest rate under the facility depends on the ratio of Mechel’s net borrowings to EBITDA and ranges from 3M Mosprime plus 2.65% to 3M Mosprime plus 4.95% per year with a portion of interest payable quarterly and a portion being capitalized. The lender may increase the interest rate by 1% if the borrower fails to meet certain obligations under the loan agreement.

The facility has a built-in derivative instrument allowing the lender to convert the floating interest rate into the fixed one on pre-agreed terms.

Guarantee

Our obligations under the credit facility agreement are guaranteed by Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant, Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, Mecheltrans, Mechel Trading and Mechel Service.

 

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Security

The credit facility is secured by a pledge of 25%+1 share of Mechel Mining.

Repayment and prepayments

The facility allows a 15 month grace period and is to be repaid in equal installments on a quarterly basis. Mechel may prepay the loan without VTB Bank’s consent after 12 months giving a five day prior written notice.

Covenants and other matters

Mechel must procure that: (i) the ratio of Mechel’s net borrowings to EBITDA does not exceed 7.5:1 as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013, 6.0:1 as of June 30, 2014, 5.5:1 as of December 31, 2014, 4.75:1 as of June 30, 2015, 4.5:1 as of December 31, 2015, 4.0:1 as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2016, 3.5:1 as of June 30, 2017 and thereafter; (ii) the ratio of Mechel’s EBITDA to net interest expenses does not fall below 1.5:1 as of June 30 and December 31, 2013, 2.0:1 as of June 30 and December 31, 2014, 2.5:1 as of June 30, 2015, 3.0:1 as of December 31, 2015, 3.0:1 as of June 30, 2016, 3.5:1 as of December 31, 2016 and thereafter; and (iii) Mechel’s ratio of its total net borrowings does not exceed $11.0 billion in 2013 and thereafter.

Mechel Mining must ensure that: (i) the ratio of net borrowings to EBITDA does not exceed 4.25:1 as of June 30, 2013, 3.5:1 as of December 31, 2013 and 3.0:1 for any other relevant period thereafter; and (ii) its EBITDA to net interest expenses shall not be less than 3.5:1 as of June 30, 2013 and 4.0:1 in any relevant period thereafter.

The credit facility agreement also contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants, notice provisions and events of default, including change of control and cross-defaults to other debt.

The credit facility agreement is governed by Russian law.

Credit Facility for Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant from Sberbank

General

On October 13, 2010, Sberbank opened a credit line for Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant for the total amount of 15.0 billion rubles (approximately $493.9 million) to refinance short-term debt. As of December 31, 2012, we were not in compliance with certain covenants. On April 5, 2013, we obtained the waiver from the lender to cure such non-compliance and agreed with the lender to amend certain covenants.

Interest rate and interest period

From January 13, 2011 to November 17, 2011, the interest on the loan was payable at a rate of 3M Mosprime plus a margin of 4.5% per year if the turnover at our companies’ accounts with Sberbank during each calendar quarter exceeded 25% of outstanding liabilities under the loan, and 3M Mosprime plus a margin of 5% per year if not. For the period from November 18, 2011 to the maturity date, the applicable margin level has been decreased to 4.0% per year if we are in compliance with the requirement in respect of the turnover at our companies’ accounts with Sberbank, and 4.5% per year if not.

Accrued interest is payable on the 28th day of the last month of each three-month interest period. An additional fee of 1.35% per year is payable for the interest rate hedge for the Mosprime rate which is capped at 6.5% per year during the lifetime of the facility. Sberbank has the right to revise the interest rate with a 30-day prior notice.

Guarantee

The borrower’s obligations under the credit facility agreement are guaranteed by Mechel.

 

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Security

The borrower’s obligations under the credit facility agreement are secured by a pledge of 25% plus 1 share of Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant and a pledge of equipment and machinery and real estate owned by the borrower.

Repayment and prepayments

The credit facility is repayable in 8 equal quarterly installments starting on March 28, 2014. The final repayment date is October 12, 2015.

The borrower may prepay the loan with a prior notice to Sberbank. Prepayment is also subject to prepayment fee at 0.8% per year in case of earlier prepayment before October 12, 2012, or 0.25% per year in case of prepayment on or after October 13, 2012, but before October 13, 2013.

Covenants and other matters

Mechel must ensure that: (i) the ratio of the net borrowings to EBITDA does not exceed 7.5:1 as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013, 6.0:1 as of June 30, 2014, 5.5:1 as of December 31, 2014 and 4.75:1 as of June 30, 2015, provided that if during any period the ratio of net borrowings to EBITDA is 3.0:1 or less, Mechel must procure that the ratio of 3.0:1 continues to apply thereafter; (ii) the ratio of EBITDA to net interest expenses does not fall below 1.5:1 as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013, 1.9:1 as of June 30, 2014, 2.3:1 as of December 31, 2014 and 2.7:1 as of June 30, 2015; (iii) all the time Mechel’s shareholder equity exceeds or equals $3.0 billion; and (iv) Mechel’s ratio of its total net borrowings does not exceed $10.5 billion starting from 2012 until 2014 and $10.0 billion starting from 2015 and thereafter. Net borrowings definition does not include finance lease liabilities.

The credit facility agreement also contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants, notice provisions and events of default, including change of control and cross-defaults to other debt.

The credit facility agreement is governed by Russian law.

Facility Agreement for Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant from BNP Paribas, Gazprombank and UniCredit — Universal Mill Facility Agreement

General

On September 15, 2010, we signed a credit facility agreement to finance the universal rolling mill installation project at our subsidiary Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. The $471.2 million credit facility consists of three tranches underwritten by BNP Paribas S.A., Gazprombank and UniCredit. Gazprombank’s tranche is $219.4 million, BNP Paribas’s tranche is €102.8 million (approximately $134.6 million) and UniCredit’s tranche is €89.2 million (approximately $117.1 million). The credit facility benefits from insurance coverage of the Italian, German and Chinese export credit agencies: SACE, Euler Hermes and Sinosure, respectively. As of December 31, 2012, we were not in compliance with certain financial covenants under the credit facility agreement. On April 11, 2013, we obtained the waiver from the lenders to cure such non-compliance and agreed with the lenders to amend certain covenants.

The purpose of the facility is to finance payments under two contracts: the equipment and technology supply contract executed with Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche S.p.A. and the general construction contract executed with Minmetals Engineering Co. Ltd.

 

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Interest rate and interest period

Interest on the facility tranche underwritten by Gazprombank (Facility A) is payable at LIBOR plus a margin of 6.75% per year during the period until the construction completion date and at LIBOR plus a margin of 6.25% per year after that date. Interest on the facility tranche underwritten by UniCredit (Facility B) is payable at EURIBOR plus a margin of 1.50% per year. Interest on the facility tranche underwritten by BNP Paribas (Facility C) is payable at EURIBOR plus a margin of 1.60% per year.

Accrued interest is payable twice a year on payment dates January 21 and July 21.

Repayment and prepayments

The borrower must repay the facilities in 13 equal semi-annual installments in respect of Facility A; 16 equal semi-annual installments in respect of Facility B; and 16 equal semi-annual installments in respect of Facility C.

Repayment starts on the first repayment date, which means in respect of each of the facilities, the first payment date (January 21 or July 21) falling after the earlier of (a) the end of the availability period and (b) the construction completion date. The availability period under all three facilities is 30 months from the signing date. Facility A must be repaid in full after six years following the first repayment date, Facilities B and C must be repaid in full after seven and a half years following the first repayment date.

The borrower may make a pro rata prepayment of the loan with the prior written consent of the lender. A prepayment of part of the loan must be of a minimum amount of $10.0 million in respect of Facility A, and €10.0 million in respect of Facility B and Facility C.

Guarantee

The borrower’s obligations under the credit facility agreement are guaranteed by Mechel.

Security

The borrower’s obligations under the credit facility agreement are secured by a pledge of 20% of the common shares of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. The borrower has also granted security over certain of its assets, including real estate and equipment to secure its obligations.

Covenants and other matters

Under the credit facility agreement, acquisitions by members of our group are permitted if (1) such acquisitions in aggregate do not exceed (i) $5.0 million when the ratio of our net borrowings to EBITDA exceeds 3.5:1, (ii) $50.0 million when the ratio of our net borrowings to EBITDA is within the range of 3.0:1 – 3.5:1, (iii) $250.0 million when the ratio of our net borrowings to EBITDA is within the range of 2.5:1 – 3.0:1, (iv) $375.0 million when the ratio of our net borrowings to EBITDA is within the range of 2.0:1 – 2.5:1, or (v) $500.0 million when the ratio of our net borrowings to EBITDA is 2.0:1 or less; or (2) the total amount of such acquisition is fully financed by available excess cash flow.

The borrower may not, without prior consent from the lender, enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger or reorganization except an intra-group reorganization on a solvent basis.

Under the credit facility agreement, Mechel may pay dividends: (i) on our common and preferred shares, provided that the ratio of Mechel’s net borrowings to EBITDA does not exceed 3.0:1, and if such dividends are funded from available excess cash flow, provided that no default occurs or would occur as a result of that payment; and (ii) if dividends on our preferred shares do not exceed 20% of Mechel’s net profit. If Mechel

 

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records a loss as shown in the financial statements, the amount of permitted dividends paid on our preferred shares shall be limited to 7.5 million rubles (approximately $244.9 thousand) for any such financial year.

Under the deed of guarantee, executed by Mechel for the purpose of securing the borrower’s obligations under the credit facility agreement, Mechel must ensure that: (i) the ratio of the net borrowings to EBITDA does not exceed 7.5:1 as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013, 6.0:1 as of June 30, 2014, 5.5:1 as of December 31, 2014, 4.75:1 as of June 30, 2015, 4.5:1 as of December 31, 2015, 4.0:1 as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2016, 3.5:1 as of June 30, 2017 and thereafter, provided that if during any period the ratio of net borrowings to EBITDA is 3.0:1 or less, Mechel shall procure that the ratio of 3.0:1 continues to apply thereafter; (ii) the ratio of EBITDA to interest expense does not fall below 1.5:1 as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013, 1.9:1 as of June 30, 2014, 2.3:1 as of December 31, 2014, 2.7:1 as of June 30, 2015, 3.1:1 as of December 31, 2015, 3.2:1 as of June 30, 2016, 3.4:1 as of December 31, 2016, 4.0:1 as of June 30, 2017 and thereafter; and (iii) all the time Mechel’s shareholder equity exceeds or equals $3.0 billion.

The credit facility agreement also contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants, notice provisions and events of default, including change of control and cross-defaults to other debt.

The credit facility agreement is governed by English law.

Pre-Export Facility Agreements

General

On December 7, 2012, our subsidiaries Yakutugol and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company entered into an amendment and restatement agreement to the existing pre-export facility agreements for a total principal amount of $1.0 billion with a syndicate of banks coordinated by ING Bank N.V., Société Générale, UniCredit Bank AG, JSCB Rosbank and ABN AMRO Bank N.V. The pre-export facility was extended to the borrowers in equal parts and was used to refinance the outstanding amount under the $2.0 billion pre-export facility closed on September 6, 2010. The terms of the facility agreements are identical in all material aspects, except for the security provided under each facility.

As of December 31, 2012, we were not in compliance with certain financial covenants including Mechel Mining’s net borrowings to EBITDA ratio. On March 29, 2013, we obtained the waiver from syndicate to cure such non-compliance and agreed with the lenders to amend certain covenants.

The facility has one tranche maturing in August 2015.

Interest rate and interest period

Interest under the facilities is payable at LIBOR plus a margin, or at fixed rate that may be agreed with the lenders. Based on results for the period ended June 30, 2012, the initial margin levels were set at 5% per year and are subject to downward or upward adjustments based on the ratio of Mechel Mining’s net borrowings to EBITDA.

Repayment and prepayments

The facility is repayable in equal monthly installments after a twelve month grace period. The borrowers are entitled to prepay the loan subject to a 10 business day prior notice to the syndicate of banks and certain other conditions specified in the credit facility agreements.

 

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Guarantee

Yakutugol’s obligations under the credit facility agreement are guaranteed in full by Mechel, Mechel Mining, Mechel Carbon, Mechel Carbon Singapore as well as by Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and Korshunov Mining Plant (for Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and Korshunov Mining Plant in the amount of up to 2% of the value of their total assets as per RAS). Southern Kuzbass Coal Company’s obligations under the credit facility agreement are guaranteed in full by Mechel, Mechel Mining, Mechel Carbon, Mechel Carbon Singapore and Yakutugol, as well as by Korshunov Mining Plant (for the latter in the amount of up to 2% of the value of its total assets as per RAS). The guarantee provided by Mechel can be released subject to certain conditions.

Security

Yakutugol’s obligations under the credit facility agreement are secured by a pledge of equipment and machinery of the borrower at a total balance sheet value of $10.0 million and a pledge of 15% plus 1 share of Yakutugol and of 10% of shares of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company. Southern Kuzbass Coal Company’s obligations under the credit facility agreement are secured by a pledge of equipment and machinery of the borrower at a total balance sheet value of $10.0 million and a pledge of 15% plus 1 share of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and of 10% of shares of Yakutugol.

The number of shares of each of Yakutugol and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company under pledge will be decreased from 25% plus one share to 15% if certain conditions are met. Such conditions include, amongst others, the ratio of Mechel Mining’s net borrowings to EBITDA being less than or equal to 2.5:1, the outstanding debt under the facility not exceeding 50% of the original principal amount, and there being no event of default continuing under the facility.

The obligations of each of the borrowers are also secured by assignment of rights under their export and offtake contracts and charge over their collection accounts.

Covenants and other matters

Under the credit facility agreement, Mechel Mining may pay dividends on its common shares if its ratio of net borrowings to EBITDA is less than or equal to 3.0:1 and the aggregate amount of all dividends does not exceed 75% of Mechel Mining’s net profit for the respective financial year.

Acquisitions by Mechel Mining in any given year are permitted, subject to certain ratios of Mechel Mining’s net borrowings to its EBITDA: (i) $500 million payable in any financial year if Mechel Mining’s net borrowings to its EBITDA is equal to or less than 2.5:1; (ii) $375 million payable in any financial year if Mechel Mining’s net borrowings to its EBITDA is between 2.5:1 and 3.0:1; (iii) $50 million payable in any financial year if Mechel Mining’s net borrowings to its EBITDA is between 3.0:1 and 3.5:1; (iv) $5 million payable in any financial year if Mechel Mining’s net borrowings to its EBITDA exceeds 3.5:1; and (v) any other higher amount if it is approved by the majority lenders and provided that Mechel Mining will continue to be in compliance with its financial covenants and no default is continuing or would arise as a consequence of such acquisition.

Mechel Mining’s shareholder equity shall not fall below $4.0 billion at any time.

Mechel Mining must ensure that: (i) the ratio of net borrowings to EBITDA does not exceed 4.25:1 as of June 30, 2013, 3.5:1 as of December 31, 2013 and 3.0:1 for any other relevant period thereafter; (ii) its EBITDA to net interest expense shall not be less than 3.5:1 as of June 30, 2013 and 4.0:1 in any relevant period thereafter; and (iii) Mechel Mining’s net borrowings shall not exceed $4.0 billion if its net borrowings to its EBITDA ratio exceeds 3.0:1.

 

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Furthermore, for the purpose of the covenant compliance test Mechel Mining’s EBITDA definition has been amended to reflect any income attributable to any acquisition or disposal that has occurred during the previous relevant period. Mechel Mining’s shareholder equity definition has been amended to add back (i) an amount attributable to impairment of tangible or intangible assets including goodwill; and (ii) an amount equal to the result from discontinued operations of Mechel Mining.

The credit facility agreement also contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants, including negative pledges and limitation on lending to third parties, as well as notice provisions and events of default, including change of control and cross-defaults relating to other debt with certain limitations.

The credit facility agreement is governed by English law.

Amended Credit Facility Agreements for Yakutugol and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company from VTB Bank

General

In September 2010, our subsidiaries Yakutugol and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company each entered into agreements further amending the one-year credit facility agreements executed with VTB Bank in November 2008 and further amended in November 2009, for the total amount of 13.6 billion rubles (approximately $422.4 million as of December 31, 2011). In April 2012, we amended the credit facility agreements to extend their term until 2015 and change certain financial covenants. As of December 31, 2012, we were not in compliance with certain financial covenants under the credit facility agreements. On April 9, 2013, we obtained the waiver from the lender to cure such non-compliance and agreed with the lender to amend certain covenants.

Interest rate and interest period

In September 2010, the interest rate was decreased to 9.75% per year. In April 2012, the interest was changed to the variable rate of 3M Mosprime plus 4.5% per year. In April 2013, the interest rate was decreased to 3M Mosprime plus 3.8% per year. The lender has an option to convert the ruble loan into U.S. dollars two years after the date of the amendment agreements, following which the loan will bear the rate of LIBOR3M plus 4.8%. VTB Bank may unilaterally increase the interest rate in accordance with the terms of the agreements. Any new interest rate becomes effective the month following the month when VTB Bank has informed the borrowers of the new rate.

Repayment and prepayment

The maturity of the facilities for both Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and Yakutugol is April 13, 2015. Each of the facilities is to be repaid in four equal quarterly tranches starting on July 13, 2014.

Voluntary prepayment is not allowed for the first 12 months. No prepayment premium is required if prepayment is made on an interest payment date, otherwise the premium for prepayment is calculated as a difference between 3M Mosprime and Mosprime rate identified on the date preceding the voluntary prepayment.

Covenants and other matters

Under the agreements, the borrowers must ensure that: (i) the ratio of Mechel Mining’s net borrowings to EBITDA does not exceed 4.25:1 as of June 30, 2013, 3.5:1 as of December 31, 2013 and 3.0:1 for any other relevant period thereafter; and (ii) its EBITDA to net interest expenses shall not be less than 3.5:1 as of June 30, 2013 and 4.0:1 in any relevant period thereafter.

Under the agreements, the borrowers must ensure that: (i) the aggregate EBITDA of each of the borrowers is not less than 70% of EBITDA of Mechel Mining; and (ii) the aggregate main assets of each of the borrowers are not less than 60% of the consolidated assets of the Mechel Mining and its subsidiaries.

 

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The credit facility agreements also contain certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants, notice provisions and events of default, including change of control and cross-defaults relating to other debt, as well as limitations on payment of dividends, acquisitions and disposals, non-core transactions and certain others.

Security

The credit facilities are secured by the guarantee provided by each of Yakutugol (in respect of the Southern Kuzbass Coal Company credit facility), Mechel Mining, Mechel Mining Trading House, Mechel Carbon and Mechel Carbon Singapore.

The credit facility agreements are governed by Russian law.

Credit Facility Agreements for Yakutugol and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company from Gazprombank

General

On February 6, 2009, our subsidiaries Yakutugol and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company each entered into separate credit facility agreements with Gazprombank for a total amount of $1.0 billion. In accordance with their terms, the credit facilities can be used for finance and operating activities, including financing affiliates and credit repayments. We used the advances under the facilities mainly for partial repayment of the original Oriel Resources and Yakutugol facilities prior to their refinancing in July 2009. The two credit facility agreements are identical in all material aspects except for the respective loan amounts thereunder: the credit facility was made available to Yakutugol in the amount of $550.0 million and to Southern Kuzbass Coal Company in the amount of $450.0 million. The loans were fully drawn in the first quarter of 2009. On February 24, 2010, the terms of the facility agreements were extended until February 2015. As of December 31, 2012, we were not in compliance with certain covenants under the credit facility agreements. On April 5, 2013, we obtained the waiver from the lender to cure such non-compliance and agreed with the lender to amend certain covenants.

Interest rate and interest period

Interest is paid on a monthly basis and was reduced during the term of the facility from a fixed rate of 14% to variable rate of LIBOR3M plus 5.25% margin. Gazprombank may unilaterally, having provided 30 days prior notice, increase the interest rate if, among others, the CBR’s refinance rate increases.

Guarantee

The borrower’s obligations under the credit facility are guaranteed by Mechel. On April 5, 2013, we also agreed to provide a guarantee from Mechel Mining.

Security

The borrowers’ obligations are secured by a pledge of 25%+1 of the common shares of Yakutugol and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company. The number of pledged shares can be increased up to 35% if we fail to comply with financial covenants.

Repayment and prepayments

Each of the facilities is to be repaid not later than February 6, 2015. Repayment is to be made in equal amounts on a quarterly basis starting from the first quarter of 2013.

The borrowers may prepay the loans issued within the credit facilities in full or in part after February 24, 2011. Prepayment is free from any premium or penalty, subject to the borrowers providing 30 days prior notice to the lender.

 

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Covenants and other matters

Starting from June 30, 2013, the financial covenants must be tested in respect of Mechel Mining group. Under the amended agreements, the borrowers must ensure that: (i) the ratio of Mechel Mining’s net borrowings to EBITDA does not exceed 4.25:1 as of June 30, 2013, 3.5:1 as of December 31, 2013 and 3.0:1 as of June 30, 2014 and thereafter, provided that if during any period the ratio of net borrowings to EBITDA is 3.0:1 or less, Mechel Mining shall procure that the ratio of 3.0:1 continues to apply thereafter; (ii) the ratio of Mechel Mining’s EBITDA to net interest expenses does not fall below 3.5:1 as of June 30, 2013 and 4.0:1 as of December 31, 2013 and thereafter; (iii) Mechel Mining’s net debt shall not exceed $4.0 billion during the lifetime of the facility; and (iv) Mechel Mining’s shareholder equity shall not be less than $3.0 billion during the lifetime of the facility. Furthermore, for the purpose of the covenant compliance test Mechel Mining’s EBITDA definition reflects any income attributable to any acquisition or disposal that has occurred during the previous relevant period.

The credit facility agreements also contain certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants, notice provisions and events of default, including change of control provisions and cross-defaults relating to other debt.

The credit facility agreements are governed by Russian law.

Credit Facility for Mechel Trading from Alfa-Bank

General

In January 2012, Mechel Trading refinanced its existing revolving credit facility in the amount of $150.0 million from Alfa-Bank by obtaining a new revolving credit facility, which will be used for working capital and trade financing.

Interest rate and interest period

Each tranche bears various interest rates between 6.9 and 11.0% per year, depending on the term of the tranche. The maximum rate of interest shall not exceed 12% per year. The interest is to be repaid on a monthly basis before the 25th day of each month.

Repayment and prepayments

All amounts payable under the credit facility must be repaid by October 25, 2016. The loan can be drawn in several tranches, each tranche has the maturity of no longer than 12 months. The term of each tranche cannot exceed 12 months. Each tranche is to be repaid by one payment upon maturity. The borrower may prepay each tranche with a 3 business day prior notice to the lender.

Guarantee

The borrower’s obligations under the credit facility agreement are guaranteed by Mechel.

Covenants and other matters

Starting from February 2013, certain financial covenants have been introduced into the loan agreement. Mechel must ensure that: (i) the ratio of its net borrowings to EBITDA does not exceed 7.5:1 as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013 and 6.0:1 as of June 30, 2014, provided that if during any period the ratio of net borrowings to EBITDA is 3.0:1 or less, Mechel shall procure that the ratio of 3.0:1 continues to apply thereafter; and (ii) the ratio of EBITDA to net interest expense does not fall below 1.5:1 as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013 and 1.9:1 as of June 30, 2014.

The credit facility agreement is governed by Russian law.

 

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Credit Facility Agreements for Yakutugol and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company from Gazprombank

General

In April 2012, our subsidiaries Yakutugol and Southern Kuzbass Coal Company entered into non-revolving credit facility agreements with Gazprombank for a total amount of $500.0 million for a period of up to 5 years with a 3 year grace period obtained for the purpose of funding operational activities and re-financing short-term debt. As of December 31, 2012, we were not in compliance with certain covenants under the credit facility agreements. On April 5, 2013, we obtained the waiver from the lender to cure such non-compliance and agreed with the lender to amend certain covenants.

Interest rate and interest period

The credit facilities each bear an interest rate of 7.5% per year. Interest is paid on a monthly basis.

Repayment and prepayments

Each of the facilities is to be repaid not later than April 26, 2017. Repayment is to be made in equal amounts on a quarterly basis by way of direct debit from the borrowers’ accounts opened with the lender starting from the second quarter of 2015.

The borrowers may prepay the loans issued under credit facilities in full or in part after April 27, 2013. Prepayment is free from any premium or penalty, subject to the borrowers providing 30 days prior notice to the lender.

Guarantee

The borrowers’ obligations under the credit facility agreements are guaranteed in full by Mechel Mining. On April 5, 2013, we also agreed to provide a guarantee from Mechel.

Security

The borrowers’ obligations under the credit facility agreements are secured by a pledge of 25%+1 share of Korshunov Mining Plant.

Covenants and other matters

On April 5, 2013, we obtained the bank’s consent to replace Mechel’s covenants with Mechel Mining’s covenants, where, as amended, the borrowers must procure that: (i) Mechel Mining’s ratio of the net borrowings to EBITDA does not exceed 4.25:1 as of June 30, 2013, 3.5:1 as of December 31, 2013 and 3.0:1 as of June 30, 2014 and thereafter, provided that if during any period the ratio of net borrowings to EBITDA is 3.0:1 or less, Mechel Mining shall procure that the ratio of 3.0:1 continues to apply thereafter; and (ii) Mechel Mining’s ratio of EBITDA to net interest expenses does not fall below 3.5:1 as of June 30, 2013 and 4.0:1 as of December 31, 2013 and thereafter. Mechel Mining’s net debt shall not exceed $4.0 billion and Mechel Mining’s shareholder equity shall not be less than $3.0 billion. Furthermore, for the purpose of the covenant compliance test Mechel Mining’s EBITDA definition reflects any income attributable to any acquisition or disposal that has occurred during the previous relevant period.

The credit facility agreements are governed by Russian law.

 

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Russian bonds

On June 21, 2006, we placed series 02 non-convertible interest-bearing bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 5.0 billion rubles. The bonds are registered with the FFMS and admitted to trading and listed at MICEX. The bonds are secured by a guarantee from Mechel Trading House. The bonds are due on June 12, 2013. The bonds bear a coupon to be paid on a semi-annual basis. The interest rate for the first 8 coupons was set at 8.4% per annum. The interest rate for the ninth and tenth coupons was set at 8.5% per annum. The interest rate for the last four coupons was set at 7.40% per annum. Bondholders are entitled to demand early redemption of the bonds in certain cases specified in the decision of issuance of the bonds, including when we fail to pay any coupon on any of our Russian bonds for more than 7 days or fail to repay the principal on any of our Russian bonds for more than 30 days, or when we default on or are required to redeem any of our Russian bonds.

On July 30, 2009, we placed series 04 non-convertible interest-bearing bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 5.0 billion rubles. The bonds are registered with the FFMS and admitted to trading and listed at MICEX. The bonds are secured by a guarantee from Yakutugol. The bonds are due on July 21, 2016. The bonds bear a coupon to be paid quarterly. The interest rate for the first 12 coupons was set at 19% per annum and for the 13-16 coupons was set at 11.25% per annum. We will be entitled to set the interest rates for the following coupon periods at our discretion, in which case the bondholders will have the right to request that we repurchase the bonds before each such coupon period starts. Hence, the bondholders have an option to demand repurchase of the bonds at par value commencing from July 21, 2013 till July 25, 2013. We will be obliged to repurchase such bonds on July 30, 2013. The bonds are included on the CBR Lombard list; if the CBR excludes the bonds from this list, the bondholders may also demand repurchase of the bonds. Bondholders are also entitled to demand early redemption of the bonds in certain cases specified in the decision of issuance of the bonds, including when we fail to pay coupon on any of our Russian bonds for more than 7 days or fail to repay the principal on any of our Russian bonds for more than 30 days, or when we default on or are required to redeem any of our Russian bonds. We are also entitled to redeem the bonds on July 25, 2013. The proceeds of the bonds were used to fund the construction of the Elga coal complex. As of December 31, 2012, the outstanding balance of the bonds was $52.4 million. In our consolidated financial statements, it is classified as current debt in the amount of $31.9 million and long-term debt in the amount of $20.7 million since we are able and intent to refinance part of the obligations under these bonds in case of early redemption, using proceeds from the long-term facility received from VTB Bank in April 2013. See note 26(c) to the consolidated financial statements.

On October 20, 2009, we placed series 05 non-convertible interest-bearing bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 5.0 billion rubles. The bonds are registered with the FFMS and admitted to trading and listed at MICEX. The bonds are secured by a guarantee from Yakutugol. The bonds are due on October 9, 2018. The bonds bear a coupon to be paid quarterly. The interest rate for the first 12 coupons was set at 12.5% per annum and for the 13-14 coupons was set at 11.25% per annum. As of December 31, 2012, the outstanding balance of the bonds was $45.4 million. In our consolidated financial statements, it is classified as long-term debt since we decided to refinance the obligations under these bonds by way of early redemption, using proceeds from the long-term facility received from VTB Bank in April 2013. See note 26(c) to the consolidated financial statements. The redemption is to be made on April 16, 2013. The maximum amount that can be paid upon early redemption of the bonds includes the principal and the coupon of 38.7 million rubles.

On April 28, 2010, we placed series BO-03 non-convertible interest-bearing exchange bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 5.0 billion rubles. The bonds are admitted to trading at MICEX. The bonds are due on April 24, 2013. The bonds bear a coupon to be paid on a semi-annual basis. The interest rate for all 6 coupons was set at 9.75% per annum. Bondholders are entitled to demand early redemption of the bonds if: (1) our shares are delisted from a respective stock exchange, (2) we declare default under these or any other Russian bonds, or (3) we are required to redeem any other bonds. We used the proceeds of the bond to optimize our credit portfolio by repaying more expensive short-term secured bank loans. As of December 31, 2012, the outstanding balance of the bonds was $164.6 million. In our consolidated financial statements, it is classified as long-term debt since we are able and intent to refinance the obligations under these bonds in case of early redemption, using proceeds from the long-term facility received from VTB Bank in April 2013. See note 26(c) to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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On September 7, 2010, we placed series 13 and series 14 non-convertible interest-bearing bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 10.0 billion rubles. The bonds are registered with the FFMS and admitted to trading and listed at MICEX. The bonds are due on August 25, 2020. The bonds bear a coupon to be paid on a semi-annual basis. The interest rate for the first 10 coupons was set at 10.0% per annum. We will be entitled to set the interest rates for the following coupon periods at our discretion, in which case the bondholders will have the right to demand that we repurchase the bonds before each such coupon period starts. The bondholders have an option to demand repurchase of the bonds at par value commencing on August 27, 2015. We will be obliged to repurchase such bonds on September 4, 2015. Bondholders are entitled to demand early redemption of the bonds in the same cases as described above with respect to series 04 and series 05 bonds. We are also entitled to redeem the bonds on September 1, 2015. The proceeds of the bond were used to fund the construction of the Elga coal complex and other investment projects of our group.

On February 22, 2011, we placed series 15 and series 16 non-convertible interest-bearing bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 10.0 billion rubles. The bonds are registered with the FFMS and admitted to trading and listed at MICEX. The bonds are due on February 9, 2021. The bonds bear a coupon to be paid on a semi-annual basis. The interest rate for the first 6 coupons was set at 8.25% per annum. We will be entitled to set the interest rates for the following coupon periods at our discretion, in which case the bondholders will have the right to request that we buy back the bonds at par value before each such coupon period starts. The bondholders have an option to demand repurchase of the bonds at par value starting February 14, 2014. If such option is exercised, we will be obliged to repurchase such bonds on February 21, 2014. Bondholders are entitled to demand early redemption of the bonds in certain cases specified in the decision of issuance of the bonds, including when we fail to pay coupon on any of our bonds for more than 7 days or fail to repay the principal on any of our bonds for more than 30 days, or when we default on or are required to redeem any of our bonds. We are also entitled to redeem the bonds on February 18, 2014. The proceeds of the bonds will be used to fund the working capital of our group, refinancing of the existing loan agreements as well as the construction of the Elga coal complex and other investment projects of our group.

On June 9, 2011, we placed series 17 and series 18 non-convertible interest-bearing bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 10.0 billion rubles. The bonds are registered with the FFMS and admitted to trading and listed at MICEX. The bonds are due on May 27, 2021. The bonds bear a coupon to be paid on a semi-annual basis. The interest rate for the first 10 coupons was set at 8.40% per annum. We will be entitled to set the interest rates for the following coupon periods at our discretion, in which case the bondholders will have the right to request that we buy back the bonds at par value before each such coupon period starts. The bondholders have an option to demand repurchase of the bonds at par value starting on May 29, 2016. If such option is exercised, we will be obliged to repurchase such bonds on June 7, 2016. Bondholders are entitled to demand early redemption of the bonds in certain cases specified in the decision of issuance of the bonds, including when we fail to pay coupon on any of our bonds for more than 7 days or fail to repay the principal on any of our bonds for more than 30 days, or when we default on or are required to redeem any of our bonds. We are entitled to redeem the bonds on June 2, 2016. The proceeds were used to refinance our short-term debt.

On June 14, 2011, we placed series 19 non-convertible interest-bearing bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 5.0 billion rubles. The bonds are registered with the FFMS and admitted to trading and listed at MICEX. The bonds are due on June 1, 2021. The bonds bear a coupon to be paid on a semi-annual basis. The interest rate for the first 10 coupons was set at 8.40% per annum. We will be entitled to set the interest rates for the following coupon periods at our discretion, in which case the bondholders will have the right to request that we buy back the bonds at par value before each such coupon period starts. The bondholders have an option to demand repurchase of the bonds at par value starting on June 3, 2016. If such option is exercised, we will be obliged to repurchase such bonds on June 10, 2016. Bondholders are entitled to demand early redemption of the bonds in certain cases specified in the decision of issuance of the bonds, including when we fail to pay coupon on any of our bonds for more than 7 days or fail to repay the principal on any of our bonds for more than 30 days, or when we default on or are required to redeem any of our bonds. We are entitled to redeem the bonds on June 7, 2016. The proceeds were used to refinance our short-term debt.

 

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On February 14, 2012, we placed series BO-04 non-convertible interest-bearing exchange bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 5.0 billion rubles. The bonds are admitted to trading at MICEX. The bonds are due on February 10, 2015. The bonds bear a coupon to be paid on a semi-annual basis. The interest rate for the first 4 coupons was set at 10.25% per annum. We will be entitled to set the interest rates for the following coupon periods at our discretion, in which case the bondholders will have the right to request that we buy back the bonds at par value before each such coupon period starts. The bondholders will have an option to demand repurchase of the bonds at par value starting on February 7, 2014. If such option is exercised, we will be obliged to repurchase such bond on February 14, 2014. Bondholders are entitled to demand early redemption of the bonds if: (1) our shares are delisted from a respective stock exchange, (2) we declare default under these or any other Russian bonds, or (3) we are required to redeem any other bonds. We used the proceeds to refinance our short-term debt.

On April 10, 2012, we placed non-convertible interest-bearing exchange bonds series BO-05, BO-06, BO-07, BO-11 and BO-12 in an aggregate principal amount of 15.0 billion rubles. The bonds are admitted to trading at MICEX. The bonds are due on April 7, 2015. The bonds bear a coupon to be paid on a semi-annual basis. The interest rate for all 6 coupons was set at 11.25% per annum. Bondholders are entitled to demand early redemption of the bonds if: (1) our shares are delisted from a respective stock exchange, (2) we declare default under these or any other Russian bonds, or (3) we are required to redeem any other bonds. We used the proceeds to refinance our short-term debt.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

The following table sets forth the amount of our contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of December 31, 2012.

 

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

   Total      Payments Due by Period  
      Less Than
1 Year
    2-3 Years     4-5 Years     More Than
5 Years
 
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Short-Term Borrowings and Current Portion of Long-Term Debt

     1,460,750         1,460,750        —          —          —     

Long-Term Debt Obligations, Net of Current Portion

     7,929,490         —          5,545,489        2,177,016        206,985   

Interest Payable(1)

     86,619         86,619        —          —          —     

Operating Lease Obligations

     1,795,260         60,428        90,240        89,318        1,555,274   

Purchase Obligations(2)

     267,330         267,330        —          —          —     

Restructured Taxes Payable

     —          —          —          —          —     

Asset Retirement Obligations(3)

     49,854         5,023        9,956        5,693        29,182   

Pension and Post Retirement Benefits(4)(5)

     197,262         20,044        22,810        24,575        129,833   

Short-Term Finance Lease Obligations

     132,090         132,090        —          —          —     

Long-Term Finance Lease Obligations

     347,768         —          210,380        113,357        24,031   

Contingent payment for Bluestone acquisition

     25,665         —          25,665        —          —     

Contractual commitments to acquire plant, property and equipment, raw materials and for delivery of goods and services(6)

     3,008,562         2,798,828        93,639        48,073        68,022   

Estimated interest expense(7)

     3,315,570         808,396        1,386,774        1,120,400        —     

Estimated average interest rate(7)

     —           8.6     7.8     7.1     —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

     18,616,219         5,639,508        7,384,952        3,578,433        2,013,326   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Interest Payable as of December 31, 2012 amounted to $3.3 million and $83.3 million for Short-Term Borrowings and Current Portion of Long-Term Debt and Long-Term Debt Obligations, Net of Current Portion, respectively. Interest payable is included in amount of $86.6 million in current period figure. In the year ended December 31, 2012, our interest expense was $669.4 million and we paid out $479.5 million in interest, net of amounts capitalized.

 

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(2) Accounts payable for capital expenditures.
(3) See note 15 to the consolidated financial statements.
(4) See note 16 to the consolidated financial statements.
(5) Includes $177.2 million pension and post-retirement benefits due in more than one year.
(6) See note 25 to the consolidated financial statements.
(7) Interest expense is estimated for a five-year period based on (1) estimated cash flows and change of the debt level, (2) forecasted LIBOR rate where applicable, (3) actual long-term contract interest rates and fixed rates, forecasted with reasonable assurance on the basis of historic relations with major banking institutions.

We have also guaranteed the fulfillment of obligations to third parties under various debt and lease agreements. The maximum potential amount of future payments under these guarantees as of December 31, 2012 amounted to $5,941.6 million, of which $5,939.5 million related to guarantees given by us for our subsidiaries.

Commitments for capital expenditures were $1,428.5 million as of December 31, 2012. This amount includes our contractual commitments related to acquisition of property, plant and equipment arising from various purchase and construction agreements in respect of railway construction for the Elga coal complex in the amount of $844.9 million.

See note 25 to the consolidated financial statements.

Inflation

Inflation in the Russian Federation was 6.6% in 2012, 6.1% in 2011 and 8.8% in 2010. Inflation has generally not had a material impact on our results of operations during the period under review in this section, as we were able to increase selling prices in line with increases in ruble-denominated costs. However, we cannot guarantee that inflation will not materially adversely impact our results of operations in the future in case inflation accelerates. See “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Financial Condition and Financial Reporting — Inflation could increase our costs and decrease operating margins.”

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at year-end and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the year. Management regularly evaluates these estimates. Management estimates are based on historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from current expectations under different assumptions or conditions.

We believe that the following are the more significant policies, judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the financial statements.

Accounting for business combinations

During the past years, we have completed several significant business combination transactions. In the future, we may continue to grow our business through business combinations. We accounted for all combinations using the acquisition method of accounting.

The accounting for business combinations under the acquisition method is complicated and involves the use of significant judgment. Under the acquisition method of accounting, a business combination is accounted for at a purchase price based upon the fair value of the consideration given, whether it is in the form of cash, assets, stock, the assumption of liabilities, or the contingent consideration. The assets acquired, liabilities assumed and

 

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any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date are measured at their fair values. Determining the fair values of the assets and liabilities acquired involves the use of judgment, since the majority of the assets and liabilities acquired do not have fair values that are readily determinable. Different techniques may be used to determine fair values, including market prices, where available, appraisals, comparisons to transactions for similar assets and liabilities and present value of estimated future cash flows, among others. Since these estimates involve the use of significant judgment, they can change as new information becomes available.

The most difficult estimations of individual fair values are those involving property, plant and equipment, mineral licenses and identifiable intangible assets. We use all available information to make these fair value determinations and, for major business acquisitions, typically engage an outside appraisal firm to assist in the fair value determination of the acquired long-lived assets. We have, if necessary, up to one year after the acquisition closing date to finish these fair value determinations and finalize the purchase price allocation.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration transferred plus the fair value of any non-controlling interests in the acquiree at the acquisition date over the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired. For the acquisitions with the effective date before January 1, 2009, the excess of the fair value of net assets acquired over cost, called negative goodwill, was allocated to the acquired non-current assets (except for deferred taxes, if any) until they were reduced to zero. Since January 1, 2009, the excess of the fair value of net assets acquired over the fair value of consideration transferred, plus the fair value of any non-controlling interest should be recognized as a gain in consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income on the acquisition date. FASB ASC 350, “Intangibles — Goodwill and Other” (“ASC 350”), prohibits the amortization of goodwill. Instead, goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually and on an interim basis when an event occurs or circumstances change between annual tests that would more likely than not result in impairment.

For the investees accounted for under the equity method, the excess of cost of the stock of those companies over our share of fair value of their net assets as of the acquisition date is treated as goodwill embedded in the investment account. Goodwill arising from equity method investments is not amortized, but tested for impairment at least annually and on an interim basis when an event occurs or circumstances change between annual tests that would more likely than not result in impairment.

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, we reported goodwill of $798.8 million and $1,049.5 million, respectively. According to the results of the impairment analysis of goodwill, an impairment loss of $368.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 was recognized.

Non-controlling interest

Non-controlling interests in the net assets and net results of consolidated subsidiaries are shown under the “Non-controlling interests” and “Net income attributable to non-controlling interests” lines in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and statements of income and comprehensive (loss) income, respectively. Losses attributable to our group and the non-controlling interests in a subsidiary may exceed their interests in the subsidiary’s equity. The excess, and any further losses attributable to our group and the non-controlling interests, are to be attributed to those interests. That is, the non-controlling interests continue to be attributed to their share of losses even if that attribution results in a deficit non-controlling interest balance.

Principles of variable interest entity consolidation

Effective from January 1, 2010, our group adopted required changes to consolidation guidance for variable interest entities that require an enterprise to perform an analysis to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity. These changes to the consolidation guidance defined the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity as the enterprise that has (1) the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity’s

 

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economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity, or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity. In addition, the required changes provide guidance on shared power and joint venture relationships, remove the scope exemption for qualified special purpose entities, revise the definition of a variable interest entity, and require additional disclosures.

The adoption of the above mentioned changes to consolidation guidance did not have impact on the consolidated financial statements of our group. Our group does not have significant consolidated variable interest entities.

Reporting and functional currencies

We have determined our reporting currency to be the U.S. dollar. The functional currencies for our Russian, Romanian, Kazakh, German, Lithuanian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Czech, Serbian, Turkish and Hungarian subsidiaries are the Russian ruble, the Romanian lei, the Kazakh tenge, Euro, the Lithuanian lit, the Bulgarian lev, the Ukrainian hryvnia, the Czech koruna, the Serbian dinar, the Turkish lira and the Hungarian forint, respectively. The U.S. dollar is the functional currency of our other international operations.

The translation adjustments resulting from the process of translating financial statements from the functional currency into the reporting currency are included in determining other comprehensive income. Our foreign subsidiaries translate their functional currencies into U.S. dollars using the current rate method as prescribed by FASB ASC 830, “Foreign Currency Matters” (“ASC 830”), for all periods presented.

Management estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported carrying amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, and the amounts of revenues and expenses recognized during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost less accumulated depletion and depreciation. Property, plant and equipment acquired in business combinations are initially recorded at their respective fair values as determined by independent appraisers in accordance with the requirements of FASB ASC 805, “Business Combinations” (“ASC 805”).

Mineral licenses

The mineral licenses are recorded at their fair values at the date of acquisition, based on the appraised fair value. Fair value of mineral licenses acquired prior to August 22, 2004 (the date of change in the Russian Subsoil Law that makes license extensions through the end of the estimated proven and probable reserve period reasonably assured), is based in part on independent mining engineer appraisals for proven and probable reserves during the license term. Before 2011, mineral licenses were amortized using the units-of-production method over the shorter of the license term or the estimated proven and probable reserve depletion period. Effective January 1, 2011, our group changed its estimate of the useful lives of the mineral licenses acquired before August 22, 2004 to be based on proven and probable reserves of the mine. The change was applied prospectively and had no significant impact on the consolidated results of our group’s operations. The effect of this change was to reduce depletion expense for the year ended December 31, 2011 by $17.3 million and increase income from continuing operations, net of taxes, by $13.8 million or $0.03 per common share.

 

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Fair value of mineral licenses acquired after August 22, 2004 is based in part on independent mining engineer appraisals of the estimated proven and probable reserve through the estimated end of the depletion period. Such mineral licenses are amortized using the units-of-production method through the end of the estimated proven and probable reserve depletion period.

Effective July 1, 2012, our group changed the estimate of the useful live of the chrome mineral license belonging to Oriel Resources based on proven and probable reserves valuation performed by independent mining engineers in 2012. The change was applied prospectively and had insignificant impact on the consolidated results of our group’s operations. The effect of this change in estimate was to reduce depletion expense for the year ended December 31, 2012 by $5.3 million and increase income from continuing operations, net of taxes, by $4.2 million or $0.01 per common share.

In order to calculate proven and probable reserves, estimates and assumptions are used about a range of geological, technical and economic factors, including but not limited to quantities, grades, production techniques, recovery rates, production costs, transport costs, commodity demand, commodity prices and exchange rates. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating proven and probable reserves, and assumptions that are valid at the time of estimation may change significantly when new information becomes available. Changes in the forecast prices of commodities, exchange rates, production costs or recovery rates may change the economic status of reserves and may, ultimately, result in the reserves being restated.

We established a policy of engaging independent mining engineers to review our proven and probable reserves approximately every three years unless circumstances or additional factors warrant an additional analysis. This policy does not change our approach to the measurement of proven and probable reserves as of their acquisition dates as part of business combinations that continue to involve independent mining engineers. Our proven and probable reserve estimates as of the reporting date were made by internal mining engineers and the majority of the assumptions underlying these estimates had been previously reviewed and verified by independent mining engineers.

Our management evaluates our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis; however, actual amounts could differ from those based on such estimates and assumptions. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the carrying amount of our mineral licenses amounted to $4,658.7 million and $4,733.7 million, respectively.

Intangible assets

Intangible assets with determinable useful lives are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated period of benefit, ranging from two to sixteen years. Indefinite-lived intangibles are evaluated annually for impairment or when indicators exist indicating such assets may be impaired. Such evaluation assumes determination of fair value of intangible assets based on a valuation model that incorporates expected future cash flows and profitability projections.

Intangible assets include quotas for CO2 emissions, initially recognized at the date of business combination at their respective fair value in accordance with the requirements of ASC 805. Net gains and losses on sale and exchange of excess emission rights, representing the difference between the sales proceeds and the cost of emission rights, are recorded in operating income (expenses). Emission rights have indefinite useful life and are subject to impairment testing.

Retirement benefit obligations

Our Russian subsidiaries are legally obligated to make defined contributions to the Russian Pension Fund, managed by the Russian Federation Social Security (a defined contribution plan financed on a pay-as-you-go basis). Our contributions to the Russian Pension Fund relating to defined contribution plans are charged to income in the year to which they relate.

 

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In 2010 the total rates of social contributions were 26%: contributions to the Russian Pension Fund amounted to 20% of the annual gross salary of each employee, contributions to the Mandatory Medical Insurance Fund amounted to 3.1% and contributions to the Social Insurance Fund amounted to 2.9%. These rates were applied to the part of the annual gross salary below 415,000 rubles for each employee and 0% thereafter. Annual gross salaries exceeding that amount were non-taxable.

In 2011, the contribution to the Russian Pension Fund and the Mandatory Medical Insurance Fund were further increased to 26% and 5.1%, respectively. These tariffs were applied to the part of annual gross salary below 463,000 rubles and 0% thereafter. Annual gross salaries exceeding that amount were non-taxable.

In 2012, there was another change in rates which resulted in reduction of contribution rate to the Russian Pension Fund to 22%, while rates for the Mandatory Medical Insurance Fund remained the same. These rates were applied to the part of annual gross salary below 512,000 rubles, and 10% are additionally charged to the Pension Fund on the exceeding amount thereafter.

Contributions to the Russian Pension Fund for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were $177.8 million, $211.7 million and $134.6 million, respectively.

In addition, we have a number of defined benefit pension plans that cover the majority of production employees. Benefits under these plans are primarily based upon years of service and average earnings. We account for the cost of defined benefit plans using the projected unit credit method. Under this method, the cost of providing pensions is charged to the statement of income and comprehensive income, so as to attribute the total pension cost over the service lives of employees in accordance with the benefit formula of the plan. Our obligation in respect of defined retirement benefit plans is calculated separately for each defined benefit plan by discounting the amounts of future benefits that employees have already earned through their service in the current and prior periods. The discount rate applied represents the yield at year end on highly rated long-term bonds.

Our U.S. subsidiaries adopted FASB ASC 715, “Compensation-Retirement Benefits” (“ASC 715”), and use the Projected Unit Credit method of accounting for post-retirement health care benefits, which is intended to match revenues with expenses and attributes an equal amount of an employee’s projected benefit to each year from the date of plan entry to the date that the employee is first eligible to retire with full benefits. The actuarially estimated accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation (“APBO”) was recognized at the acquisition of the U.S. subsidiaries on May 7, 2009. The APBO represents the present value of the estimated future benefits payable to current retirees and a pro rata portion of estimated benefits payable to active employees upon retirement disclosed in note 16 to the consolidated financial statements.

Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit obligations and the results of sensitivity analysis of Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit obligations as of December 31, 2012 are disclosed in note 16 to the consolidated financial statements.

Revenue recognition

Revenue is recognized on an accrual basis when earned and realizable, which generally occurs when products are delivered to customers. In some instances, while title of ownership has been transferred, the revenue recognition criteria are not met as the selling price is subject to adjustment based upon the market prices. Accordingly, in those instances, revenue and the related cost of goods sold are recorded as deferred revenues and deferred cost of inventory in transit in the consolidated balance sheets and are not recognized in the consolidated income statement until the price becomes fixed and determinable, which typically occurs when the price is settled with the end customer. In certain foreign jurisdictions (e.g. Switzerland), our group generally retains title to goods sold to end customers solely to ensure the collectibility of its accounts receivable. In such instances, all other sales recognition criteria are met, which allows our group to recognize sales revenue in conformity with underlying sales contracts.

 

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Revenue is recognized net of applicable provisions for discounts and allowances and associated sales taxes (VAT) and export duties.

Revenues are inflows from sales of goods that constitute ongoing major operations of our group and are reported as such in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. Inflows from incidental and peripheral operations are considered gains and are included, net of related costs, in other income in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

Our group is involved in re-selling goods and services produced or rendered by other entities. Revenues are reported based on the gross amount billed to the customer when our group has earned revenue as a principal from the sale of goods or services, or the net amount retained (that is, the amount billed to the customer reduced by the amount billed by the supplier) when our group has earned a commission or fee as an agent. Our group evaluates the relevant facts and circumstances and takes into consideration the following factors in determining whether to recognizes revenue on a gross basis: (1) our group is the primary obligor in the arrangement; (2) our group has general inventory risk including customer returns; (3) our group has latitude in establishing price; (4) our group changes the product or performs part of the service; (5) our group has discretion in supplier selection; (6) our group is involved in the determination of product or service specifications; (7) our group has physical loss inventory risk; and (8) our group has credit risk. Otherwise, revenues are reported net when our group performs as an agent or a broker without assuming the risks and rewards of ownership of goods. The evaluations of these factors, which at times can be contradictory, are subject to significant judgment and subjectivity. This accounting policy of reporting revenue gross as a principal versus net as an agent has no effect on gross profit, income from continuing operations, before taxes, or net income.

In the situation when our group acts as a supplier and as a buyer with the same counterparty, our group analyzes the respective purchase and sales agreements to identify whether these transactions were concluded in contemplation with each other and, therefore, should be combined for accounting purposes deferring the revenue recognition to the point when the earnings process has culminated.

In the power segment (see note 24), revenue is recognized based on the unit of power measure (kilowatts) delivered to customers, since at that point revenue recognition criteria are met. The billings are usually done on a monthly basis, several days after each month end.

We categorize revenues as follows:

 

   

domestic;

 

   

Russia: sales of Russian production within Russia;

 

   

other domestic: sales of non-Russian production within the country of production; and

 

   

export: sales of production outside of country of production.

Property, plant and equipment

Capitalized production costs for internally developed assets include material, direct labor costs, and allocable material and manufacturing overhead costs. Manufacturing overhead costs are capitalized only if and to the extent they can be reliably measured and directly allocated to definite object of construction-in-progress. These costs include the costs of electricity used to operate the equipment, depreciation on the equipment, costs of personnel (other than direct labor) and other costs. When construction activities are performed over an extended period, interest costs incurred during construction are capitalized. Construction-in-progress and equipment held for installation are not depreciated until the constructed or installed asset is substantially ready for its intended use.

 

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The costs of planned major maintenance activities are recorded as the costs are actually incurred and are not accrued in advance of the planned maintenance. Costs for activities that lead to prolonging the useful life or expanding the future use of an asset are capitalized. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred. We expensed $104.4 million and $111.9 million of repair and maintenance costs during the period ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. These amounts represent the cost of third parties repair and maintenance services. Repair and maintenance costs carried out internally are accounted for as expense according to the nature of cost elements, including cost of labor and related social taxes, spare parts, auxiliary materials, energy and other expenses.

Other than for mineral licenses and other long-lived mining assets and processing plant and equipment, we record depreciation primarily using the straight-line method on a pro rata basis.

The following useful lives are used as a basis for recording depreciation:

 

Category of Asset

   Useful Economic
Lives Estimates,
Years
 

Buildings

     20-45   

Land improvements

     20-50   

Operating machinery and equipment

     7-30   

Transportation equipment and vehicles

     4-15   

Tools, furniture, fixtures and other

     4-8   

The remaining useful economic lives of our property, plant and equipment are revised on an annual basis.

Mining assets and processing plant and equipment

Mineral exploration costs incurred prior to establishing proven and probable reserves for a given property are expensed as incurred. These costs also include the costs of identifying and upgrading mineral resources to reserve status. Proven and probable reserves are established based on independent feasibility studies and appraisals performed by mining engineers. No exploration costs were capitalized prior to the point when proven and probable reserves are established. Reserves are defined as that part of a mineral deposit, which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. Proven reserves are defined as reserves, for which (a) quantity is computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, workings or drill holes (grade and/or quality are computed from the results of detailed sampling) and (b) the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are spaced so closely and the geologic character is so well defined that size, shape, depth and mineral content of reserves are well-established. Probable reserves are defined as reserves, for which quantity and grade and/or quality are computed from information similar to that used for proven reserves, but the sites for inspection, sampling, and measurement are farther apart or are otherwise less adequately spaced. Accordingly, the degree of assurance, although lower than that for proven reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between points of observation.

Costs of developing new underground mines are capitalized. Underground development costs, which are costs incurred to make the mineral physically accessible, include costs to prepare property for shafts, driving main entries for ventilation, haulage, personnel, construction of airshafts, roof protection and other facilities. In addition, interest expense allocable to the cost of developing mining properties and to constructing new facilities is capitalized until assets are ready for their intended use.

Expenditures for improvements are capitalized, while costs related to maintenance (turnarounds) are expensed as incurred. In addition, costs incurred to maintain current production capacity at a mine and exploration expenditures are charged to expenses as incurred. Stripping costs incurred during the production phase of a mine are expensed as incurred.

 

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Mining assets and processing plant and equipment are those assets, including construction-in-progress, which are intended to be used only for the needs of a certain mine or field, and upon full extraction after exhausting of the reserves of such mine or field, these assets cannot be used further for any other purpose without a capital reconstruction. When mining assets and processing plant and equipment are placed in production, the applicable capitalized costs, including mine development costs, are depleted using the unit-of-production method at the ratio of tonnes of mineral mined or processed to the estimated proven and probable mineral reserves that are expected to be mined during the license term for mining assets related to the mineral licenses acquired prior to August 22, 2004 (see note 2(k) to the consolidated financial statements), or the estimated lives of the mines for mining assets related to the mineral licenses acquired after that date. As fully described in note 2(k) to the consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 2011, our group changed its estimate of the useful lives of the mineral licenses acquired before August 22, 2004 to be based on proven and probable reserves of the mine. The unit-of-production method is used for the underground mine development structure costs, as their useful lives coincide with the estimated lives of mines, provided that all repairs and maintenance are timely carried out.

A decision to abandon, reduce or expand activity on a specific mine is based upon many factors, including general and specific assessments of mineral reserves, anticipated future mineral prices, anticipated costs of developing and operating a producing mine, the expiration date of mineral licenses, and the likelihood that we will continue exploration of the mine. Based on the results at the conclusion of each phase of an exploration program, properties that are not economically feasible for production are re-evaluated to determine if future exploration is warranted and that carrying values are appropriate. The ultimate recovery of these costs depends on the discovery and development of economic ore reserves or the sale of the companies owning such mineral rights.

Long-lived assets impairment, including definite-lived intangibles and goodwill

We follow the requirements of FASB ASC 360, “Property, Plant and Equipment” (“ASC 360”), which addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment and disposal of long-lived assets, and ASC 350, with respect to impairment of goodwill and intangibles. We review the carrying value of our long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, investments, goodwill, licenses to use mineral reserves (inclusive of capitalized costs related to asset retirement obligations and value beyond proven and probable reserves), and intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be fully recoverable as prescribed by ASC 350 and ASC 360. Recoverability of long-lived assets, excluding goodwill, is assessed by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset (or the group of assets, including the asset in question, that represents the lowest level of separately-identifiable cash flows) to the total estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or group of assets.

In performing the impairment analysis, we consider whether the results and cash flows of an asset or asset group can be clearly distinguished from results and cash flows of our other assets. Generally long-lived assets are grouped by reporting units with discrete financial information regularly reviewed by operating management (i.e. the lowest level of identifiable cash flows that are independent of the cash flows of other assets is at a single entity level). At Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, a group of assets is determined by the aggregated mines owned and operated by Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, because they are dependent on operations of each other and represent the single production process.

If the estimated future net undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset or group of assets, the asset or group of assets is considered impaired and impairment charge is recognized equal to the amount required to reduce the carrying amount of the asset or group of assets to their fair value.

Fair value is determined by discounting the cash flows expected to be generated by the asset, when the quoted market prices are not available for the long-lived assets. For assets and groups of assets relating to and including the licenses to use mineral reserves, future cash flows include estimates of recoverable minerals that will be obtained from proven and probable reserves and estimated value beyond proven and probable mineral reserves, mineral prices (considering current and historical prices, price trends and other related factors),

 

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production levels, capital and reclamation costs, all based on the life of mine models prepared by our engineers. Our reporting units with goodwill allocated for the testing purposes represent single entities with one component of business in each case. As of December 31, 2012, we had the following number of reporting units by segments: Steel — 9, Mining — 5, Power — 3 and Ferroalloy — 2. Estimated future cash flows are based on our assumptions and are subject to risk and uncertainty that are considered in the discount rate applied in the goodwill impairment testing.

ASC 350 prohibits the amortization of goodwill. Instead, goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually and on an interim basis when an event occurs that could potentially lead to the impairment, i.e., a significant decline in selling prices, production volumes or operating margins. Under ASC 350, goodwill is assessed for impairment by using the fair value based method. We determine fair value by utilizing discounted cash flows. The impairment test required by ASC 350 for goodwill includes a two-step approach. Under the first step, companies must compare the fair value of a “reporting unit” to its carrying value. A reporting unit is the level, at which goodwill impairment is measured and is defined as an operating segment or one level below it if certain conditions are met. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, goodwill is impaired.

Under step two, the amount of goodwill impairment is measured by the amount that the reporting unit’s goodwill carrying value exceeds the “implied” fair value of goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill can only be determined by deducting the fair value of all tangible and intangible net assets (including unrecognized intangible assets) of the reporting unit from the fair value of the reporting unit (as determined in the first step). In this step, the fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to all of the reporting unit’s assets and liabilities (a hypothetical purchase price allocation).

If goodwill and another asset (or asset group) of a reporting unit are tested for impairment at the same time, the other asset (or asset group) shall be tested for impairment before goodwill. If the asset group was impaired, the impairment loss would be recognized prior to goodwill being tested for impairment.

When performing impairment tests, we use assumptions that include estimates regarding the discount rates, growth rates and expected changes in selling prices, sales volumes and operating costs, as well as capital expenditures and working capital requirements during the forecasted period. We estimate discount rates using after-tax rates that reflect current market rates for investments of similar risk. The growth rates are based on our growth forecasts, which are largely in line with industry trends. Changes in selling prices and direct costs are based on historical experience and expectations of future changes in the market. While impairment of long-lived assets does not affect reported cash flows, it does result in a non-cash charge in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial position.

As of December 31, 2012, we performed an impairment analysis of goodwill at all our reporting units. In addition, we tested long-lived assets for recoverability at those reporting units, where events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Cash flow forecasts used in this test were based on the assumptions as of December 31, 2012. The forecasted period for our non-mining subsidiaries was assumed to be five years to reach stabilized cash flows, and the value beyond the forecasted period was based on a terminal growth rate of 2.5%. For our mining subsidiaries the forecasted period was based on the remaining life of the mines. Cash flow projections were prepared using assumptions that comparable market participants would use.

 

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Forecasted inflation rates for the period 2013-2017, which were used in cash flow projections, were as follows:

 

Region

       2013             2014             2015             2016             2017      

Russia

     7     6     6     6     6

United States

     3     2     2     2     2

Europe

     2     2     2     2     2

Romania

     4     4     4     4     4

Bulgaria

     4     4     4     4     4

Kazakhstan

     7     6     6     6     6

Ukraine

     7     6     6     6     6

Discount rates were estimated in nominal terms on the weighted average cost of capital basis. To discount cash flow projections we used similar discount rates for Russia, Eastern Europe, Kazakhstan and the United States, assuming that this approach reflected market rates for investments of a similar risk as of December 31, 2012 in these regions. These rates, estimated for each year for the forecasted period, are as follows:

 

         2013             2014             2015             2016             2017      

Discount rate

     10.49     10.68     10.74     10.68     10.51

Based on the results of the impairment analysis of long-lived assets, including definite-lived intangibles and goodwill performed by our group during the year ended December 31, 2012, an impairment loss of $707.9 million was recognized. As a result of the continued downturn in the nickel price and margin deterioration, we recognized impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets in relation to our ferroalloys segment reporting unit, Southern Urals Nickel Plant. Additionally, as a result of the decrease in commodity prices, the weakness of the European market and the lack of positive prospects for the recovery of the European market, we recognized impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets in relation to our steel segment (Ductil Steel, Mechel Nemunas, Mechel Targoviste, Laminorul Plant, Mechel Campia Turzii, Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant) and ferroalloys segment (Southern Urals Nickel Plant, Kazakhstansky Nickel Mining Company) reporting units. The expected revenue growth was lower than the assumptions made at the acquisition of these reporting units. Impairment losses of continuing operations are recognized and presented in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) in impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets line.

According to the results of the impairment analysis of goodwill, an impairment loss of $368.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 was recognized in the following reporting units:

 

Reporting Unit

   Segment    Impairment Loss as for the
Year Ended December 31,  2012
 
          (In millions of U.S. dollars)  

Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant

   Steel      205.5   

Ductil Steel.

   Steel      92.4   

Cognor Stahlhandel

   Steel      62.1   

Southern Urals Nickel Plant

   Ferroalloys      7.0   

Mechel Nemunas

   Steel      1.9   
     

 

 

 

Total

        368.9   
     

 

 

 

 

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According to the results of the impairment analysis of long-lived assets, an impairment loss of $339.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 was recognized in the following reporting units:

 

Reporting Unit

   Segment    Impairment Loss as for the
Year Ended December 31,  2012
 
          (In millions of U.S. dollars)  

Ductil Steel

   Steel      115.2   

Southern Urals Nickel Plant

   Ferroalloys      94.3   

Mechel Targoviste

   Steel      48.8   

Laminorul Plant

   Steel      29.9   

Kazakhstansky Nickel Mining Company

   Ferroalloys      22.7   

Mechel Campia Turzii

   Steel      19.7   

Mechel Nemunas

   Steel      8.4   
     

 

 

 

Total

        339.0   
     

 

 

 

According to the results of the impairment analysis of goodwill as of December 31, 2012, the following reporting units have the estimated fair values that are not substantially in excess of their carrying values and goodwill for such reporting units, if impaired, could materially impact our group’s results:

 

Reporting Unit

   Segment      The Excess of Fair Value
over Carrying Value
    Goodwill Allocated to the
Reporting Unit
 
                  (In millions of U.S. dollars)  

Kuzbass Power Sales Company

     Power         2     64.1   

The material assumptions that drive the estimated fair values of Kuzbass Power Sales Company are represented by projected electricity prices, sales volumes, steam coal prices, discount rates. Some of these assumptions materially deviate from our group’s historical results primarily due to the market downturns and economic slowdowns in the recent years in Russia, where Kuzbass Power Sales Company is located. All these material assumptions are based on the group’s projections and are subject to risk and uncertainty.

Based on the sensitivity analysis carried out as of December 31, 2012, the following minimum changes in key assumptions used in the goodwill impairment test would trigger the impairment of goodwill at some reporting units (the actual impairment loss that we would need to recognize under these hypotheses would depend on the appraisal of the fair values of the reporting unit’s assets, which has not been conducted):

 

   

0.02% decrease in future planned revenues;

 

   

0.1% point increase in discount rates for each year within the forecasted period;

 

   

0.2% point decrease in cash flows growth rate after the forecasted period.

We believe that the values assigned to key assumptions and estimates represent the most realistic assessment of future trends.

Finance lease

The cost of equipment acquired under the capital (finance) lease contracts is measured at the lower of its fair value or the present value of the minimum lease payments, and reflected in the balance sheet at the measured amount less accumulated depreciation. The cost of the equipment is subject to an annual impairment review as described in note 2(n) to the consolidated financial statements. Capital lease liabilities are divided into long-term and current portions based on the agreed payment schedule and discounted using the lessor’s implicit interest rate. Depreciation of assets acquired under the capital (finance) lease is included into depreciation charge for the period.

 

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Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable are stated at net realizable value. If receivables are deemed doubtful, bad debt expense and a corresponding allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded. If receivables are deemed uncollectible, the related receivable balance is charged off. Recoveries of receivables previously charged off are recorded when received. Receivables that do not bear interest or bear below market interest rates and have an expected term of more than one year are discounted with the discount subsequently amortized to interest income over the term of the receivable. We review the valuation of accounts receivable on a regular basis. The amount of allowance for doubtful accounts is calculated based on the ageing of balances in accordance with contract terms. In addition to the allowance for specific doubtful accounts, we apply specific rates to overdue balances of its subsidiaries depending on the history of cash collections and future expectations of conditions that might impact the collectibility of accounts of each individual subsidiary. Accounts receivable, which are considered non-recoverable (those aged over three years or due from bankrupt entities) are written off against provision or charged off to operating expenses (if no provision was created in previous periods). Our standard credit terms are 30 days in Russia and Western Europe, and vary from 30 to 60 days in the U.S. We establish extended credit terms for related parties customers which may vary from 30 to 180 days. Our group monitors collectibility of accounts receivable including those from its related parties on an ongoing basis primarily through review of the accounts receivable aging to determine whether accounts receivable are a concern.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and in transit, checks and deposits with banks, as well as other bank deposits with an original maturity of three months or less.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of acquisition/manufacturing cost or market value. Cost is determined on a weighted average basis and includes all costs in bringing the inventory to its present location and condition. The elements of costs include direct material, labor and allocable material and manufacturing overhead.

Costs of production in processed and finished goods include the purchase costs of raw materials and conversion costs such as direct labor and allocation of fixed and variable production overheads. Raw materials are valued at a purchase cost inclusive of freight and other shipping costs.

Coal, nickel and iron ore inventory costs include direct labor, supplies, depreciation of equipment, depletion of mining assets and amortization of licenses to use mineral reserves, mine operating overheads and other related costs. Operating overheads are charged to expenses in the periods when the production is temporarily paused or abnormally low.

Market value is the estimated price, at which inventories can be sold in the normal course of business after allowing for the cost of completion and sale. We determine market value of inventories for a group of items of inventories with similar characteristics. The term “market” means current replacement cost not to exceed net realizable value (selling price less reasonable estimable costs of completion and disposal) or be less than net realizable value adjusted for a normal profit margin. Market value for each group is compared with an acquisition/manufacturing cost, and the lower of these values is used to determine the amount of the write-down of inventories, which is recorded within the cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. When inventories are written down below cost at the close of a fiscal year, such reduced amount is considered the cost basis for subsequent purposes.

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the write-down of inventories to their net realizable value was $102.9 million and $70.2 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2012, the most significant increase in the write-down of inventories is attributable to the mining and steel segments in the amount of $18.4 million and $14.3 million, respectively. During the year significant amounts of inventories were written down to their net realizable value following the related market price decreases.

 

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Income taxes

Provision is made in the financial statements for taxation of profits in accordance with applicable legislation currently in force in individual jurisdictions. We account for income taxes under the liability method in accordance with FASB ASC 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”). Under the liability method, deferred income taxes reflect the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax and financial statement bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in the tax rates is recognized as income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized in the future. These evaluations are based on the expectations of future taxable income and reversals of the various taxable temporary differences.

ASC 740 prescribes the minimum recognition threshold a tax position must meet before being recognized in the financial statements and provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. Unrecognized income tax benefits of $20.2 million, including interest and penalties of $3.5 million, as of December 31, 2012, and $2.2 million, including interest and penalties of $0.4 million, as of December 31, 2011, were recognized by us in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Taxes represent our group’s provision for profit tax. During 2010-2012, income tax was calculated at 20% of taxable profit in Russia, at 10.8% in Switzerland, at 16% in Romania, at 15% in Lithuania, at 20% in Kazakhstan. Our group’s subsidiaries incorporated in Liechtenstein and British Virgin Islands are exempt from profit tax. In June 2011, new amendments in the tax legislation of the United States resulted in the decrease in tax rate to 40.0% in 2012 from 40.5% in 2009-2011. In December 2010, the Ukrainian tax legislation was amended to decrease the statutory income tax rate gradually from 25% in 2010 to 23% from April 1, 2011, 21% from January 1, 2012, 19% from January 1, 2013 and 16% from January 1, 2014 and thereafter.

Litigation, claims and assessments

We are subject to various lawsuits, claims and proceedings related to matters incidental to our business. Accruals of probable cash outflows have been made based on an assessment of a combination of litigation and settlement strategies. It is possible that results of operations in any future period could be materially affected by changes in assumptions or by the effectiveness of these strategies.

We record liabilities for potential tax deficiencies. These liabilities are based on management’s judgment of the risk of loss. In the event that we were to determine that tax-related items would not be considered deficiencies or that items previously not considered to be potential deficiencies could be considered as potential tax deficiencies (as a result of an audit, tax ruling or other positions or authority), an adjustment to the liability would be recorded through income in the period such determination was made. See “Item 8. Financial Information — Litigation” for a description of various contingencies.

Asset retirement obligations

We have numerous asset retirement obligations associated with our core business activities. We are required to perform these obligations under law or contract once an asset is permanently taken out of service. Most of these obligations are not expected to be paid until many years into the future and will be funded from general resources at the time of removal. Our asset retirement obligations primarily relate to mining and steel production facilities with related landfills and dump areas and mines. Our estimates of these obligations are based on current regulatory or license requirements, as well as forecasted dismantling and other related costs. Asset retirement obligations are calculated in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 410, “Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations” (“ASC 410”).

 

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In order to calculate the amount of asset retirement obligations, the expected cash flows are discounted using an estimate of the credit-adjusted risk-free rate as required by ASC 410. The credit-adjusted risk-free rate is calculated as a weighted average of risk-free interest rates for Russian Federation bonds with maturity dates that coincide with the expected timing of when the asset retirement activities will be performed, adjusted for the effect of our credit standing. For our U.S. subsidiaries, the credit-adjusted risk-free rate is calculated as a weighted average of risk-free interest rates for U.S. treasury bonds with maturity dates that coincide with the expected timing of when the asset retirement activities will be performed, adjusted for the effect of our credit standing.

Shipping and handling costs

We classify all amounts billed to customers in a sale transaction and related to shipping and handling as part of sales revenue and all related shipping and handling costs as selling and distribution expenses. These costs totaled $1,186.7 million, $1,117.1 million and $918.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Comprehensive income

FASB ASC 220, “Comprehensive Income” (“ASC 220”), requires the reporting of comprehensive income in addition to net income. Accumulated other comprehensive income includes foreign currency translation adjustments, unrealized holding gains and losses on available-for-sale securities and on derivative financial instruments, as well as pension liabilities not recognized as net periodic pension cost. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, in addition to net income, total comprehensive income included the effect of translation of the financial statements denominated in currencies other than the reporting currency (in accordance with ASC 830), changes in the carrying values of available-for-sale securities, and change in pension benefit obligation subsequent to the adoption of ASC 715. In accordance with ASC 715, we recognize actuarial gains and losses, prior service costs and credits and transition assets or obligations (the full surplus or deficit in their plans) in the balance sheet. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the amount of comprehensive income included the effect of curtailment and actuarial gains and losses. Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income is comprised of the following components:

 

     December 31,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 
     (In millions of U.S. dollars)  

Cumulative currency translation adjustment

     (337.7     (385.4

Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities

     (3.5     (3.2

Pension adjustments net of related income taxes of $7,918 in 2012 and $7,276 in 2011

     14.3        32.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

     (326.9     (356.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation

We apply the fair-value method of accounting for employee stock-compensation costs as outlined in FASB ASC 718, “Compensation — Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, we did not enter in any employee stock-compensation arrangements.

Segment reporting

According to FASB ASC 280, “Segment Reporting” (“ASC 280”), segment reporting follows our internal organizational and reporting structure. Our operations are presented in four business segments as follows:

 

   

Mining segment, comprising production and sales of coal (metallurgical and steam), iron ore and coke, which supplies raw materials to the steel, ferroalloys and power segments and also sells substantial amounts of raw materials to third parties;

 

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Steel segment, comprising production and sales of semi-finished steel products, carbon and special long products, carbon and stainless flat products, high value-added metal products, including forgings, stampings and wire products;

 

   

Ferroalloys segment, comprising production and sales of ferronickel, ferrochrome and ferrosilicon, which supplies raw materials to the steel segment and also sells substantial amounts of raw materials to third parties; and

 

   

Power segment, comprising generation and sales of electricity and heat power, which supplies electricity, gas and heat power to the mining, steel and ferroalloys segments, and sells substantial amount of electricity, gas and heat power to third parties.

In accordance with adopted accounting policies, our group also prepares disclosure of revenue information by product line within each reportable segment. The reported product lines sales comprise not less than 75% of total segment revenue from third parties and represent the key products in each reportable segment.

Financial instruments

The carrying amount of our financial instruments, which include cash equivalents, marketable securities, non-marketable debt securities, cost method investments, accounts receivable and accounts payable, and short-term borrowings approximates their fair value as of December 31, 2012 and 2011. For long-term borrowings, the difference between fair value and carrying value is shown in note 14 to our consolidated financial accounts. We have determined, using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies, such as discounted cash flows, the estimated fair values of financial instruments. Since different entities are located and operate in different regions of Russia and elsewhere with different business and financial market characteristics, there are generally very limited or no comparable market values available to assess the fair value of our debt and other financial instruments. The cost method investments are shares of Russian companies that are not publicly traded and their market value is not available. It is not practicable for us to estimate the fair value of these investments, for which a quoted market price is not available because we have not yet obtained or developed the valuation model necessary to make the estimate, and the cost of obtaining an independent valuation would be excessive considering the materiality of our instruments. Therefore, such investments are recorded at cost.

Guarantees

In accordance with FASB ASC 460, “Guarantees” (“ASC 460”), the fair value of a guarantee is determined and recorded as a liability at the time when the guarantee is issued. The initial guarantee amount is subsequently re-measured to reflect the changes in the underlying liability. The expense or re-measurement adjustments are included in the related line items of the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income, based on the nature of the guarantee. When the likelihood of performing on a guarantee becomes probable, a liability is accrued, provided it is reasonably determinable on the basis of the facts and circumstances at that time.

Accounting for contingencies

Certain conditions may exist as of the date of these consolidated financial statements, which may result in a further loss to us, but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. Our management makes an assessment of such contingent liabilities, which is based on assumptions and is a matter of opinion. In assessing loss contingencies relating to legal or tax proceedings that involve our or unasserted claims that may result in such proceedings, we, after consultation with legal or tax advisors, evaluate the perceived merits of any legal or tax proceedings or unasserted claims as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought therein.

If the assessment of a contingency indicates that it is probable that a loss will be incurred and the amount of the liability can be estimated, then the estimated liability is accrued in our consolidated financial statements. If

 

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the assessment indicates that a potentially material loss contingency is not probable, but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, then the nature of the contingent liability, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss if determinable and material, would be disclosed.

Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the nature of the guarantee would be disclosed. However, in some instances in which disclosure is not otherwise required, we may disclose contingent liabilities or other uncertainties of an unusual nature which, in the judgment of management after consultation with its legal or tax counsel, may be of interest to shareholders or others.

Derivative instruments and hedging activities

We recognize our derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in accordance with FASB ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”). The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as an accounting hedge and further, on the type of hedging relationship. For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, a gain of $26.8 million and a loss of $20.8 million, respectively, related to the change in the fair value of derivative instruments was included in the net foreign exchange gain (loss) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). There were no such gains or losses related to the change in the fair value of derivative instruments during the period ended December 31, 2010. There were no foreign currency forward and options contracts outstanding as of December 31, 2012 and 2011.

Investments

We recognize all our debt and equity investments in accordance with FASB ASC 320, “Investments — Debt and Equity Securities” (“ASC 320”). At acquisition, we classify debt and equity securities into one of three categories: held-to-maturity, available-for-sale or trading. At each reporting date we reassess the appropriateness of the classification.

Held-to-maturity securities

Investments in debt securities that we have both the ability and the intent to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and measured at amortized cost in the consolidated financial statements.

Trading securities

Investments (debt or equity), which we intend to sell in the near term, and which are usually acquired as part of our established strategy to buy and sell, generating profits based on short-term price movements, are classified by us as trading securities. Changes in fair value of trading securities are recognized in earnings.

Available-for-sale securities

Investments (debt or equity) which are not classified as held-to-maturity or trading are classified as available-for-sale. Change in their fair value is reflected in other comprehensive income.

Recoverability of equity method and other investments

Our management periodically assesses the recoverability of our group’s equity method and other investments. For investments in publicly traded entities, readily available quoted market prices are an indication of the fair value of the investments. For investments in non-publicly traded entities, if an identified event or change in circumstances requires an evaluation, management assesses their fair value based on valuation techniques including discounted cash flow estimates or sales proceeds, external appraisals and market prices of similar investments as appropriate.

 

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Our management considers the assumptions that a hypothetical market-place participant would use in his analysis of discounted cash flows models and estimates of sales proceeds. If an investment is considered to be impaired and the decline in value is other than temporary, we record an impairment loss.

Discontinued Operation

FASB ASC 205 “Discontinued operation” (“ASC 205”) sets forth the financial accounting and reporting requirements for discontinued operations of a component of an entity. A “component of an entity” comprises operations and cash flows that can be clearly distinguished, operationally and for financial reporting purposes, from the rest of the entity. A component of an entity may be a reportable or an operating segment, a reporting unit, a subsidiary, or an asset group.

ASC 205 uses a single accounting model to account for all long-lived assets to be disposed of (by sale, abandonment, or distribution to owners). This includes asset disposal groups meeting the criteria for presentation as a discontinued operation, as specified in FASB ASC 205. A long-lived asset group classified as held for sale is measured at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Additionally, in accordance with FASB ASC 360 “Property, Plant and Equipment”, a loss is recognized for any write-down to fair value less cost to sell. A gain is recognized for any subsequent recovery of cost. Lastly, a gain or loss not previously recognized that results from the sale of the asset disposal group is recognized at the date of sale.

In accordance with ASC 205, a subsidiary is reported as discontinued operation when both of the following conditions are met:

 

   

the operations and cash flow of the component have been (or will be) eliminated from the ongoing operations of the entity as a result of the disposal transaction;

 

   

the entity will not have any significant continuing involvement in the operations of the component after the disposal transaction.

In a period in which a component of an entity either has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale, the income statement for current and prior periods reports the results of operations of the component, including any gain or loss recognized from the sale or write-down, in discontinued operations. The results of operations of a component classified as held for sale are reported in discontinued operations in the periods in which they occur. The results of discontinued operations, less applicable income taxes (benefit), are reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items (if applicable).

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment

In July 2012, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) ASU 2012-02, “Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment” (“ASU 2012-02”), which provides entities with an option to assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test in accordance with ASC 350. To perform a qualitative assessment on an indefinite-lived intangible asset, a company must identify and evaluate changes in economic, industry and company-specific events and circumstances that could affect the significant inputs used in determining the fair value of that asset. ASU 2012-02 is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2012-02 is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

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Technical Amendments and Corrections to SEC Sections

In August 27, 2012, the FASB released ASU 2012-03, “Technical Amendments and Corrections to SEC Sections” (“ASU 2012-03”), which contains technical corrections to existing guidance or affect guidance to specialized industries or entities. We do not expect that it will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

In January 2013 the FASB issued ASU 2013-01, “Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities” (“ASU 2013-01”), which affects entities that have derivatives accounted for in accordance with ASC 815, including bifurcated embedded derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending transactions that are either offset in accordance with ASC 210 “Balance Sheet” or ASC 815, or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement. Entities with other types of financial assets and financial liabilities subject to a master netting arrangement or similar agreement also are affected because these amendments make them no longer subject to the disclosure requirements in ASU 2011-11.

An entity is required to apply the amendments for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. An entity should provide the required disclosures retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The effective date is the same as the effective date of ASU 2011-11. It is not expected to have a material impact on our group’s financial position or results of operations.

Other Comprehensive Income

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, “Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income” (“ASU 2013-02”). ASU 2013-02 does not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in the financial statements. However, the amendments require an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under U.S. GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts.

An entity may present reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the face of the statement in which the components of other comprehensive income are presented, or it may disclose those reclassification adjustments in the notes to the financial statements. Therefore, for all classifications of other comprehensive income, an entity may use either a gross display on the face of the financial statement or a net display on the face of the financial statement and disclose the gross change in the notes to the financial statements. If displayed gross, reclassification adjustments are reported separately from other changes in the respective balance; thus, the total change is reported as two amounts. If displayed net, reclassification adjustments are combined with other changes in the other comprehensive income item balance; thus, the total change is reported as a single amount.

The amendments in ASU 2013-02 are effective for public entities for the fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2012. It is not expected to have a material impact on our group’s financial statements.

 

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Obligations Resulting from Joint and Several Liability Arrangements for Which the Total Amount of the Obligation Is Fixed at the Reporting Date

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-04, “Obligations Resulting from Joint and Several Liability Arrangements for Which the Total Amount of the Obligation Is Fixed at the Reporting Date” (“ASU 2013-04”), which requires an entity to measure obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation within the scope of this guidance is fixed at the reporting date, as the sum of the following:

a) the amount the reporting entity agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors;

b) any additional amount the reporting entity expects to pay on behalf of its co-obligors.

The guidance in ASU 2013-04 also requires an entity to disclose the nature and amount of the obligation as well as other information about those obligations. A public entity is required to apply the amendments for the fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods.

The amendments in ASU 2013-04 should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented for those obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements within ASU 2013-04 scope that exist at the beginning of an entity’s fiscal year of adoption. An entity may elect to use hindsight for the comparative periods (if it changed its accounting as a result of adopting the amendments in ASU 2013-04) and should disclose that fact. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2013-04 is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity

In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, “Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity” (“ASU 2013-05”), which requires an entity to release into net income any cumulative translation adjustment related to ceased controlling interest in a subsidiary or group of assets within a foreign entity when (1) the subsidiary or group of assets is a nonprofit activity or a business (other than a sale of in substance real estate or conveyance of oil and gas mineral rights) and (2) there is a cumulative translation adjustment balance associated with that foreign entity. Accordingly, the cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income only if the sale or transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity in which the subsidiary or group of assets had resided.

For an equity method investment that is a foreign entity, the partial sale guidance in ASC 830 still applies. As such, a pro rata portion of the cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income upon a partial sale of such an equity method investment.

Additionally, the amendments in ASU 2013-05 clarify that the sale of an investment in a foreign entity includes both (1) events that result in the loss of a controlling financial interest in a foreign entity (that is, irrespective of any retained investment) and (2) events that result in an acquirer obtaining control of an acquiree in which it held an equity interest immediately before the acquisition date (sometimes also referred to as a step acquisition).

The amendments in ASU 2013-05 are effective prospectively for fiscal years (and interim reporting periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2013. The amendments should be applied prospectively to derecognition events occurring after the effective date. Prior periods should not be adjusted. Early adoption is permitted. If an entity elects to early adopt the amendments, it should apply them as of the beginning of the entity’s fiscal year of adoption. We are currently assessing the impact of the adoption of ASU 2013-05 on our group’s financial statements.

 

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There were various other updates recently issued, most of which represented technical corrections to the accounting literature or application to specific industries and are not expected to have a material impact on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of our group.

Trend Information

Since the beginning of global financial crisis in the third quarter of 2008, world steel producers and miners effectively adjusted their production to the new level of demand. This prevented the market from experiencing a huge oversupply, and reduced the depth and the length of the fall in market prices and buying activity. Another positive factor for the industry was a steady growth of Chinese demand, which partially mitigated the fall in demand in other regions. China continued to increase its steel production and consumption, absorbing excessive steel-making raw materials from global markets.

We observed the signs of demand recovery in the second half of 2009 and continuing in 2010, as many miners and steelmakers worldwide have restarted their idled capacities. In 2010, we experienced improvement in steel demand from mature markets, such as the United States and Europe, which were severely affected by the crisis and showed no signs of improvement during 2009. Globally, steel demand and production recovery in 2010 exceeded pre-crisis levels.

During 2011, global steel production continued to grow, though at the decreasing rate. In the fourth quarter of 2011, aggravation of European countries’ sovereign debt problems and a further global economic slowdown led to the slowdown in global steel demand and production. The Chinese economy also started to show signs of deceleration, although it still remains by far the largest driver of the global steel and mining industries’ growth.

World crude steel production reached 1,548 million tonnes for the year 2012, up by 1.2% compared to 2011. This is a record for global crude steel production. But the dynamics of the growth was the lowest in three years. In 2012, the growth of steel production was recorded only in Asia, North America, Middle East and Africa. In other macro-regions, such as the E.U., the CIS, South America and Oceania, steel production fell due to general economic slowdowns.

We expect an improvement in the overall economic situation in the U.S. and China, which will stimulate the growth of production and consumption of steel in 2013. Additional monetary easing in developed economies (United States, China, the E.U. and Japan) is expected to raise prices of our products.

Demand

Mining. The demand for coking coal is dependent on the steel industry, which is directly tied to global economic cycles. In 2010, demand returned to pre-crisis levels due to stable import growth from China and recovery of developed economies after the crisis. Global metallurgical coal import increased by 32.7% in 2010, according to AME. In 2011, demand was affected by market uncertainties in the European and North American regions. Japan’s earthquake and tsunami also reduced coking coal demand in 2011. As a result, global metallurgical coal import stagnated with a slight decrease of 1.1% in 2011, according to AME. Demand for internationally traded metallurgical coal grew by 0.6% in 2012 with record coal imports seen into both China and India in the first half of the year, according to AME.

The steam coal market is driven by non-steel related factors, such as growth in electricity consumption, balance between supply and demand and seasonality. In 2010, global steam coal import increased by 11.2%, according to AME. In 2011, demand for steam coal was mainly driven by developing economies, such as China and India. As part of Japan’s recovery efforts, coal-fired power stations have increased their capacity utilization rates, which led to increased steam coal demand. As a result, global steam coal import increased by 5.7% in 2011, according to AME. Demand for thermal coal softened for most of 2012. In 2012, global steam coal import increased by 1.6%, according to AME.

 

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Global demand for iron ore in 2010 has risen by 10.6% due to a sharp increase in steel production, according to AME. In 2011, global iron ore demand increased further by 6.5%, according to AME. In 2012, global iron ore demand grew at lower pace, just 0.7%, according to AME.

Steel. Russia is our largest market for steel products. In 2008, Russian rolled steel consumption totaled to 38.4 million tonnes, according to Metal Expert. In 2009, Russian rolled steel consumption fell by 28.6% to 27.4 million tonnes, according to Metal Expert. In 2010, Russian rolled steel consumption almost returned to its pre-crisis level, growing by 38.0% to 37.8 million tonnes, according to Metal Expert. In 2011, Russian rolled steel consumption grew by an additional 11.9% and reached 42.3 million tonnes, according to Metal Expert. In 2012, Russian rolled steel consumption grew by an additional 5.1% and reached a record level of 44.5 million tonnes, according to Metal Expert.

We expect that Russia’s domestic steel consumption will continue to grow in 2013 due to the increase of construction volumes and in demand for rebar in particular.

The volume of steel products exports from Russia experienced a 2.9% growth in 2012 and amounted to 25.8 million tonnes, according to Metal Expert. We believe that our Russian steel products will retain competitiveness in the markets outside Russia in 2013, due to a better position on the global cost curve.

Imports of steel increased by 30.5% in 2011 to 6.7 million tonnes, due to increased consumption, according to Metal Expert. Imported steel comprised 16.1% of the Russian steel market, according to Metal Expert. Imports of steel increased by 7.5% in 2012 to 7.2 million tonnes, due to increased consumption, according to Metal Expert. Imported steel comprised 16.1% of the Russian steel market, according to Metal Expert. We expect imports will slightly increase in 2013, due to growing Russia’s steel consumption, although we expect the share of imported steel in the Russian steel market will stay relatively stable.

Ferroalloys. Demand for nickel and ferrochrome grew in 2011 mainly in China, India and other developing countries, driven by an increase in stainless steel production. Global stainless steel production grew by 3.1% in 2011, according to CRU. There was surplus nickel supply during 2011, especially in the second half of the year. The LME nickel stocks decreased by 33.9% by the end of 2011 as compared to the same period of 2010, according to CRU. In 2012, demand for nickel also grew in China and India: stainless steel production in these countries grew by 9.3% and 8.8%, respectively. Total world stainless steel production increased by 3.4% in 2012, according to CRU. There is still a surplus in the market, and the surplus was growing throughout the year. The LME nickel stocks increased by 54.6% by the end of 2012 as compared to the same period of 2011, according to CRU.

The ferrochrome market was generally balanced in 2011 and in surplus by the end of 2012. We expect that stainless steel production will continue to improve in 2013, which will lead to an increase in demand for nickel and ferrochrome.

Global ferrosilicon demand grew by 12.5% in 2012, on the back of the general increase in steel production, according to CRU. We expect that the ferrosilicon market will see further increase in demand in 2013, since we expect continued growth in steel production.

Power. In 2012, the electricity output of our generating enterprises increased by 9% as compared to 2011. Heat energy generated for sale increased by 11%.

The reduction in market demand for electricity energy has resulted in the need to adjust undertakings and completion schedules with respect to power industry companies’ investment programs. Currently the Russian government is analyzing the progress made on these programs to clarify the timeline for installation of the necessary production capacities in the light of the economic downturn. It is expected that these decisions can form a new long-term agreement with the Russian government regarding the regulatory scheme of the regulated capacity market which will determine the profitability of this market.

 

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Sales

Mining. Overall, we expect sales volumes of our mining segment to grow in 2013, due to an increase in demand in the Asian markets. We expect domestic sales of our mining products to increase due to increased demand. Export sales are also expected to increase, since we are strategically diversifying our sales geography. We believe that our policy of concluding long-term contracts for coal and iron ore concentrate sales strengthens our relationships with our customers and gives us long-term presence in both the domestic and export markets.

Steel. Our steel segment sales volumes are expected not to increase in 2013 due to a decrease in demand for steel. During 2012, Mechel Service, a Russian subsidiary of Mechel Service Global, continued its program for development and expansion of its product portfolio, the range of services and customer base. Mechel Service has offices in 68 cities throughout Russia. We believe that our strategy aimed at increasing the efficiency of the existing distribution network, expanding our product portfolio and developing customer services will improve our market position and will provide us with greater stability in steel sales.

Ferroalloys. We do not expect sales volumes of our ferroalloys segment to increase in 2013 due to a decrease in demand for steel as ferroalloys are used in the steel production.

Power. In 2013, we expect sales volumes of our power segment to remain at the level of 2012. We do not expect that consumption by small and mid-sized businesses and households, who are also customers of power and heat-supply companies, will change significantly. We plan to expand our distribution channels to build a new customer base among small and mid-sized businesses, as well as public utilities. We also plan to optimize our production capacity through further integration of our intra-group assets. We hope that further integration of our power assets, as well as diversification of our customer portfolio will allow us to avoid a fall in power segment sales caused by a decrease in demand from large industrial companies that are shifting their business from power supply companies.

Inventory

Overall, our inventory decreased by $519.7 million, or 20%, to $2,073.2 million as of December 31, 2012 from $2,592.9 million as of December 31, 2011, due to the suspension of production activities at Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant, Southern Urals Nickel Plant and Romanian companies in the second half of 2012 as well as the decrease of finished goods production costs following the decrease of raw materials costs in the steel segment.

Costs

Mining. Within our mining segment, we expect our iron ore cash costs per tonne to increase in 2013 as a result of increasing prices of power, explosives, automotive tires and tubes for open pit equipment and land use fees, while coal cash costs per tonne should remain relatively stable in 2013 as a result of increasing operational efficiency and decreasing semi-fixed costs.

Steel. Excluding the effects of exchange rate fluctuations, our steel cash costs per tonne should remain relatively stable in 2013 as a result of achieving cost savings, as well as efficiency and output gains arising as a result of our targeted capital investment program. Specifically, as we continue to introduce operational and technical changes at our plants allowing us to better integrate their products, we expect to be better able to control our cost increases. The increasing use of continuous casters should provide both efficiency and production increases.

Ferroalloys. We expect electricity and natural gas expenses to increase in 2013, which will lead to an increase in the power cost component of our ferroalloys production cost structure. We intend to maintain strict control over costs, which should enable us to cut expenditures by reducing the fixed-expense component of our production costs and optimizing administrative expenses.

 

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Power. We expect that in 2013 the cost of the production of electricity and heat energy will increase due to an increase in the prices of key raw materials, particularly natural gas, as well as some ancillary materials. We intend to maintain strict control over costs, which should enable us to cut expenditures by reducing the fixed-expense component of our production costs, optimizing administrative expenses and increasing productivity to satisfy increased market demand in some regions. We have given special attention to high-priority financial and operating activities, including technical refurbishment, development of existing capacities and installation of new power generation capacity at our production facilities.

Seasonality

Seasonal effects have a relatively limited impact on our results. Slowing of demand and, thus, a reduction in sales volumes (and a related increase in inventories) is typically evident in the first and fourth quarters of the financial year as a result of the general reduction in economic activity associated with the New Year holiday period in Russia and elsewhere. We maintain larger stockpiles of scrap during the winter months in order to avoid potential supply disruptions due to inclement weather. We are dependent on the Russian construction market, which also experiences slowdowns in the winter months. Both our ferroalloys and mining (in respect of coking coal and iron ore) segments’ revenues generally have the same seasonality as the steel segment since ferroalloys, coking coal and iron ore are primarily used in the manufacture of steel and are closely linked to steel consumption. By contrast, our power segment sales volumes are generally higher in the first and the fourth quarters of the year, due to increased electricity and steam consumption in the winter period. Our sales of steam coal typically increase during the second and third quarters as a result of increased steam coal purchases by utilities, including Southern Kuzbass Power Plant, in preparation for increased consumption during the winter heating season.

Consumption of combustive, lubricative and energy supplies during the winter months is generally higher than during the rest of the year. In addition, railroad carriers demand that iron ore concentrate be fully dried and coal concentrate be partially dried for transportation during the winter months, resulting in higher costs during that time.

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees

Directors and Executive Officers

Board of Directors

 

Name

   Year of Birth     

Position

Igor V. Zyuzin

     1960       Chairman, Director

Evgeny V. Mikhel

     1974       Director, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of Management Board

Alexander E. Yevtushenko(1)(3)(4)

     1947       Director

Valentin V. Proskurnya(4)

     1945       Director

Roger I. Gale(1)(2)(3)

     1952       Director

A. David Johnson(1)(2)(4)

     1937       Director

Igor S. Kozhukhovsky(1)(3)(4)

     1956       Director

Vladimir V. Gusev(1)(2)(3)

     1945       Director

Viktor A. Trigubko(4)

     1956       Director, Senior Vice President — Government Relations

 

(1) Independent Director under the applicable NYSE regulations and Russian regulations.
(2) Member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
(3) Member of the Committee on Appointments and Remuneration.
(4) Member of the Committee on Investments and Strategic Planning.

 

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Igor V. Zyuzin has been Chairman of our Board of Directors since July 2010. He was our Chief Executive Officer from December 2006 to June 2010 and Chairman of our Management Board from September 2007 to June 2010. He served as Chairman of our Board of Directors from March 2003, when Mechel was founded, to December 2006 and has been a member of our Board of Directors since that time. Mr. Zyuzin has also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, a position he has held since May 1999, and has been a member of the Board of Directors of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant since 2001 and a member of the Board of Directors of Yakutugol since October 2007. Mr. Zyuzin has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Mechel Mining since April 2008 and as Chairman of Management Board and Chief Executive Officer of Mechel Mining since July 2011. From April 2008 to June 2011, Mr. Zyuzin served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mechel Mining. Mr. Zyuzin has over 26 years of experience in the coal mining industry. Mr. Zyuzin has a degree in technology and complex mechanization of underground mining from the Tula Polytechnic Institute. Mr. Zyuzin also has a degree in mining engineering economics and a Ph.D. in technical sciences relating to coal mining. Mr. Zyuzin beneficially owns 65.49% of our common shares and 1.31% of the common shares of Mechel Mining.

Evgeny V. Mikhel has been a member of our Board of Directors since June 2011 and our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our Management Board since July 2010. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant since May 2012. Previously, he was our First Deputy Chief Executive Officer from April 2009 to June 2010. From September 2007 to April 2009, he held the position of our Vice President — Legal Matters and Director of the Legal Department. From September 2006 to September 2007, he was Director of our Government Relations Department. From July to September 2006, he held the position of our General Counsel and Director of the Department of Judicial Protection. From February to July 2006, Mr. Mikhel was General Counsel and Director of the Department of Judicial Protection and Legal Regulation at Mechel Management OOO. Mr. Mikhel was our General Counsel and Director of the Department of Judicial Protection and Legal Regulation from March 2005 to January 2006, our Director of the Department of Judicial Protection and Legal Regulation from October 2003 to February 2005, and Head of our Russian Legal Department from July to September 2003. Mr. Mikhel has been a member of the Board of Directors of Mecheltrans since April 2011 and a member of the Board of Directors of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant since May 2003. From 2007 to 2010, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Moscow Coke and Gas Plant. From July 2002 to June 2003, Mr. Mikhel served as Head of Legal Department and then Deputy General Director for Legal Matters of Uglemet-Trading OOO. From May 2000 to July 2002, he was a legal adviser in the Bureau of Civil Disputes and Support of International Economic Activity and Head of the Department of Litigation and Enforcement of Court Orders of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. From November 1998 to May 2000, Mr. Mikhel worked in the Chelyabinsk branch of Sberbank as a leading legal adviser. Mr. Mikhel has a law degree from the Urals State Law Academy.

Alexander E. Yevtushenko has been a member of our Board of Directors since June 2004. He served as Chairman of our Board of Directors from July 2009 to July 2010. From 2001 to 2004, Mr. Yevtushenko served as First Vice President of Sokolovskaya OAO, a holding company for a group of Russian coal mining and engineering enterprises. From 1999 to 2000, he was President of the General Committee of the Inter-State Eurasian Association of Coal and Metals. From 1991 to 1999, Mr. Yevtushenko was First Deputy Minister of Fuel and Energy of the Russian Federation. From 1973 to 1991, he held various positions, including General Director of the Raspadskaya Mine in the Kuzbass region, the Soviet Union’s largest coal mine. Mr. Yevtushenko has a degree in mining engineering from the Siberian Metallurgical Institute. He is a D.Sc. in engineering and a member of the Academy of Mining Sciences of Russia. Mr. Yevtushenko is the author of more than 50 scientific publications, including Mineral Resources Base of the Coal Industry of Russia, a study for which he was awarded the Science and Technology Prize by the Russian government in 2002. He has received a number of governmental awards, including the title of Honored Miner of the Russian Federation in 1997.

Valentin V. Proskurnya has been a member of our Board of Directors since March 2003. From July 2007 to July 2009, he served as Chairman of our Board of Directors. From May to December 2003, Mr. Proskurnya was

 

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Director for Economics at Mechel Trading House. From 2001 to 2005, Mr. Proskurnya was a member of the Board of Directors of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. From 1999 to 2005, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company. Mr. Proskurnya has over 40 years of engineering, financial and management experience in the coal mining industry and has a degree in labor economics from the Higher School of Trade Unions. Mr. Proskurnya has been decorated with all three grades of the “Miner’s Glory” order by the Russian government. In addition, the Russian President awarded him the title of Honored Economist of the Russian Federation in 1996.

Roger I. Gale has been a member of our Board of Directors since October 2004. Mr. Gale has been Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sedia Biosciences Corporation since January 2009 and Director of Starnorth Ltd since March 2000. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Calypte Biomedical Corporation, a U.S. company headquartered in Portland, Oregon, from November 2004 to June 2008. From January 2001 to July 2006, Mr. Gale was Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Wavecrest Group Enterprises Limited, a telecommunications services provider. From 1999 to 2001, he was Chairman of the Board of Directors and co-founder of End2End Wireless Limited, a wireless communications services provider. From 1996 to 1998, Mr. Gale was Chief Executive Officer of AIG-Brunswick Capital Management, a $300 million Russian investment fund sponsored by OPIC. From 1988 to 1996, Mr. Gale worked for the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank (the “IFC”), including as Chief of the IFC’s Resident Mission in Russia from 1992 to 1995. Mr. Gale also worked for nine years for the Asian Development Bank, and has lectured in economics at the University of New England (Australia) and Lincoln College (New Zealand). Mr. Gale holds a diploma from the Royal Agricultural College and a master’s degree in economics from the University of New England.

A. David Johnson has been a member of our Board of Directors since October 2004. Mr. Johnson has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of Neuerth Coal Mining PVT Ltd since 2008 and has been a member of the Board of Directors of Coal Energy S.A. since June 2011. Mr. Johnson served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Joy Mining Machinery UK Ltd from 2003 to 2008, and Managing Director of Joy Mining Machinery UK Ltd from 1990 to 2002. From 1984 to 1990, Mr. Johnson was Managing Director of Dosco Overseas Engineering, a U.K.-based mining equipment manufacturer. From 1990 to 1992, he served as President of the Association of British Mining Equipment Companies. He also worked at the U.K. National Coal Board from 1953 to 1960. In 1998, he was awarded the Order of Friendship by the Russian government for services to the Russian coal industry. Mr. Johnson is a qualified mining engineer having obtained the U.K. Mining Qualifications Board Certificate in 1959.

Igor S. Kozhukhovsky has been a member of our Board of Directors since June 2008. Mr. Kozhukhovsky has been General Director of APBE ZAO, a forecasting agency engaged in the electric power sector, since August 2005. From 1999 to 2008, Mr. Kozhukhovsky held various positions at UES, including Head of the Economic Policy Department. From 1997 to 1999, he was Deputy Minister of Fuel and Energy of the Russian Federation. Mr. Kozhukhovsky has degrees in automation of metallurgical production engineering and mining electrical engineering from the Siberian Metallurgical Institute. He also has a Ph.D. in economics.

Vladimir V. Gusev has been a member of our Board of Directors since July 2009. In 2008, Mr. Gusev held the position of Vice President for Finance of the State Corporation “Olympstroy”. From 2005 to 2008, he was Deputy Head of the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation. From 1999 to 2005, he was First Deputy Minister of Taxes and Levies of the Russian Federation. Mr. Gusev has a law degree from the Leningrad State University. He also has a Ph.D. in economics and is an associate professor. He was awarded several national awards, including in 2000, by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, the title of Honored Economist of the Russian Federation. Mr. Gusev has authored more than 30 scientific papers and publications.

Victor A. Trigubko has been a member of our Board of Directors since June 2012 and our Senior Vice President — Government Relations since August 2006. Previously, he was our Vice President — Government Relations from 2005 to August 2006. From 2003 to 2005, he was our Vice President for Representation in Central and Eastern Europe, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mechel Campia Turzii and a member of the

 

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Board of Directors of Mechel Targoviste. From 2002 to 2003, Mr. Trigubko was Director of Mechel International Holdings AG’s representative office in Romania. From 1997 to 2002, he was Head of Izhstal’s representative office in Moscow. From 1992 to 1997, he held various executive positions in the metallurgical company Unibros Steel Co. LTD, including Deputy General Director. Mr. Trigubko also worked in the Foreign Relations Department of the USSR State Committee for Labor and Social Issues and in the USSR Trade Representation Office in Romania. Mr. Trigubko has a degree in economics from the Kalinin State University.

All of our current directors were elected on June 29, 2012, and their terms expire on the date of our next annual general shareholders’ meeting, which will take place not later than June 30, 2013. The business and mailing address for all our directors and executive officers is Krasnoarmeyskaya Street 1, Moscow 125993, Russian Federation.

Executive Officers

 

Name

   Year of Birth     

Position

Evgeny V. Mikhel

     1974       Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of Management Board, Director

Alexey G. Ivanushkin

     1962       Chief Executive Officer of Oriel Resources Ltd., Head of Oriel Resources Ltd. Moscow representative office

Victor A. Trigubko

     1956       Senior Vice President — Government Relations, Director

Stanislav A. Ploshchenko

     1976       Senior Vice President — Finance, Member of Management Board

Andrey D. Deineko

     1953       Vice President for Technology Development, Member of Management Board

Vladimir I. Tytsky

     1950       Chief Executive Officer of Mechel-Steel Management

Boris G. Nikishichev

     1946       Chief Executive Officer of Mechel Mining Management, Member of Management Board

Irina N. Ipeeva

     1963       Director of Legal Department, Member of Management Board

Elena V. Selivanova

     1962       Vice President for Human Resources and Social Policy, Member of Management Board

Yuriy P. Yampolskiy

     1955       Chief Executive Officer of Mechel Energo

Oleg V. Korzhov

     1970       Senior Vice President for Economics and Management, Member of Management Board

Gennady A. Ovchinnikov

     1951       Chief Executive Officer of Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant, Member of Management Board

Sergey S. Zhilyakov

     1953       Chief Executive Officer of Mechel Ferroalloys Management

Oleg Y. Vasechko

     1971       Chief Executive Officer of Mecheltrans Management

Alexander S. Starodubov

     1946       Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mecheltrans, Member of Management Board

Sergey N. Shuvalov

     1974       Director of Treasury Operations Department, Member of Management Board

Mikhail L. Urvantsev

     1969       Vice President for Commercial Activities, Member of Management Board

 

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For brief biographies of Messrs. Mikhel and Trigubko, see “— Board of Directors.”

Alexey G. Ivanushkin has been Chief Executive Officer of Oriel Resources Ltd. since April 2009 and Head of Oriel Resources Ltd. Moscow representative office since February 2009. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of Oriel Resources Ltd. since October 2008 and a member of the Board of Directors of Southern Urals Nickel Plant since May 2009. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Southern Urals Nickel Plant since May 2010. He was a member of our Board of Directors from March 2003 to July 2009, and served as our Chief Operating Officer from January 2004 to February 2009. Mr. Ivanushkin held the position of our Chief Executive Officer from March 2003 to January 2004. Mr. Ivanushkin served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant from June 2002 to 2009. From June to October 2004, he was Chief Executive Officer of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company. From December 1999 to April 2002, Mr. Ivanushkin served as Chief Executive Officer of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. From 1993 to November 1999, he was Director of the Department of Ferrous Metals and Ferroalloys in the Moscow office of Glencore International. Mr. Ivanushkin has a degree in economics and international relations from the Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO).

Stanislav A. Ploshchenko has been our Senior Vice President – Finance since April 2009 and a member of our Management Board since September 2007. Mr. Ploshchenko served as our Vice President — Finance from January 2008 to April 2009 and performed functions of our Vice President — Finance from July 2007 to January 2008. Mr. Ploshchenko has been a member of the Board of Directors of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant since 2008 and a member of the Board of Directors of Mechel Mining since June 2011. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant from August 2010 to May 2012. From 2008 to 2011, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant. He was our Deputy Chief Financial Officer from April to July 2007 and Deputy Treasurer from June 2006 to April 2007. From June 2001 to June 2006, Mr. Ploshchenko held various positions at Commerzbank AG and Commerzbank (Eurasia) ZAO, including Head of Metal and Mining Industry Group of the Corporate Clients Department of Commerzbank (Eurasia) ZAO. From 1995 to 1996, Mr. Ploshchenko worked as an auditor for Bank’s Audit Service OOO. Mr. Ploshchenko holds a master’s degree in international securities investment and banking from the ISMA Centre at the University of Reading (U.K.), a bachelor’s degree in international finance and trade from the University of Portsmouth (U.K.) and a specialist diploma in international economics from the Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation.

Andrey D. Deineko has been our Vice President for Technology Development since October 2012 and a member of our Management Board since March 2009. Mr. Deineko has also been a member of the Board of Directors of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, Izhstal and Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant since May 2008, and a member of the Board of Directors of Urals Stampings Plant and Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant since June 2008. From December 2008 to September 2012, he was Chief Executive Officer of Mechel-Steel Management. From January to December 2008, he served as Steel Division Director of Mechel-Steel Management. From 2005 to 2007, he held the position of Director of the Department of Industry in the Russian Ministry of Industry and Energy and from 2004 to 2005 he served as Deputy Director of this Department. From 2002 to 2004, he was Head of the Department of Industrial and Innovative Policy in Metallurgy in the Russian Ministry of Industry and Science. From 1999 to 2002, he served as Deputy General Director of Oskol Electrometallurgical Plant OAO. From 1998 to 1999, Mr. Deineko held the position of Deputy General Director of INTERFIN Interbank Investment and Finance Company ZAO. From 1997 to 1998, he served as Head of the Supply Department of Zapad-Elite ZAO. From 1976 to 1997, Mr. Deineko worked at the Bardin Central Scientific and Research Institute of Ferrous Metallurgy, including as Head of the Marketing and Organization of Scientific and Technical Cooperation Department. He has been awarded the title of Honored Metallurgist. Mr. Deineko has a degree in process engineering and a Ph.D. in technical sciences from the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys.

Vladimir I. Tytsky has been Chief Executive Officer of Mechel-Steel Management since October 2012. He has also been a member of the Board of Directors of Moscow Coke and Gas Plant since June 2008. From October 2010 to September 2012, he held the position of Deputy General Director for Coke and Chemical Products Production of Mechel Mining Management. From July 2007 to September 2012, he was Managing

 

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Director of Moscow Coke and Gas Plant. From October 2006 to July 2007, he was General Director of Moscow Coke and Gas Plant. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Tytsky held the positions of Mechel Group’s Senior Vice President for Strategy and Integration and Senior Vice President for Sales and Purchases. From 2002 to 2003, Mr. Tytsky was Deputy and then First Deputy General Director at Coalmet Trading. From 1972 to 2002, he held various positions at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, including Deputy General Director for Marketing and Distribution. In 2000, he was awarded the title of Honored Metallurgist. Mr. Tytsky has a degree in chemical process engineering from the Dnepropetrovsk Metallurgical Institute.

Boris G. Nikishichev has been Chief Executive Officer of Mechel Mining Management since August 2009 and a member of our Management Board since September 2009. He was our Vice President — Mining from July 2009 to June 2010. Mr. Nikishichev has served as a member of the Management Board of Mechel Mining since July 2011. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company since June 2006, a member of the Board of Directors of Korshunov Mining Plant since June 2007 and a member of the Board of Directors of Yakutugol since June 2010. From January 2009 to April 2010, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Mechel Engineering. From April 2008 to June 2011, Mr. Nikishichev was a member of the Board of Directors of Mechel Mining. He also was a member of the Board of Directors of Port Posiet from May 2007 to June 2010, and a member of the Board of Directors of Mecheltrans from July 2007 to April 2010. From July 2006 to January 2009, he held the position of Director for Mining of Mechel-Steel Management. Previously, he was our Senior Vice President — Mining from February 2005 to January 2006 and Senior Vice President — Mining at Mechel-Steel Management from February to June 2006. From 2004 to February 2005, he served as Deputy General Director of Raspadskaya Coal Company ZAO. From 1998 to 2004, he held the position of First Vice President in Sokolovskaya Holding Company. In addition, from 1999 to 2004, he was First Vice President of the Non-profit Partnership Russian Mining Operators. He has a degree in mining electrical engineering from the Siberian Metallurgical Institute and a D.Sc. in technical sciences from the Moscow State Mining University.

Irina N. Ipeeva has been Director of our Legal Department since April 2009 and a member of our Management Board since September 2007. From September 2007 to April 2009, she was our General Counsel, Deputy Director of the Legal Department — Director of the Department of Corporate Governance and Property. From 2003 to 2007, Ms. Ipeeva held the position of General Counsel and Director of the Department of Corporate Governance and Property. From February to July 2006, she was Director of the Department of Corporate Governance and Property of Mechel-Steel Management. From March to June 2003, Ms. Ipeeva held the position of Deputy General Director for Property Matters of Uglemet-Trading OOO. From December 2001 to March 2003, she was Head of the Department for Regulation of Corporate Relations and Property of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and, from January to November 2001, she was Head of the Share Capital Department. From August 1988 to January 2001, Ms. Ipeeva worked at the Kuzbassugleobogashcheniye Industrial Amalgamation and the Tomusinskaya Washing Plant, where she held positions ranging from a legal adviser to head of the legal department. Ms. Ipeeva has a degree in law from the Kuibyshev State University.

Elena V. Selivanova has been our Vice President for Human Resources and Social Policy since April 2009 and a member of our Management Board since September 2007. From January 2007 to April 2009, she was our Director of the Human Resources Department. From April 2004 to November 2006, Ms. Selivanova held the position of Executive Director for Human Resources of Volgotanker. From March 2002 to March 2004, she was Director of the Department for Organizational Development and Personnel Management of Firma Omega-97 OOO. From November 1999 to March 2002, Ms. Selivanova was Director of the Personnel Service and Deputy Director for Personnel at Vimpel-Kommunikatsii OAO. From July to October 1999, she was Director for Personnel at Personalny Telefon OOO. From March 1998 to February 1999, she was Personnel Manager at Bakster Export ZAO. Ms. Selivanova graduated from the Moscow State Cultural Institute.

Yuriy P. Yampolskiy has been Chief Executive Officer of Mechel Energo since March 2012. From October 2011 to February 2012, he served as Deputy General Director for Economics and Finance of Joint-Stock Company Research Engineering Centre of IDGC (“JSC REC IDGC”). From January to October 2011,

 

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Mr. Yampolskiy was First Deputy General Director of JSC REC IDGC and, from November 2010 to January 2011, he held the position of Deputy General Director of JSC REC IDGC. From October 2008 to October 2010, he was Director of Arkhenergo, a branch of IDGC of the North-West JSC. From October to December 2007, Mr. Yampolskiy was General Director of Eurasia-EnergoService ZAO and, from June to October 2007, he served as Executive Director of Eurasia-EnergoService OOO. From November 2005 to December 2006, he was Deputy General Director in the branch of FGK. From June 2003 to November 2005, Mr. Yampolskiy served as General Director of Taimyrenergo OAO. From November 2002 to June 2003, he was First Deputy General Director of Marienergo AO and, from March 2001 to November 2002, he was Deputy General Director for Finance of Marienergo AO. From April 1997 to March 2001, he held various positions at Volgaenergoproject-Samara OAO, including Deputy General Director for Marketing. Mr. Yampolskiy has a degree in automated control systems from the Moscow Institute of Civil Aviation Engineers and a degree in management in energy from the Academy of National Economy under the Government of the Russian Federation. Mr. Yampolskiy also has a D.Sc. in economics.

Oleg V. Korzhov has been our Senior Vice President for Economics and Management since February 2012 and a member of our Management Board since March 2009. Mr. Korzhov was our Senior Vice President for Business Planning and Analysis from November 2011 to February 2012, and our Vice President for Business Planning and Analysis from April 2009 to October 2011. Mr. Korzhov has been a member of the Board of Directors of Port Posiet, Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant and Mecheltrans since 2008, Southern Kuzbass Power Plant since 2009, Kuzbass Power Sales Company since 2010 and Mechel Mining since June 2011. Mr. Korzhov was a member of the Board of Directors of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant from 2008 to May 2011 and a member of the Board of Directors of Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant from 2008 to May 2010. From July 2008 to April 2009, he was Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Economics and Finance of Mechel-Steel Management. From September 2005 to January 2006, he served as Economic Planning Director of Mechel and from February 2006 to July 2008 he held the same position at Mechel-Steel Management. From 2003 to 2005, Mr. Korzhov was Director for Finance and Economics of Evrazholding OOO. From 1998 to 2003, he was Deputy Director for Economic Analysis and Pricing and then Director for Economics of Nizhnetagilsky Metallurgical Plant OAO. Mr. Korzhov has a degree in economics and management in metallurgy from the Urals Polytechnic Institute and a degree in general management from the Academy of National Economy under the Government of the Russian Federation. Mr. Korzhov also has a Ph.D. in economics.

Gennady A. Ovchinnikov has been Chief Executive Officer of Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant since June 2012 and a member of our Management Board since March 2009. He has also been a member of the Board of Directors of Southern Urals Nickel Plant since April 2005. From December 2008 to June 2012, he was Chief Executive Officer of Mechel Ferroalloys Management. From July 2006 to September 2009, Mr. Ovchinnikov served as Managing Director of Southern Urals Nickel Plant. From March 2005 to July 2006, he was Chief Executive Officer of Southern Urals Nickel Plant. From April 2004 to March 2005, he held the position of a leading specialist in our Technical Department. From March 2001 to April 2004, Mr. Ovchinnikov worked as Head of the Enrichment and Agglomeration Bureau and Head of the Mining Engineering Department at ZapSib. From 1974 to 2001, he held various positions at Kuznetsky Metallurgical Plant OAO, including the position of Director at the Abagurskaya Enrichment and Agglomeration Factory. Mr. Ovchinnikov has a degree in minerals enrichment from the Magnitogorsk Ore Mining and Smelting Institute and a Ph.D. in technical sciences.

Sergey S. Zhilyakov has been Chief Executive Officer of Mechel Ferroalloys Management since June 2012. From April to October 2011, he was Head of Production Department of Rusal Global Management B.V. ZAO. From August 2008 to June 2009, Mr. Zhilyakov held the position of Deputy General Director — Director of the Production and Technical Policy Department of Mechel Ferroalloys Management. From January to July 2008, he served as Deputy Director of Reconstruction and Development of Metallurgical and Ferroalloys Complexes Department — Director of Ferroalloys Production Development Department of Mechel-Steel Management. From November 2006 to January 2008, he was Director of Capital Construction Department of Mechel-Steel

 

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Management. From 2000 to 2006, Mr. Zhilyakov worked as First Deputy Director of Sibelectrosplav OOO. From 1975 to 2000, he held various positions at Kuznetsk Ferroalloys, including Director — Chairman of Management Board. Mr. Zhilyakov has been awarded the Order of People’s Friendship and the title of Honored Metallurgist of the Russian Federation. Mr. Zhilyakov has a degree in ferrous metallurgy from the Siberian Metallurgical Institute.

Oleg Y. Vasechko has been Chief Executive Officer of Mecheltrans Management since December 2011. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of Port Kambarka since May 2011, a member of the Board of Directors of Port Posiet since June 2010 and a member of the Board of Directors of Mecheltrans since April 2010. From July to December 2011, he held the position of Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Mecheltrans Management. From July 2010 to June 2011, he served as Managing Director of Mecheltrans. From April to July 2010, Mr. Vasechko served as Chief Executive Officer of Mecheltrans and in March 2010 as First Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Mecheltrans. From September 1995 to March 2010, he held various positions at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, including Head of the Railway Transport Department. Mr. Vasechko has a degree in transport management (rail) from the Urals State University of Railway Transport.

Alexander S. Starodubov has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mecheltrans since December 2011 and a member of our Management Board since March 2009. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of Port Kambarka since June 2007. From March 2010 to December 2011, Mr. Starodubov held the position of Chief Executive Officer of Mecheltrans Management. From May 2009 to March 2010, he was Chief Executive Officer of Mecheltrans. From 2007 to April 2009, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mecheltrans. From April 2008 to May 2009, he held the position of Managing Director of Mecheltrans and from 2002 to 2007 he served as Chief Executive Officer of Mecheltrans. From 1999 to 2002, he was Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Uglemet-Trading OOO. From 1987 to 1999, he was Director of the F.E. Dzerzhinsky Underground Mine’s representative office. Mr. Starodubov has a degree in technology and complex mechanization of underground mining from the Siberian Metallurgical Institute.

Sergey N. Shuvalov has been our Director of the Treasury Operations Department since January 2011 and a member of our Management Board since August 2010. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of Korshunov Mining Plant since June 2009. From May 2009 to December 2010, he served as our Treasurer and, from October 2006 to May 2009, he held the same position at Mechel-Steel Management. From July 2008 to March 2009, he also served as Chief Financial Officer of Mechel Mining. From February to October 2006, Mr. Shuvalov was Deputy Treasurer of Mechel-Steel Management and, from July 2003 to February 2006, he held the same position at Mechel. From 2000 to 2003, Mr. Shuvalov held various positions at Mining and Metallurgical Company Norilsk Nickel OAO. In the period from 1995 to 2000, he held various positions at Import-Export Bank Impexbank OOO and Rossiyskiy Kredit Bank OAO. Mr. Shuvalov has a degree in rocket engines from the Moscow State Aviation Institute and a degree in finance and credit from the Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation.

Mikhail L. Urvantsev has been our Vice President for Commercial Activities since April 2011 and a member of our Management Board since May 2011. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of Yakutugol since May 2012. From November 2009 to March 2011, he was Chief Executive Officer of UMZ OOO. From 2006 to 2009, he served as Chief Executive Officer of UMZ Trading House OOO. From 2005 to 2006, Mr. Urvantsev held the position of Commercial Director of Industrial Metallurgical Holding Management Company OOO. From 2004 to 2005, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Mechel Trading House. In 2004, he was Director of the Supply Department of Mechel Steel Group OAO (now Mechel). From 2002 to 2004, he held the position of Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Mechel Trading House. From 2001 to 2002, he was Commercial Director of Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant. Mr. Urvantsev has a degree in economics and management in trade and catering from the Moscow Commercial University.

 

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Compensation

Our directors and executive officers were paid an aggregate of $13.2 million for services in all capacities provided to us during 2012. The total amount set aside for pension, retirement and other similar benefits for our directors and executive officers as of December 31, 2012 was not material. Our directors and executive officers are also provided with voluntary medical insurance and the use of wireless services.

Board of Directors

Members of our Board of Directors are elected by a majority of the voting stock present at our annual general shareholders’ meeting using a cumulative voting system. Directors are elected to serve until the next annual general shareholders’ meeting and may be re-elected an unlimited number of times. Our Board of Directors currently consists of nine members, five of whom are independent pursuant to the director independence criteria set forth both in the applicable Russian regulations and NYSE regulations, as well as in the Charter and the Bylaw on the Board of Directors of Mechel OAO. The Board of Directors is responsible for our overall management, except matters reserved for our shareholders. See “Item 10. Additional Information — General Meetings of Shareholders” for more information regarding the competence of our general shareholders’ meetings. Some of the members of our Board of Directors, as well as the members of the boards of directors of our subsidiaries, serve pursuant to contracts. These contracts do not provide for any benefits upon termination of their directorship.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors consists of Roger Gale, Vladimir Gusev and David Johnson, each of whom is an Independent Director. Our Audit Committee operates pursuant to a bylaw, which is available at www.mechel.com. The purpose of this Committee is to assist the Board of Directors with its oversight responsibilities regarding:

 

   

the quality and integrity of our financial statements;

 

   

our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;

 

   

the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence; and

 

   

the performance of our internal audit function and independent auditor.

Committee on Investments and Strategic Planning

The members of the Committee on Investments and Strategic Planning are David Johnson, Igor Kozhukhovsky, Alexander Yevtushenko, Valentin Proskurnya and Viktor Trigubko. The Committee on Investments and Strategic Planning defines our strategic goals and defines our priorities. The Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors on our dividend policy and on the adjustments to our strategy as required in order to enhance our efficiency. Our Committee on Investments and Strategic Planning operates pursuant to a bylaw, which is available at www.mechel.com.

The following sub-committees were set up under the Committee on Investments and Strategic Planning:

 

   

Sub-committee on metallurgical production strategy, with members Valentin Proskurnya, Viktor Trigubko and Evgeny Mikhel;

 

   

Sub-committee on mining production strategy, with members Alexander Yevtushenko and David Johnson; and

 

   

Sub-committee on power production strategy, with members Igor Kozhukhovsky and Valentin Proskurnya.

 

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Committee on Appointments and Remuneration

The members of the Committee on Appointments and Remuneration are Roger Gale, Vladimir Gusev, Igor Kozhukhovsky and Alexander Yevtushenko, each of whom is an Independent Director. The Committee on Appointments and Remuneration has been established to maintain continuity and high professional standards, as well as to work out a competitive remuneration system, within our group. The Committee prepares recommendations to the Board of Directors on candidates for appointment to the Management Board or as our Chief Executive Officer or other executive officers or senior officers of our subsidiaries. It also prepares appraisals of their performance and makes recommendations regarding their remuneration. The Committee also defines the requirements applicable to nominees to the Board of Directors and informs the shareholders of such nominees. The Committee operates pursuant to a bylaw, which is available at www.mechel.com.

Management Board

In September 2007, we created a Management Board to provide for greater oversight of our operations. For more information, see “Item 10. Additional Information — Management Board.” The members of the Management Board are set out above under “— Directors and Executive Officers.”

Management Companies

We have five management companies within our group which provide management services to the companies within the mining, steel, ferroalloys and power segments and to our companies within our transport division.

Mechel Mining Management

Mechel Mining Management was established in July 2008 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mechel with the purpose to provide management services to the production subsidiaries within our mining segment. Mechel Mining Management is currently owned by Mechel Mining and performs the functions of the sole executive body of the following companies of Mechel Mining: Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, Korshunov Mining Plant, Yakutugol, Moscow Coke and Gas Plant and Mechel Coke.

Mechel-Steel Management

Mechel-Steel Management was established in October 2005 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mechel with the initial purpose to provide management services to our subsidiaries by performing the functions of their respective management bodies. The company’s former name was Mechel Management OOO which it changed on September 14, 2009 in line with the reorganization of our group’s management structure. Mechel-Steel Management presently provides management services to most of our subsidiaries within steel segment and performs the functions of the sole executive body of the following companies: Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant, Urals Stampings Plant, Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant, Izhstal and Kaslinsky Architectural Art Casting Plant.

Mechel Ferroalloys Management

Mechel Ferroalloys Management was established in May 2008 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mechel with the purpose to provide management services to the production subsidiaries within our ferroalloys segment. Mechel Ferroalloys Management is currently owned by Oriel Resources and performs the functions of the sole executive body of the following companies of Oriel Resources: Southern Urals Nickel Plant, Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant and Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant.

 

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Mechel Energo

Mechel Energo was established in May 2001 under the name of Regional Energy Company ENERGOSBYT OOO. In April 2004, we acquired the company with a view to make the strategic and operational management of our power assets more efficient. The name of the company was changed to its current name in April 2004. Mechel Energo performs the functions of the sole executive body of the following companies within our power segment: Southern Kuzbass Power Plant and Kuzbass Power Sales Company.

Mecheltrans Management

Mecheltrans Management was established in March 2010 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mechel and since April 1, 2010 provides management services to the companies within our transport division by performing the functions of the sole executive body of Mecheltrans, Port Posiet, Port Kambarka and Port Temryuk.

Review Commission

The Review Commission verifies the accuracy of our financial reporting under Russian law and generally supervises our financial activity. The members of our Review Commission are nominated and elected by our shareholders to serve until the next annual general shareholders’ meeting. Our Chief Executive Officer, a member of our Board of Directors and a member of our Management Board may not simultaneously be a member of the Review Commission. Our Review Commission currently has three members: Elena V. Pavlovskaya-Mokhnatkina, who serves as Chairman, Andrey V. Stepanov and Natalia G. Mikhaylova. The powers and duties of our Review Commission are governed by a bylaw approved by our general shareholders’ meeting.

Internal Control and Audit Department

The Internal Control and Audit Department’s main function is to systematically, consistently and independently from our management assess and improve the efficiency of our group’s risk management, internal control, corporate governance and information systems. The activities of the Internal Control and Audit Department are governed by a bylaw on the Internal Control and Audit Department. Evgeny A. Yaminskiy is the Director of the Internal Control and Audit Department. The Department is functionally subordinated to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, and administrated by our Chief Executive Officer.

Corporate Governance Principles

Our corporate governance principles are based on the Russian Corporate Governance Code recommended by the FFMS and supplemented by the obligations of the Board of Directors prescribed by Russian law, our charter and internal rules of procedure. The principles are intended to ensure that we are managed and monitored in a responsible and value-driven manner. They include the protection of shareholders’ rights, comprehensive disclosure and transparency requirements and rules governing conflicts of interest. We are committed to continuing to adapt our corporate governance principles to developments in best-practices. Our corporate governance principles are reflected in our corporate documents, such as:

 

   

the Charter;

 

   

the Bylaw on the Board of Directors;

 

   

the Bylaw on the General Meeting of Shareholders;

 

   

the Bylaw on the General Director;

 

   

the Bylaw on the Collegial Executive Body (Management Board);

 

   

the Bylaw on the Review Commission;

 

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the Bylaw on the Internal Control and Audit Department;

 

   

the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics;

 

   

the Bylaw on the Prohibition and Prevention of Insider Trading;

 

   

the Bylaw on the Disclosure of Information that may Significantly Impact the Market Value of our Shares;

 

   

the Bylaw on Information Policy;

 

   

the Bylaw on Appointments and Remuneration Committee of the Board of Directors;

 

   

the Bylaw on Investments and Strategic Planning Committee of the Board of Directors;

 

   

the Bylaw on the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors; and

 

   

the Code of Corporate Governance.

These documents are available at www.mechel.com and www.mechel.ru.

We also comply with the corporate governance requirements applicable to Russian public companies listed on Russian stock exchanges. Such requirements include: (1) the obligation to have at least three independent directors; (2) the establishment of an audit committee and a committee on appointments and remuneration consisting of independent directors, or, if not practicable, of independent directors and members of the board of directors who are not a sole executive body and/or members of the collegial executive body; (3) the establishment of a collegial executive body; (4) the adoption of a bylaw on insider trading; (5) the adoption of a bylaw setting out the rules and policies on disclosure of information about the issuer; (6) the implementation of internal control procedures; (7) the obligation to notify shareholders about the annual general shareholders’ meeting not less than 30 days before the date of the meeting provided a longer period is not prescribed by the Russian legislation; and (8) the adoption of a provision of a bylaw prescribing members of the board of directors, members of the collegial executive body, a person that performs the functions of a sole executive body to disclose information about holdings in any securities of the company and any sale and/or purchase of such securities.

We also comply with applicable corporate governance requirements of the NYSE. The NYSE permits listed companies that are foreign private issuers, such as Mechel, to follow their home jurisdiction governance practice where it differs from the NYSE requirements. In addition, we have voluntarily complied with certain other requirements applicable to U.S. companies under the NYSE Listing Standard 303A. A summary description of the NYSE Listing Standard 303A showing our compliance therewith and/or the alternative corporate governance practices followed by us is available at www.mechel.com. See also “Item 16G. Corporate Governance.”

Employees

At December 31, 2012, we employed approximately 90,465 people as follows:

 

Company

   Primary Location    Primary Function    Total
Employees
     % Unionized  

Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant

   Russia    Steel      15,110         63

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and subsidiaries (Tomusinsky Open Pit, Vzryvprom)

   Russia    Coal      10,509         74

Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant

   Russia    Steel      6,953         79

Yakutugol, Dzhebariki-Khaya Underground, Kangalassky Open Pit, Neryungry Car Fleet

   Russia    Coal      5,087         92

Izhstal

   Russia    Steel      4,777         91

Urals Stampings Plant (with branches)

   Russia    Steel      4,352         68

Korshunov Mining Plant

   Russia    Iron ore      4,017         73

 

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Company

   Primary Location    Primary Function    Total
Employees
     % Unionized  

Mechel Service Global (including subsidiaries)

   Russia, Europe    Sales and distribution      3,989         0

Southern Urals Nickel Plant

   Russia    Nickel      2,929         59

Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant

   Ukraine    Steel      2,704         70

Mechel Energo

   Russia    Power      2,181         35

Spetsremzavod

   Russia    Melting facility repair      2,104         66

Mechel Targoviste

   Romania    Steel      1,964         90

Mechel Coke

   Russia    Coke      1,758         61

Metallurgshakhtspetsstroy

   Russia    Capital construction      1,406         0

Mechel Materials

   Russia    Steel      1,395         37

Ductil Steel

   Romania    Steel      1,310         89

Moscow Coke and Gas Plant

   Russia    Coke      1,212         70

Mechel Campia Turzii

   Romania    Steel      1,062         91

Mechel-Remservice

   Russia    Ore mining
equipment repair
     985         99

Mecheltrans (including subsidiaries)

   Russia    Railway
transportation
     981         0

Management Metallurgical Equipment Repair

   Russia    Melting facility repair      958         47

Kuzbass Power Sales Company

   Russia    Power      865         62

Southern Kuzbass Power Plant

   Russia    Power      802         37

Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant

   Russia    Ferrosilicon      610         47

Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant

   Russia    Ferroalloys      600         0

Voskhod-Oriel, Voskhod-Chrome

   Kazakhstan    Ferroalloys      594         0

Thermal Grid Company of Southern Kuzbass

   Russia    Power      585         0

Port Posiet

   Russia    Shipping      477         16

Mechel Engineering

   Russia    Scientific research      426         0

Laminorul Plant

   Romania    Steel      385         90

Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant

   Russia    Steel      367         0

Mechel Nemunas

   Lithuania    Steel      321         31

Toplofikatsia Rousse

   Bulgaria    Power      303         59

Mechel Vtormet

   Russia    Scrap metal      278         0

Port Temryuk

   Russia    Shipping      246         0

Port Kambarka

   Russia    Shipping      224         0

Pugachevsky Open Pit

   Russia    Limestone      183         53

Bluestone

   United States    Coal      173         25

Kaslinsky Architectural Art Casting Plant

   Russia    Steel      158         0

SC Mechel Reparatii Targoviste SRL

   Romania    Melting facility repair      141         83

Shakhtspetsstroy

   Russia    Capital construction      139         36

Invicta Merchant Bar

   United Kingdom    Steel      75         23

Mechel Carbon

   Switzerland,
Belgium, Singapore
   Sales and distribution      47         0

Mechel Trading

   Switzerland,
Belgium,
Liechtenstein
   Sales and distribution      21         0

Mechel Trading House

   Russia    Sales and distribution      13         0

Other (including all managing companies)

   Various    Various      4,689         5
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

           90,465         60
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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At December 31, 2011, we employed approximately 96,868 people as follows:

 

Company

  

Primary Location

  

Primary Function

   Total
Employees
     % Unionized  

Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant

   Russia    Steel      15,612         68

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and subsidiaries (Tomusinsky Open Pit, Vzryvprom)

   Russia    Coal      9,534         74

Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant

   Russia    Steel      6,885         81

Izhstal

   Russia    Steel      5,810         92

Yakutugol, Dzhebariki-Khaya Underground, Kangalassky Open Pit, Neryungry Car Fleet

   Russia    Coal      5,131         90

Southern Urals Nickel Plant

   Russia    Nickel      4,369         52

Urals Stampings Plant (with branches)

   Russia    Steel      4,259         68

Mechel Service Global (including subsidiaries)

   Russia    Sales and distribution      3,962         0

Korshunov Mining Plant

   Russia    Iron ore      3,526         82

Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant

   Ukraine    Steel      3,183         68

Mechel-Remservice

   Russia    Ore mining equipment repair      2,944         77

Spetsremzavod

   Russia    Melting facility repair      2,384         68

Mechel Targoviste

   Romania    Steel      2,282         90

Mechel Energo

   Russia    Power      2,213         36

Mechel Campia Turzii

   Romania    Steel      1,906         93

Mechel Coke

   Russia    Coke      1,768         60

Ductil Steel

   Romania    Steel      1,490         90

Mechel Materials

   Russia    Steel      1,363         36

Moscow Coke and Gas Plant

   Russia    Coke      1,272         71

Metallurgshakhtspetsstroy

   Russia    Capital construction      1,180         0

Management Metallurgical Equipment Repair

   Russia    Melting facility repair      1,004         40

Kuzbass Power Sales Company

   Russia    Power      822         67

Southern Kuzbass Power Plant

   Russia    Power      792         39

Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant

   Russia    Ferroalloys      771         0

Bluestone

   United States    Coal      742         43

Mecheltrans (including subsidiaries)

   Russia    Railway transportation      666         0

Laminorul Plant

   Romania    Steel      640         87

Thermal Grid Company of Southern Kuzbass

   Russia    Power      608         0

Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant

   Russia    Ferrosilicon      586         48

Voskhod-Oriel, Voskhod-Chrome

   Kazakhstan    Ferroalloys      511         80

Shakhtspetsstroy

   Russia    Capital construction      458         33

Port Posiet

   Russia    Shipping      436         7

SC Mechel Reparatii Targoviste SRL

   Romania    Melting facility repair      409         80

Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant

   Russia    Steel      391         0

Mechel Engineering

   Russia    Scientific research      366         0

Toplofikatsia Rousse

   Bulgaria    Power      344         58

Mechel Nemunas

   Lithuania    Steel      322         32

Port Kambarka

   Russia    Shipping      241         0

Port Temryuk

   Russia    Shipping      236         0

Mechel Vtormet

   Russia    Scrap metal      227         0

 

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Company

  

Primary Location

  

Primary Function

   Total
Employees
     % Unionized  

Pugachevsky Open Pit

   Russia    Limestone      181         64

Kaslinsky Architectural Art Casting Plant

   Russia    Steel      173         0

Invicta Merchant Bar

   United Kingdom    Steel      79         22

Mechel Trading House

   Russia    Sales and distribution      49         0

Mechel Trading

   Switzerland, Belgium, Liechtenstein    Sales and distribution      46         0

Mechel Mining Trading House

   Russia    Sales and distribution      30         0

Mechel Carbon

   Switzerland, Belgium    Sales and distribution      29         0

Other (including all managing companies)

   Various    Various      4,636         2
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

           96,868         61.5
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

At December 31, 2010, we employed approximately 88,146 people as follows:

 

Company

  

Primary Location

  

Primary Function

   Total
Employees
     % Unionized  

Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant

   Russia    Steel      15,554         69

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and subsidiaries (Tomusinsky Open Pit, Vzryvprom)

   Russia    Coal      9,308         78

Izhstal

   Russia    Steel      6,428         87

Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant

   Russia    Steel      6,269         91

Yakutugol, Dzhebariki-Khaya Underground, Kangalassky Open Pit

   Russia    Coal      4,779         82

Southern Urals Nickel Plant

   Russia    Nickel      4,378         49

Urals Stampings Plant (with branches)

   Russia    Steel      4,118         68

Korshunov Mining Plant

   Russia    Iron ore      3,557         80

Mechel-Remservice

   Russia    Ore mining equipment repair      2,966         76

Mechel Service Global (including subsidiaries)

   Russia    Sales and distribution      2,538         0

Mechel Targoviste

   Romania    Steel      2,309         90

Spetsremzavod

   Russia    Melting facility repair      2,202         67

Mechel Campia Turzii

   Romania    Steel      1,950         93

Mechel Energo

   Russia    Power      1,940         44

Mechel Coke

   Russia    Coke      1,695         60

Ductil Steel

   Romania    Steel      1,590         90

Moscow Coke and Gas Plant

   Russia    Coke      1,304         69

Mechel Materials

   Russia    Steel      1,233         42

Metallurgshakhtspetsstroy

   Russia    Capital construction      1,059         0

Kuzbass Power Sales Company

   Russia    Power      791         71

SC Mechel Reparatii Targoviste SRL

   Romania    Melting facility repair      749         78

Bluestone

   United States    Coal      740         57

Management Metallurgical Equipment Repair

   Russia    Melting facility repair      723         42

Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant

   Russia    Ferroalloys      723         0

Laminorul Plant

   Romania    Steel      674         92

Southern Kuzbass Power Plant

   Russia    Power      669         45

Electronetwork

   Russia    Power      594         26

 

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Company

  

Primary Location

  

Primary Function

   Total
Employees
     % Unionized  

Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant

   Russia    Ferrosilicon      578         44

Port Posiet

   Russia    Shipping      433         9

Voskhod-Oriel, Voskhod-Chrome

   Kazakhstan    Ferroalloys      416         67

Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant

   Russia    Steel      409         0

Toplofikatsia Rousse

   Bulgaria    Power      353         59

Tomusinsk Energo Management

   Russia    Power      317         59

Mechel Nemunas

   Lithuania    Steel      302         31

Port Temryuk

   Russia    Shipping      239         0

Port Kambarka

   Russia    Shipping      199         0

Pugachevsky Open Pit

   Russia    Limestone      180         62

Metals Recycling

   Russia    Scrap metal      178         0

Kaslinsky Architectural Art Casting Plant

   Russia    Steel      156         0

Mecheltrans

   Russia    Railway transportation      156         0

Mechel Engineering

   Russia    Scientific research      122         0

Mechel Trading House

   Russia    Sales and distribution      104         0

Mechel Trading

   Switzerland, Belgium and Liechtenstein    Sales and distribution      44         0

Mechel Carbon

   Switzerland, Belgium    Sales and distribution      22         0

Other (including all managing companies)

   Various    Various      3,098         0
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

           88,146         65
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

Set out below is information about membership of our employees in trade unions:

 

   

Employees of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant, Southern Urals Nickel Plant, Korshunov Mining Plant, Moscow Coke and Gas Plant, Mechel Coke, Izhstal, Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant, Spetsremzavod, Management Metallurgical Equipment Repair, Mechel Materials and Pugachevsky Open Pit are members of the Ore Mining and Smelting Trade Union of Russia.

 

   

Employees of Urals Stampings Plant are members of the Trade Union of Machinists of the Russian Federation, employees of Chelyabinsk and Izhevsk branches of Urals Stampings Plant are members of the Ore Mining and Smelting Trade Union of Russia.

 

   

Employees of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and its subsidiaries Tomusinsky Open Pit, Vzryvprom and Shakhtspetsstroy are members of the Russian Independent Trade Union of Coal Industry Workers and of the Independent Trade Union of Miners.

 

   

Employees of Yakutugol, its subsidiary Neryungry Car Fleet and Mechel-Remservice are members of the Russian Independent Trade Union of Coal Industry Workers.

 

   

Employees of Mechel Energo are members of the Ore Mining and Smelting Trade Union of Russia and of the Russian Independent Trade Union of Coal Industry Workers.

 

   

Employees of Voskhod-Chrome and Voskhod-Oriel are members of the Public Association Trade Union Organization Voskhod.

 

   

Employees of Port Posiet are members of the Russian Stevedores’ Trade Union.

 

   

Employees of Southern Kuzbass Power Plant and Kuzbass Power Sales Company are members of the All-Russian Power Industry Trade Union.

 

   

Employees of Toplofikatsia Rousse are members of the National Federation of Energy Workers of Bulgaria, of the Confederation of Labor Podkrepa, of the Union of Energy Workers of Bulgaria and of National Syndicate Defense.

 

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Employees of Mechel Nemunas are members of the Trade Union Nemunas.

 

   

Employees of Bluestone companies are members of the UMWA.

 

   

Employees of Invicta Merchant Bar are members of the GMB Trade Union.

 

   

Employees of Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant are members of the Trade Union of Workers of Metallurgical and Mining Industry of Ukraine.

We consider our relationships with our employees to be good.

Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

The following table sets forth information regarding our major shareholders, which means shareholders that are the beneficial owners of 5% or more of our common shares, as of March 31, 2013, based on the information available to us:

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Number of
Common
Shares
     % of
Common
Shares
 

Igor V. Zyuzin(1)

     272,624,611         65.49

Other(2)(3)

     143,646,134         34.51
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     416,270,745         100
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Mr. Zyuzin is the Chairman of our Board of Directors. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees — Directors and Executive Officers.” His business address is Krasnoarmeyskaya Street 1, Moscow 125993, Russian Federation. Further information regarding Mr. Zyuzin’s shareholdings is available in the Schedule 13D filed by Mr. Zyuzin with the SEC.
(2) According to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as of March 31, 2013, 84,625,107 common ADSs and 54,481,886 GDSs were outstanding, representing 26.21% of our total issued common shares.
(3) We believe our directors and executive officers as a group, other than Mr. Zyuzin, beneficially own less than 1% of our shares.

As of March 31, 2013, there were 84,625,107 common ADSs outstanding, all of which were held by one registered holder with an address in the United States. In September 2012, we commissioned a report on our shareholding structure from IPREO, according to which approximately 26.8% of our total issued common ADSs were held by U.S. investors.

None of our common shareholders have voting rights which differ from any other holders of our common shares. Based on our share register, we believe we are not directly or indirectly owned or controlled by another corporation or government, and that there are no arrangements the operation of which may result in a change of control.

Mechel has 138,756,915 preferred shares of which 40% are held by Skyblock Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mechel, and the remaining 60% are held by the Justice persons and the public. The Justice persons acquired 60% of our preferred shares in connection with our acquisition of Bluestone. The Justice persons are residents of the United States. During 2010 and 2011, the Justice persons sold, respectively, 18.17% and 23.06% of the preferred shares they owned. As of April 20, 2011, immediately after the offering of preferred shares by the Justice persons in 2011, they owned 18.77% of the preferred shares. Based on our share register, we do not know the percentage ownership held by the Justice persons as of the date hereof.

Related Party Transactions

In addition to the below, see note 9 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Transactions with related metallurgical plants

In the second half of 2009, the related metallurgical plants became related parties to us through our representation on the board of directors, management and other arrangements. In 2009, the companies that had business transactions with us were as follows: Volga Fest, Rostov Electrometallurgical Plant, Vostochnaya Mine, Experimental TES, Zlatoust Metallurgical Plant, Guryevsk Metallurgical Plant, Volgograd Small Diameter Pipe Plant (“VSDPP”), and Engels Pipe Plant (“EPP”). In addition, in 2010 we started transactions with Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant, Invicta Merchant Bar, Metrus Trading GmbH, MIR Steel, Nytva and Estar Egypt for Industries. In 2011 and 2012, we continued our operations with the related metallurgical plants. These transactions were carried out in the joint interest of both parties in expanding our operations and products range on the steel market and allowing the related metallurgical plants access to our strong supply and sales network.

In August 2011, we acquired 100% of Invicta Merchant Bar Ltd. and in December 2011, we acquired Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant.

During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, our group had the following transactions and current balances in settlement with the related metallurgical plants:

 

   

Re-selling of goods purchased by our group either from third parties or entities of the former Estar Group to the related metallurgical plants. Proceeds related to these sales amounted to $229.3 million, $203.1 million and $227.5 million in the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

For part of such transactions, we determined that we functioned as principal, and the amounts of $217.6 million, $187.8 million and $201.2 million were included in revenue from sale of goods in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. In 2012, 2011 and 2010, these sales included $nil, $54.2 million and $65.8 million, respectively, of goods produced by the related metallurgical plants and resold further to other entities of the former Estar Group.

For the other part of such transactions, we determined that our results should be recognized as operating gains. Therefore, they are reported, net of related costs, within other operating income (expenses), net in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income in the amount of $1.8 million, $2.3 million and $1.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

   

Revenues from sales of products manufactured by us and services rendered to the related metallurgical plants amounted to $213.5 million, $231.2 million and $218.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

   

Cost of the related metallurgical plants’ products used in our production amounted to $105.0 million, $283.8 million and $174.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

   

Cost of goods produced by the related metallurgical plants and further sold by us to third party customers amounted to $769.2 million, $1,221.4 million and $974.2 million, including transportation costs, for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. For such transactions, we determined that we functioned as principal, and the amounts of $1,260.8 million, $1,293.5 million and $1,051.2 million were included in revenue from the sale of goods in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The related metallurgical plants used raw materials and semi-finished goods purchased from us. We concluded that our sales to the related metallurgical plants and our purchases from these entities were not in contemplation with each other and are reported separately in the statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

In 2011, our operations with certain related metallurgical plants (namely VSDPP, EPP and MIR Steel) started to be carried out on tolling terms. Revenues from sales of products (steel pipe, basis steel coils and sheets)

 

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manufactured by the related metallurgical plants for us under the tolling agreements amounted to $413.1 million and $274.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The related cost of goods sold for these transactions amounted to $403.5 million and $262.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. This cost includes cost of tolling services provided by the related metallurgical plants of $47.3 million and $35.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

In November 2011, we and the Estar Group entered into the Estar Loan Agreement pursuant to which we granted a loan of $944.5 million. The loan consists of several tranches which bear interest at the range of 1-8.5% per annum. To secure the loan, shares in the major related metallurgical plants (or shares in parent companies of such metallurgical plants) were pledged. The proceeds from this loan were used by the related metallurgical plants to repay most of the accounts receivable owed to our group. If the related metallurgical plants do not comply with their obligations under the new arrangements, we will be entitled to enforce the pledge and thereby take control of the pledged assets, subject to approval from the FAS. In September 2012, we extended the term of the loan for additional nine months from October 1, 2012, the pledges and guarantees remained the same. From September through December 2012, the loan was partially repaid in the amount of $213.4 million. To make this repayment the Estar Group used the proceeds received by them from our group for the sale of Cognor Stahlhandel (see note 3(a) to the consolidated financial statements) and proceeds under a security deposit, described further below.

As of December 31, 2012, the loan balance amounted to $746.5 million, out of which $15.4 million represents interest accrued on the extended loan. The interest accrued on the loan amount before the extension was repaid in full.

We evaluated the recoverability of the loan amount based on the fair value of the pledged assets which, as of December 31, 2012, was $nil. This resulted in a $746.5 million provision for amounts due from related parties recorded in the year ended December 31, 2012. The main reason for the pledged assets value deterioration was negative trends in the macroeconomic conditions which affected the performance of the related metallurgical plants.

Based on the combined design of the above mentioned loan and trading agreements, we have determined that the related metallurgical plants are Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”), and that we are not the primary beneficiary of the related metallurgical plants. We are limited in our exposure to risks by the net amounts receivable from the related metallurgical plants.

During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, we had the following transactions and current balances in settlement with the related metallurgical plants:

 

     2012      2011      2010  
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Revenues

  

Steel segment products sales

     346,331         314,297         387,215   

Ferroalloy segment products sales

     17,838         36,141         19,002   

Mining segment products sales

     3,981         4,315         9,150   

Other revenues(1)

     63,038         64,295         4,419   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

     431,188         419,048         419,786   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Costs and expenses

        

Cost of goods for resale, production and operating expenses

     842,253         1,528,053         1,213,426   

Transportation expenses

     31,693         27,573         14,993   

Other expenses

     189         128         123   

Provision for amounts due from related metallugrical plants

     919,113         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses

     1,793,248         1,555,754         1,228,542   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Including power segment sales and services provided to the related metallurgical plants by all segment companies.

 

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     December 31,  
     2012      2011  
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Assets

     

Trade accounts receivable

     90,231         83,910   

Prepayments and other current assets

     188,131         29,985   

Loans issued

     —           944,530   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

     278,362         1,058,425   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

     

Trade accounts payable

     148,384         129,630   

Advanced received and other payables

     39,664         48,115   

Long term payables

     4,601         —     

Loans received

     19,653         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     212,302         177,745   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2012 the amounts of trade accounts receivable from the related metallurgical plants included $3.8 million of allowance for doubtful accounts from Experimental TES OAO, a thermal power generating company. The amounts of prepayments and other current assets were reduced by $172.6 million of allowance for doubtful accounts. This allowance includes the balance of $149.9 million due from the Estar Group, which represents the security deposit paid by us in November and December 2012 in line with our intention to acquire some of the assets pledged under the loan agreement. The valuation of these assets as of December 31, 2012 reduced their value to $0.1 million and the difference is to be returned to us by the Estar Group. The allowance for doubtful accounts was recognized based on our estimates of future cash inflows from these balances.

Inventories in stock purchased from these entities amounted to $105.3 million and $185.0 million as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Transactions with Metallurg-Trust

In 2010, we started transactions with a trading company Metallurg-Trust, a party which can be significantly influenced by us through business relationships. Metallurg-Trust is mostly involved in reselling the goods produced by the related metallurgical plants on the Russian market and supplying raw materials and semi-finished goods to the related metallurgical plants. In 2012, 2011 and 2010, we sold to Metallurg-Trust $320.0 million, $423.0 million and $220.2 million, respectively, of pig iron, semi-finished goods, coal and chrome produced by our entities for further supply to the related metallurgical plants. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, we had receivables from Metallurg-Trust in the amount of $161.8 million and $176.1 million respectively. We provided to Metallurg-Trust extended credit terms varying from 30 to 180 days. No allowance was created against this amount as we consider it to be fully collectible.

As of December 31, 2012 the amount of accounts payable to the related metallurgical plants and Metallurg Trust included liabilities under the amicable agreement between Lomprom Rostov and certain related and third parties. This agreement was signed in April 2010 under the following terms: the repayment of debt is scheduled to be made on monthly equal installments after a three year grace period through March 2017. The nominal value of debt to the related metallurgical plants and Metallurg Trust was $27.0 million and $1.0 million, respectively. The present value of debt to the related metallurgical plants and Metallurg Trust of $21.0 million and $0.8 million, respectively, was determined using 12.2% discount rate.

See also “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Financial Condition and Financial Reporting — Any material change in our commercial dealings with, non-repayment of a loan by, or loss of accounts receivable from or prepayments to, certain related parties could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.”

 

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Transactions with Usipar

Usina Siderurgica do Para Ltda (“Usipar”) is a steel company located in Brazil owned by the Controlling Shareholder, and it became our related party in September 2010. During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and the period from September 2010 through December 31, 2010, our purchases of pig iron from Usipar amounted to $32.4 million, $72.1 million and $7.5 million, respectively, and our sales of coke and other raw materials to Usipar amounted to $nil, $61.2 million and $13.4 million, respectively. We further sold such pig iron to third party customers. For such transactions, we determined that we functioned as a principal, and the amounts of $34.8 million and $75.7 million were included in revenue from the sale of goods in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. As of December 31, 2011, we had trade accounts receivables from Usipar and prepayments made to Usipar in the amount of $23.8 million and $56.7 million, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2012, Usipar repaid all amounts due to us.

Item 8. Financial Information

See “Item 18. Financial Statements.”

Litigation

Other than the legal proceedings described below, we are not involved in any legal proceedings that we believe to be material.

Tax

On September 12, 2011, Korshunov Mining Plant received an assessment from the tax authorities for the 2008-2009 period in a total amount of 160.9 million rubles, including 120.5 million rubles assessed in connection with transfer pricing. On September 20, 2011, we contested this assessment in the amount of 154.5 million rubles with the higher-level tax authorities. On March 2, 2012, the higher-level tax authorities upheld the assessment of the tax authorities and on March 22, 2012 Korshunov Mining Plant filed a claim to invalidate the assessment in the amount of 154.5 million rubles with the Moscow Arbitrazh Court. On August 16, 2012, the Moscow Arbitrazh Court supported our claims in part of 20.5 million rubles, including penalties and fines, and the remaining claims were denied. On November 6, 2012, the Ninth Arbitrazh Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the Moscow Arbitrazh Court. On March 5, 2013, the Federal Arbitrazh Court of Moscow District also upheld the decision of lower courts. Korshunov Mining Plant intends to file an appeal on this decision to the Supreme Arbitrazh Court before June 5, 2013.

On January 16, 2012, Mechel Trading House received an assessment from the tax authorities for income tax, interest and incurred penalties in a total amount of 5.9 billion rubles for the 2008-2009 period. We contested this assessment through the administrative procedure with the higher-level tax authorities which reduced the assessment to 5.4 billion rubles. On June 5, 2012, Mechel Trading House filed a claim with the Moscow Arbitrazh Court to contest the amount of 5.4 billion rubles. The court hearing is scheduled for May 31, 2013.

In June 2012, Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant received an assessment from the tax authorities for income tax, interest and incurred penalties in a total amount of 315.2 million rubles for the year 2007. We contested this assessment with the higher-level tax authorities. The higher-level tax authorities reduced the assessment to 104.6 million rubles. On January 18, 2013, Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant filed a claim with the Moscow Arbitrazh Court to contest the amount of 104.6 million rubles. The court proceedings have been suspended due to pending hearings with the Supreme Arbitrazh Court on a similar case.

On August 23, 2012, Yakutugol received an assessment from the tax authorities for mineral extraction tax, income tax, transport tax, interest and incurred penalties in a total amount of 466.7 million rubles for the 2009-2010 period. We contested this assessment with the higher-level tax authorities. The higher-level tax authorities dismissed the appeal. On November 30, 2012, Yakutugol filed a claim with the Arbitrazh Court of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) to contest the amount of 466.7 million rubles. On February 28, 2013, the Arbitrazh Court of the Sakha

 

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Republic (Yakutia) supported our claims in part of 55.0 million rubles, and the remaining claims were denied. On April 10, 2013, Yakutugol filed an appeal on the decision with respect to the remaining amount to the higher court.

We believe that we have paid or accrued all taxes that are applicable. Where uncertainty exists, we have accrued tax liabilities based on management’s best estimate of the probable outflow of resources embodying economic benefits, which will be required to settle these liabilities. In accordance with FASB ASC 450, “Contingencies” (“ASC 450”), we accrued $39.3 million of other tax claims that management believes are probable as of December 31, 2012. In addition, income tax accrual was made under ASC 740. See note 19 to the consolidated financial statements.

Antimonopoly

In the summer of 2008, in the course of a regulatory inquiry into business practices in the Russian market for certain grades of coking coal concentrate, the FAS initiated an antimonopoly investigation into the business of our subsidiaries Mechel Trading House, Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, Yakutugol and Mechel Trading on allegations of abuse of their dominant position in the Russian market for certain grades of coking coal concentrate. As a result of the investigation, in August 2008 the FAS issued findings according to which these subsidiaries were held to have violated Russian antimonopoly law by abusing their dominant position in the Russian market for certain grades of coking coal concentrate. Upon completion of investigation, the FAS issued a directive prohibiting these entities from abusing their dominant position and ordering certain action to restore competition. In particular, the FAS ordered these entities and their successors to refrain from taking any action in the Russian market for certain grades of coking coal concentrate which would or may preclude, limit or eliminate competition and/or violate third parties’ interests, including fixing and maintaining a monopolistically high or low price, refusing or avoiding to enter into an agreement with certain buyers without good economic or technological reasons where the production or supply of the relevant grades of coking coal concentrate is possible and creating discriminatory conditions for buyers. Under Russian law, a “discriminatory condition” means a condition of entering the market or a condition of production, exchange, consumption, acquisition, sale or other transfer of goods under which a person or group of persons find themselves in a disadvantageous position as compared to another person or group of persons. The FAS considered our exports of certain grades of coking coal concentrate, in a situation where the Russian buyers’ requirements were not being satisfied and the terms and conditions of the export sales contracts differed from domestic sales contracts, to be a discriminatory condition for Russian buyers. Thus, the FAS’s directive not to create discriminatory conditions for buyers means that we must satisfy the requirements of Russian buyers on a priority basis. In addition, the directive requires these entities to submit to the FAS during the next 5 years economic justifications of each coking coal concentrate price increase of more than 5% as compared to the prices of previous quarter, reduce sale prices by 15% for the period from September 2008 until December 2008 and execute long-term supply contracts of at least three years’ duration with effect from 2009. We fulfilled all terms set forth in the FAS directive and intend to continue to comply with them in the future.

Furthermore, as a result of the antimonopoly investigation, the FAS initiated administrative proceedings against Mechel Trading House, Southern Kuzbass Coal Company and Yakutugol which resulted in fines being imposed on these companies in the total amount of 797.7 million rubles, which is equal to approximately 5% of these subsidiaries’ total sales of coking coal concentrate for 2007. The companies were granted a deferral of the payment of the fines in accordance with the law. All fines have been paid in full.

In December 2008, the FAS initiated an investigation against Yakutugol for alleged violations of the antimonopoly legislation committed by way of abusing its dominant position in the market of steam coal. During the course of the investigation no violations were found on the part of Yakutugol and the case was closed.

In March 2013, the FAS initiated an investigation into the business of the largest freight railway operators, including Mecheltrans, in the Kemerovo region on allegations of entering into agreements among the operators on the same commodity market which lead or may lead to the market sharing and limit of access of other operators to the commodity market. The meeting of the FAS investigation committee is scheduled on April 24, 2013.

 

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Environmental and safety

As a result of Rosprirodnadzor’s inspections conducted in November 2011 at some of our subsoil license areas operated by Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, such as the Olzherassk, Razvedochny and Yerunakovsk-3 license areas, the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use requested that we rectify certain violations of the terms of subsoil licenses, such as the failure to meet the deadline for commencement and completion of exploration works. On May 3, 2012, we presented our report regarding measures that we implemented to rectify the identified violations, and the Commission for Termination of Subsoil Licenses accepted our report.

Through March and April 2012, Rosprirodnadzor conducted inspections at certain subsoil license areas operated by Yakutugol, such as the Moshchny as well as the Piatimetrovy and Promezhutochny II seams license areas of Neryungrinsky Open Pit and the Dzhebariki-Khaya license area of Dzhebariki-Khaya Underground. On May 3, 2012, the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use requested that we rectify certain violations of the terms of subsoil licenses for Neryungrinsky Open Pit. On June 26, 2012, Yakutugol submitted to the Department for Subsoil Use in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) an application on waiver of the right to use subsoil for the Piatimetrovy and Promezhutochny II seams license area. On August 7, 2012, the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use issued an order to terminate the right to use subsoil for this license area effective from December 26, 2012. In December 2012, we presented a report on measures we had implemented to rectify the identified violations for the Moshchny seam and the Dzhebariki-Khaya license areas. On January 24, 2013, our report was accepted by the Commission for Termination of Subsoil Licenses and our subsoil licenses were not terminated.

On July 2, 2010, following an inspection of compliance with the industrial safety regulations, Rostekhnadzor issued an order to Southern Kuzbass Power Plant requiring it to undertake 219 measures to rectify identified inconsistencies with the industrial safety regulations. The court of first instance rendered a decision in support of the Rostekhnadzor’s order. By October 2012, we implemented 210 of 219 measures prescribed by Rostekhnadzor and nine measures were revoked from execution.

Pursuant to a claim of the Novokuznetsk Environmental Prosecutor’s Office against Southern Kuzbass Power Plant concerning the discharge of pollutants into the atmosphere above the maximum allowable level, the court ruled in September 2008 that we must limit the discharge of pollutants into the atmosphere to comply with the maximum allowable level. We have complied with the ruling effective as of November 2009. The court also mandated us to reconstruct the de-dusting system. We applied several times for stay of execution and the court allowed us to stay execution of this mandate until August 1, 2011. We are in the process of reconstruction and replacement of the dust and gas scrubber equipment. In April 2012, we applied for another stay of execution which was rejected by the court. We plan to reapply for stay of execution following the completion of the reconstruction of one of the boilers in April 2013.

On August 16, 2010, a spontaneous ignition of coal started in a mined-out section of a longwall working area at Olzherasskaya-Novaya Underground, a branch of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company. Shortly thereafter, Rostekhnadzor imposed a temporary ban on operations at the mine. On August 23, 2010, the fire area was sealed. On August 26, 2010, upon Rostekhnadzor’s application, the court rendered a decision to suspend operations at Olzherasskaya-Novaya Underground for 90 days. On October 1, 2010, the court ruled to cancel the suspension of operations. From September 2010 to October 2011, we drilled surface and drainage-level wells into the affected area and filled it with silt material, thereby extinguishing the fire. Mining operations recommenced at the new longwall on November 4, 2011.

On January 13, 2012, Rostekhnadzor imposed a temporary ban on operations at V.I. Lenina Underground’s longwall due to a spontaneous ignition of coal in a mined-out section of a longwall working area at the mine. On January 16, 2012, the fire area was sealed. On January 18, 2012, upon Rostekhnadzor’s application, the court ruled to suspend operations at the mine’s longwall for 90 days. We implemented a set of measures to extinguish the fire and on July 16, 2012 mining operations recommenced at the V.I. Lenina Underground’s longwall.

On February 27, 2012, Rostekhnadzor imposed a temporary ban on operations at Olzherasskaya-Novaya Underground’s longwall due to a spontaneous ignition of coal in a mined-out section of a longwall working area

 

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at the mine. On March 1, 2012, the fire area was sealed. On March 5, 2012, upon Rostekhnadzor’s application, the court rendered a decision to suspend operations at the mine’s longwall for 30 days. At present, operations at the fire area have not been resumed yet. We are implementing a set of measures to extinguish the fire. We expect mining operations to be resumed in the second quarter of 2013.

During the period from June 2 to June 5, 2011, a spontaneous ignition of coal started in a mined-out section of a longwall working area at Sibirginskaya Underground. Shortly thereafter, Rostekhnadzor imposed a temporary ban on operations at the mine’s longwall. On June 11, 2011, the fire area was sealed. Rostekhnadzor considered the violation as material and on June 15, 2011, issued an order to suspend operations at Sibirginskaya Underground’s longwall for 90 days. We commenced works for implementation of measures to extinguish the fire on June 22, 2011. We drilled wells from other working mines into the affected area and pumped nitrogen into wells. We also drilled surface wells to monitor levels of gas. Excavation operations were commenced to develop a new mine face. On July 22, 2011, Rostekhnadzor cancelled the suspension of operations. We started mining operations at the new longwall on May 4, 2012.

In 2008, Pinnacle Mining Company (“Pinnacle”) filed a suit against the Bluestone companies and a third-party engineering firm in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Beckley, West Virginia. Pinnacle asserts claims against the defendants for negligence, strict liability, violation of the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, and injunctive relief. The case arises from mining activity conducted by Bluestone companies in the “safety zone” of a coal slurry impoundment maintained by Pinnacle. The parties filed a joint motion to stay, and the court granted the stay, which has allowed additional time for the regulatory agencies involved to determine what steps are necessary for remediation. A plan has been submitted by the defendants and was approved by the WVDEP. We have completed the installation of pumps to dewater the mine in accordance with the plan and provided Pinnacle with access to online data about mine water levels available in real time regime 24/7. At present, we have unresolved issue regarding Pinnacle’s access to the underground part of the mine. Our position is that, unlike the surface area of the mine, the underground part of the mine should not be available for anytime inspection by Pinnacle since the area was sealed due to safety reasons. We are currently trying to resolve this issue with the WVDEP. We are defending the matter and have asserted issues of comparative fault by the plaintiff and our engineering company at the time of the incident in November 2007. We have full indemnity on this claim from the previous owner of Bluestone in accordance with the terms of the acquisition agreement, however, there is no assurance that the previous owner of Bluestone will not contest our requests for indemnification.

Commercial litigation

In May 2009, Suncoke served Bluestone with a claim for failure to perform its obligations under contracts to supply coal to Suncoke in 2008. The claim related to events prior to our acquisition of the Bluestone companies. Suncoke has demanded approximately $67.0 million in damages plus attorney fees. In March 2010, Suncoke filed a lawsuit with the Superior Court of the State of Delaware in and for the New Castle County against Bluestone claiming damages for failure to supply coal in 2008 and 2009. On motion of the parties, the proceedings were stayed in connection with the settlement discussions. The parties exchanged information and documents stating the positions of the parties. As a result of review of the documents, each party provided additional questions and document requests. In July 2011, parties had a meeting with a mediator, however, they could not reach an agreement regarding the terms of settlement. In October 2011, the parties had another meeting with a view to reaching a settlement of their dispute out of court; however that meeting did not result in settlement either. On November 22, 2011, we filed a statement of defense and a counterclaim. In December 2012, parties entered into the settlement agreement providing that Bluestone shall pay to Suncoke $15 million in cash within 2 years and an additional $1.6 million as discounts under coal sales agreements. We accrued a liability of $16.6 million in connection with the settlement and intend to seek to recover all losses and expenses arising from this settlement on the basis of the indemnity provided to us under the terms of the acquisition of the Bluestone companies.

On August 2, 2011, Engineering Corporation “Transstroy” ZAO (“ECT”), filed a claim against Yakutugol with the Arbitrazh Court of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) seeking 772.7 million rubles, which ECT alleges it is

 

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owed for design, survey and construction services provided by it during construction of the rail line and an access road from Zeysk Station (Far Eastern Railway) to the Elga coal deposit. In response to the claim, we asked the court to appoint an expert to value ECT’s services. In our view, the amount claimed is not justified since a substantial part of the work performed by ECT did not satisfy the relevant quality requirements and was not performed within the agreed timetable. In particular, the construction plan of the rail approach line developed by ECT was not approved by the state expert review and we had to hire another contractor to adjust the plan. We also filed a counterclaim against ECT seeking to reduce the cost of its services to the total amount of 148 million rubles. On December 1, 2011, the court ruled in favor of ECT and dismissed our counterclaim and also disallowed our request to appoint an expert. Both Yakutugol and ECT appealed the decision. At the court hearing held on March 21, 2012 ECT withdrew its appeal. On March 27, 2012, the parties agreed to settle their claims out-of-court. Under the settlement agreement, which the parties signed and the court approved on March 28, 2012, ECT agreed to reduce the amount of claim down to 525 million rubles and Yakutugol agreed to pay the agreed amount by April 30, 2012. We discharged our obligations under the agreement in full.

Russian securities litigation

In March 2012, the Swiss company Bank Julius Baer and Co. Ltd. (“Bank Julius Baer”) filed a claim against Tomusinsky Open Pit with the Arbitrazh Court of Kemerovo region seeking invalidation of the decisions of the board of directors of Tomusinsky Open Pit to convene the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting, to approve the draft resolution of the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting and to determine the placement price per each common share, as well as the decision of the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting to increase the charter capital by more than 25% by issuing additional common shares in the amount of 13.3 thousand with nominal value one ruble per each share. Bank Julius Baer owns common and preferred shares of Tomusinsky Open Pit, which in total amount to 22.95% of its charter capital. The plaintiff argues that the increase in the charter capital of Tomusinsky Open Pit is unreasonable given that Tomusinsky Open Pit has available funds and the additional share issue would lead to dilution of its minority share in Tomusinsky Open Pit. In addition, Bank Julius Baer challenges the placement price per each common share set by the board of directors of Tomusinsky Open Pit on the basis that it was set below the market price. On March 14, 2012, the court adopted the interim measures and prohibited further issue and placement of additional common shares of Tomusinsky Open Pit, until the dispute is finally resolved. The court requested for expert evaluation of Tomusinsky Open Pit shares by independent appraiser which was completed on December 3, 2012. On February 13, 2013, we filed a petition for re-examination of evaluation of Tomusinsky Open Pit shares, which was rejected by the court. On March 5, 2013, the court invalidated the decisions of the board of directors of Tomusinsky Open Pit to approve the draft resolution of the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting and to determine the placement price per each common share, as well as the decision of the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting to increase the charter capital of Tomusinsky Open Pit. On April 4, 2013, Tomusinsky Open Pit filed an appeal on this decision to the higher court.

U.S. securities litigation

On April 8, 2009, a person who held our common ADSs between October 2007 and July 2008 filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, against Mechel, Mr. Igor V. Zyuzin, then Chief Executive Officer of Mechel, Mr. Stanislav A. Ploshchenko, our Senior Vice President — Finance, and Mr. Vladimir A. Polin, then member of Mechel’s Board of Directors. The plaintiff alleged claims under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, specifically Section 10(b) (and Rule 10b-5) and Section 20(a). The Court subsequently appointed other holders of our ADSs as Lead Plaintiffs in the case, and on February 19, 2010, those Lead Plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint (“SAC”). The SAC cited certain claims by Russian governmental authorities that Mechel violated provisions of Russian antimonopoly and tax laws and contended that Mechel’s financial statements and other public disclosures from October 2007 to July 2008 were materially misleading because those statements included revenues the plaintiffs claim were artificially inflated by the allegedly illegal activities. The SAC sought certification of a class of investors who purchased our ADSs between October 3, 2007 and July 25, 2008. We successfully moved to dismiss the SAC, and on August 9, 2011, the Court dismissed all of the Lead Plaintiffs’ claims without leave to amend. The Court agreed with us that the

 

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plaintiffs had not pleaded and could not plead any cognizable motive on the part of the individual defendants — or anyone else at Mechel — to have misled investors, and that the plaintiffs had not pleaded and could not plead any basis for their contention that Mechel anticipated or should have anticipated the actions taken against us by our regulators. On September 9, 2011, one of the Lead Plaintiffs exercised its right to appeal the District Court’s decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and on April 11, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit fully affirmed the decision of the District Court. No further appeals followed, and the decision of the District Court became final.

Dividend Distribution Policy

We will determine the amount of dividends payable on our common shares based on cash needs of our business, which will be influenced by the market situation, results of our operations, the level and availability of debt and the requirements of our capital investment program.

We determine the amount of dividends payable on our preferred shares based on the provisions of our charter. See “Item 10. Additional Information — Description of Capital Stock — Dividends.”

In addition, some of our credit facility agreements impose certain restrictions on the payment of dividends on our shares. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Restrictive Covenants” and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Description of Certain Indebtedness.”

The decision to pay dividends and the amount thereof must be recommended by our Board of Directors taking into account the charter’s provisions and approved by our shareholders. The amount of dividends, if any, approved by the shareholders may not be higher than the amount proposed by the Board of Directors. In particular, dividends may be declared and paid only out of net profits calculated under Russian accounting standards and as long as the following conditions have been met:

 

   

our charter capital has been paid in full;

 

   

the value of our net assets, calculated under Russian accounting standards, is not less (and would not become less as a result of the proposed dividend payment) than the sum of our charter capital, our reserve fund and the difference between the liquidation value and the par value of our issued and outstanding preferred shares;

 

   

we have repurchased all shares from shareholders having the right to demand repurchase; and

 

   

we are not, and would not become as the result of the proposed dividend payment, insolvent.

For a further description, please refer to “Item 10. Additional Information — Description of Capital Stock — Dividends.” See also “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Shares and the Trading Market — Our ability to pay dividends depends primarily upon receipt of sufficient funds from our subsidiaries.”

On June 29, 2012, Mechel declared a dividend of 3.3 billion rubles for common shares and 4.3 billion rubles for preferred shares (of which 1.7 billion rubles was paid to Skyblock Limited), which was paid in August 2012. On June 6, 2011, Mechel declared a dividend of 3.6 billion rubles for common shares and 3.6 billion rubles for preferred shares (of which 1.5 billion rubles was paid to Skyblock Limited), which was paid in August 2011. On June 30, 2010, Mechel declared a dividend of 453.7 million rubles for common shares and 456.5 million rubles for preferred shares (of which 182.6 million rubles was paid to Skyblock Limited), which was paid in July and December 2010. In each case we could not pay dividends to those shareholders who did not provide us with their bank account details.

We anticipate that any dividends we may pay in the future on shares represented by ADSs will be declared and paid to the depositary in rubles and will be converted into U.S. dollars by the depositary and distributed to holders of ADSs, net of the depositary’s fees and expenses. Accordingly, the value of dividends received by holders of ADSs will be subject to fluctuations in the exchange rate between the ruble and the U.S. dollar. For

 

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information on risks associated with non-payment of dividends to holders of ADSs, see “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Shares and the Trading Market — Our ability to pay dividends depends primarily upon receipt of sufficient funds from our subsidiaries.”

Significant Changes

Other than as described in this document, no significant change in our business has occurred since December 31, 2012.

Item 9. The Offer and Listing

Our common ADSs have been listed on the NYSE under the symbol “MTL” since October 2004. Our common shares were listed on Open Joint Stock Company “Russian Trading System” Stock Exchange (“RTS”) under the symbol “MTLR” in June 2004, and in October 2008 were promoted to the quotation list “A-2.” In December 2011, RTS ceased to exist as a result of its reorganization through accession to Closed Joint Stock Company Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange (“CJSC MICEX”), now Open Joint Stock Company “Moscow Exchange MICEX-RTS” (“Moscow Exchange”), and our common shares were excluded from the quotation list “A-2” on RTS. In December 2008, our common shares were admitted to trading on MICEX and included in the quotation list “V”, and were promoted to the quotation list “A-1” in March 2009. Since December 2011, our common shares have been traded in the quotation list “A-1” on MICEX only. Since the liquidity of our shares on MICEX was typically much higher than on RTS, in the table below starting from January 2009 we use MICEX data (conversion from rubles into U.S. dollars is made using the CBR exchange rate).

The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices per common ADS and common share for: (1) the most recent six months; (2) the most recent nine quarters; and (3) all years following our initial public offering in 2004. As of May 19, 2008, we changed the ratio of our common shares to common ADSs from 3:1 to 1:1 by issuing two new common ADSs for each common ADS of record as of May 16, 2008. The common ADS prices below have been recalculated to reflect the new common ADS-to-common share ratio.

 

     Common ADSs      Common Shares  
     High      Low      High      Low  
     (In U.S. dollars)  

March 2013

     5.69         5.03         5.57         4.95   

February 2013

     6.72         5.49         6.81         5.63   

January 2013

     7.40         6.49         7.22         6.60   

December 2012

     6.94         6.07         6.82         6.15   

November 2012

     6.73         5.57         6.99         6.21   

October 2012

     7.28         6.35         7.32         6.41   

First Quarter 2013

     7.40         5.03         7.22         4.95   

Fourth Quarter 2012

     7.28         5.84         7.32         6.15   

Third Quarter 2012

     8.05         5.37         8.08         5.47   

Second Quarter 2012

     9.51         5.27         9.44         5.35   

First Quarter 2012

     12.37         8.98         11.89         8.76   

Fourth Quarter 2011

     14.40         7.90         13.74         8.05   

Third Quarter 2011

     25.66         10.19         25.33         10.63   

Second Quarter 2011

     31.94         23.89         31.97         24.82   

First Quarter 2011

     34.59         28.40         32.74         28.86   

2012

     12.37         5.27         11.89         5.35   

2011

     34.59         7.90         32.74         8.05   

2010

     30.80         17.45         30.11         17.64   

2009

     21.82         2.57         17.81         2.29   

2008

     57.62         3.66         45.00         4.10   

2007

     34.63         7.91         25.71         8.30   

2006

     10.32         6.34         10.20         6.25   

2005

     12.17         7.02         11.20         7.75   

2004

     7.48         5.26         17.00         0.36   

 

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Our preferred ADSs have been listed on the NYSE under the symbol “MTL PR” since May 2010. In April 2011, our preferred shares were admitted to trading without listing on RTS and MICEX. Our preferred shares were included in the quotation list “A-1” on MICEX in July 2011. In December 2011, RTS ceased to exist as a result of accession to CJSC MICEX, now Moscow Exchange, and our preferred shares were excluded from the list of securities admitted to trading without listing on RTS. Since December 2011, our preferred shares have been traded in the quotation list “A-1” on MICEX only. Each preferred ADS represents one-half of a preferred share.

The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices per preferred ADS and preferred share for: (1) the most recent six months; (2) the most recent four quarters; and (3) all years following the public offering in 2010.

 

       Preferred ADSs          Preferred Shares    
     High      Low      High      Low  
     (In U.S. dollars)  

March 2013

     1.70         1.45         3.42         2.70   

February 2013

     1.99         1.63         3.96         3.47   

January 2013

     2.23         1.97         4.11         3.94   

December 2012

     2.00         1.92         4.09         3.86   

November 2012

     2.39         1.98         4.35         4.02   

October 2012

     2.67         2.31         5.15         4.34   

First Quarter 2013

     2.23         1.45         4.11         2.70   

Fourth Quarter 2012

     2.67         1.92         5.15         3.86   

Third Quarter 2012

     3.10         2.28         5.48         4.54   

Second Quarter 2012

     3.70         2.28         7.10         4.57   

2012

     4.91         1.92         8.15         3.86   

2011

     11.27         3.24         8.99         6.15   

2010

     9.66         6.60         n/a         n/a   

Item 10. Additional Information

Charter and Certain Requirements of Russian Legislation

We describe below our registered common and preferred shares, the material provisions of our charter in effect on the date of this document and certain requirements of Russian legislation. In addition to this description, we urge you to review our charter, which is included as an exhibit to this document, to review its complete terms.

Our Purpose

Article 4.1 of our charter provides that our primary purpose is to earn profit, as well as to provide the highest-quality products and services for our customers.

Description of Capital Stock

General

Pursuant to our charter, as amended, we have the right to issue registered common shares, preferred shares and other securities provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation with respect to securities. Our capital stock currently consists of 555,027,660 shares, including 416,270,745 common shares, each with a nominal value of 10 rubles, and 138,756,915 preferred shares, each with a nominal value of 10 rubles, all of which are fully paid, issued and outstanding under Russian law. Under Russian legislation, charter capital refers to the aggregate nominal value of the issued and outstanding shares. We are authorized to issue an additional 81,698,341 common shares with a nominal value of 10 rubles each. None of our capital stock is under option or

 

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agreed conditionally or unconditionally to be put under option. Any of our shares that are owned by our subsidiaries are not considered treasury shares under Russian law (i.e., they are considered outstanding shares), and we are able to vote such shares and dispose of such shares without any further corporate actions by our shareholders or Board of Directors, provided that such disposals are not major or interested party transactions. Currently, our wholly-owned subsidiary Skyblock Limited holds 55,502,766 preferred shares. The shares are considered issued and outstanding shares under Russian law and have all the rights attaching to other preferred shares. The preferred shares owned by Skyblock Limited are not considered outstanding for purposes of our U.S. GAAP financial statements.

Currently, we have more than 1,000 holders of voting shares, which determines the applicability of certain provisions of the Joint-Stock Companies Law, as described below.

A resolution of our Board of Directors dated May 14, 2008 approved an increase in our charter capital through the issuance of 55,000,000 preferred shares with a nominal value of 10 rubles. On September 19, 2008, our Board of Directors amended its resolution to increase the number of preferred shares being issued to 138,756,915 preferred shares which is the maximum number of preferred shares authorized by our charter. The decision to issue 138,756,915 preferred shares was registered with the FFMS on October 23, 2008. On April 2, 2009, we placed all 138,756,915 of the preferred shares authorized for issuance at the placement price of 10 rubles per share. All the preferred shares were taken up by our wholly-owned subsidiary Skyblock Limited, which was the sole offeree. A report on the placement of the preferred shares was registered with the FFMS on April 14, 2009. We transferred 83,254,149 preferred shares to the sellers of 100% of the shares and interest of Bluestone Industries, Inc., Dynamic Energy, Inc. and JCJ Coal Group, LLC and certain other companies as part of the consideration in our acquisition of the Bluestone. Our preferred shares are not convertible into common shares, bonds or other securities of Mechel.

Rights attaching to common shares

Holders of our common shares have the right to vote at general shareholders’ meetings. As required by the Joint-Stock Companies Law and our charter, all of our common shares have the same nominal value and grant to their holders identical rights. Each fully paid common share, except for treasury shares, gives its holder the right to:

 

   

freely transfer the shares without the consent of other shareholders or the company;

 

   

receive dividends in accordance with our charter and current legislation;

 

   

participate in general shareholders’ meetings and vote on all matters of shareholders’ competence;

 

   

transfer voting rights to its representative on the basis of a power of attorney;

 

   

elect and be elected to the governing and controlling bodies of the company;

 

   

if holding, alone or with other holders, 2% or more of the voting stock, within 30 days after the end of our fiscal year, make proposals to the agenda of the annual general shareholders’ meeting and nominate candidates to the board of directors, review commission and counting commission;

 

   

if holding, alone or with other holders, 10% or more of the voting stock, demand that the board of directors call an extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting or an unscheduled audit by our review commission or an independent auditor;

 

   

demand, under the following circumstances, the repurchase by us of all or some of the shares owned by it, as long as such holder voted against or did not participate in the voting on the decision approving the following:

 

   

our reorganization;

 

   

conclusion of a major transaction, as defined under Russian law; and

 

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amendment of our charter or approval of a new version of our charter that restricts the holder’s rights;

 

   

upon liquidation, receive a proportionate amount of our property after our obligations to our creditors are fulfilled;

 

   

have access to certain company documents, receive copies for a reasonable fee and, if holding alone or with other holders, 25% or more of the voting stock, have free access to accounting documents; and

 

   

exercise other rights of a shareholder provided by our charter, Russian legislation and decisions of general shareholders’ meetings approved in accordance with its competence.

Rights attaching to preferred shares

Pursuant to our charter, as amended, all of our preferred shares have the same nominal value and grant to their holders identical rights. Each fully paid preferred share gives its holder the right to:

 

   

freely transfer preferred shares without the consent of other shareholders;

 

   

receive dividends in accordance with our charter and current legislation;

 

   

upon liquidation, receive a portion of our liquidation value, which is equal to a portion of our assets calculated pro rata to the portion represented by one preferred share in our charter capital;

 

   

have access to certain company documents and receive copies for a reasonable fee;

 

   

transfer all or part of the rights attached to the preferred shares to its representative on the basis of a power of attorney; and

 

   

participate in shareholders’ meetings and vote on the following matters:

 

   

our reorganization, liquidation and release from the obligation to comply with applicable Russian disclosure rules;

 

   

any amendment of our charter or approval of a new version of our charter that restricts the preferred shareholders’ rights, including amendments to the formula for calculation of dividends and/or the amount of the liquidation value attached to the shares;

 

   

participate in shareholders’ meetings and vote on all matters on which common shareholders are entitled to vote if for any reason the annual shareholders’ meeting did not adopt a resolution to pay the full amount of dividends to which preferred shareholders are entitled under our charter. The holders of preferred shares enjoy this right effective from the first shareholders’ meeting to be held after the relevant annual shareholders’ meeting and until the date when dividends on preferred shares are paid in full; and

 

   

filing of an application with a stock exchange for listing or delisting of our preferred shares.

Pre-emptive rights

The Joint-Stock Companies Law and our charter provide existing shareholders with a pre-emptive right to purchase additional shares or securities convertible into shares issued by way of open subscription in an amount proportionate to their existing holding of shares of the same category as the newly issued shares. In addition, the Joint-Stock Companies Law provides shareholders with a pre-emptive right to purchase shares or securities convertible into shares during a closed subscription if the shareholders voted against or did not participate in the voting on the decision approving such subscription. The pre-emptive right does not apply to placement of shares or securities convertible into shares through a closed subscription among existing shareholders only, provided that such shareholders may each acquire a whole number of shares or securities convertible into shares being placed in an amount proportionate to their existing holdings. We must publish a notice of the proposed placement

 

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of shares or provide shareholders with such notice in writing at least 45 days prior to the offering, during which time shareholders may exercise their pre-emptive rights. In case the price of shares or the procedure for determining the price of shares is to be approved by the board of directors not later than the beginning of placement period, the term for exercising the pre-emptive rights may be shortened to 20 days, or even to eight business days if the notice of the proposed placement of shares is subject to disclosure under Russian law.

Dividends

The Joint-Stock Companies Law and our charter set forth the procedure for determining the dividends that we distribute to our shareholders. Shareholders may decide on whether or not to pay the dividends upon results of a financial quarter, half a year, nine months and/or year. Dividends are recommended to a general shareholders’ meeting by the board of directors, and approved by the general shareholders’ meeting by a majority vote. A decision on quarterly dividends may be taken at a general shareholders’ meeting within three months of the end of the respective quarter; a decision on annual dividends must be taken at the annual general shareholders’ meeting. A decision on payment of dividends for common shares can be taken only after the decision on payment of dividends for preferred shares is taken. The dividend approved at the general shareholders’ meeting may not be more than the amount recommended by the board of directors. Dividends are distributed to holders of our shares as of the record date for the shareholders’ meeting approving the dividends. See “— General Meetings of Shareholders — Notice and participation.” Dividends are not paid on treasury shares. A company is required to pay dividends within the time period, which is indicated in the charter or the shareholders’ resolution approving the dividends, which may not be more than 60 days from the date of such resolution. A shareholder who is entitled to the declared dividends but has not received them has a right to make a claim to the company for the unpaid dividends within three years upon the expiration of the dividend payment period. Upon the expiration of this three year period, claims for declared and unpaid dividends will lapse in favor of the company.

Starting from January 1, 2014, a new “cascade” dividend payment mechanism will be introduced with respect to shares recorded on custodians’ account as opposite to the shareholders’ register. The cascade payment mechanism provides that Russian issuers will pay dividends to custodians and depositary banks, who in turn will be obliged to further transfer dividends to shareholders. Under the new regime no disclosure will be required by ultimate beneficial owners in order to receive dividends. See also “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Shares and the Trading Market — Upon introduction of a new system of recording the depositary’s rights to the shares underlying depositary receipts, the depositary may be required to disclose information on ADS and GDS owners in order to exercise voting rights and receive dividends with respect to the shares underlying ADSs and GDSs.”

The Joint-Stock Companies Law allows dividends to be declared only out of net profits calculated under Russian accounting standards and as long as the following conditions have been met:

 

   

the charter capital of the company has been paid in full;

 

   

the value of the company’s net assets on the date of adoption of the decision to pay dividends is not less (and would not become less as a result of the proposed dividend payment) than the sum of the company’s charter capital, the company’s reserve fund and the difference between the liquidation value and the par value of the issued and outstanding preferred shares of the company;

 

   

the company has repurchased all shares from shareholders who demanded repurchase; and

 

   

the company is not, and would not become, insolvent as the result of the proposed dividend payment.

Pursuant to our charter, as amended, we shall calculate the dividends for preferred shares on the basis of our consolidated financial statements prepared under accepted international accounting standards which we apply for the relevant accounting period, including IFRS and U.S. GAAP. The annual fixed dividend for one preferred share amounts to 20% of our net profit under our annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with the applicable international accounting standards and audited by an independent auditor, divided by 138,756,915.

 

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For the purpose of calculating the amount of dividends for preferred shares, we convert our net profit under the applicable international accounting standards into rubles using the official exchange rate of the CBR as of the date the board of directors decides to recommend the amount of dividends for the preferred shares.

If the dividend to be paid for one common share exceeds the dividend to be paid for one preferred share for the same year, we must increase the dividend to be paid for one preferred share up to the amount of dividend to be paid for one common share. For this purpose, if the nominal value of our common shares has changed (e.g., through a share split), the dividend to be paid for one common share is calculated as if its nominal value has not changed. If dividends for common shares are to be paid in kind, the monetary value of such payment must be evaluated by an independent appraiser.

Distributions to shareholders on liquidation

Under Russian legislation, liquidation of a company results in its termination without the transfer of rights and obligations to other persons as legal successors. The Joint-Stock Companies Law and our charter allow us to be liquidated:

 

   

voluntarily, by a three-quarters majority of the voting stock present at a general shareholders’ meeting; or

 

   

involuntarily, by a court order.

Following a decision to liquidate the company, the right to manage our affairs would pass to a liquidation commission which, in the case of voluntary liquidation, is appointed by a general shareholders’ meeting and, in an involuntary liquidation, is appointed by the court. Creditors may file claims within a period to be determined by the liquidation commission, but which may not be less than two months from the date of publication of notice of liquidation by the liquidation commission.

The Civil Code gives creditors the following order of priority during liquidation:

 

   

individuals owed compensation for injuries or deaths;

 

   

payments related to disbursement of accrued vacation pay and wages of persons currently or formerly employed under an employment agreement and remuneration to owners of intellectual property rights;

 

   

federal and local governmental entities claiming taxes and similar payments to the budgets and non-budgetary funds; and

 

   

other creditors in accordance with Russian legislation.

Claims of creditors in connection with obligations secured by a pledge of the company’s property (“secured claims”) are satisfied out of the proceeds of the sale of the pledged property prior to claims of any other creditors except for the creditors of the first and second priorities described above, provided that claims of such creditors arose before the pledge agreements in respect of the company’s property were made. To the extent that the proceeds of sale of the pledged property are not sufficient to satisfy secured claims, the latter are satisfied simultaneously with claims of the fourth priority creditors as described above.

The Joint-Stock Companies Law and our charter provide for the following order of priority for distribution of remaining assets after settlement with creditors:

 

   

payments to repurchase shares from shareholders having the right to demand repurchase;

 

   

payments of declared but unpaid dividends on preferred shares and the liquidation value of the preferred shares determined by the company’s charter, as amended; and

 

   

payments to holders of common and preferred shares with account of the previously paid liquidation value of the preferred shares.

 

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Liability of shareholders

The Civil Code and the Joint-Stock Companies Law generally provide that shareholders in a Russian joint-stock company are not liable for the obligations of a joint-stock company and bear only the risk of loss of their investment. This may not be the case, however, when one entity is capable of determining decisions made by another entity. The entity capable of determining such decisions is called an “effective parent.” The entity whose decisions are capable of being so determined is called an “effective subsidiary.” The effective parent bears joint and several responsibility for transactions concluded by the effective subsidiary in course of carrying out these decisions if:

 

   

this decision-making capability is provided for in the charter of the effective subsidiary or in a contract between such entities; and

 

   

the effective parent gives binding instructions to the effective subsidiary based on the above-mentioned decision-making capability.

Thus, a shareholder of an effective parent is not itself liable for the debts of the effective parent’s effective subsidiary, unless that shareholder is itself an effective parent of the effective parent. Accordingly, a shareholder will not be personally liable for our debts or those of our effective subsidiaries unless such shareholder controls our business and the conditions set forth above are met. See “Risk Factors — Legal risks and uncertainties — Shareholder liability under Russian legislation could cause us to become liable for the obligations of our subsidiaries.”

In addition, an effective parent is secondarily liable for an effective subsidiary’s debts if an effective subsidiary becomes insolvent or bankrupt resulting from the fault of an effective parent only when the effective parent has used the right to give binding instructions, knowing that the consequence of carrying out this action would be insolvency or bankruptcy of this effective subsidiary. This is the case regardless of how the effective parent’s capability to determine decisions of the effective subsidiary arises, for example, whether through ownership of voting securities or by contract. If the effective subsidiary is a joint-stock company, the effective parent has secondary liability only if the effective parent has caused the effective subsidiary to take any action or fail to take any action, knowing that such action or failure to take action would result in insolvency or bankruptcy of the effective subsidiary. If the effective subsidiary is a limited liability company, the effective parent may be held secondarily liable if the effective subsidiary’s insolvency is caused by the willful misconduct or negligence of such effective parent and if the effective subsidiary’s assets are insufficient to cover its obligations. To be relieved from the liability, the effective parent would need to prove before the court that it acted in good faith and in the interests of the effective subsidiary.

Shareholders of an effective subsidiary that is a joint-stock company may also claim compensation for the effective subsidiary’s losses from the effective parent if: (1) the effective parent caused the effective subsidiary to take any action or fail to take any action that resulted in a loss and (2) the effective parent knew that such action or failure to take such action would result in an effective subsidiary’s loss. Members of an effective subsidiary that is a limited liability company may claim compensation for the effective subsidiary’s losses from the effective parent if the effective parent through its willful misconduct or negligence caused the effective subsidiary to take any action that resulted in a loss.

Russian law also provides for other cases in which shareholders may be held liable to us.

Charter capital increase

We may increase our charter capital by:

 

   

issuing additional shares, or

 

   

increasing the nominal value of already issued shares.

 

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A decision on any issuance of shares or securities convertible into shares by closed subscription, or an issuance by open subscription of common shares or securities convertible into common shares constituting more than 25% of the number of issued common shares, requires a three-quarters majority of the voting stock present at a general shareholders’ meeting. A decision to increase the charter capital by increasing the nominal value of issued shares requires a majority of the voting stock present at a general shareholders’ meeting. In addition, the issuance of shares above the number of authorized and non-issued shares provided in our charter necessitates a charter amendment, which requires a three-quarters majority of the voting stock present at a general shareholders’ meeting.

The Joint-Stock Companies Law requires that the value of newly issued shares be determined by the board of directors based on their market value but not less than their nominal value, except in limited circumstances where: (1) existing shareholders exercise a pre-emptive right to purchase shares at the price which is not more than 10% lower than the price paid by third parties, or (2) fees of up to 10% are paid to intermediaries, in which case the fees paid may be deducted from the price. The price may not be set at less than the nominal value of the shares. The board of directors shall value any in-kind contributions for new shares, based on the appraisal report of an independent appraiser.

Russian securities regulations set out detailed procedures for the issuance and registration of shares of a joint-stock company. These procedures require:

 

   

taking a decision on share placement and approving the resolution on share issuance;

 

   

registration of a share issuance with the FFMS;

 

   

following the placement of the shares, registration or filing with the FFMS of a report on results of share issuance and its public disclosure; and

 

   

public disclosure of information relating to the share issuance.

Charter capital decrease

The Joint-Stock Companies Law does not allow a company to reduce its charter capital below the minimum charter capital required by law, which is 100,000 rubles for an open joint-stock company. The Joint-Stock Companies Law and our charter require that any decision to reduce our charter capital, whether through a repurchase and cancellation of shares or a reduction in the nominal value of the shares, be made at a general shareholders’ meeting.

The Joint-Stock Companies Law allows a company to reduce its share capital only if, at the time of such reduction:

 

   

its share capital is paid up in full;

 

   

the company is not, and would not become, as a result of the payment to, or the modification of the securities of, the shareholders, as described above, insolvent;

 

   

the value of its net assets is not less (and would not become less, as a result of the payment or the modification of the securities to the shareholders) than the sum of its share capital, the reserve fund and the difference between the liquidation value and the par value of its issued and outstanding preferred shares;

 

   

the company has repurchased all shares from shareholders that have the right to demand repurchase of their shares under legislation protecting the rights of minority shareholders, as described below;

 

   

the company has fully paid all declared dividends; and

 

   

the company complies with other requirements of Russian legislation.

 

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In addition, within three business days after taking the decision to reduce our charter capital, we must notify this decision to the authority which carries out state registration of legal entities and publish this decision twice with a monthly interval. Within 30 days of the latest of such publications, our creditors, whose claim rights had occurred prior to the publication, would then have the right to accelerate our indebtedness and to demand reimbursement of applicable damages.

Share buy-back

The Joint-Stock Companies Law allows our shareholders or our board of directors to authorize the repurchase of our shares for consideration valued at up to 10% of Mechel’s net assets. The repurchased shares must be resold at a value not less than a market value within one year of their repurchase or, failing that, the shareholders must decide to cancel such shares and decrease the charter capital. Repurchased shares do not bear voting rights.

The Joint-Stock Companies Law allows us to repurchase our shares only if:

 

   

our charter capital is paid in full;

 

   

we are not and would not become, insolvent as a result of the repurchase;

 

   

the value of our net assets is not less (and would not become less, as a result of the proposed repurchase) than the sum of our charter capital, the reserve fund and the difference between the liquidation value and par value of our issued and outstanding preferred shares;

 

   

we have repurchased all shares from shareholders having the right to demand repurchase of their shares in accordance with Russian law, as described immediately below; and

 

   

the charter capital has been decreased by acquiring a part of the shares with the view to reduce their total number, provided that following such decrease the charter capital has not become lower than the minimum amount of the charter capital set forth by the Joint-Stock Companies Law (which is equal to 100,000 rubles).

The Joint-Stock Companies Law and our charter provide that our shareholders may demand repurchase of all or some of their shares if the shareholder demanding repurchase voted against or did not participate in the voting on the decision approving any of the following actions:

 

   

reorganization;

 

   

conclusion of a major transaction, as defined under Russian law;

 

   

amendment of our charter or approval of a restated version of our charter in a manner which restricts shareholders’ rights; or

 

   

filing of an application with a stock exchange for delisting of our shares or securities convertible into shares.

A shareholder demanding repurchase must send to us a written request within 45 days following the date when the relevant decision of the general shareholders’ meeting is taken. We must purchase the shares of the demanding shareholder within 30 days following the expiration of the above 45-day period. We may spend up to 10% of our net assets calculated under Russian accounting standards on the date of the adoption of the decision which gives rise for a share redemption demanded by the shareholders. If the value of shares in respect of which shareholders have exercised their right to demand repurchase exceeds 10% of our net assets, we will repurchase shares from each such shareholder on a pro-rata basis.

A shareholders’ decision on filing of an application for delisting of our shares enters into effect if the consideration to be paid for the repurchase of shares does not exceed 10% of our net assets.

 

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Registration and transfer of shares

Russian legislation requires that a joint-stock company maintain a register of its shareholders. Ownership of our shares is evidenced solely by entries made in such register. Any of our shareholders registered in a register may obtain an extract from our register certifying the number of shares that such shareholder holds. Since September 2, 2008, Registrar NIKoil Company OJSC has maintained our shareholder register, replacing Regional Independent Registrar Agency OAO.

The purchase, sale or other transfer of shares is accomplished through the registration of such transfer in the shareholder register, or the registration of such transfer with a depositary if shares are held and recorded by a depositary. The registrar or depositary may not require any documents in addition to those required by Russian legislation in order to transfer shares in the register or with a depositary. Refusal to register the shares in the name of the transferee or, upon request of the beneficial holder, in the name of a nominee holder, is not allowed except in certain instances provided for by Russian legislation, and may be challenged in court.

Federal Law No. 414-FZ “On the Central Depositary” dated December 7, 2011 (the “Central Depositary Law”), which came into force on January 1, 2012, set out a legal framework for establishment and operation of the central depositary. On November 6, 2012, the FFMS granted NSD the status of central depositary. Within one year from the date of having been granted such a status, the central depositary shall take all necessary steps to open its nominal holder accounts in, among others, all securities registers of the issuers which are obliged to disclose information in accordance with Russian securities law. As we are required to make public disclosures, the above requirement is applicable to us, which means that the central depositary should become the only person having a nominal holder account in our share register. Also, the Central Depositary Law prohibits persons maintaining securities registers from opening and depositing securities (save for limited exceptions) to other nominal holder accounts from the date of the opening of a nominal holder account with the central depositary.

Reserve fund

Russian legislation requires that each joint-stock company establish a reserve fund to be used only to cover the company’s losses, redeem the company’s bonds and repurchase the company’s shares in cases when other funds are not available. Our charter provides for a reserve fund of 5% of our charter capital, funded through mandatory annual transfers of at least 5% of our statutory net profits until the reserve fund has reached the 5% requirement.

Disclosure of Information

Russian securities regulations require us to make the following periodic public disclosures and filings in the newswire of authorized information agency Interfax (www.e-disclosure.ru) and on our websites at www.mechel.ru and www.mechel.com:

 

   

filing quarterly reports with the FFMS and MICEX containing information about us, our shareholders, registrar and depositary, the structure of our management bodies, the members of the board of directors, management board and review commission, our branches and representative offices, our subsidiaries and affiliates, our shares, bank accounts and auditors, important developments during the reporting quarter, quarterly accounting reports prepared in accordance with Russian accounting standards, and other information about our financial and business activity;

 

   

disclosure of the aforementioned quarterly reports on our websites at www.mechel.ru and www.mechel.com;

 

   

disclosure of any information concerning material facts and other official disclosures, including, among other things, our reorganization; certain changes in the amount of our assets; decisions on share issuances; certain changes in ownership and shareholding; information about controlled organizations which are material to us or organizations controlling us, reorganization, liquidation or bankruptcy of

 

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such organizations; conclusion of agreement with our controlled or controlling organization, where we are required to buy securities issued by such controlled or controlling organization; as well as shareholder and management bodies resolutions through publishing such information in the newswire of authorized information agency and on our websites at www.mechel.ru and www.mechel.com;

 

   

notifying MICEX about aforementioned information concerning material facts and other official disclosures;

 

   

disclosure of the documents that we have received in connection with any of the following:

 

   

a voluntary offer (including any competing offer) to acquire us;

 

   

a mandatory offer (including any competing offer) to acquire us;

 

   

a notice of the right of shareholders to sell their shares to the person that has acquired more than 95% of our common shares; and

 

   

a request that minority shareholders sell their shares to the person that has acquired more than 95% of our common shares;

 

   

disclosing information on various stages of securities placement, issuance and registration through publication of certain data as required by the securities regulations by means of publishing it in the newswire of authorized information agency and on our websites at www.mechel.ru and www.mechel.com, as well as by filing it with the FFMS and MICEX;

 

   

disclosing our charter and internal corporate governance documents on our websites at www.mechel.ru and www.mechel.com and filing them with MICEX;

 

   

disclosing our annual report and annual financial statements prepared in accordance with Russian accounting standards and our annual and interim U.S. GAAP financial statements on our websites at www.mechel.ru and www.mechel.com and filing them with the FFMS and MICEX;

 

   

filing with MICEX on a quarterly basis a list of our affiliated companies and individuals and disclosing such list and its amendments on our websites at www.mechel.ru and www.mechel.com;

 

   

disclosure on our websites at www.mechel.ru and www.mechel.com of a list of information which is considered an insider information and approved by the company (“insider information”);

 

   

disclosure of insider information by means of publishing it in the newswire of authorized information agency and on our websites at www.mechel.ru and www.mechel.com;

 

   

filing a list of insiders with MICEX; and

 

   

disclosure of other information as required by applicable Russian securities legislation and the rules of MICEX.

General Meetings of Shareholders

Procedure

A general shareholders’ meeting may exercise only the powers that are set forth in the Joint-Stock Companies Law and in our charter. Among the issues which our shareholders have the exclusive power to decide are:

 

   

approval of charter amendments or of a new version of the charter;

 

   

reorganizations or liquidations;

 

   

election and early removal of the members of the board of directors;

 

   

determination of the number, nominal value and type of authorized shares and rights granted by such shares;

 

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changes in the company’s charter capital;

 

   

appointment and early removal of the members of our review commission and counting commission;

 

   

approval of our independent auditor;

 

   

approval of certain interested party transactions (the value of which is 2% or more of the balance sheet value of the company’s assets) and major transactions (the value of which is more than 50% of the balance sheet value of the company’s assets);

 

   

distribution of profits and losses, including approval of dividends payment;

 

   

decisions on our participation in commercial or industrial groups or other associations of commercial entities;

 

   

redemption by the company of issued shares in cases provided for by the Joint-Stock Companies Law;

 

   

approval of certain internal documents regulating the activity of our governing bodies;

 

   

filing of an application with a stock exchange for delisting and, effective from September 30, 2013, listing of our shares; and

 

   

other issues, as provided by the Joint-Stock Companies Law and our charter.

Voting at a general shareholders’ meeting is generally carried out on the principle of one vote per voting share, with the exception of the election of the board of directors, which is done through cumulative voting. Decisions are generally passed by a majority of the voting stock present at a general shareholders’ meeting. However, Russian law requires a three-quarters majority of the voting stock present at a general shareholders’ meeting to approve the following:

 

   

approval of charter amendments or of a new version of the charter;

 

   

reorganizations or liquidations;

 

   

major transactions involving assets in excess of 50% of the balance sheet value of the company’s assets;

 

   

determination of the number, nominal value and category (type) of authorized shares and the rights granted by such shares;

 

   

repurchase by the company of its issued shares;

 

   

any issuance of shares or securities convertible into common shares by closed subscription;

 

   

issuance by open subscription of common shares or securities convertible into common shares, in each case, constituting 25% or more of the number of issued and outstanding common shares;

 

   

filing of an application with a stock exchange for delisting of common shares; and

 

   

a decrease of charter capital by means of a change in the nominal value of shares.

A resolution of the shareholders’ meeting to apply for listing or delisting of our preferred shares requires a three-quarters majority vote of the voting common stock present at the meeting and a three-quarters majority vote of the total preferred stock. The Joint-Stock Companies Law provides that a charter may require a larger number of the votes for passing such resolution.

The quorum requirement for our general shareholders’ meeting is met if shareholders (or their representatives) accounting for more than 50% of the issued voting shares are present. If the quorum requirement is not met, another general shareholders’ meeting with the same agenda may (and, in the case of an annual meeting, must) be scheduled and the quorum requirement is satisfied if shareholders (or their representatives) accounting for at least 30% of the issued voting shares are present at that meeting.

 

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The annual general shareholders’ meeting must be convened by the board of directors and be held between March 1 and June 30 of each year, and the agenda must include the following items:

 

   

election of the members of the board of directors and review commission;

 

   

approval of the annual report and annual financial statements, including the balance sheet and profit and loss statement;

 

   

approval of distribution of profits, including approval of annual dividends and losses, if any; and

 

   

appointment of an independent auditor.

A shareholder or group of shareholders owning in the aggregate at least 2% of the outstanding voting shares may introduce proposals for the agenda of the annual general shareholders’ meeting and may nominate candidates to the board of directors, general director, the review commission and counting commission. Any agenda proposals or nominations must be provided to the company no later than 30 days after the preceding financial year ends.

Extraordinary general shareholders’ meetings may be called either by the board of directors on its own initiative, or at the request of the review commission, the independent auditor of the statutory accounts or a shareholder or group of shareholders owning in the aggregate at least 10% of the issued voting shares as of the date of the request.

A general shareholders’ meeting may be held in a form of a meeting or by an absentee ballot. The form of a meeting contemplates the adoption of resolutions by the general shareholders’ meeting through the attendance of the shareholders or their authorized representatives for the purpose of discussing and voting on issues of the agenda, provided that if a ballot is mailed to shareholders for participation at a meeting convened in such form, the shareholders may complete and mail the ballot back to the company without personally attending the meeting. A general shareholders’ meeting by absentee ballot contemplates the determination of shareholders’ opinions on issues on the agenda by means of a written poll.

The following issues cannot be decided by a general shareholders’ meeting by absentee ballot:

 

   

election of directors;

 

   

election of the review commission;

 

   

approval of a company’s independent auditor for statutory accounts; and

 

   

approval of the annual report and annual financial statements, including balance sheet, profit and loss statement and any distribution of profits and losses, including approval of annual dividends, if any.

If the number of shareholders exceeds 1,000 persons, the voting ballots, which must be used when conducting a general shareholders’ meeting in form of a meeting in a joint-stock company with more than 100 shareholders, must be sent to the shareholders entitled to participate in the general shareholders’ meeting at least 20 days in advance of the general shareholders’ meeting.

Notice and participation

All shareholders entitled to participate in a general shareholders’ meeting must be notified of the meeting, whether the meeting is to be held in direct form or by absentee ballot, not less than 30 days prior to the date of the meeting, and such notification shall specify the agenda for the meeting or, if the company’s charter determines it, by publishing a notice of the meeting in a printed publication. However, if it is an extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting to elect the board of directors or it is a general shareholders’ meeting to elect the board of directors of a reorganized company, shareholders must be notified (by printed publication) at least 70 days prior to the date of the meeting. Under our charter, we may either provide notice by mail or deliver

 

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notice with the acknowledgement of receipt to each of our shareholders or publish a notice in Rossiyskaya Gazeta, an official newspaper founded by the Russian government. Only those items that were set out in the agenda may be voted upon at a general shareholders’ meeting. Starting from January 1, 2014, a company may also publish a notice of the meeting on its website stated in the charter. In addition, nominal holders included in the shareholder register will be notified of the shareholders’ meeting by way of an electronic communication and will be required to convey such information to the depositors within a prescribed period.

The list of shareholders entitled to participate in a general shareholders’ meeting is compiled on the basis of the data in our shareholder register on the date established by the board of directors, which date may neither be earlier than the date of adoption of the board resolution to hold a general shareholders’ meeting nor more than 50 days before the date of the meeting (or, in the case of an extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting to elect the board of directors, not more than 85 days before the date of the meeting).

The right to participate in a general shareholders’ meeting may be exercised by a shareholder as follows:

 

   

by personally participating in the discussion of agenda items and voting thereon;

 

   

by sending an authorized representative to participate in the discussion of agenda items and to vote thereon;

 

   

by absentee ballot; or

 

   

by delegating the right to fill out the absentee ballot to an authorized representative.

Federal Law No. 415-FZ also sets forth new obligations for a depositary to disclose information on ‘depositary receipt owners’ in order to exercise voting rights with respect to the shares represented by depositary receipts. The regulations setting forth the specific requirements for the information disclosure are yet to be published by the FFMS. Since the central depositary was just established and relevant depo accounts of depositary programs have not yet been opened, the FFMS by its information letter No. 12-DP-01/54910 dated December 25, 2012 stated that until the depo accounts are opened, but not later than November 6, 2013 the depositary’s voting rights are not conditional upon disclosure of information on depositary receipt owners. See also “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Shares and the Trading Market — Upon introduction of a new system of recording the depositary’s rights to the shares underlying depositary receipts, the depositary may be required to disclose information on ADS and GDS owners in order to exercise voting rights and receive dividends with respect to the shares underlying ADSs and GDSs.”

Board of Directors

The Joint-Stock Companies Law and our charter provide that our entire board of directors is up for election at each annual general shareholders’ meeting and that our board of directors is elected through cumulative voting. Under cumulative voting, each shareholder has a number of votes equal to the number of voting shares held by such shareholder multiplied by the number of persons to be elected to our board of directors, and the shareholder may give all such votes to one candidate or spread them between two or more candidates. Before the expiration of their term, the members of the board of directors may be removed as a group at any time without cause by a majority of the voting stock present at a general shareholders’ meeting.

The Joint-Stock Companies Law requires at least a five-member board of directors for all joint-stock companies, at least a seven-member board of directors for a joint-stock company with more than 1,000 holders of voting shares, and at least a nine-member board of directors for a joint-stock company with more than 10,000 holders of voting shares. Only natural persons (as opposed to legal entities) are entitled to sit on the board. Members of the board of directors are not required to be shareholders of the company. Members of the management board are not permitted to constitute more than 25% of the members of the board of directors. The actual number of directors is determined by the company’s charter or decision of the general shareholders’ meeting. Our charter provides that our board of directors shall consist of nine members, and the majority of our directors shall be independent.

 

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The Joint-Stock Companies Law prohibits the board of directors from acting on issues that fall within the exclusive competence of the general shareholders’ meeting. Our board of directors has the power to direct the general management of the company, and to decide the following issues:

 

   

determination of our business priorities and approving our annual and quarterly budget;

 

   

convening of annual and extraordinary general shareholders’ meetings, except in certain circumstances specified in the Joint-Stock Companies Law;

 

   

approval of the agenda of the general shareholders’ meeting and determination of the record date for shareholders entitled to participate in a general shareholders’ meeting;

 

   

placement of our additional shares in which convertible preferred shares are converted provided that it will not result in charter capital increase, and placement of our bonds and other securities, except for the shares;

 

   

determination of the price of our property and of our securities to be placed or repurchased, as provided for by the Joint-Stock Companies Law;

 

   

repurchase of our shares, bonds and other securities in certain cases provided for by the Joint-Stock Companies Law;

 

   

appointment of the general director and members of the management board, and early termination of their powers and the establishment of their compensation;

 

   

recommendation to the general shareholders’ meeting on the amount of a dividend and the payment procedure thereof;

 

   

recommendation on the amount of remuneration and compensation to be paid to the members of our review commission and on the fees payable for the services of an independent auditor;

 

   

the use of our reserve fund and other funds;

 

   

the creation and liquidation of branches and representative offices;

 

   

approval of internal documents, except for those documents whose approval falls within the competence of the company’s shareholders or general director or the management board;

 

   

approval of major and interested party transactions in the cases provided for by the Joint-Stock Companies Law;

 

   

increasing our charter capital by issuing additional shares within the limits of the authorized charter capital, except in certain circumstance specified in our charter;

 

   

approval of decisions on securities issuances and of the prospectus relating to such securities issuances, as well as of reports on the results of such securities issuances;

 

   

approval of our share registrar; and

 

   

other issues, as provided for by the Joint-Stock Companies Law and our charter.

Our charter generally requires a majority vote of the directors present for an action to pass, with the exception of actions for which Russian legislation requires a unanimous vote or a majority vote of the disinterested and independent directors, as described herein. A board meeting is considered duly assembled and legally competent to act when at least five directors, including at least one independent director, are present. In addition, our charter requires the presence of at least three quarters of the total number of directors, including at least one third of the total number of independent directors, for board meetings convened to make decisions on certain matters specified in our charter.

Management Board

In June 2011, an annual general shareholders’ meeting approved a new version of the “Bylaw on the Collegial Executive Body (Management Board).” Pursuant to the Bylaw, the management board engages in

 

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discussions regarding important corporate issues within its powers and makes recommendations to our board of directors. The management board operates on the basis of our charter and applicable internal regulations. The management board’s size is defined by the board of directors, and it is comprised of senior management of Mechel and our subsidiaries, with each member of the management board elected by the board of directors. A meeting of the management board is quorate if at least half of its members participate in the meeting.

The management board decides on the following issues, among others:

 

   

developing and submitting to the board of directors long-term plans for the implementation of the company’s priorities and proposals regarding its development strategy;

 

   

reporting to the board of directors on the realization of investment projects in the amount of more than $30 million;

 

   

developing and submitting to the board of directors investment projects in the amount of more than $50 million;

 

   

submitting to the board of directors proposals on bonds placement and acquisitions;

 

   

submitting to the board of directors proposals on participation (obtaining or increasing participation) or giving up (reducing) our participation in other entities;

 

   

approving annual and long-term investment programs;

 

   

approving transactions related to disposals by the company of capital assets with a value of between 10% to 25% of the balance sheet assets of the company;

 

   

making certain decisions regarding the exercise of our rights as a shareholder or a participant of other entities;

 

   

making recommendations on certain matters relating to the management of our affiliates included in the list approved by our management board;

 

   

developing and establishing methods of compensation and monetary motivation for our employees; and

 

   

other issues related to our day-to-day business referred to the management board by its chairman, the board of directors or by a shareholder holding not less than 20% of our voting shares.

General Director

The general director (also referred to in this document as chief executive officer) is our sole executive body and manages our current operations within its powers and organizes the implementation of resolutions of our general shareholders’ meeting and the board of directors. The general director acts on our behalf without a power of attorney and has the following rights and responsibilities:

 

   

performing the routine management of our operations;

 

   

exercising the right of first signature on financial documents;

 

   

managing our property to provide for our current operations within the limits established by our charter and prevailing Russian legislation within its powers;

 

   

representing our interests both in Russia and abroad;

 

   

approving staff, executing labor contracts with our employees and rewarding and disciplining employees;

 

   

entering into transactions on our behalf within its powers;

 

   

issuing powers of attorney on our behalf;

 

   

opening and closing our bank accounts;

 

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organizing our accounting and reporting process;

 

   

issuing orders and instructions binding on all our employees;

 

   

organizing the implementation of resolutions of our general shareholders’ meeting and our board of directors; and

 

   

performing other functions necessary to achieve our aims and to provide for our normal operations, in compliance with prevailing legislation and our charter, except for the functions laid upon our other management bodies by the Joint-Stock Companies Law and our charter.

The general director is appointed by the board of directors for a period of one year. The term of office runs from the time of his appointment until such time as a general director is appointed by the board of directors one year later. The general director may be re-appointed an unlimited number of times.

The general director may on his own initiative renounce his powers at any time by written notice to the board of directors. The authority of the general director may be terminated before the expiration of his term of office by a resolution of the board of directors on the following grounds:

 

   

failure to comply with the requirements of our charter, resolutions of the general shareholders’ meeting or the board of directors or our internal documents;

 

   

in the cases stipulated by the employment agreement with the general director; and

 

   

in other events provided by current legislation.

Upon resolution of the general shareholders’ meeting, the authority of the sole executive body may be vested in a commercial organization (a “managing organization”) or an individual entrepreneur (a “manager”) on a contractual basis. Under the Civil Code, if the authority of a company’s sole executive body has been vested in a managing organization or a manager, the company exercises its legal rights and assumes its legal obligations through such managing organization or manager. A resolution to transfer the authority of a company’s sole executive body to a managing organization or a manager shall be passed by the general meeting of shareholders only upon recommendation of the board of directors of the company.

Our general director is required under Russian law to disclose information on his holdings of our securities and on sales and/or purchases of our securities.

Role of the Review Commission

The review commission exercises control over our financial and business operations.

On the basis of the results of its examination of our financial and business operations, the review commission prepares opinions, which contain the following:

 

   

confirmation of the reliability of the data contained in our reports and other financial documents; and

 

   

information on any identified cases of violations of accounting and reporting procedures stipulated by Russian legislation and violations of Russian legislation identified in financial and business operations.

Upon a request from the review commission, the general director and members of the board of directors, the management board and the liquidation commission must undertake to make available documents pertaining to our financial and business operations. The review commission is entitled to request that an extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting be convened in accordance with the procedure provided by our charter.

The review commission is elected by our general shareholders’ meeting for a period of one year and consists of three persons. Shares owned by members of our board of directors or persons holding positions in our management bodies cannot participate in the voting, when members of the review commission are elected. The

 

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term of office of the review commission runs from the moment it is elected by the shareholders to the moment it is elected or re-elected by the next annual general shareholders’ meeting. The authority of individual members or the whole review commission may be terminated before the expiration of the term of office thereof by a resolution of the general shareholders’ meeting on the grounds and in compliance with the procedure stipulated by our internal documents. If the number of members of the review commission falls to less than half of the required membership thereof, the board of directors must convene an extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting to elect a new review commission. The remaining members of the review commission continue to perform their functions until a new review commission is elected.

A shareholder or any person proposed by a shareholder may become a member of the review commission. A member of the review commission cannot simultaneously be a member of the board of directors, a member of the liquidation commission, the general director or a member of the management board. The review commission elects its chairman and secretary from within its members.

The board of directors determines remuneration and compensation of expenses to the members of the review commission.

Interested Party Transactions

Under the Joint-Stock Companies Law, certain transactions defined as “interested party transactions” require approval by disinterested directors or shareholders of the company. “Interested party transactions” include transactions involving a member of the board of directors, a member of a collegial executive body of the company, a person or entity that performs the functions of a sole executive body, any person that owns, together with its affiliates, at least 20% of a company’s issued voting stock or any person who is able to direct the actions of the company, if that person, and/or that person’s spouse, parents, children, adoptive parents or children, blood or non-blood brothers and sisters or affiliates, is/are:

 

   

a party to, or beneficiary of, a transaction with the company, whether directly or as a representative or intermediary;

 

   

the owner (the various or in the aggregate) of at least 20% of the issued voting shares of a legal entity that is a party to, or beneficiary of, a transaction with the company, whether directly or as a representative or intermediary; or

 

   

a member of the board of directors or a member of any management body of a company that is a party to, or beneficiary of, a transaction with the company, whether directly or as a representative or intermediary, or a member of any management body of a management organization of such a company.

The Joint-Stock Companies Law requires that an interested party transaction by a company with more than 1,000 shareholders be approved by a majority vote of the independent directors of the company who are not interested in the transaction. An “independent director” is a person who is not, and within the year preceding the decision was not, a general director, a member of any executive body of the company or its management company, a manager, or an affiliate of the company and whose sole nexus to the company is in the capacity of a member of the board of directors. In addition, such person’s spouse, parents, children, adoptive parents or children, blood and non-blood brothers and sisters may not be a general director, a member of any executive body of the company or its management company, or a manager. For companies with 1,000 or fewer shareholders, an interested party transaction must be approved by a majority vote of the directors who are not interested in the transaction if the number of these directors is sufficient to constitute a quorum.

Approval by a majority of shareholders who are not interested in the transaction is required if:

 

   

the value of such transaction or a number of interrelated transactions is 2% or more of the balance sheet value of the company’s assets determined under Russian accounting standards;

 

   

the transaction or a number of interrelated transactions involves the issuance, by subscription, of common shares or securities convertible into common shares, or secondary market sale of such

 

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securities, in an amount exceeding 2% of the company’s issued common shares and common shares into which issued convertible securities may be converted;

 

   

the number of directors who are not interested in the transaction is not sufficient to constitute a quorum; or

 

   

all the members of the board of directors of the company are interested parties, or none of them is an independent director.

Approval by a majority of shareholders who are not interested in the transaction may not be required for an interested party transaction if such transaction is substantially similar to transactions concluded by the company and the interested party in the ordinary course of business before such party became an interested party with respect to the transaction.

The approval of interested party transactions is not required in the following instances:

 

   

the company has only one shareholder that simultaneously performs the functions of the executive body of the company;

 

   

all shareholders of the company are deemed interested in such transactions;

 

   

the transactions arise from the shareholders executing their pre-emptive rights to purchase newly issued shares of the company;

 

   

the transactions arise from the repurchase, whether mandatory or not, by the company of the issued shares;

 

   

the company is merging with or into another company; or

 

   

the company is required by federal legislation to enter into the transaction, and settlements under such transaction are made pursuant to fixed rate schedules and prices established by appropriate state authorities.

For information on certain risks relating to interested party transactions see “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry — In the event that the minority shareholders of our subsidiaries were to successfully challenge past interested party transactions or do not approve interested party transactions in the future, we could be limited in our operational flexibility.”

Major Transactions

The Joint-Stock Companies Law defines a “major transaction” as a transaction, or a number of related transactions, involving the acquisition or disposal, or a possibility of disposal (whether directly or indirectly), of property having a value of 25% or more of the balance sheet value of the assets of a company as determined under Russian accounting standards as of the latest reporting date preceding the transaction, with the exception of transactions completed in the ordinary course of business or transactions involving the placement of common shares or securities convertible into common shares by means of subscription (disposal) or transactions to be executed by the company pursuant to the federal laws and/or other regulations of the Russian Federation and priced in accordance with the regulations of the Russian government or other federal bodies authorized by the Russian government. Major transactions involving assets ranging from 25% to 50% of the balance sheet value of the assets of a company require unanimous approval by all members of the board of directors or, failing to receive such approval, a majority of the voting stock present at a general shareholders’ meeting. Major transactions involving assets in excess of 50% of the balance sheet value of the assets of a company require a three-quarters majority of the voting stock held by shareholders present at the general shareholders’ meeting.

For information on our controlling shareholder’s potential ability to approve major transactions see “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry — The concentration of our shares with our controlling shareholder will limit your ability to influence corporate matters.”

 

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Change in Control

Anti-takeover protection

Russian legislation requires the following:

 

   

A person intending to acquire more than 30% of an open joint-stock company’s common shares and voting preferred shares (including, for such purposes, shares already owned by such person and its affiliates), will be entitled to make a public tender offer to other holders of such shares pursuant to the requirements of the Joint-Stock Companies Law.

 

   

A person that has acquired more than 30% of an open joint-stock company’s common shares and voting preferred shares (including shares already owned by such person and its affiliates, but excluding shares that were acquired pursuant to previous voluntary or mandatory offers in compliance with the requirements of the Joint-Stock Companies Law) will be required to make, within 35 days of acquiring such shares, a public tender offer for other shares of the same class and for securities convertible into such shares, at a price which is not less than the price determined based on a weighted market price of the shares during trading sessions on a stock exchange for the six months preceding the date when a public tender offer was sent, or at a price not less than the market price, which must be determined by an independent appraiser if the shares have an insufficient or non-existent trading history. From the moment of acquisition of more than 30% of the shares until the moment of sending of an offer to the company, the person making the offer and its affiliates will be able to vote only 30% of the shares of the company (regardless of the size of their actual holdings). These rules are also applied (or reapplied) to acquisitions resulting in a person or a group of persons owning more than 50% and 75% of a company’s outstanding common shares and voting preferred shares.

 

   

A person that, as a result of such a voluntary or mandatory offer, becomes (individually or counting the shares held by its affiliates) the owner of more than 95% of the company’s common shares and voting preferred shares, must buy out the remaining shares of the company as well as other securities convertible into such shares upon request of the holders of such shares or other securities, and may require such holders to sell such shares and other securities convertible into such shares, at a price not less than the prices of the preceding acquisition by the offeror. The offeror is entitled to require the holders of the remaining shares of the company, as well as other securities convertible into such shares, to sell such shares and other securities, provided that the offeror acquired not less than 10% of the total number of shares of the company as a result of acceptance by other shareholders of the voluntary or mandatory tender offer as described above.

 

   

An offer of the kind described in any of the preceding three paragraphs must be accompanied by a bank guarantee of payment. If securities are listed on a stock exchange, prior notice of the offer must be filed with the FFMS; otherwise, notice must be filed with the FFMS no later than the date of the offer. The FFMS may order amendments to the terms of the offer (including price) in order to bring them into compliance with the requirements of the current legislation.

 

   

Once such an offer has been made, competing offers for the same securities can be made by third parties and, in certain circumstances, acceptance of the initial offer may be withdrawn by the security holders who choose to accept such competing offer. From the making of such an offer until 20 days after its expiration (which period may in certain cases exceed 100 days) the company’s general shareholders’ meeting will have the sole power to make decisions on charter capital increase by way of issuance of additional shares, issuance of securities convertible into shares, including options of an open joint-stock company, approval of certain transactions or a number of related transactions, involving the acquisition or disposal, or a possibility of disposal (whether directly or indirectly), of property having a value of 10% or more of the balance sheet value of the assets of a company as determined under Russian accounting standards as of the latest reporting date preceding the transaction, with the exception of transactions completed in the ordinary course of business, and on certain other significant matters.

 

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The above rule may be supplemented through rulemaking by the FFMS, which may result in a broader, narrower or more specific interpretation of these rules by the government and judicial authorities, as well as by market participants.

Approval of the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service

Pursuant to the Competition Law, acquisitions of voting shares of a joint-stock company, involving companies with a combined value of assets or annual revenues, exceeding a certain threshold under Russian accounting standards, or companies registered as having more than a 35% share of a certain commodity market, and which would result in a shareholder (or a group of shareholders defined under Russian law) holding more than 25%, 50% or 75% of the voting capital stock of such company, or in a transfer between such companies of assets or rights to assets, the value of which exceeds a certain amount, or obtaining rights to determine the conditions of business activity of an entity or to exercise the authorities of its executive body must be approved in advance by the FAS. Such transactions executed between members of a group of companies may require only a subsequent notification to the FAS if prior notification about the members of the group of companies has been filed with the FAS and the information contained in this notification is still accurate as of the date of the relevant transaction and had not been changed within 30 days from the date of group’s disclosure and prior to the date of the transaction’s settlement. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — Regulatory Matters — Russian Antimonopoly Regulation.”

Foreign ownership

Under the Strategic Industries Law any acquisition, whether direct or indirect, by a foreign investor or its group of entities (except for the acquisition by a foreign investor controlled by the Russian Federation and/or Russian nationals provided such Russian nationals are Russian tax residents and do not have dual nationality) of a stake, or certain rights, in a Strategic Company or a Strategic Subsoil Company must be previously approved by the Governmental Commission. Under the Strategic Industries Law, acquisition of 5% or more of the charter capital of a Strategic Company by a foreign investor or its group of entities require notification of Russian authorities. The FAS is the federal executive authority for execution of control over making foreign investments in the Russian Federation. See “Item 3. Key Information — Risk Factors — Legal risks and uncertainties — Expansion of limitations on foreign investment in strategic sectors could affect our ability to attract and/or retain foreign investments” and “Item 4. Information on the Company — Regulatory Matters — The Strategic Industries Law.”

The Federal Law No. 160-FZ “On Foreign Investments in the Russian Federation,” dated July 9, 1999, as amended (“Foreign Investments Law”), provides that any acquisition (whether direct or indirect) by a foreign state or international organization or entities controlled by them of (1) more than 25% of voting shares of a Russian company; or (2) any powers to block decisions of the management bodies of a Russian company, requires a prior approval of the Governmental Commission in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Strategic Industries Law.

Foreign persons registered as individual entrepreneurs in Russia and foreign companies, regardless of whether they are registered with the Russian tax authorities, who acquire shares in a Russian joint-stock company, may need to notify the Russian tax authorities within one month following such acquisition. The procedure for notifying the Russian tax authorities by foreign companies that are not registered with the Russian tax authorities at the time of their share acquisitions is unclear.

Disclosure of Ownership

Under Russian law, a holder of common shares of a joint-stock company, which has FFMS registered prospectus, must notify the company and the FFMS of an acquisition of 5% or more of the company’s common shares or of an acquisition of the right to cast votes attached to 5% or more of the common shares by virtue of an

 

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agreement or otherwise, and of any subsequent change in the number of the common shares above or below a 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 50% or 75% threshold. Such notifications must be given not later than 10 days after the common shares have been transferred to such shareholder’s securities account or after the acquisition of the right to cast votes attached to such common shares, whether by virtue of an agreement or otherwise.

Negative Net Assets

If the net assets of a Russian joint-stock company calculated on the basis of the Russian accounting standards as of the end of its second financial year are lower than its share capital, the joint-stock company’s board of directors must disclose it in the annual report. Furthermore, if the net assets of a Russian joint-stock company calculated on the basis of the Russian accounting standards as of the end of the financial year that follows its second or any subsequent financial year, at the end of which the net assets of such company were lower than its share capital, remain lower than its share capital, the company must decrease its share capital to the amount of its net assets or liquidate. In addition, if a Russian joint-stock company’s net assets calculated on the basis of the Russian accounting standards as of the end of its second or any subsequent financial year are lower than the minimum amount of the share capital required by law, the company must liquidate.

Moreover, if a Russian joint-stock company fails to comply with any of the requirements stated above within six months from the end of the relevant financial year, governmental or local authorities will be able to seek involuntary liquidation of such company in court. In addition, if a Russian joint-stock company fails to comply with any of the requirements stated above within six months from the end of the relevant financial year or decreases its share capital, the company’s creditors will have the right to accelerate their claims or demand early performance of the company’s obligations owed to them and demand compensation of damages.

In addition, if a Russian joint-stock company’s net assets calculated on the basis of the Russian accounting standards are lower than its share capital by more than 25% as of the end of three, six, nine or twelve months of the financial year that follows its second or any subsequent financial year, at the end of which the net assets of such company were lower than its share capital, a joint-stock company is obliged to make a public disclosure of this fact and certain of the company’s creditors will have the right to accelerate their claims or demand early performance of the company’s obligations owed to them and demand compensation of damages.

However, if a Russian joint-stock company is able to demonstrate that the creditors’ rights were not violated as a result of a decrease of its share capital or a decrease of the amount of its net assets, as the case may be, and that the security provided for due performance of the company’s obligations is sufficient, a court may dismiss the creditors’ claims that are brought in the following cases: (1) in the event of a decrease of the share capital of the company, including when the share capital of the company must be decreased to the amount of its net assets in compliance with the requirements of Russian law; and (2) in the event the company’s net assets calculated on the basis of the Russian accounting standards are lower than its share capital by more than 25% at the end of three, six, nine or twelve months of the financial year that followed its second or any subsequent financial year, at the end of which the net assets of such company became lower than its share capital. Moreover, the existence of negative assets, generally, may not accurately reflect the actual ability to pay debts as they come due. Some Russian courts, in deciding whether or not to order the liquidation of a company for having negative net assets, have looked beyond the fact that the company failed to comply fully with all applicable legal requirements and have taken into account other factors, such as the financial standing of the company and its ability to meet its tax obligations, as well as the economic and social consequences of its liquidation. Nonetheless, creditors have the right to accelerate claims, including damages claims, and governmental or local authorities may seek the liquidation of a company with negative net assets. Courts have, on rare occasions, ordered the involuntary liquidation of a company for having net assets less than the minimum share capital required by law, even if the company had continued to fulfill its obligations and had net assets in excess of the minimum share capital required by law at the time of liquidation. See “Item 3. Key information — Risk Factors — Legal risks and uncertainties — One or more of our subsidiaries could be forced into liquidation on the basis of formal non-compliance with certain requirements of Russian law, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.”

 

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Material Contracts

None.

Exchange Controls

The Federal Law “On Currency Regulation and Currency Control,” effective from June 18, 2004, as amended, sets forth certain restrictions on settlements between residents of Russia with respect to transactions involving foreign securities (including ADSs), including requirements for settlement in Russian rubles.

Repatriation of Export Proceeds

Russian companies must repatriate 100% of their receivables from the export of goods and services (with a limited number of exceptions concerning, in particular, certain types of secured financing) within the time frame provided under the respective agreement.

Restrictions on Remittance to Non-residents

The Foreign Investments Law guarantees foreign investors the right to repatriate their earnings from Russian investments. However, the evolving Russian exchange control regime may affect investors’ ability to do so. Ruble dividends on shares may be paid to the depositary or its nominee and converted into U.S. dollars by the depositary for distribution to owners of ADSs without restriction. In addition, ADSs may be sold by non-residents of Russia for U.S. dollars outside Russia without regard to Russian currency control laws so long as the buyer is not a Russian resident for currency control purposes.

Taxation

The following discussion is not intended as tax advice to any particular investor. No opinion of counsel will be issued with respect to the following discussion and, therefore, such discussion is not based on an opinion of counsel. It is also not a complete analysis or listing of all potential U.S. federal or Russian income and withholding tax consequences of ownership of shares or ADSs. We urge such holders to consult their tax advisers regarding the specific U.S. federal, state and local and Russian tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the shares or ADSs, including their eligibility for the benefits of a double tax treaty between the Russian Federation and their country of residence, in light of their particular facts and circumstances, as well as the applicability and effect of state, regional and local tax laws and foreign tax law.

Russian Income and Withholding Tax Considerations

The following is a summary of certain Russian tax considerations relevant to payments to Russian resident and non-resident holders of the shares and the ADSs and to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the shares and the ADSs by Russian resident and non-resident holders. This summary is based on the laws of Russia in effect as of the date of this document. The discussion with respect to Russian legislation is based on our understanding of current Russian law and tax rules, which are subject to frequent change and varying interpretations.

This summary does not seek to address the applicability of, and procedures in relation to, taxes levied by the regions, municipalities or other non-federal level authorities of the Russian Federation. Nor does the summary seek to address the availability of double tax treaty relief, and it should be noted that there might be practical difficulties involved in claiming relief under an applicable double tax treaty. You should consult your own professional advisors regarding the tax consequences of investing in the shares and ADSs. No representations with respect to the Russian tax consequences to any particular holder are made hereby.

The Russian tax rules applicable to ADSs are characterized by uncertainties and by an absence of special provisions with respect to transactions involving ADSs. Both the substantive provisions of Russian tax law and

 

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the interpretation and application of those provisions by the Russian authorities may be subject to more rapid and unpredictable change than in a jurisdiction with more developed capital markets and a more developed taxation system. In particular, the interpretation and application of such provisions will in practice rest substantially with local tax inspectors.

For the purposes of this summary, a “Russian resident holder” means: (1) an individual holder of the shares and ADSs, actually present in the Russian Federation for 183 days or more in 12 consecutive months; or (2) an organization, organized under Russian law; or (3) an organization, organized under a foreign law, that holds and disposes of the shares and ADSs through its permanent establishment in Russia. Individual presence in Russia is not considered interrupted if an individual departs for short periods (less than six months) for the purpose of medical treatment or education.

For the purposes of this summary, a “non-resident holder” is a holder of the shares or ADSs which is not qualified to be a Russian resident holder as defined in the previous paragraph.

Taxation of acquisition of the shares and ADSs

No Russian tax implications should arise for holders of the shares and ADSs upon purchase of the shares and ADSs. However, under certain conditions a taxable material gain may arise for individuals if the shares and ADSs are purchased at a price below the deemed market value. Also, in certain circumstances, a Russian resident holder that is an organization acquiring the shares or ADSs is generally obliged to act as a tax agent to withhold profit tax on proceeds from the sale of the shares or ADSs to be transferred to a non-resident holder disposing such shares or ADSs. We urge such holders to consult their tax advisers regarding specific tax consequences of acquisition of the shares or ADSs.

Taxation of dividends

A Russian company that pays dividends is generally obliged to act as a tax agent to withhold tax on the dividends and remit the amount of tax due to the Russian Federation state budget. However, the applicable withholding tax rate will depend on the status of the dividend’s recipient.

Russian resident holders

Shares

Dividends paid to a Russian resident holder of the shares that is a Russian organization or an individual will be generally subject to Russian withholding tax at the rate of 9%. Dividends received by Russian organizations are subject to withholding tax at the rate of 0% provided that the recipient organization constantly owns for a period of 365 calendar days or more at least 50% of participation shares in the share capital of the paying organization or share depositary receipts qualifying for dividends equal to at least 50% of the total amount of dividends paid by the organization, as well as the acquisition cost of these shares exceeds 500 million rubles (the latter condition expired on January 1, 2011 and does not apply to dividends accrued for 2010 and subsequent periods). However it is difficult to predict how the Russian tax authorities may interpret the conditions listed above. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the 0% withholding tax rate will apply.

The effective rate of this tax may be lower than 9% owing to the fact that generally this tax should be calculated by multiplying the basic tax rate (9%) by the difference between (i) the dividends to be distributed by us to our shareholders (other than to non-resident companies and non-resident individuals), and (ii) dividends collected by us in the current and preceding tax periods from other Russian persons (except for dividends which are taxable at the rate of 0% under the current Russian tax law).

A holder that is a foreign organization holding the common shares through a permanent establishment in Russia is entitled to pay this tax to the Russian budget on its own behalf (i.e., without a Russian entity that

 

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distributes the dividends to such holder acting as a tax agent for withholding tax) if such holder provides the Russian entity that acts as the Russian tax agent with specific documentary evidence confirming dividend income is attributable to a permanent establishment of the holder in Russia. Such evidence includes a notarized copy of the form confirming registration of the holder with the Russian tax authorities. A notification must also be issued by the local tax authorities at the holder’s place of tax registration confirming dividend income is attributable to the permanent establishment of the holder in Russia.

According to clarifications issued by the Russian tax authorities, it may be possible to claim that the reduced withholding tax rate should apply to dividends paid to a Russian permanent establishment of a foreign organization, based on non-discrimination provisions of a double tax treaty between Russia and the country of tax residency of the respective foreign organization. However, as the Russian Tax Code does not specifically provide for the application of the reduced tax rate in such situations and the application of treaty-based non-discrimination cases is still rare in Russian tax practice, no assurance can be given that any claims for application of the reduced tax rate would not be challenged by the Russian tax authorities, hence 15% withholding tax rate would be applied by us.

ADSs

There are uncertainties in relation to withholding tax on dividends payable to Russian resident holders of ADSs primarily because the taxation of dividends payable under ADSs is not specifically addressed under Russian tax law. In the absence of any official interpretative guidance and, as the depositary (and not the holders of the ADSs) is the legal holder of shares under Russian law, we will be likely to withhold tax at a domestic rate of 15% applicable to dividends payable to non-resident holders (as described below). Upon receiving dividends, Russian holders which are organizations may be required to pay additional Russian profit tax at the rate of 9% (the rate applied to dividends received from non-residents) or 20% (if the income received will not be recognized as dividends) while Russian holders who are individuals may be required to pay Russian income tax at the rate of 9% or 13% (the higher rate applies if the income received will not be recognized as a dividend for Russian tax purposes). There is also no established procedure providing for the refund of tax withheld from dividends payable through the depositary to Russian resident holders of ADSs. Accordingly, Russian residents are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax treatment of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the ADSs.

A holder of the ADSs that is a foreign organization conducting its business through a permanent establishment in Russia is entitled to pay this tax to the Russian budget on its own behalf (i.e., without a Russian entity that distributes the dividends to such holder acting as acting as a tax agent for withholding tax) if such holder provides the Russian entity that acts as the Russian tax agent with specific documentary evidence confirming dividend income is attributable to a permanent establishment of the holder in Russia. Such evidence includes a notarized copy of the form confirming registration of the holder with the Russian tax authorities. A notification must also be issued by the local tax authorities at the holder’s place of tax registration confirming dividend income is attributable to the permanent establishment of the holder in Russia.

Non-resident holders

Shares

Dividends paid to a non-resident holder of shares will generally be subject to Russian withholding tax, which we will withhold. Under Russian law dividends paid to a non-resident holder, which is an organization or individual will be subject to Russian withholding tax at a rate of 15%. Withholding tax on dividends may be generally reduced under the terms of a double tax treaty between the Russian Federation and the country of tax treaty residence of a non-resident holder of the shares.

ADSs

Comments provided in the previous section (see “— Taxation of dividends — Non-resident holders — Shares”) are also applicable to ADSs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, treaty relief for dividends received may not be available to

 

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non-resident holders of ADSs. The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation repeatedly expressed an opinion in their private responses that depositary receipt holders (rather than the depositary) should be treated as the beneficial owners of dividends for the purposes of the double tax treaty provisions applicable to taxation of dividend income from the underlying shares, provided that the tax residencies of the depositary receipt holders are duly confirmed. However, in the absence of any specific provisions in Russian tax legislation with respect to taxation of dividends attributable to ADS holders, it is unclear how the Russian tax authorities and courts would ultimately treat the ADS holders in this regard. Moreover, from a practical perspective, it may not be possible for the depositary to collect residence confirmations from all ADS holders and to submit such information to us and, in addition, we may be unaware of the exact amount of income payable to each particular holder.

Although non-resident holders of ADSs may apply for a refund of a portion of the tax withheld under an applicable tax treaty, the procedure to do so may be time-consuming and no assurance can be given that the Russian tax authorities will grant a refund. See “— Tax treaty procedures” below.

The following should be noted with respect to individuals who are non-resident holders of ADSs. We will not be able to act as a tax agent for these individuals and will not be able to withhold income tax with respect to such dividend payments. We may also be obligated to withhold income tax at the rate of 15% from dividend payments made to the depositary. In practice, it may be impossible to apply a beneficial withholding tax rate in advance with respect to payments made in favor of individuals, as documentation is to be first provided to the tax authorities to obtain their approval for the double tax treaty relief. Individuals who are non-resident holders of ADSs will then be obliged to submit a personal tax return to the Russian tax authorities. When submitting the tax return, individuals may claim an application of the reduced rates of withholding tax established by the respective international double tax treaties, provided that the procedures described in “— Tax treaty procedures” are complied with. Obtaining the respective approvals from the tax authorities may be time-consuming and burdensome. In practice, the tax authorities may not take into account the 15% tax withheld from payment of dividends to the depositary, as the tax authorities are unlikely to treat the 15% withholding tax as a tax liability of individual holders. Therefore, it is possible that non-resident holders may be subject to up to a 45% effective tax on dividends accrued on shares held on deposit, i.e. 15% income tax withheld by us as a tax agent from dividends payable to the depositary plus 30% Russian personal income tax payable on the self-assessment basis.

The dividends taxation rate may be reduced to 5% or 10% under the United States-Russia income tax treaty for U.S. Non-Resident holders; a 10% rate applies to dividends paid to U.S. holders owning less than 10% of the entity’s outstanding shares and 5% for U.S. holders, which are legal entities, owning 10% or more of the entity’s outstanding shares. Under current regulations, authorization from the Russian tax authorities is not required to allow us to withhold at reduced rates under applicable double tax treaties provided that all other requirements are met. See “— Tax treaty procedures.”

If a U.S. Non-Resident holder does not provide to us appropriate evidence of U.S. residency before the dividend payment date, we are required to withhold tax at the full rate. In this case, U.S. holders qualifying for a reduced rate under the United States-Russia income tax treaty may claim a refund from the Russian tax authorities within three years. There is significant uncertainty regarding the availability and timing of such refunds.

Taxation of capital gains

The following sections summarize the taxation of capital gains in respect of the disposition of the shares and ADSs.

Russian resident holders

As the Russian legislation related to taxation of capital gains derived by Russian resident holders (including organizations and individuals) in connection with ADSs is not entirely clear, we urge Russian residents to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax treatment of the purchase, ownership and disposition of ADSs.

 

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Organizations

Capital gains arising from the sale of the shares and ADSs by a Russian resident holder that is an organization will be taxable at the regular Russian corporate income tax rate of 20%. Russian tax legislation contains a requirement that a profit arising from activities connected with securities quoted on a stock exchange must be calculated and accounted for separately from a profit from activities connected with securities that are not quoted on a stock exchange and from other profits. Therefore, Russian resident holders may be able to apply losses arising in respect of the listed shares and the ADSs to offset capital gains, or as a carry-forward amount to offset future capital gains, from the sale, exchange or other disposition of securities quoted on a stock exchange and, in respect of the non-listed ADSs, from the sale, exchange or other disposition of securities not quoted on a stock exchange. Special tax rules apply to Russian organizations that hold a broker and/or dealer license.

The Russian Tax Code also establishes special rules for the calculation of the tax base for the purposes of transactions with securities.

Individuals

Capital gains arising from the sale, exchange or other disposition of the shares and ADSs by individuals who are Russian resident holders must be declared on the holder’s tax return and are subject to personal income tax at a rate of 13%.

The income in respect of sale of the shares or the ADSs by an individual is calculated as sale proceeds less documented expenses related to the purchase of these securities (including cost of securities and expenses associated with purchase, safe-keeping and sale of these securities).

Under Russian law, the acquisition value can be deducted by the source of the payment, if the sale was made by a holder through a professional trustee, dealer or broker that is a Russian organization or a foreign company with a permanent establishment in Russia. This professional trustee, dealer or broker should also act as a tax agent and withhold the applicable tax. Such a tax agent will be required to report to the Russian tax authorities the amount of income realized by the individual and tax withheld upon the sale of the shares and ADSs not later than April 1 of the year following the reporting year.

Non-resident holders

Organizations

Capital gains arising from the sale, exchange or other disposition of the shares and ADSs by organizations that are non-resident holders should not be subject to tax in Russia if immovable property located in Russia constitutes 50% or less of our assets. If more than 50% of our assets were to consist of immovable property located in Russia, organizations that are non-resident holders of the shares and ADSs should be subject (except as described below) to a 20% withholding tax on the gross proceeds from sale, exchange or other disposition of the shares and ADSs or 20% withholding tax on the difference between the sales, exchange or other disposition price and the acquisition costs of the shares and ADSs.

However, it should be noted that the determination of whether more than 50% of our assets consist of immovable property located in Russia is inherently factual and is made on an on-going basis, and the relevant Russian legislation and regulations in this respect are not entirely clear. Hence, there can be no assurance that immovable property owned by us and located in Russia will not constitute more than 50% of the company’s assets as at the date of the sale of shares and ADSs by non-residents. Certain international double tax treaties may provide for protection from the Russian taxation in such instances.

This rule does not apply to gains realized by foreign organizations from the disposition of shares of Russian organizations, as well as financial instruments derived from such shares that are treated as being traded on an organized securities market. Gains arising from the sale on foreign exchanges (foreign market operators) of securities or derivatives circulated on such exchanges are not considered Russian source income.

 

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Where the shares and ADSs are sold by organizations to persons other than a Russian company or a foreign company with a registered permanent establishment in Russia, even if the resulting capital gain is considered taxable in Russia, there is currently no mechanism under which the purchaser will be able to withhold the tax and remit it to the Russian budget.

Individuals

The taxation of the income of non-resident individuals depends on whether the income is received from Russian or non-Russian sources. Russian tax law considers the place of sale as an indicator of source. Accordingly, the sale of the shares and ADSs outside of Russia by individuals who are non-resident holders should not be considered Russian source income and, therefore, should not be taxable in Russia. However the Russian tax law gives no clear indication as to how the place of sale of the shares and ADSs should be defined in this respect. Therefore, the Russian tax authorities may have a certain amount of flexibility in concluding whether a transaction is within Russia or outside of Russia.

The sale, exchange or other disposal of the shares and the ADSs by non-resident holders in Russia will be considered Russian source income and will be subject to tax at the rate of 30% on the difference between the sales price and the acquisition value of such shares and ADSs as well as other documented expenses, such as depositary expenses and broker fees, among others. Under Russian law, the acquisition value can only be deducted by the source of the payment, if the sale was made by a non-resident holder through a professional trust manager, dealer or broker that is a Russian organization or a foreign company with a permanent establishment in Russia. Such professional trust manager, dealer or broker should also act as a tax agent and withhold the applicable tax. Such a tax agent will be required to report to the Russian tax authorities the amount of income realized by the non-resident individual and tax withheld upon the sale of the shares and ADSs not later than on April 1 of the year following the reporting year.

Otherwise, if the sale is made to other organizations and individuals, generally no withholding needs to be made and the non-resident holder will have an obligation to file a tax return, report his realized income and apply for a deduction of acquisition expenses (which includes filing of support documentation).

Although Russian tax law imposes this responsibility only on professional trust manager, brokers or dealers, in practice, the tax authorities may require Russian organizations or foreign companies with a permanent establishment in Russia that are not professional trust manager, dealers or brokers to act as tax agents and withhold the applicable tax when purchasing securities from non-resident individuals.

Regardless of the residence of the purchaser, a U.S. holder which is a legal entity should not be subject to any Russian income or withholding taxes in connection with the sale, exchange or other disposition of ADSs payable from income received in 2011 and afterwards if ADSs are sold via foreign exchanges where they are legally circulated.

In some circumstances, a non-resident holder may be exempt from Russian personal income tax on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the shares and ADSs under the terms of a double tax treaty between the Russian Federation and the country of residence of the non-resident holder. Under the United States-Russia income tax treaty, capital gains from the sale of the shares and/or ADSs by U.S. holders should be relieved from taxation in Russia, unless 50% or more of our assets (as the term “fixed assets” is used in the Russian version of the United States-Russia Tax Treaty) were to consist of immovable property located in Russia. If this 50% threshold is not met, individuals who are U.S. holders may seek to obtain the benefit of the United States-Russia Tax Treaty in relation to capital gains resulting from the sale, exchange or other disposition of the shares and/or ADSs. Regardless of the residence of the purchaser, a U.S. holder which is a legal entity should not be subject to any Russian income or withholding taxes in connection with the sale, exchange or other disposition of ADSs payable from income received in 2011 and afterwards if ADSs are sold via foreign exchanges where they are legally circulated.

 

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In order to apply the provisions of relevant double tax treaties, the individual holders should receive clearance from the Russian tax authorities as described below. See “— Tax treaty procedures” below.

Tax treaty procedures

The Russian Tax Code does not contain a requirement that a non-resident holder that is an organization must obtain tax treaty clearance from the Russian tax authorities prior to receiving any income in order to qualify for benefits under an applicable tax treaty. However, a non-resident organization seeking to obtain relief from Russian withholding tax under a tax treaty must provide to a tax agent (i.e. the entity paying income to a non-resident) a confirmation of its tax treaty residence that complies with the applicable requirements in advance of receiving the relevant income.

In accordance with the Russian Tax Code, a non-resident holder who is an individual must present to the tax authorities a document confirming his residency in his home country and also other supporting documentation including a statement confirming the income received and the tax paid offshore, confirmed by the foreign tax authorities. Technically, such a requirement means that an individual cannot rely on the tax treaty until he or she pays the tax in the jurisdiction of his or her residence. Therefore advance relief from withholding taxes for individuals will generally be impossible as it is very unlikely that the supporting documentation for the treaty relief can be provided to the tax authorities and approval from the latter obtained before the year end. A non-resident holder who is an individual may apply for treaty-based benefits within one year following the end of the tax period in which the relevant income was received.

If a non-resident holder that is an organization does not obtain double tax treaty relief at the time that income is received and tax is withheld by a Russian tax agent, the non-resident holder may apply for a refund within three years from the end of the tax period (a calendar year) in which the tax was withheld. To process a claim for a refund, the Russian tax authorities require: (1) a confirmation of the tax treaty residence of the non-resident at the time the income was paid, (2) an application for the refund of the tax withheld in a format provided by the Russian tax authorities, and (3) copies of the relevant contracts under which the foreign entity received income as well as payment documents confirming the payment of the tax withheld to the Russian budget (Form 1012DT for dividends and interest and Form 1011DT for other income are designed by the Russian tax authorities to combine requirements (i) and (ii) specified above and recommended for application). The Russian tax authorities will require a Russian translation of the above documents if they are prepared in a foreign language. The refund of the tax withheld should be granted within one month of the filing of the above set of documents with the Russian tax authorities. However, procedures for processing such claims have not been clearly established and there is significant uncertainty regarding the availability and timing of such refunds.

The procedures referred to above may be more complicated with respect to ADSs, because Russian tax law does not specifically address taxation and tax treaty procedures for dividends payable under ADSs. Thus, no assurance can be given that we will be able to apply the respective double tax treaties when paying dividends to non-resident holders.

A resident of the United States who is fully eligible for benefits under the United States-Russia income tax treaty is referred to in this “Russian Income and Withholding Tax Considerations” section as a “U.S. holder.” Subject to certain provisions of the United States-Russia income tax treaty relating to limitations on benefits, a person generally will be a resident of the United States for treaty purposes and entitled to treaty benefits if such person is:

 

   

liable, under the laws of the United States, for U.S. federal income tax (other than taxes in respect only of income from sources in the United States or capital situated therein) by reason of the holder’s domicile, residence, citizenship, place of incorporation, or any other similar criterion (and, for income derived by a partnership, trust or estate, residence is determined in accordance with the residence of the person liable to tax with respect to such income); and

 

   

not also a resident of the Russian Federation for purposes of the United States-Russia income tax treaty.

 

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The benefits under the United States-Russia income tax treaty discussed in this document generally are not available to United States persons who hold shares or ADSs in connection with the conduct of a business in the Russian Federation through a permanent establishment as defined in the United States-Russia income tax treaty. Subject to certain exceptions, a United States person’s permanent establishment under the United States-Russia income tax treaty is a fixed place of business through which such person carries on business activities in the Russian Federation (generally including, but not limited to, a place of management, a branch, an office and a factory). Under certain circumstances, a United States person may be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the Russian Federation as a result of activities carried on in the Russian Federation through agents of the United States person. This summary does not address the treatment of those holders.

United States-Russia income tax treaty procedures

Under current rules, to claim the benefit of a reduced rate of withholding under the United States-Russia income tax treaty, a non-resident generally must provide official certification from the U.S. tax authorities of eligibility for the treaty benefits in the manner required by Russian law.

A U.S. holder may obtain the appropriate certification by mailing completed forms, together with the holder’s name, taxpayer identification number, the tax period for which certification is required, and other applicable information, to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”). The procedures for obtaining certification are described in greater detail in the instructions to IRS Form 8802. As obtaining the required certification from the IRS may take at least six to eight weeks, U.S. holders should apply for such certification as soon as possible.

If tax is withheld by a Russian resident on dividends or other amounts at a rate different from that provided in the tax treaty, a U.S. holder may apply for a tax refund by filing a package of documents with the Russian local tax inspectorate to which the withholding tax was remitted within three years from the withholding date for U.S. holders which are legal entities, and within one year from the withholding date for individual U.S. holders. The package should include confirmations of residence of the foreign holder (IRS Form 6166), a copy of the agreement or other documents substantiating the payment of income, documents confirming the beneficial ownership of the dividends recipient and the transfer of tax to the budget. Under the provisions of the Russian Tax Code the refund of the tax should be effected within one month after the submission of the documents. However, procedures for processing such claims have not been clearly established, and there is significant uncertainty regarding the availability and timing of such refunds.

Neither the depositary nor we will have any obligation to assist a U.S. holder of shares or ADSs with the completion and filing of any tax forms.

Stamp duty

No Russian stamp duty will be payable by the holders upon any of the transactions with the common shares or the ADSs discussed in this section (e.g., on a purchase or sale of the common shares), except for transactions involving the receipt of common shares or the ADSs by way of inheritance.

Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

The following is a summary of material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares or ADSs by a “U.S. Holder.” Solely for purposes of the “— U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” section, a U.S. Holder is a beneficial owner of shares or ADSs that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (1) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, (2) a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (3) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source, or (4) a trust, if a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons can control all substantial trust decisions, or if the trust has a valid election in place to be treated as a United States person.

 

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If a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of shares or ADSs, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A partner of a partnership holding shares or ADSs should consult its tax adviser regarding the associated tax consequences.

This summary does not discuss all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to investors in light of their particular circumstances, such as investors subject to special tax rules (including, without limitation: (i) financial institutions; (ii) insurance companies; (iii) dealers in stocks, securities, or currencies or notional principal contracts; (iv) regulated investment companies; (v) real estate investment trusts; (vi) tax-exempt organizations; (vii) partnerships, pass-through entities, or persons that hold shares or ADSs through pass-through entities; (viii) holders that are not U.S. Holders; (ix) holders that own (directly, indirectly or constructively) 10% or more of our voting stock; (x) investors that hold shares or ADSs as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, constructive sale or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes; (xi) investors that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar and (xii) U.S. expatriates and former long-term residents of the United States), all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized below. This summary does not address tax consequences applicable to holders of equity interests in a holder of the shares or ADSs, U.S. federal estate, gift or alternative minimum tax considerations, or non-U.S., state or local tax considerations. This summary only addresses investors that will acquire shares or ADSs in an original offering, and it assumes that investors will hold their shares or ADSs as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes (generally, property held for investment).

This summary is based upon current U.S. federal income tax law, including the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), its legislative history, existing, temporary and proposed regulations thereunder, published rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to differing interpretation or change (possibly with retroactive effect), and the United States-Russia income tax treaty, which is subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. We have not sought, and will not seek, any ruling from the IRS or any opinion of counsel with respect to the tax consequences discussed below, and we cannot provide assurance that the IRS will not take a position contrary to the tax consequences discussed below or that any position taken by the IRS would not be sustained.

The discussion below assumes that the representations contained in the deposit agreements are true and that the obligations in the deposit agreements and any related agreements have been and will be complied with in accordance with the terms.

Investors should consult their tax advisers as to the consequences under U.S. federal, estate, gift, state, local and applicable non-U.S. tax laws of the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares or ADSs.

Ownership of ADSs in general

U.S. Holders of ADSs should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as owners of the underlying shares represented by those ADSs. Accordingly, except as noted, the U.S. federal income tax consequences discussed below should apply equally to U.S. Holders of ADSs and shares. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the ADSs generally will be equal to the U.S. Holder’s cost of acquiring the ADSs. No gain or loss will be recognized upon an exchange of ADS for the common share represented by that ADS. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such common shares will be the same as the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such ADSs, and the holding period in such common shares will include the holding period in such ADSs.

Taxation of dividends on shares or ADSs

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the gross amount of a distribution, including any Russian withholding taxes, with respect to shares or ADSs will be treated as a taxable dividend to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, computed in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles. Certain dividends received by non-corporate U.S. Holders should be taxed at the lower applicable capital gains rate. This

 

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lower capital gains rate is only applicable to dividends paid by “qualified foreign corporations” (which term excludes PFICs, as defined below) and only with respect to shares or ADSs held for a minimum holding period (generally, 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date). A company will be a qualified foreign corporation if: (a) it is eligible for the benefits of an applicable United States income tax treaty; or (b) the stock with respect to which such dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Non-corporate U.S. Holders are strongly urged to consult their tax advisers as to the applicability of the lower capital gains rate to dividends received with respect to shares or ADSs. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will be applied against and will reduce a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in shares or ADSs and, to the extent in excess of such tax basis, will be treated as gain from a sale or exchange of such shares or ADSs and will be treated as described under “Taxation on sale or other disposition of shares or ADSs” below. We do not intend to calculate our earnings and profits for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, unless we make such calculations, U.S. Holders should expect that any distributions with respect to shares or ADSs generally will be reported to them as a dividend, even if that distribution would otherwise be treated as a return of capital or as a capital gain pursuant to the rules described above. Such dividends will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations.

If a dividend distribution is paid in rubles, the amount includible in income will be the U.S. dollar value of the dividend, calculated using the exchange rate in effect on the date the dividend is includible in income by the U.S. Holder, regardless of whether the payment is actually converted into U.S. dollars. Generally, any gain or loss resulting from currency exchange rate fluctuations during the period from the date the dividend is includible in the income of the U.S. Holder to the date the rubles are converted into U.S. dollars will be treated as ordinary income or loss. U.S. Holders should be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss on the receipt of a refund of Russian withholding tax pursuant to the United States-Russia income tax treaty to the extent the U.S. dollar value of the refund differs from the U.S. dollar equivalent of that amount on the date of receipt of the underlying dividend.

Russian withholding tax under the United States-Russia income tax treaty should be treated as a foreign income tax that, subject to generally applicable limitations and conditions, is eligible for a U.S. foreign tax credit against the U.S. federal income tax liability of the U.S. Holder or, at the election of the U.S. Holder, may be deducted in computing taxable income. If, however, the holder of an ADS is not treated as the owner of the underlying shares represented by the ADS for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then Russian withholding tax would not be treated as a foreign income tax eligible for a U.S. foreign tax credit as described in the preceding sentence. If Russian tax is withheld at a rate in excess of the applicable rate under the United States-Russia income tax treaty, a U.S. foreign tax credit for the excess amount may not be allowed to be claimed, even though the procedures for claiming refunds and the practical likelihood that refunds will be made available in a timely fashion are uncertain.

For U.S. foreign tax credit purposes, a dividend distribution will be treated as foreign source income and will generally be classified as “passive category income” but could, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, constitute “general category income.” The rules relating to the determination of the U.S. foreign tax credit, or deduction in lieu of the U.S. foreign tax credit, are complex and U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers with respect to those rules.

Taxation on sale or other disposition of shares or ADSs

The sale or other disposition of shares or ADSs will generally result in the recognition of gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale or other disposition and the adjusted basis in such shares or ADSs. Such gain or loss generally will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares or ADSs have been held for more than one year. Capital gains of non-corporate U.S. Holders derived from capital assets held for more than one year are eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to significant limitations. The maximum federal tax rate for long-term capital gains is 20%.

U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates and certain trusts are subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income” for the relevant taxable year, which may include dividends on,

 

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and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of, the shares and ADSs, to the extent of their net investment income that, when added to their other modified adjusted gross income, exceeds a certain threshold.

Deposits and withdrawals of shares by U.S. Holders in exchange for ADSs should not result in the realization of gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Gain or loss realized on the sale or other disposition of shares or ADSs will generally be treated as U.S. source income and therefore the use of U.S. foreign tax credits relating to any Russian taxes imposed upon such sale may be limited. U.S. Holders are strongly urged to consult their tax advisers as to the availability of tax credits for any Russian taxes withheld on the sale or other disposition of shares or ADSs.

If a U.S. Holder receives any foreign currency on the sale or other disposition of shares or ADSs, such U.S. Holder generally will realize an amount equal to the U.S. dollar value of such foreign currency on the settlement date of such sale or other disposition if (1) such U.S. Holder is a cash basis or electing accrual basis taxpayer and the shares or ADSs are treated as being “traded on an established securities market” or (2) such settlement date is also the date of such sale or other disposition. If the foreign currency so received is converted to U.S. dollars on the settlement date, such U.S. Holder should not recognize foreign currency gain or loss on such conversion. If the foreign currency so received is not converted into U.S. dollars on the settlement date, such U.S. Holder will have a basis in such foreign currency equal to its U.S. dollar value on the settlement date. Any gain or loss on a subsequent conversion or other disposition of such foreign currency generally will be treated as ordinary income or loss to such U.S. Holder and generally will be income or loss from sources within the United States for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. Each U.S. Holder should consult its tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of receiving foreign currency from the sale or other disposition of shares or ADSs.

Passive foreign investment company status

A non-U.S. company is a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) in any taxable year in which, after taking into account the income and assets of certain subsidiaries, either (1) at least 75% of its gross income is passive income or (2) at least 50% of the average value of its assets (based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets) is attributable to assets that produce or are held to produce passive income. We believe, and the foregoing discussion assumes, that for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we were not a PFIC for the taxable year ending in 2012, we will not be a PFIC for the current taxable year and we will not become a PFIC in the future. However, the PFIC determination is made annually and may involve facts that are not within our control. In addition, there are special requirements that apply to income from the sale and ownership of commodities that need to be satisfied in order for amounts attributable to commodities to be treated as non-passive. If we were classified as a PFIC at any time that you hold our ADSs and shares, you may be subject to materially adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences compared to an investment in a company that is not considered a PFIC, including being subject to greater amounts of U.S. tax on distributions and gains on the sale or disposition of the ADSs and shares as well as being subject to additional U.S. tax filing requirements. Additionally, dividends paid by the company to non-corporate U.S. holders would not be eligible for the special reduced rate of tax described above under “Taxation of dividends on shares or ADSs.” You should consult your tax advisers as to the consequences of an investment in a PFIC.

Information reporting and backup withholding

U.S. Holders may be subject to the information reporting requirements of the Code, as well as to backup withholding on the payment of dividends on, and the proceeds received from the disposition of, shares or ADSs. Backup withholding may apply if a U.S. Holder: (1) fails to furnish its taxpayer identification number (“TIN”), which, in the case of an individual, is his or her social security number; (2) fails to provide certification of exempt status; (3) is notified by the IRS that he has failed properly to report payments of interest and dividends; (4) under certain circumstances, fails to certify, under penalties of perjury, that he has furnished a correct TIN or

 

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we have been notified by the IRS that such U.S. Holder is subject to backup withholding for failure to furnish a correct TIN; or (5) otherwise fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding their qualification for exemption from backup withholding and the procedure for obtaining such an exemption, if applicable.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against a U.S. Holder’s federal income tax liability, and a U.S. Holder may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by timely filing the appropriate claim for refund with the IRS and furnishing all required information.

A U.S. person that transfers property (including cash) to us in exchange for the shares or ADSs may be required to file a Form 926 or a similar form with the IRS. In the event a U.S. person fails to file such form, such U.S. person could be subject to a penalty of up to 10% of the fair market value of the property transferred, subject to a $100,000 limit so long as the failure was not due to intentional disregard.

Recently enacted legislation may require individual U.S. Holders to report to the IRS certain information with respect to their beneficial ownership of specified foreign financial assets if the aggregate value of such assets exceeds certain dollar thresholds. A “specified foreign financial asset” includes, among other things, any depositary or custodial accounts at foreign financial institutions, and to the extent not held in an account at a financial institution, (1) stocks or securities issued by non U.S. persons, and (2) any interest in a non-U.S. entity. Penalties may be imposed for the failure to disclose such information regarding specified foreign financial assets. You should consult your tax advisors concerning the application of the information reporting and backup withholding rules to their particular circumstances.

Documents on Display

The documents that are exhibits to or incorporated by reference in this document can be read at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room can be obtained by calling the SEC at +1 800-SEC-0330. These filings are also available at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.

Some of our reports and other information can also be inspected at the offices of the NYSE at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

Glossary

Blast furnace: A towering cylinder lined with heat-resistant (refractory) bricks, used by integrated steel mills to smelt pig iron from ore. Its name comes from the “blast” of hot air and gases forced up through the iron ore, coke and limestone that load the furnace.

Carbon steel: A type of steel generally having no specified minimum quantity of any alloying element and containing only an incidental amount of any element other than carbon, silicon, manganese, copper, sulfur and phosphorus.

CIF: Cost, Insurance and Freight, a commercial term pursuant to which the seller must pay the costs, insurance and freight necessary to bring the goods to the named port of destination but the risk of loss or damage to the goods, as well as any additional costs due to events occurring after the time of delivery, are transferred from the seller to the buyer.

Coils: Steel sheet that has been wound. A slab, once rolled in a hot-strip mill, can be more than one mile long; coils are the most efficient way to store and transport sheet steel.

Continuous casting: A method of pouring steel directly from a ladle through a tundish, shaped to form billets or slabs. Continuous casting avoids the need for blooming mills for rolling billets into slabs. Continuous

 

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cast metal solidifies in a few minutes, versus several hours for an ingot. As a result of this, the chemical composition and mechanical properties are more uniform.

FCA: Free Carrier, a commercial term pursuant to which the seller must deliver the goods, cleared for export, to the carrier nominated by the buyer at the named place. Costs for transportation and risk of loss transfer to the buyer after delivery to the carrier.

Flat-rolled steel/Flat products: Category of steel that includes sheet, strip and tin plate, among others.

FOB: Free on Board, a commercial term pursuant to which the buyer bears all costs and risks of loss of or damage to the goods from the point the goods pass the ship’s rail at the named point of shipment.

Galvanized steel: Steel coated with a layer of zinc to provide corrosion resistance in underbody auto parts, garbage cans, storage tanks, fencing wire, etc. Sheet steel normally must be cold-rolled prior to galvanizing. Galvanized steel is subdivided into hot-dipped galvanized and electrogalvanized steel.

Hot-rolled: Section that is sold in its “as-produced” state off the hot mill with no additional treatment, aside from being pickled and oiled (if specified).

Magnetic separator: A device used in a process when magnetically susceptible mineral is separated from gangue minerals by applying a strong magnetic field.

Pipes: Tubes used to transport fluids or gases. Pipe and tube are often used interchangeably, with a given label applied primarily as a matter of historical use.

Probable reserves: In accordance with the JORC Code, those reserves which are the economically mineable part of the indicated mineral resources. Indicated reserves include all minerals conforming to the thickness and depth limits defined in the resource base, and for which known data points are not more than 2,000 meters apart. In accordance with the USGS, reserves for which quantity and grade and/or quality are computed from information similar to that used for proven reserves, but the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are farther apart or are otherwise less adequately spaced. The degree of assurance, although lower than that for proven reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between points of observation.

Proved/Proven reserves: In accordance with the JORC Code, those reserves which are the economically mineable part of the measured mineral resources. Measured mineral resources means the tonnages of in-situ minerals contained in seams or sections of seams for which sufficient information is available to enable detailed or conceptual mine planning. In accordance with the USGS, reserves for which (1) quantity is computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, workings or drill holes; grade and/or quality are computed from the results of detailed sampling, and (2) the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are spaced so closely and the geologic character is so well defined that size, shape, depth and mineral content of reserves are well-established.

Raw steel: Steel in primary form of hot molten metal.

Rebar or Reinforcement bar: Round rolled products of plain or die-rolled sections of various types and classes used to strengthen concrete in highway and building construction.

Reserve: In accordance with the JORC Code, virgin and/or accessed parts of a mineral resource base, which could be economically extracted or produced at the time of determination, considering environmental, legal and technological constraints. In accordance with the USGS, that part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination.

 

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Rolled steel (products): Steel with certain forms and geometric dimensions manufactured by drafting metal between rotary rolls of rolling mills.

Run-of-mine, or ROM coal: Coal that has not undergone the processes of classification and washing.

Saleable coal: Coal that has undergone the processes of classification and washing.

Scrap (Ferrous): Ferrous (iron-containing) material that generally is remelted and recast into new steel in electric arc furnaces. Integrated steel mills also use scrap metal for up to 25% of their basic oxygen furnace charge. Scrap metal includes waste steel generated from within metal-processing plants and steel mills through edge trimming and rejects.

Sections: Blooms or billets that are hot-rolled in a rolling mill to manufacture rounds, squares, bands, among other structural shapes, “L”, “U”, “T” or “I” shapes. Sections can also be produced by welding together pieces of flat products. Sections can be used for a wide variety of purposes in the construction, machinery and transport industries.

Semi-finished steel: Steel shapes (for example, blooms, billets or slabs) that later are rolled into finished products such as beams, bars or sheet.

Sheet steel: Thin, flat-rolled steel created in a hot-strip mill by rolling a cast slab flat while maintaining the side dimensions. The malleable steel lengthens to several thousand feet as it is squeezed by the rolling mill. The most common differences among steel bars, strip, plate and sheet are merely their physical dimensions of width and gauge (thickness).

Sintering: A process that combines iron-bearing particles into small chunks. Previously, these materials were too fine to withstand the air currents of the smelting process and were thrown away. The iron is now conserved because the chunks can be charged into the blast furnace.

Slab: The most common type of semi-finished steel. Traditional slabs measure 13-35 centimeters thick, 75-300 centimeters wide and are usually about 6-12 meters long, while the output of the recently developed “thin slab” casters is approximately five centimeters thick. After casting, slabs are sent to the hot-strip mill to be rolled into coiled sheet and plate products.

Special steel: Alloyed steel produced by the addition of various metals (e.g., manganese) in small quantities during the steel-making process to improve mechanical properties such as strength and resistance to stress. Special steels are intermediary products between standard steel grades and stainless steel alloys (with a high content of nickel and chrome). Special steel products are typically used as long products (e.g., special bar quality, bearing steel, tool steel and high-speed steel).

Tailings: Material rejected from a mine after the valuable minerals have been recovered.

Welded mesh: Cold-rolled or drawn wire cuts of certain length welded together at specified distances in longitudinal and traverse directions into sheets of rectangular shapes.

Wire rod: Round, semi-finished steel that is rolled from a billet and coiled for further processing. Wire rod is commonly drawn into wire products or used to tie bundles. Wire rod rolling mills (rolling facilities) can run as fast as 6,000 meters per minute.

Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

In the normal course of business, our financial position is routinely subject to a variety of risks. We are exposed to market risks associated with foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices. We are also subject to the risks associated with the business environment in which we operate, including the collectibility of accounts receivable.

 

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We do not enter into hedging transactions to manage the risks specified above.

We do not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

Currency Risk

The functional currencies for our Russian, Ukrainian, Kazakh, Turkish, Romanian, Bulgarian and other European subsidiaries are the Russian ruble, the Ukrainian hryvnia, the Kazakh tenge, the Turkish lira, the Romanian lei, the Bulgarian lev and euro, respectively. The U.S. dollar is the functional currency of our other international operations. Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar.

In July 2011, our wholly-owned subsidiary Skyblock Limited entered into a non-deliverable cross currency 5 billion rubles swap with VTB Bank (Austria) AG. The termination date of the swap is August 28, 2015. The instrument in respect of which the swap is contracted is a 5 billion rubles bonds (approximately $327.0 million) issued by our group on September 7, 2010. The bonds are due on August 25, 2020. The bonds bear a coupon with 10% interest rate per annum. The bondholders have an option to demand a repayment of our bonds at par value commencing on August 27, 2015. VTB Bank (Austria) AG agrees to pay to Skyblock Limited 10% interest on 5 billion rubles notional amount. Skyblock Limited agrees to pay to VTB Bank (Austria) AG 5.69% interests on $176.4 million notional amount. Interest is paid on a semi-annual basis with the first payment on March 2, 2012. On the termination date VTB Bank (Austria) AG agrees to pay to Skyblock Limited the notional amount of 5 billion rubles, and Skyblock Limited agrees to pay to VTB Bank (Austria) AG the notional amount of $176.4 million. The business objective of this instrument is the decrease in the effective interest rate on 5 billion rubles bonds for the year ending December 31, 2012 via positive net cash inflow from interest payments under the swap instrument according to our expectations about U.S. dollar and ruble exchange rate fluctuations. The swap instrument was not designated as hedge for accounting purposes.

In October 2012, Southern Kuzbass Coal Company entered into a cross currency option with Sberbank. The option is contracted in respect of three facilities amounting in total to 13.0 billion rubles (approximately $428.0 million), and its expiry date is October 6, 2017. The ruble-denominated facilities bear floating interest rate of 10.5%-11.5% per annum (subject to fulfillment of 37.5% ratio between the amount of the groups’ revenue credited on Sberbank’s accounts and the amount of liability under the facility agreement). The option is designed to convert the ruble notional amount into U.S. dollars at a pre-determined strike exchange rate (6.5 billion rubles – at the exchange rate of 31.04 rubles per 1 U.S. dollar, 5.0 billion rubles – at the exchange rate of 31.00 rubles per 1 U.S. dollar, 1.5 billion rubles – at the exchange rate of 30.80 rubles per 1 U.S. dollar) when the barrier exchange rate (indicated at Reuters) achieves 50 rubles per 1 U.S. dollar. Simultaneously, the interest rate is modified into floating 10.0%-11.0% per annum (subject to fulfillment of 37.5% ratio between the amount of the groups’ revenue credited on Sberbank’s accounts and the amount of liability under the facility agreement). After the triggering event, all future payments will be in U.S. dollars. The business objective of this instrument is the decrease of interest rate on the ruble-denominated facilities according to our expectations about U.S. dollar and ruble exchange rate fluctuations. The swap instrument was not designated as hedge for accounting purposes.

In the past we entered into forward transactions to buy U.S. dollars for euros to hedge our exposure to movements in foreign currency exchange rates arising in relation to euro-denominated accounts receivable of our trading subsidiaries. These derivatives were not designated as hedging contracts for accounting purposes. As of December 31, 2012, we did not have any forward transactions.

 

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We are exposed to movements in the ruble and euro exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar, our reporting currency. The following table sets forth our monetary assets and liabilities by currency as of December 31, 2012.

 

Balance as of December 31, 2012

   U.S. Dollar     Ruble     Euro     Lei     Other     Total  
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Current Assets:

            

Cash and cash equivalents

     82,659        174,374        16,583        1,979        19,363        294,958   

Accounts receivable, net

     128,724        389,220        87,603        23,057        76,858        705,462   

Due from related parties

     14,961        235,568        4,680        56        9,087        264,352   

Deferred income taxes

     8,240        19,367        403        —          3,618        31,628   

Current assets of discontinued operations

     —          —          —          —          59,223        59,223   

Prepayments and other current assets

     12,360        300,107        13,886        53,484        82,437        462,274   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets(1)

     246,944        1,118,636        123,155        78,576        250,586        1,817,898   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

            

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt

     (827,361     (354,763     (208,453     (46,055     (24,117     (1,460,750

Accounts payable and accrued expenses:

            

Advances received

     (64,816     (84,764     (2,326     (383     (2,592     (154,881

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     (92,674     (227,313     (6,800     (6,118     (4,527     (337,432

Taxes and social charges payable

     (9,016     (215,235     (10,874     (67,874     (11,285     (314,284

Unrecognized income tax benefit

     (2,166     (17,858     —          —          (178     (20,202

Trade payables to vendors of goods and services

     (64,940     (859,541     (78,946     (37,378     (12,539     (1,053,344

Pension obligations, current portion

     (1,731     (16,589     (328     (508     (888     (20,044

Due to related parties

     —          (187,277     (6,285     —          (5,535     (199,097

Asset retirement obligation, current portion

     —          (4,643     —          (285     (95     (5,023

Deferred income taxes

     (1,649     (36,836     —          —          —          (38,485

Current liabilities of discontinued operations

     —          —          —          —          (17,801     (17,801

Finance lease liabilities, current portion

     (2,596     (127,756     (1,718     —          (20     (132,090

Dividends payable

     —          (3,086     —          —          —          (3,086
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     (1,066,950     (2,135,660     (315,730     (158,602     (79,578     (3,756,519
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term Liabilities:

            

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     (2,467,990     (5,029,550     (430,461     —          (1,488     (7,929,489

Pension obligations, net of current portion

     (47,773     (100,063     (16,075     (2,921     (10,386     (177,218

Asset retirement obligation, net of current portion

     (6,585     (37,251     —          (386     (609     (44,831

Deferred income taxes

     (628,239     (588,286     (7,937     —          (275,528     (1,499,990

Finance lease liabilities, net of current portion

     (72     (344,502     (3,126     —          (68     (347,768

Other long-term liabilities

     (364,106     (6,079     (97     (17     (12,669     (382,968
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term liabilities

     (3,514,765     (6,105,731     (457,696     (3,324     (300,748     (10,382,264
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net monetary assets (liabilities)

     (4,344,660     (7,554,606     (650,327     (45,414     (129,855     (12,683,162
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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(1) Does not include inventories, deferred costs of inventory in transit and advances issued to third parties and related parties.

The table below summarizes our debt position by currency and rate method as of December 31, 2012.

 

     U.S. Dollar      Ruble      Euro      Ron      Tenge      Turkish
Lira
     Total  
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Fixed-rate debt

     720,430         4,332,920         54,723         —           16,585         9,020         5,133,678   

Variable-rate debt

     2,574,923         1,051,391         584,192         46,055         —           —           4,256,561   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt

     3,295,353         5,384,311         638,915         46,055         16,585         9,020         9,390,239   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Interest Rate Risk

Our interest rate exposure results mainly from debt obligations. As of December 31, 2012, we had $5,133.7 million in fixed-rate borrowings and $4,256.6 million in variable-rate borrowings.

We have not entered into transactions designed to hedge against interest rate risks, which may exist in connection with our current or future indebtedness. We monitor the market and assess our options for hedging interest rate risks and may enter into such arrangements in the future.

The table below presents the principal cash flows and related range of interest rates, by contractual maturity dates, of our fixed-rate debt obligations as of December 31, 2012.

 

            Contractual Maturity Date as of December 31,             Annual
Interest Rate
(Actual at
December 31,
2012)
 
     Currency      2013      2014      2015      2016      Thereafter      Total     
            (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Fixed-rate U.S. dollar debt:

                       

Gazprombank

     USD         —          —          166,667         222,222         111,111         500,000         7.5   

Alfa-Bank

     USD         —          —          —          150,000         —          150,000         5.9-7.9   

Uralsib

     USD         —          50,000         —          —          —          50,000         7.3   

Other

     USD         9,638         6,093         4,699        —          —          20,430         0.0-8.4   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total

        9,638         56,093         171,366         372,222         111,111         720,430      
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Fixed-rate euro debt:

                       

Uralsib

     EUR         —          46,357         —          —          —          46,357         6.8   

Raiffeisenbank

     EUR         5,960         —          —          —          —          5,960         1.1   

Other

     EUR         473         348         327         265         993         2,406         1.6-2.3   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total

        6,433         46,705         327         265         993         54,723      
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Fixed-rate ruble debt:

                       

Bonds

     RUR         195,635         546,543         928,465         599,222         131,697         2,401,562         7.4-11.3   

Gazprombank

     RUR         42,017         26,622         536,367         14,968         197,546         817,520         9.8-11.0   

Sberbank

     RUR         50,899         36,926         95,841         245,276         134,646         563,588         9.5-14.0   

VTB

     RUR         8,190         57,069         114,138         114,138         142,672         436,207         9.0-12.0   

EBR

     RUR         15,371         30,742         30,742         15,371         —          92,226         9.2   

Other

     RUR         21,580         13         —          —          224         21,817         0.0-7.5   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total

        333,692         697,915         1,705,553         988,975         606,785         4,332,920      
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

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            Contractual Maturity Date as of December 31,             Annual
Interest Rate
(Actual at
December 31,
2012)
 
     Currency      2013      2014      2015      2016      Thereafter      Total     
            (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Fixed-rate tenge debt:

                       

Sberbank

     KZT         16,585         —          —          —          —          16,585         9.5   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total

        16,585         —          —          —          —          16,585      
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Fixed-rate Turkish lira debt:

                       

Other

     TRY         7,533         1,487         —          —          —          9,020         11.0-14.0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total

        7,533         1,487         —          —          —          9,020      

Total debt:

        373,881         802,200         1,877,246         1,361,462         718,889         5,133,678      
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

The table below presents the principal cash flows and related range of interest rates, by contractual maturity dates, of our variable-rate debt obligations as of December 31, 2012.

 

            Contractual Maturity Date as of December 31,             Average
Annual Interest
Rate (Actual at
December 31,
2012)
 
     Currency      2013      2014      2015      2016      Thereafter      Total     
            (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Variable-rate U.S. dollar debt:

                       

Syndicated Loan

     USD         47,808         573,694         382,462         —          —          1,003,964         5.3   

Gazprombank

     USD         444,444         444,444         111,112         —          —          1,000,000         5.6   

UniCredit (formerly Bayerische Hypo-und-Vereinsbank)

     USD         135,821         58,679         1,813         —          —          196,313         3.1-5.9   

Fortis

     USD         21,736         21,163         21,163         21,163         63,488         148,713         7.5   

Sberbank

     USD         123,500         7,833         —          —          —          131,333         4.3-6.4   

Raiffeisenbank

     USD         —          39,600         3,650         —             43,250         5.1-5.3   

Other

     USD         44,414         2,312         2,312         2,312         —           51,350         1.8-3.2   

Total

        817,723         1,147,725         522,512         23,475         63,488         2,574,923      
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Variable-rate euro debt:

                       

Fortis

     EUR         30,584         29,455         28,594         26,896         90,377         205,906         1.7-5.7   

ING

     EUR         37,293         10,830         8,770         6,711         21,421         85,025         1.6-3.9   

UniCredit (formerly Bayerische Hypo-und-Vereinsbank)

     EUR         17,293         13,329         10,750         9,881         27,037         78,290         1.0-4.8   

VTB

     EUR         66,924         —          —          —          —          66,924         5.3-5.4   

Gazprombank

     EUR         —          35,762         —          —          —          35,762         4.3   

Raiffeisenbank

     EUR         12,225         3,017         3,017         1,508         —          19,767         2.4-3.4   

Sberbank

     EUR         7,174         —          —          —          —          7,174         6.3   

Other

     EUR         30,528         11,352         10,609         10,219         22,636         85,344         1.3-7.3   

Total

        202,021         103,745         61,740         55,215         161,471         584,192      
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

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            Contractual Maturity Date as of December 31,      Average
Annual Interest
Rate (Actual at
December 31,
2012)
 
     Currency      2013      2014      2015      2016      Thereafter      Total     
            (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Variable-rate ruble debt:

                       

Sberbank

     RUR         —          246,932         246,932         —          —          493,864         10.5   

VTB

     RUR         —          223,885         223,885         —          —          447,770         11.7   

UniCredit (formerly Bayerische Hypo-und-Vereinsbank)

     RUR         21,070         10,535         —          —          —          31,605         8.0   

Other

     RUR         —          78,152         —          —          —          78,152         12.1   

Total

        21,070         559,504         470,817         —          —          1,051,391      
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Variable-rate LEI debt:

                       

Raiffeisenbank

     RON         46,055         —          —          —          —          46,055         9.9   

Total

        46,055         —          —          —          —          46,055      
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total debt:

        1,086,869         1,810,974         1,055,069         78,690         224,959         4,256,561      
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

The carrying amounts of short-term loans approximate their fair values due to their short maturity. As of December 31, 2012, the fair value of variable and fixed rate long-term loans (based on future cash flows discounted at current long-term market rates available for corporations) was as follows:

 

     Carrying Value
Including Interest
Accrued as of
December 31, 2012
     Fair Value as of
December 31, 2012
 
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars)  

Russian ruble-denominated debt

     5,098,403         4,817,314   

U.S. dollar-denominated debt

     2,479,536         2,468,734   

Euro-denominated debt

     433,346         430,135   

Turkish lira-denominated debt

     1,487         1,487   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

     8,012,772         7,717,670   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Commodity Price Risk

In the normal course of our business, we are primarily exposed to market risk of price fluctuations related to the purchase, production and sale of steel products, and to a lesser extent, to the purchase, production and sale of coal, coke and other products.

We do not use commodity derivatives or long-term, fixed-price sales contracts to manage our commodity price risks.

Under certain of our ferroalloy products sales agreements, we grant a third-party reseller a sales price concession under which the selling price, which is typically prepaid by the reseller, is subject to adjustment based upon the level of market prices using the LME. Historically, these selling price adjustments occur within a one month period from the date the products are delivered to the reseller. As of December 31, 2012, we had no stocks in the distribution channels. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates — Revenue recognition.”

 

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Equity Price Risk

We also have minor investments in shares of Russian companies that are not publicly traded and, accordingly, their market values are not available. We consider that it is not practicable for us to estimate the fair values of these investments because we have not yet obtained or developed the valuation models necessary to make the estimates, and the cost of obtaining an independent valuation is believed by management to be excessive considering the significance of the investments. Accordingly, these investments are omitted from the risk information disclosure presented herein.

We do not use derivative instruments or any other arrangements to manage our equity price risks.

Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities

Depositary Fees and Charges

Our common American Depositary Shares, or common ADSs, each representing one common share, are traded on the NYSE under the symbol “MTL.” The common ADSs are evidenced by common American Depositary Receipts, or common ADRs, issued by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as depositary (“DBTCA”) under the Deposit Agreement, dated as of July 27, 2004, among Mechel OAO, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, and holders and beneficial owners of common ADSs, as amended on May 21, 2007 and May 19, 2008. Common ADS holders are required to pay the following service fees to DBTCA:

 

Service

   Fees (In U.S. dollars)  

Issuance of common ADSs

   Up to $ 0.05 per common ADS   

Cancellation of common ADSs

   Up to $ 0.05 per common ADS   

Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions

   Up to $ 0.02 per common ADS   

Distribution of common ADSs pursuant to (1) stock dividends, free stock distributions or (2) exercises of rights to purchase additional common ADSs or distribution of proceeds thereof

   Up to $ 0.05 per common ADS   

Distribution of securities other than common ADSs or rights to purchase additional common ADSs or the distribution of proceeds thereof

   Up to $ 0.05 per common ADS   

Common ADR transfer, combination or split-up fee

   $ 1.50 per transfer   

Share register inspection annual fee

   $ 0.01 per common ADS   

Operation and maintenance annual fee

   $ 0.02 per common ADS

 

* This fee, when combined with the fees for cash distributions, shall not exceed $0.02 per common ADS per year.

Our preferred American Depositary Shares, or preferred ADSs, each representing one-half of a preferred share, are traded on the NYSE under the symbol “MTL PR.” The preferred ADSs are evidenced by preferred American Depositary Receipts, or preferred ADRs, issued by DBTCA under the Deposit Agreement, dated as of May 12, 2010, among Mechel OAO, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, and holders and beneficial owners of preferred ADSs. Preferred ADS holders are required to pay the following service fees to DBTCA:

 

Service

   Fees (In U.S. dollars)  

Issuance of preferred ADSs

     Up to $0.05 per preferred ADS   

Cancellation of preferred ADSs

     Up to $0.05 per preferred ADS   

Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions

     Up to $0.02 per preferred ADS   

Distribution of preferred ADSs pursuant to (1) stock dividends, free stock distributions or (2) exercises of rights to purchase additional preferred ADSs or distribution of proceeds thereof

     Up to $0.05 per preferred ADS   

 

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Service

   Fees (In U.S. dollars)  

Distribution of securities other than preferred ADSs or rights to purchase additional preferred ADSs or the distribution of proceeds thereof

  

 
 

Up to $0.05 per
preferred ADS

  
  

Preferred ADR transfer, combination or split-up fee

    
 
$1.50 per
transfer
  
  

Share register inspection annual fee

    
 
$0.01 per
preferred ADS
  
  

Operation and maintenance annual fee

    
 
$0.02 per
preferred ADS*
  
  

 

* This fee, when combined with the fees for cash distributions, shall not exceed $0.02 per preferred ADS per year.

In addition, holders of ADSs may also be charged for the following expenses: (1) taxes and governmental charges; (2) cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery charges; (3) transfer or registration fees of the Russian share registrar; (4) fees or charges of DBTCA for conversion of foreign currency into U.S. dollars; and (5) expenses of DBTCA in connection with the issuance of definitive certificates.

Holders of ADSs are responsible for any taxes or other governmental charges payable on their ADSs or on the deposited securities underlying the ADSs. DBTCA may refuse to transfer the ADSs or to allow holders to withdraw the deposited securities underlying their ADSs until such payment is made, or it may deduct the amount of taxes owed from any payments to ADS holders. It may also sell deposited securities, by public or private sale, to pay any taxes owed. ADS holders will remain liable if the proceeds of the sale are not enough to pay the taxes. If DBTCA sells deposited securities, it will, if appropriate, reduce the number of ADSs to reflect the sale and pay to ADS holders any proceeds, or send to ADS holders any property, remaining after it has paid the taxes.

Depositary Payments for 2010, 2011 and 2012

In consideration for its appointment as depositary, DBTCA agreed to reimburse us for costs of the maintenance of our ADS programs and of ADS-programs related investor relations activities. DBTCA reimbursed us $1.242 million in regard to our common ADS-program for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010. DBTCA also reimbursed us $2.494 million in regard to our preferred ADS-program for the year ended December 31, 2010. For the year ended December 31, 2011, DBTCA reimbursed us $4.667 million in regard to our common ADS-program. For the year ended December 31, 2012, DBTCA reimbursed us $1.725 million in regard to our common ADS-program.

In addition, for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, DBTCA made the following payments on our behalf in relation to our ADS programs:

 

      Payment
(In U.S. dollars)
For the Year Ended
December 31,
 

Category

   2010      2011      2012  

NYSE listing fees

     132,029         100,459         85,197   

Proxy solicitation expenses

     20,000         20,000         20,000   

ADS holder identification expenses

     15,000         15,000         30,000   

Full targeting project

     13,000         20,000         —     

Perception study

     —          25,000         —     

BD corporate

     5,000         5,000         5,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     185,029         185,459         140,197   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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In addition, DBTCA waived the cost of various ADR programs-related support services that it provided to us in 2012. DBTCA had valued these services at $237,500 per annum for common ADSs when DBTCA was re-appointed in 2008 and $190,000 per annum for preferred ADSs when DBTCA was appointed in 2010. Under certain circumstances, including early termination of the appointment of DBTCA, we would be required to repay to DBTCA some or all of the payments made to us or on our behalf (including fees waived by it) since its appointment.

 

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PART II

Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

None.

Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds

None.

Item 15. Controls and Procedures

 

(a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As required by Rules 13a-15f and 15d-15f under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, management has evaluated, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Disclosure controls and procedures refer to controls and other procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and other procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported to management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding our required disclosure. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management was required to apply its judgment in evaluating and implementing possible controls and procedures.

Based on the evaluation of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2012, the company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

(b) Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting.

Internal control over financial reporting refers to a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer and effected by our Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:

 

   

pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets;

 

   

provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and members of our Board of Directors; and

 

   

provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.

Internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures. Internal control over financial reporting also can be circumvented by collusion or improper override.

 

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Because of such limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process, and it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.

Our management evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012 using the framework set forth in the report of the Treadway Commission’s Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO), “Internal Control — Integrated Framework.” Based on the assessment, our management believes our company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012.

Ernst & Young LLC, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements and has also issued an attestation report on our management’s assessment of internal controls, a copy of which appears below.

 

(c) Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Mechel OAO

We have audited Mechel OAO, an open joint-stock company, and subsidiaries’ (hereinafter referred to as the “Group”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). The Group’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

As indicated in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not

 

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include the internal controls of Cognor Stahlhandel and Lomprom Rostov acquired in 2012, which are included in the 2012 consolidated financial statements of the Group and constituted $236 million and $11 million of total and net assets, respectively, as of December 31, 2012 and contributed $101 million to the consolidated revenues and $9 million of net loss to the Group’s consolidated income for the year then ended. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of the Group also did not include an evaluation of the internal controls of these entities.

In our opinion, the Group maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of the Group as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income (loss), equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012, of the Group and our report dated April 16, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLC

Moscow, Russia

April 16, 2013

 

(d) Remediation Activities and Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We undertook the following efforts in 2012 to address the material weakness, identified by us in 2011, that we have determined to be a material change in our Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

We did not have an adequate system of internal controls over the preparation and review of the Group’s U.S. GAAP consolidated financial statements, U.S. GAAP transformation process, and the Group reporting packages received from subsidiaries.

In order to remediate this material weakness, we have performed the following actions:

 

  a) we continued to improve our accounting and consolidation system;

 

  b) we continued to train the Group’s staff at our subsidiaries who are responsible for the preparation of the reporting packages where material errors had been made in 2011;

 

  c) we conducted a training program for the Group’s staff involved in U.S. GAAP transformation and the consolidation process;

 

  d) we improved our detailed checklists to facilitate the review controls over various aspects of the financial statement closing process.

Management has determined that these corrective actions, taken as a whole, have remediated the material weakness described above.

Except for the remediation efforts undertaken as described above, there have been no material changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in the evaluation required by Rule 13a-15f or Rule 15d-15f of the Exchange Act that occurred during the period covered by this annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert

Our Board of Directors has determined that Roger Gale, chairman of our audit committee, is an “audit committee financial expert.” Mr. Gale is independent in accordance with SEC Rule 10A-3. For a description of Mr. Gale’s experience, see “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees — Directors and Executive Officers.”

Item 16B. Code of Ethics

We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees. It is available at www.mechel.com and www.mechel.ru. Hard copies of our code of business conduct and ethics are available free of charge to any person upon request. In order to request a hard copy, please send an inquiry to ir@mechel.com indicating postal address to which the hard copies should be sent and a contact person.

Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Ernst & Young LLC has served as our independent registered public accountants for each of the fiscal years in the three year period ended December 31, 2012, for which audited financial statements appear in this Annual Report on Form 20-F. The following table presents the aggregate fees for professional services and other services rendered by Ernst & Young LLC in 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
         2012              2011      
     (In thousands of U.S. dollars, net of VAT)  

Audit Fees

     6,072.9         12,837.6   

Audit-related Fees

     —           —     

Tax Fees

     36.2         35.0   

Other Fees

     —           2.8   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     6,109.1         12,875.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Audit Fees

The amount of audit fees includes fees necessary to perform an audit or interim review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and services that generally only the independent auditor can reasonably provide, such as comfort letters, statutory audits, attest services, consents and assistance with, and review of, documents filed with the SEC.

Audit-related Fees

This category usually includes assurance and related services that are typically performed by the independent auditor. More specifically, these services could include, among others, employee benefit plan audits, IT-related audits, consultation concerning financial accounting and reporting standards.

Tax Fees

Tax services include, among others, tax consultation related to proposed and consummated transactions, restructuring, personal taxation and general tax consultation.

Other Fees

Other fees include subscription and training fees.

 

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Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 required that we implement a pre-approval process for all engagements with our independent public accountants. In compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley requirements pertaining to auditor independence, our Audit Committee pre-approves the engagement terms and fees of Ernst & Young LLC for all audit and non-audit services, including tax services. All audit and tax services rendered by Ernst & Young LLC in 2012 were approved by the Audit Committee before Ernst & Young LLC was engaged for such services. No services of any kind were approved pursuant to a waiver permitted pursuant to 17 CFR 210.2-01(c)(7)(i)(C).

Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

None.

Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

We did not repurchase any of our shares, GDSs or ADSs in 2012.

Item 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

Not applicable.

 

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Item 16G. Corporate Governance

The NYSE permits us to follow certain home country corporate governance practices, which differ from those required for U.S. companies under the NYSE Listed Company Manual. The following table sets forth the most important differences between the NYSE corporate governance requirements for U.S. companies under the NYSE Listed Company Manual Section 303A and our current practices.

 

NYSE Corporate Governance Rules for U.S. Companies

  

Our Corporate Governance Practices

A majority of directors must be independent, as determined by the board. (Section 303A.01 and 02).    We comply with this requirement, although it is not required for foreign private issuers like Mechel.
Non-management directors must meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management. (Section 303A.03).    Our Bylaw on the Board of Directors, which is posted in the “Corporate Governance” section of our corporate website, provides that before each meeting of the board of directors, independent directors shall hold a consultation in the absence of management.
Listed companies must have a nominating/corporate governance and a compensation committee, each composed entirely of independent directors and having a written charter specifying the committee’s purpose and responsibilities, as well as annual performance evaluation of the committee. (Section 303A.04 and 05).    We have a Committee on Appointments and Remuneration, which has four independent members. The Bylaw on Appointments and Remuneration Committee of the Board of Directors is posted in the “Corporate Governance” section of our corporate website.
Listed companies must have an audit committee that satisfies the requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. (Section 303A.06).    We comply with this requirement.
Audit committee must have a minimum of three members and have a written charter specifying the committee’s purpose, an annual performance evaluation and its duties and responsibilities. (Section 303A.07(a) and(b)).    Our Audit Committee has three members. The Bylaw on the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is posted in the “Corporate Governance” section of our corporate website.
Listed companies must have an internal audit function. (Section 303A.07(c)).    We have an Internal Control and Audit Department. The Bylaw on the Internal Control and Audit Department is posted in the “Corporate Governance” section of our corporate website.
Shareholders must be given the opportunity to vote on all equity compensation plans and material revisions thereto. (Section 303A.08).    As a Russian company, we are subject to the mandatory requirements of the Russian Joint-Stock Companies Law. The items on which shareholders can vote cannot be altered.
Listed companies must adopt and disclose corporate governance guidelines. (Section 303A.09).    Our corporate governance guidelines are reflected in our various corporate documents, such as the Bylaw on the Board of Directors and the Code of Corporate Governance, all of which are posted in the “Corporate Governance” section of our website.
Listed companies must adopt and disclose a code of business conduct and ethics for directors, officers and employees, and promptly disclose any waivers of the code for directors or executive officers. (Section 303A.10).    Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is posted in the “Corporate Governance” section of our website.

 

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Item 16H. Mine Safety Disclosure

The information concerning mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by Section 1503(a) if the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or this Item 16H is included in Exhibit 16.

 

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PART III

Item 17. Financial Statements

See instead “Item 18. Financial Statements.”

Item 18. Financial Statements

The following financial statements, together with the report of Ernst & Young LLC, are filed as part of this annual report on Form 20-F.

 

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-2   

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-3   

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2012 and 2011

     F-4   

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010

     F-5   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010

     F-6   

Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010

     F-8   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-9   

 

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Item 19. Exhibits

 

Exhibit

No.

  

Description

1.1    Charter of Mechel OAO (new version) registered on June 30, 2011
1.2    Amendment to Charter of Mechel OAO registered on October 11, 2011
1.3    Amendment to Charter of Mechel OAO registered on December 12, 2011
1.4    Amendment to Charter of Mechel OAO registered on March 13, 2012
1.5    Amendment to Charter of Mechel OAO registered on November 22, 2012
1.6    Amendment to Charter of Mechel OAO registered on January 9, 2013
1.7    Amendment to Charter of Mechel OAO registered on February 25, 2013
8.1    Subsidiaries of Mechel
12.1    Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
12.2    Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
13.1    Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
13.2    Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
16    Mine Safety Disclosure
101    The following financial information formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, and (vi) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements*

 

* Pursuant to Rule 406T of SEC Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Section II or 12 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under these sections

We hereby agree to furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon its request, copies of any instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt issued by us or any of our consolidated subsidiaries.

 

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SIGNATURES

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

 

MECHEL OAO
By:  

/s/     EVGENY V. MIKHEL

  Name: Evgeny V. Mikhel
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

Date: April 16, 2013

 

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LOGO

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

CONTENTS

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM    F-3
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND 2011    F-4

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012, 2011 AND 2010

   F-5

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012, 2011 AND 2010

   F-6

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012, 2011 AND 2010

   F-8
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    F-9

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Shareholders and the Board of Directors

Mechel OAO

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Mechel OAO, an open joint stock company, and subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to as the “Group”) as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Group’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

As more fully described in Note 2(h) to the consolidated financial statements, the value of property, plant, and equipment pertaining to noncontrolling shareholders in the accounting for acquisitions of various subsidiaries before January 1, 2009 has been recorded at appraised values rather than at historical cost as then required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. As of December 31, 2012, the depreciated appraised values of property, plant, and equipment pertaining to noncontrolling shareholders approximate their depreciated historical cost. Accordingly, our unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements of the Group as of December 31, 2012 and for the year then ended is different from our qualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements of the Group as of December 31, 2011, and for each of the three years ended December 31, 2011, expressed in our report dated May 10, 2012.

In our opinion, except for the effects of the matter discussed in the preceding paragraph on the financial position of the Group as of December 31, 2011, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Group as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Group’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated April 16, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLC

Moscow, Russia

April 16, 2013

 

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MECHEL OAO

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share amounts)

 

     Notes     December 31,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 
ASSETS       

Cash and cash equivalents

     4      $ 294,958      $ 642,648   

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $84,367 in 2012 and $46,062 in 2011

     5        705,462        816,446   

Due from related parties, net of allowance of $919,113 in 2012

     9        451,377        1,315,288   

Inventories

     6        2,073,189        2,592,896   

Deferred income taxes

     19        31,629        35,719   

Current assets of discontinued operations

     3 (e)      59,223        16,209   

Prepayments and other current assets

     7        561,789        653,461   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

       4,177,627        6,072,667   

Long-term investments in related parties

     8        7,853        8,150   

Other long-term investments

     8        14,671        13,997   

Property, plant and equipment, net

     10        7,798,839        7,049,625   

Mineral licenses, net

     11        4,658,657        4,733,676   

Other non-current assets

     12        183,566        203,745   

Deferred income taxes

     19        55,243        27,817   

Goodwill

     3 (h)      798,847        1,049,514   

Non-current assets of discontinued operations

     3 (e)      —          150,608   

Total assets

     $ 17,695,303      $ 19,309,799   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY       

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt

     13      $ 1,460,750      $ 2,651,357   

Accounts payable and accrued expenses:

      

Trade payable to vendors of goods and services

       1,053,344        972,920   

Advances received

       154,881        205,994   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

       337,433        280,935   

Taxes and social charges payable

       314,283        276,580   

Unrecognized income tax benefits

     19        20,202        2,190   

Due to related parties

     9        199,097        179,672   

Asset retirement obligations, current portion

     15        5,023        3,648   

Deferred income taxes

     19        38,485        41,822   

Current liabilities of discontinued operations

     3 (e)      17,801        5,183   

Pension obligations, current portion

     16        20,044        22,005   

Dividends payable

       3,086        4   

Finance lease liabilities, current portion

     17        132,090        96,907   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

       3,756,519        4,739,217   

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     13        7,929,489        6,732,029   

Asset retirement obligations, net of current portion

     15        44,831        39,593   

Pension obligations, net of current portion

     16        177,218        143,673   

Deferred income taxes

     19        1,499,990        1,514,864   

Finance lease liabilities, net of current portion

     17        347,768        375,249   

Due to related parties

     9        16,862        —     

Long-term liabilities of discontinued operations

     3 (e)      —          17,337   

Commitments and contingencies

     25       

Other long-term liabilities

       382,969        382,511   
EQUITY       

Common shares (10 Russian rubles par value; 497,969,086 shares authorized, 416,270,745 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2012 and 2011)

     18        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 December 31, 2012 and 2011)

     18        25,314        25,314   

Additional paid-in capital

       845,215        845,994   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

       (326,933     (356,580

Retained earnings

       2,500,278        4,345,754   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO

       3,177,381        4,993,989   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Noncontrolling interests

     3 (i)      362,276        371,337   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

       3,539,657        5,365,326   

Total liabilities and equity

     $ 17,695,303      $ 19,309,799   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

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Table of Contents

MECHEL OAO

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)

 

           Year ended December 31,  
     Notes     2012     2011     2010  

Revenue, net (including related party amounts of $759,577, $904,876 and $686,172 during 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively)

     24      $ 11,274,933      $ 12,541,145      $ 9,746,646   

Cost of goods sold (including related party amounts of $844,214, $1,612,001 and $1,225,802 during 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively)

       (8,024,210     (8,236,807     (6,179,612
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     24        3,250,723        4,304,338        3,567,034   

Selling, distribution and operating expenses:

        

Selling and distribution expenses

       (1,761,961     (1,736,265     (1,435,228

Taxes other than income tax

     20        (127,147     (102,788     (110,740

Accretion expense

     15        (5,021     (6,659     (6,545

Loss on write-off of property, plant and equipment

     10        (11,429     (11,006     (10,776

Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets

     23        (707,891     —          —     

Provision for amounts due from related parties

     9        (919,113     —          —     

Provision (recovery of provision) for doubtful accounts

       (28,344     1,331        11,460   

General, administrative and other operating expenses, net

     21        (587,692     (608,847     (482,993
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total selling, distribution and operating expenses, net

       (4,148,598     (2,464,234     (2,034,822
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

       (897,875     1,840,104        1,532,212   

Other income and (expense):

        

Income from equity investments

     8        475        304        1,184   

Interest income

       70,509        16,785        17,167   

Interest expense

       (669,353     (560,548     (558,284

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

       88,711        (117,076     (14,544

Other income (expenses), net

     22        30,232        (7,002     (8,531
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income and (expense), net

       (479,426     (667,537     (563,008
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income from continuing operations, before income tax and discontinued operations

     19        (1,377,301     1,172,567        969,204   

Income tax expense

     19        (179,155     (360,750     (276,630
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income from continuing operations

       (1,556,456     811,817        692,574   

Net loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax

     3 (e)      (108,429     (8,370     (600
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

       (1,664,885     803,447        691,974   

Less: Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests

     3 (i)      317        (75,562     (34,761
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO

       (1,664,568     727,885        657,213   
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less: Dividends on preferred shares

     18        (79,056     (78,281     (8,780
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders of Mechel OAO

     $ (1,743,624   $ 649,604      $ 648,433   
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

     $ (1,664,885   $ 803,447      $ 691,974   

Currency translation adjustment

       70,893        (170,794     (26,218

Change in pension benefit obligation

       (17,778     (7,160     (9,466

Adjustment of available-for-sale securities

       (300     (2,245     4,838   
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive (loss) income

       (1,612,070     623,248        661,128   
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

       (22,851     (50,527     (32,498
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO

     $ (1,634,921   $ 572,721      $ 628,630   
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share:

        

(Loss) earnings per share from continuing operations

     18      $ (3.93   $ 1.58      $ 1.56   

Loss per share effect from discontinued operations

       (0.26     (0.02     (0.00
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings per share

     18      $ (4.19   $ 1.56      $ 1.56   
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding

     18        416,270,745        416,270,745        416,270,745   
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

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Table of Contents

MECHEL OAO

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

          Year ended December 31,  
    Notes     2012     2011     2010  

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

       

Net (loss) income from continuing operations attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO

    $ (1,556,139   $ 736,255      $ 657,813   

Net (loss) income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests

      (317     75,562        34,761   
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income from continuing operations

      (1,556,456     811,817        692,574   

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:

       

Depreciation

      438,661        372,558        329,440   

Depletion and amortization

      147,557        183,799        144,621   

Foreign exchange (gain) loss

      (88,711     117,076        14,544   

Deferred income taxes

    19        (66,035     7,782        75,354   

Provision (recovery of provision) for doubtful accounts

      28,344        (1,331     (11,460

Change in inventory reserves

    6        41,035        18,276        (20,225

Accretion expense

    15        5,021        6,659        6,545   

Loss on write-off of property, plant and equipment

    10        11,429        11,006        10,776   

Income from equity investments

    8        (475     (304     (1,184

Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets

    23        707,891        —          —     

Provision for amounts due from related parties

    9        919,113        —          —     

Non-cash interest on pension liabilities

    16        12,159        13,583        14,405   

(Gain) loss on sale of property, plant and equipment

      (7,477     (7,422     3,605   

Change in asset retirement obligations

      (4,998     (6,823     (11,262

Gain on accounts payable with expired legal term

    22        (4,057     (5,390     (5,523

Gain on forgiveness of fines and penalties

    22        (2,777     (47     —     

Amortization of loan origination fee

      54,718        53,352        41,970   

Loss resulting from accretion and remeasurement of contingent obligation

    14        1,906        1,760        1,630   

Pension benefit plan curtailment gain

    16        (1,691     (38,711     (13,910

Gain from bargain purchase

      —          —          (7,515

Remeasurement of equity interest

      —          —          2,044   

Pension service cost, amortization of prior service cost and actuarial (gain) loss, other expenses

    16        4,725        5,165        6,397   

Changes in working capital items, net of effects from acquisition of new subsidiaries:

       

Accounts receivable

      66,310        (318,039     (147,299

Inventories

      634,527        (763,371     (760,535

Trade payable to vendors of goods and services

      72,954        257,599        53,253   

Advances received

      (56,418     (145,604     85,929   

Accrued taxes and other liabilities

      59,416        13,938        143,703   

Settlements with related parties

      (241,908     390,940        (506,676

Other current assets

      99,748        (80,961     (260,424

Advanced payments to non-state pension funds

      —          —          (4,922

Dividends received

      25,956        —          —     

Unrecognized income tax losses (benefits)

      17,598        (2,285     (12,965

Net operation cash flows of discontinued operations

      (6,737     (12,484     (10,594
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

      1,311,328        882,538        (147,704

 

continued on next page

 

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Table of Contents

MECHEL OAO

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(continued)

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

          Year ended December 31,  
    Notes     2012     2011     2010  
continued from previous page                        

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

       

Acquisition of DEMP, less cash acquired

    3 (c)      (32,810     (70,044  

Acquisition of Cognor, less cash acquired

    3 (a)      (24,172     —          —     

Acquisition of Lomprom Rostov, less cash acquired

    3 (b)      (24     —          —     

Advance payment received in association with sale of TPP Rousse shares

      2,640        —          —     

Acquisition of TPP Rousse, less cash acquired

    3 (d)      —          —          (70,181

Acquisition of SC Donau Commodities SRL, less cash acquired

    3 (g)      —          —          (11,040

Acquisition of Ramateks, less cash acquired

    3 (f)      —          —          (2,640

Acquisition of other subsidiaries, less cash acquired

      —          (5,643     (5,621

Capital contribution in affiliates

      —          (571     —     

Proceeds from asset trust management

      —          —          7,126   

Proceeds from disposal of investments in affiliates

      2,998        6        2,834   

Proceeds from disposal of securities

      —          —          9,346   

Short-term loans issued and other investments (including related party amounts of $nil in 2012 and $944,530 in 2011)

      (4,451     (1,089,850     (275,811

Proceeds from short-term loans issued

      217,810        353,624        207,132   

Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment

      23,498        20,469        9,768   

Prepayment for the participation in auction

      —          (7,869     —     

Purchases of mineral licenses

      (6,079     (23,088     —     

Cash flows from discontinued operations

      4,174        8,642        233   

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

      (1,022,721     (1,803,908     (991,552
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

      (839,137     (2,618,232     (1,120,406
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

       

Proceeds from borrowings

      3,977,809        5,938,730        8,181,372   

Repayment of borrowings

      (4,405,881     (3,583,229     (6,872,133

Dividends paid

      (186,443     (210,233     (23,325

Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest

      (29,054     —          —     

Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries

    3 (i)      (632     (283     (17,481

Repayment of obligations under finance lease

      (149,471     (99,372     (55,718

Cash flows from discontinued operations

      (1,477     (1,628     (2,589

Sale leaseback proceeds

      3,143        35,049        —     
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

      (792,006     2,079,034        1,210,126   
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

      (27,875     (41,117     (16,287
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

      (347,690     302,223        (74,271

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

    4        642,648        340,425        414,696   
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

    4      $ 294,958      $ 642,648      $ 340,425   
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplementary Cash Flow Information

       

Interest paid, net of amount capitalized

    $ 548,858      $ 531,527      $ 583,899   

Income taxes paid, net

    $ 212,962      $ 529,844      $ 209,991   

Non-cash Activities

       

Acquisition of equipment under finance lease

    $ 131,846      $ 427,000      $ 141,541   

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

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Table of Contents

MECHEL OAO

Consolidated Statements of Equity

 

(in thousands of US dollars, except share
numbers)

        Common shares     Preferred shares     Additional
paid-in
capital
    Accumula-
ted other
comprehen-
sive (loss)
income
    Retained
earnings
    Equity
attributable
to share-
holders of
Mechel
OAO
    Noncontrolling
interests
    Total equity  
  Notes     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount              

Balance at December 31, 2009

      416,270,745      $ 133,507        83,254,149      $ 25,314      $ 859,338      $ (172,833   $ 3,192,631      $ 4,037,957      $ 292,732      $ 4,330,689   
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

      —          —          —          —          —          —          657,213        657,213        34,761        691,974   

Dividends

    18        —          —          —          —          —          —          (23,325     (23,325     —          (23,325

Cumulative translation adjustment

      —          —          —          —          —          (23,955     —          (23,955     (2,263     (26,218

Adjustment of available-for-sale securities

      —          —          —          —          —          4,838        —          4,838        —          4,838   

Change in pension benefit obligation

      —          —          —          —          —          (9,466     —          (9,466     —          (9,466

Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests

    3 (i)      —          —          —          —          (12,201     —          —          (12,201     (5,280     (17,481
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2010

      416,270,745      $ 133,507        83,254,149      $ 25,314      $ 847,137      $ (201,416   $ 3,826,519      $ 4,631,061      $ 319,950      $ 4,951,011   
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

      —          —          —          —          —          —          727,885        727,885        75,562        803,447   

Dividends

    18        —          —          —          —          —          —          (208,650     (208,650     —          (208,650

Cumulative translation adjustment

      —          —          —          —          —          (145,759     —          (145,759     (25,035     (170,794

Adjustment of available-for-sale securities

      —          —          —          —          —          (2,245     —          (2,245     —          (2,245

Change in pension benefit obligation

      —          —          —          —          —          (7,160     —          (7,160     —          (7,160

Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests

    3 (i)      —          —          —          —          (1,143     —          —          (1,143     860        (283
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

      416,270,745      $ 133,507        83,254,149      $ 25,314      $ 845,994      $ (356,580   $ 4,345,754      $ 4,993,989      $ 371,337      $ 5,365,326   
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

      —          —          —          —          —          —          (1,664,568     (1,664,568     (317     (1,664,885

Dividends declared to shareholders of Mechel OAO

    18        —          —          —          —          —          —          (180,908     (180,908     —          (180,908

Dividends declared to noncontrolling interest

      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          (32,113     (32,113

Cumulative translation adjustment

      —          —          —          —          —          47,725        —          47,725        23,168        70,893   

Adjustment of available-for-sale securities

      —          —          —          —          —          (300     —          (300     —          (300

Change in pension benefit obligation

      —          —          —          —          —          (17,778     —          (17,778     —          (17,778

Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests and effect of changes in ownership of subsidiaries within the Group

    3 (i)      —          —          —          —          (779     —          —          (779     201        (578
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

      416,270,745      $ 133,507        83,254,149      $ 25,314      $ 845,215      $ (326,933   $ 2,500,278      $ 3,177,381      $ 362,276      $ 3,539,657   
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

1. GENERAL

 

(a) Formation

Mechel OAO (“Mechel”, formerly – Mechel Steel Group OAO) was incorporated on March 19, 2003, under the laws of the Russian Federation in connection with a reorganization to serve as a holding company for various steel and mining companies owned by two individual shareholders (the “Controlling Shareholders”). The Controlling Shareholders, directly or through their affiliates, either acquired existing companies or established new companies, at varying dates from 1995 through March 19, 2003, which were contributed to Mechel after its formation. Mechel and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to herein as the “Group”. Set forth below is a summary of the Group’s primary subsidiaries:

 

Name of subsidiary

  Registered in     Core business     Date control
acquired/date of
incorporation (*)
    Interest in voting stock
held by the Group
at December 31,
 
                      2012     2011     2010  

Mechel International Holdings GmBH (MIH)

    Switzerland        Holding and trading        July 1, 1995        100.0     100.0     100.0

Mechel Metal Supply AG (MMS)**

    Liechtenstein        Trading        Oct 30, 2000              100.0     100.0

Mechel Trading House (MTH)

    Russia        Trading        June 23, 1997        100.0     100.0     100.0

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company (SKCC)

    Russia        Coal mining        Jan 21, 1999        96.6     96.6     96.6

Tomusinsk Open Pit Mine (TOPM)

    Russia        Coal mining        Jan 21, 1999        74.5     74.5     74.5

Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant (CMP)

    Russia        Steel products        Dec 27, 2001        94.2     94.2     94.2

Southern Urals Nickel Plant (SUNP)

    Russia        Nickel        Dec 27, 2001        84.1     84.1     84.1

Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant (VMPP)

    Russia        Steel products        May 24, 2002        93.3     93.3     93.3

Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant (BMP)

    Russia        Steel products        June 14, 2002        91.5     91.4     91.4

Mechel Targoviste S.A.

    Romania        Steel products        Aug 28, 2002        86.6     86.6     86.6

Ural Stampings Plant (USP)

    Russia        Steel products        April 24, 2003        93.8     93.8     93.8

Korshunov Mining Plant (KMP)

    Russia        Iron ore mining        Oct 16, 2003        85.6     85.6     85.6

Mechel Campia Turzii S.A.

    Romania        Steel products        June 20, 2003        86.6     86.6     86.6

Mechel Nemunas (MN)

    Lithuania        Steel products        Oct 15, 2003        100.0     100.0     100.0

Mechel Energo

    Russia        Power trading        Feb 3, 2004        100.0     100.0     100.0

Port Posiet

    Russia        Transportation        Feb 11, 2004        97.1     97.1     97.1

Kaslinsky Architectural Art Casting Plant

    Russia        Steel products        April 14, 2004        100.0     100.0     100.0

Izhstal

    Russia        Steel products        May 14, 2004        90.0     88.4     88.4

Port Kambarka

    Russia        Transportation        April 27, 2005        90.4     90.4     90.4

Mechel Service

    Russia        Trading        May 5, 2005        100.0     100.0     100.0

Mechel Trading Ltd.

    Switzerland        Trading        Dec 20, 2005        100.0     100.0     100.0

Metals Recycling

    Russia        Scrap collecting        March 14, 2006        100.0     100.0     100.0

Moscow Coke and Gas Plant (Moskoks)

    Russia        Coke production        Oct 4, 2006        99.5     99.5     99.5

Southern Kuzbass Power Plant (SKPP)

    Russia        Power generation        April 19, 2007        98.3     98.3     98.3

Mechel Finance***

    Russia        Corporate finance        June 6, 2007                      100.0

Kuzbass Power Sales Company (KPSC)

    Russia        Power sales        June 30, 2007        72.1     72.1     72.1

Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant (BFP)

    Russia        Ferroalloy production        Aug 6, 2007        100.0     100.0     100.0

Yakutugol

    Russia        Coal mining        Oct 19, 2007        100.0     100.0     100.0

Mechel-Carbon

    Switzerland        Trading        April 2, 2008        100.0     100.0     100.0

Ductil Steel S.A. (Ductil Steel)

    Romania        Steel products        April 8, 2008        100.0     100.0     100.0

Oriel Resources Ltd. (Oriel)

    Great Britain        Chrome and nickel        Apr 17, 2008        100.0     100.0     100.0

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Name of subsidiary

  Registered in     Core business     Date control
acquired/date of
incorporation (*)
    Interest in voting stock
held by the Group
at December 31,
 
                      2012     2011     2010  

Mechel-Mining OAO

    Russia        Holding        April 18, 2008        98.69     98.69     98.69

HBL Holding GmbH (HBL)

    Germany        Trading        Sept 26, 2008        100.0     100.0     100.0

Mechel Remservice

    Russia        Repairs        Feb 9, 2009        100.0     100.0     100.0

The BCG Companies

    USA        Coal mining        May 7, 2009        100.0     100.0     100.0

Laminorul S.A.

    Romania        Steel products        Feb 25, 2010        90.9     90.9     90.9

Ramateks

    Turkey        Trading        June 18, 2010        100.0     100.0     100.0

Toplofikatsia Rousse (TPP Rousse)

    Bulgaria        Power generation        Dec 9, 2010        100.0     100.0     100.0

Mechel Mining Trading House

    Russia        Trading        May 19, 2011        100.0     100.0       

Invicta Merchant Bar

    Great Britain        Steel products        Aug 22, 2011        100.0     100.0       

Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant (DEMP)

    Ukraine        Steel products        Dec 22, 2011        100.0     100.0       

Cognor Stahlhandel GmBH (Cognor)

    Austria        Trading        Sept 25, 2012        100.0              

Lomprom Rostov

    Russia        Scrap processing        Nov 22, 2012        100.0              

 

* Date, when a control interest was acquired or a new company established by either the Group or Controlling Shareholders.
** Mechel Metal Supply AG (MMS) was liquidated on December 17, 2012.
*** Mechel Finance was liquidated on February 24, 2011.

 

(b) Controlling Shareholders and reorganization

From 1995 until December 2006, the Controlling Shareholders acted in concert pursuant to a written Ownership, Control and Voting Agreement, which requires them to vote all shares of Mechel’s subsidiaries owned by them in the same manner. The establishment of the Group in March 2003 involved the contribution of certain of the above subsidiaries, acquired before March 19, 2003, by the Controlling Shareholders to Mechel in exchange for all the outstanding capital stock of Mechel, forming a new holding company via an exchange of shares.

As a result of this restructuring, the Controlling Shareholders maintained their original equal ownership in the subsidiaries through Mechel and Mechel became a direct holder of the stock of the subsidiaries.

Shareholders in each of Mechel’s subsidiaries before the restructuring who were not Controlling Shareholders did not contribute any shares in these subsidiaries to Mechel in exchange for its shares and were considered as outside the control group, and these shareholders retained a noncontrolling interest in the subsidiaries. Thus, to the extent noncontrolling interests existed in the entities under common control prior to March 19, 2003, such noncontrolling interests did not change as a result of the formation of Mechel and the reorganization of the Group.

During 2006, one of the Controlling Shareholders sold all his Mechel’s stock to the other Controlling Shareholder, and the Ownership, Control and Voting Agreement was terminated on December 21, 2006.

 

(c) Basis of presentation

The formation of Mechel and contribution of the subsidiaries’ shares into Mechel’s capital represents a reorganization of entities under common control, and accordingly, has been accounted for in a manner similar to a pooling for the periods presented.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

(d) Business

The Group operates in four business segments: steel (comprising steel and steel products), mining (comprising coal, iron ore and coke), ferroalloy (comprising nickel, chrome and ferrosilicon) and power (comprising electricity and heat power), and conducts operations in Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Kazakhstan, the USA and Europe. The Group sells its products within Russia and foreign markets. Through acquisitions, the Group has added various businesses to explore new opportunities and build an integrated steel, mining, ferroalloy and power group. The Group operates in a highly competitive and cyclical industry; any local or global downturn in the industries may have an adverse effect on the Group’s results of operations and financial condition. The Group will require a significant amount of cash to fund capital improvement programs and business acquisitions. While the Group will utilize funds from operations, it expects to continue to rely on capital markets and other financing sources for its capital needs.

 

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

(a) Basis of accounting

Russian affiliates and subsidiaries of the Group maintain their books and records in Russian rubles and prepare accounting reports in accordance with the accounting principles and practices mandated by Russian Accounting Regulations (“RAR”). Foreign subsidiaries and affiliates maintain their books and records in different foreign functional currencies and prepare accounting reports in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in various jurisdictions. The financial statements and accounting reports for the Group and its subsidiaries and affiliates for the purposes of preparation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) have been translated and adjusted on the basis of the respective standalone Russian statutory or other GAAP financial statements.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements differ from the financial statements issued for Russian statutory and other GAAP purposes in that they reflect certain adjustments, not recorded in the statutory books, which are appropriate to present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The principal adjustments relate to: (1) purchase accounting; (2) recognition of interest expense and certain operating expenses; (3) valuation and depreciation of property, plant and equipment and mineral licenses; (4) pension benefit obligations; (5) foreign currency translation; (6) deferred income taxes; (7) accounting for tax penalties; (8) revenue recognition; (9) valuation allowances for unrecoverable assets, and (10) recording investments at fair value.

 

(b) Basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements of the Group include the accounts of all majority owned subsidiaries where no noncontrolling interests or group of noncontrolling interests exercises substantive participating rights. Investments in companies that the Group does not control, but has the ability to exercise significant influence over their operating and financial policies, are accounted for under the equity method. Accordingly, the Group’s share of net earnings and losses from these companies is included in the consolidated income statements as income from equity investments. All other investments in equity securities are recorded at cost and adjusted for impairment, if any. Intercompany profits, transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Effective January 1, 2010, the Group adopted required changes to consolidation guidance for variable interest entities that require an enterprise to perform an analysis to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity. These changes to the consolidation guidance defined the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity as the enterprise that has (1) the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity, or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity. In addition, the required changes provide guidance on shared power and joint venture relationships, remove the scope exemption for qualified special purpose entities, revise the definition of a variable interest entity, and require additional disclosures.

The adoption of the above mentioned changes to consolidation guidance did not have any impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Group. The Group does not have significant consolidated variable interest entities.

 

(c) Business combinations

The Group accounts for its business acquisitions according to Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, “Business Combinations” (“ASC 805”), and FASB ASC 810, “Consolidation” (“ASC 810”). The Group applies the acquisition method of accounting and recognizes the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date, based on their respective estimated fair values measured as of that date. Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires management’s judgment and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions, including assumptions with respect to future cash inflows and outflows, discount rates, license and other asset lives and market multiples, among other items.

 

(d) Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration transferred plus the fair value of any noncontrolling interests in the acquiree at the acquisition date over the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired. For the acquisitions with the effective date before January 1, 2009, the excess of the fair value of net assets acquired over cost, known as negative goodwill, was allocated to the acquired non-current assets, except for the deferred taxes, if any, until they were reduced to zero. Since January 1, 2009, the excess of the fair value of net assets acquired over the fair value of the consideration transferred plus the fair value of any noncontrolling interests is recognized as a gain in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) on the acquisition date.

For investees accounted for under the equity method, the excess of cost to acquire a share in those companies over the Group’s share of fair value of their net assets as of the acquisition date is treated as goodwill embedded in the investment account. Goodwill arising from equity method investments is not amortized, but tested for impairment on annual basis.

 

(e) Noncontrolling interest

Noncontrolling interests in the net assets and net results of consolidated subsidiaries are shown under the “Noncontrolling interests” and “Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests” lines in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss),

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

respectively. Losses attributable to the Group and the noncontrolling interests in a subsidiary may exceed their interests in the subsidiary’s equity. The excess, and any further losses attributable the Group and the noncontrolling interests, are to be attributed to those interests. That is, the noncontrolling interests continue to be attributed to its share of losses even if that attribution results in a deficit noncontrolling interest balance.

 

(f) Reporting and functional currencies

The Group has determined its reporting currency to be the U.S. dollar. The functional currencies for Russian, European, Romanian, Ukrainian, Kazakh, Bulgarian and Turkish subsidiaries of the Group are the Russian ruble, euro, the Romanian lei, the Ukrainian hryvnia, the Kazakh tenge, the Bulgarian lev and the Turkish lira, respectively. The U.S. dollar is the functional currency of the other international operations of the Group.

The translation adjustments resulting from the process of translating financial statements from the functional currency into the reporting currency are included in determining other comprehensive income. Mechel’s Russian, European, Romanian, Ukrainian, Kazakh, Bulgarian and Turkish subsidiaries translate local currencies into U.S. dollars using the current rate method as prescribed by FASB ASC 830, “Foreign Currency Matters” (“ASC 830”), for all periods presented.

 

(g) Management estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported carrying amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, and the amounts of revenues and expenses recognized during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

(h) Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost less accumulated depletion and depreciation. Property, plant and equipment acquired in business combinations are initially recorded at their respective fair values as determined by independent appraisers in accordance with the requirements of ASC 805. In the reporting periods ending before January 1, 2009, for the purpose of determining the carrying amounts of the property, plant and equipment pertaining to interests of noncontrolling shareholders in business combinations when less than a 100% interest is acquired, the Group used appraised fair values as of the acquisition dates in the absence of reliable and accurate historical cost bases for property, plant and equipment, which represented a departure from the U.S. GAAP effective before January 1, 2009. The portion of noncontrolling interest not related to property, plant and equipment was determined based on the historical cost of those assets and liabilities. As of December 31, 2012, the depreciated appraised values of property, plant, and equipment pertaining to noncontrolling shareholders approximate their depreciated historical cost.

 

(i) Mining assets and processing plant and equipment

Mineral exploration costs incurred prior to establishing proven and probable reserves for a given property and costs of identifying and upgrading additional mineral resources to reserve status are expensed as incurred. Proven and probable reserves are established based on independent feasibility studies and appraisals performed

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

by mining engineers. Reserves are defined as that part of a mineral deposit, which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. Proven reserves are defined as reserves, for which (a) quantity is computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, workings or drill holes; grade and/or quality are computed from the results of detailed sampling and (b) the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are spaced so closely and the geologic character is so well defined that size, shape, depth and mineral content of reserves are well-established. Probable reserves are defined as reserves, for which quantity and grade and/or quality are computed from information similar to that used for proven reserves, but the sites for inspection, sampling, and measurement are farther apart or are otherwise less adequately spaced. Accordingly, the degree of assurance, although lower than that for proven reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between points of observation.

Costs of developing new underground mines are capitalized. Underground development costs, which are costs incurred to make the mineral physically accessible, include costs to prepare property for shafts, driving main entries for ventilation, haulage, personnel, construction of airshafts, roof protection and other facilities. Additionally, interest expense allocable to the cost of developing mining properties and to constructing new facilities is capitalized until assets are ready for their intended use.

Expenditures for improvements are capitalized, while costs related to maintenance (turnarounds) are expensed as incurred. In addition, cost incurred to maintain current production capacity at a mine and exploration expenditures are charged to expenses as incurred. Stripping costs incurred during the production phase of a mine are expensed as incurred.

Mining assets and processing plant and equipment are those assets, including construction in progress, which are intended to be used only for the needs of a certain mine or field, and upon full extraction after exhausting of the reserves of such mine or the field, these assets cannot be further used for any other purpose without a capital reconstruction. When mining assets and processing plant and equipment are placed in production, the applicable capitalized costs, including mine development costs, are depleted using the unit-of-production method at the ratio of tonnes of mineral mined or processed to the estimated proven and probable mineral reserves that are expected to be mined during the license term for mining assets related to the mineral licenses acquired prior to August 22, 2004 (refer to Note 2(k)), or the estimated lives of the mines for mining assets related to the mineral licenses acquired after that date. As fully described in Note 2(k), effective January 1, 2011, the Group changed its estimate of the useful lives of the mineral licenses acquired before August 22, 2004 to be based on proven and probable reserves of the mine. The unit-of-production method is used for the underground mine development structure costs as their useful lives coincide with the estimated lives of mines, provided that all repairs and maintenance are timely carried out.

A decision to abandon, reduce or expand activity on a specific mine is based upon many factors, including general and specific assessments of mineral reserves, anticipated future mineral prices, anticipated costs of developing and operating a producing mine, the expiration date of mineral licenses, and the likelihood that the Group will continue exploration on the mine. Based on the results at the conclusion of each phase of an exploration program, properties that are not economically feasible for production are re-evaluated to determine if future exploration is warranted and that carrying values are appropriate. The ultimate recovery of these costs depends on the discovery and development of economic ore reserves or the sale of the companies owning such mineral rights.

 

(j) Other property, plant and equipment

Capitalized production costs for internally developed assets include material, direct labor costs, and allocable material and manufacturing overhead costs. Manufacturing overhead costs are capitalized only if and to the extent

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

they can be reliably measured and directly allocated to definite object of construction-in-progress. These costs include the costs of electricity used to operate the equipment, depreciation on the equipment, costs of personnel (other than direct labour) and other. When construction activities are performed over an extended period, interest costs incurred during construction are capitalized. Construction-in-progress and equipment held for installation are not depreciated until the constructed or installed asset is substantially ready for its intended use.

The costs of planned major maintenance activities are recorded as the costs are actually incurred and are not accrued in advance of the planned maintenance. Costs for activities that lead to the prolongation of useful life or to expanded future use capabilities of an asset are capitalized. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred. We expensed $104,427, $111,875 and $68,950 of repair and maintenance costs during the period ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. These amounts represent the cost of third parties repair and maintenance services. Repair and maintenance costs carried out internally are accounted for as expense according to the nature of cost elements, including cost of labour and related social taxes, spare parts, auxiliary materials, energy and other expense.

Property, plant and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method. Upon sale or retirement, the acquisition or production cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the balance sheet and any gain or loss is included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

The following useful lives are used as a basis for calculating depreciation:

 

Category of asset

   Useful economic lives
estimates, years
 

Buildings

     20-45   

Land improvements

     20-50   

Operating machinery and equipment, including transfer devices

     7-30   

Transportation equipment and vehicles

     4-15   

Tools, furniture, fixtures and other

     4-8   

 

(k) Mineral licenses

The mineral licenses are recorded at their fair values at the date of acquisition, based on the appraised fair value. Fair value of the mineral licenses acquired prior to August 22, 2004 (the date of change in the Russian Subsoil Law that makes license extensions through the end of the estimated proven and probable reserve period reasonably assured), is based on independent mining engineer appraisals for proven and probable reserves during the license term. Before 2011, such mineral licenses were amortized using the units-of-production method over the shorter of the license term or the estimated proven and probable reserve depletion period. Effective January 1, 2011, the Group changed its estimate of the useful lives of the mineral licenses acquired before August 22, 2004 to be based on proven and probable reserves of the mine. The change was applied prospectively and had no significant impact on the consolidated results of the Group’s operations. The effect of this change in estimate was to reduce depletion expense for the year ended December 31, 2011 by $17,323 and increase income from continuing operations, net of taxes, by $13,858 or $0.00003 per common share.

Fair value of the mineral licenses acquired after August 22, 2004 is based on independent mining engineer appraisals of the estimated proven and probable reserve through the estimated end of the depletion period. Such mineral licenses are amortized using the units-of-production method through the end of the estimated proven and probable reserve depletion period.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Effective July 1, 2012, the Group changed its estimate of the useful lives of the chrome mineral license belonging to Oriel Resources Ltd. to be based on proven and probable reserves valuation performed by independent mining engineers. The change was applied prospectively and had no significant impact on the consolidated results of the Group’s operations. The effect of this change in estimate was to reduce depletion expense for the year ended December 31, 2012 by $5,272 and increase income from continuing operations, net of taxes, by $4,218 or $0.00001 per common share.

In order to calculate proven and probable reserves, estimates and assumptions are used about a range of geological, technical and economic factors, including but not limited to quantities, grades, production techniques, recovery rates, production costs, transport costs, commodity demand, commodity prices and exchange rates. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating proven and probable reserves, and assumptions that are valid at the time of estimation may change significantly when new information becomes available. Changes in the forecast prices of commodities, exchange rates, production costs or recovery rates may change the economic status of reserves and may, ultimately, result in the reserves being restated.

The Group established a policy, according to which the Group would engage independent mining engineers to review its proven and probable reserves every three years unless circumstances or additional factors warrant an additional analysis. This policy does not change the Group’s approach to the measurement of proven and probable reserves as of their acquisition dates as part of business combinations that continue to involve independent mining engineers. The Group’s proven and probable reserve estimates as of the reporting date were made by internal mining engineers and the majority of the assumptions underlying these estimates had been previously reviewed and verified by independent mining engineers.

 

(l) Intangible assets

Intangible assets with determinable useful lives are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated period of benefit, ranging from two to sixteen years. Indefinite-lived intangibles are evaluated annually for impairment or when indicators exist indicating such assets may be impaired, such evaluation assumes determination of fair value of intangible assets based on a valuation model that incorporates expected future cash flows and profitability projections.

Intangible assets include quotas for CO2 emissions, initially recognized at the date of business combination at their respective fair value in accordance with the requirements of ASC 805. Net gains and losses on sale and exchange of excess emission rights, representing the difference between the sales proceeds and the cost of emission rights, are recorded in operating income (expenses). Emission rights have indefinite useful life and are subject to impairment testing.

 

(m) Asset retirement obligations

The Group has numerous asset retirement obligations associated with its core business activities. The Group is required to perform these obligations under law or contract once an asset is permanently taken out of service. Most of these obligations are not expected to be paid until many years into the future and will be funded from general resources at the time of removal. The Group’s asset retirement obligations primarily relate to mining and steel production facilities with related landfills, dump areas and mines. The Group’s estimates of these

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

obligations are based on current regulatory or license requirements, as well as forecasted dismantling and other related costs. Asset retirement obligations are calculated in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 410, “Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations” (“ASC 410”).

In order to calculate the amount of asset retirement obligations, the expected cash flows are discounted using the estimate of credit-adjusted risk-free rate as required by ASC 410. The credit-adjusted risk-free rate is calculated as a weighted average of risk-free interest rates for Russian Federation bonds or the U.S. treasury bonds depending on the location of the assets with maturity dates that are similar with the expected timing of when the asset retirement activities will be performed, adjusted for the effect of the Group’s credit standing.

 

(n) Long-lived assets impairment, including definite-lived intangibles and goodwill

The Group follows the requirements of FASB ASC 360, “Property, Plant and Equipment” (“ASC 360”), which addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment and disposal of long-lived assets, and FASB ASC 350, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other” (“ASC 350”), with respect to impairment of goodwill and intangibles. The Group reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, investments, goodwill, licenses to use mineral reserves (inclusive of capitalized costs related to asset retirement obligations and value beyond proven and probable reserves), and intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be fully recoverable as prescribed by ASC 350 and ASC 360. Recoverability of long-lived assets, excluding goodwill, is assessed by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset (or the group of assets, including the asset in question, that represents the lowest level of separately-identifiable cash flows) to the total estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or group of assets.

In performing the impairment analysis, the Group considers whether the results and cash flows of an asset or asset group can be clearly distinguished from results and cash flows of other assets of the Group. Generally long-lived assets are grouped by reporting units with discrete financial information regularly reviewed by operating management (i.e. the lowest level of identifiable cash flows that are independent of the cash flows of other assets is at a single entity level). At SKCC, a group of assets is determined by the aggregated mines owned and operated by SKCC, because they are dependent on operations of each other and represent the single production process.

If the estimated future net undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset or group of assets, the asset or group of assets is considered impaired and impairment charge is recognized equal to the amount required to reduce the carrying amount of the asset or group of assets to their fair value.

Fair value is determined by discounting the cash flows expected to be generated by the asset, when the quoted market prices are not available for the long-lived assets. For assets and groups of assets relating to and including the licenses to use mineral reserves, future cash flows include estimates of recoverable minerals that will be obtained from proven and probable reserves and estimated value beyond proven and probable mineral reserves, mineral prices (considering current and historical prices, price trends and other related factors), production levels, capital and reclamation costs, all based on the life of mine models prepared by the Group’s engineers. The Group’s reporting units with goodwill allocated for the testing purposes represent single entities with one component of business in each case. As of December 31, 2012, the Group had the following number of

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

reporting units by segments: Steel – 9, Mining – 5, Power – 3 and Ferroalloy – 2. Estimated future cash flows are based on the Group’s assumptions and are subject to risk and uncertainty that are considered in the discount rate applied in the goodwill impairment testing.

ASC 350 prohibits the amortization of goodwill. Instead, goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually and on an interim basis when an event occurs that could potentially lead to the impairment, i.e. significant decline in selling prices, production volumes or operating margins. Under ASC 350, goodwill is assessed for impairment by using the fair value based method. The Group determines fair value by utilizing discounted cash flows. The impairment test required by ASC 350 for goodwill includes a two-step approach. Under the first step, companies must compare the fair value of a “reporting unit” to its carrying value. A reporting unit is the level, at which goodwill impairment is measured and it is defined as an operating segment or one level below it if certain conditions are met. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, goodwill is impaired.

Under step two, the amount of goodwill impairment is measured by the amount that the reporting unit’s goodwill carrying value exceeds the “implied” fair value of goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill can only be determined by deducting the fair value of all tangible and intangible net assets (including unrecognized intangible assets) of the reporting unit from the fair value of the reporting unit (as determined in the first step). In this step, the fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to all of the reporting unit’s assets and liabilities (a hypothetical purchase price allocation). If goodwill and another asset (or asset group) of a reporting unit are tested for impairment at the same time, the other asset (or asset group) shall be tested for impairment before goodwill. If the asset group was impaired, the impairment loss would be recognized prior to goodwill being tested for impairment.

When performing impairment tests, the Group uses assumptions that include estimates regarding the discount rates, growth rates and expected changes in selling prices, sales volumes and operating costs as well as capital expenditures and working capital requirements during the forecasted period. The Group estimates discount rates using after-tax rates that reflect current market rates for investments of similar risk. The growth rates are based on the Group’s growth forecasts, which are largely in line with industry trends. Changes in selling prices and direct costs are based on historical experience and expectations of future changes in the market. While impairment of long-lived assets does not affect reported cash flows, it does result in a non-cash charge in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), which could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s results of operations or financial position.

 

(o) Finance leases

The cost of equipment acquired under capital (finance) lease contracts is measured at the lower of its fair value or the present value of the minimum lease payments, and reflected in the balance sheet at the measured amount less accumulated depreciation. The cost of the equipment is subject to an annual impairment review as described in Note 2(n). Capital lease liabilities are divided into long-term and current portions based on the agreed payment schedule and discounted using the lessor’s implicit interest rate. Depreciation of assets acquired under the capital (finance) lease is included in the depreciation charge for the period.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

(p) Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of acquisition/manufacturing cost or market value. Cost is determined on a weighted average basis and includes all costs in bringing the inventory to its present location and condition. The elements of costs include direct material, labor and allocable material and manufacturing overhead.

Costs of production in process and finished goods include the purchase costs of raw materials and conversion costs such as direct labor and allocation of fixed and variable production overheads. Raw materials are valued at a purchase cost inclusive of freight and other shipping costs.

Coal, nickel and iron ore inventory costs include direct labor, supplies, depreciation of equipment, depletion of mining assets and amortization of licenses to use mineral reserves, mine operating overheads and other related costs. Operating overheads are charged to expenses in the periods when the production is temporarily paused or abnormally low.

Market value is the estimated price, at which inventories can be sold in the normal course of business after allowing for the cost of completion and sale. The Group determines market value of inventories for a group of items of inventories with similar characteristics. The term “market” means current replacement cost not to exceed net realizable value (selling price less reasonable estimable costs of completion and disposal) or be less than net realizable value adjusted for a normal profit margin. Market value for each group is compared with an acquisition/manufacturing cost, and the lower of these values is used to determining the amount of the write-down of inventories, which is recorded within the cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). When inventories are written down below cost at the close of a fiscal year, such reduced amount is considered as the cost basis for subsequent accounting purposes.

 

(q) Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable are stated at net realizable value. If receivables are deemed doubtful, bad debt expense and a corresponding allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded. If receivables are deemed uncollectible, the related receivable balance is charged off. Recoveries of receivables previously charged off are recorded when cash received. Receivables that do not bear interest or bear below market interest rates and have an expected term of more than one year are discounted with the discount subsequently amortized to interest income over the term of the receivable. The Group reviews the valuation of accounts receivable on a regular basis. The amount of allowance for doubtful accounts is calculated based on the ageing of balances in accordance with contract terms. In addition to the allowance for specific doubtful accounts, the Group applies specific rates to overdue balances of its subsidiaries depending on the history of cash collections and future expectations of conditions that might impact the collectibility of accounts of each individual subsidiary. Accounts receivable, which are considered non-recoverable (those aged over three years or due from bankrupt entities) are written-off against allowance or charged off to operating expenses (if no allowance was created in previous periods).

The Group’s standard credit terms vary from 30 to 60 days. The Group also extends the credit terms to its related party customers from 30 up to 180 days. The Group monitors collectibility of accounts receivable, including those from its related parties, on an ongoing basis primarily through review of the accounts receivable aging to determine whether accounts receivable are a concern.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

(r) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and in transit, checks and deposits with banks, as well as other bank deposits with an original maturity of three months or less.

 

(s) Retirement benefit obligations

The Group’s Russian subsidiaries are legally obligated to make defined contributions to the Russian pension fund, managed by the Russian Federation Social Security (a defined contribution plan financed on a pay-as-you-go basis). The Group’s contributions to the Russian pension fund relating to defined contribution plans are charged to income in the year, to which they relate.

In 2010, the total rate of social contributions was 26%: contributions to the Russian pension fund in the amount of 20% of the annual gross salary of each employee, contributions to the fund of obligatory medical insurance in the amount of 3.1%, and contributions to the social insurance fund in the amount of 2.9%. These rates were applied to part of the annual gross salary below 415 thousand Russian rubles (approximately $13.6) for each employee and 0% thereafter.

In 2011, the contributions to the Russian pension fund and the fund of obligatory medical insurance were further increased to 26% and 5.1%, respectively. These rates were applied to part of annual gross salary below 463 thousand Russian rubles (approximately $15.8) for each employee and 0% thereafter. Annual gross salaries exceeding that amount were non-taxable.

In 2012, there was another change in rates which resulted in a reduction of contribution rate to Pension Fund to 22% while rates for Fund of obligatory medical insurance remained the same. These rates were applied to the portion of annual gross salary below 512 thousand Russian rubles (approximately $16.9), and 10% are additionally charged to Pension Fund on the exceeding amount thereafter.

Contributions to the Russian pension fund for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were $177,884, $211,732 and $134,579, respectively.

The BCG Companies contribute to multiemployer defined benefit pension plans sponsored by the United Mine Workers of America (“UMWA”) labor union. The amount of contributions to the UMWA, which is based on the number of employees, a specified rate and the total number of employee hours worked for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $3,898, $3,900 and $4,238, respectively.

In addition, the Group has a number of defined benefit pension plans that cover the majority of production employees. Benefits under these plans are primarily based upon years of service and average earnings. The Group accounts for the cost of defined benefit plans using the projected unit credit method. Under this method, the cost of providing pensions is charged to the statement of operations, so as to attribute the total pension cost over the service lives of employees in accordance with the benefit formula of the plan.

The Group’s obligation in respect of defined retirement benefit plans is calculated separately for each defined benefit plan by discounting the amounts of future benefits that employees have already earned through their service in the current and prior periods. The discount rate applied represents the yield at the year end on highly rated long-term bonds.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The Group’s U.S. subsidiaries adopted ASC 715, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits” (“ASC 715”), and use the Projected Unit Credit method of accounting for post-retirement health care benefits, which is intended to match revenues with expenses and attributes an equal amount of an employee’s projected benefit to each year from date of plan entry to the date that the employee is first eligible to retire with full benefits. The actuarially estimated accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (“APBO”) represents the present value of the estimated future benefits payable to current retirees and a pro rata portion of estimated benefits payable to active employees upon retirement (refer to Note 16).

 

(t) Revenue recognition

Revenue is recognized on an accrual basis when earned and realizable, which generally occurs when products are delivered to customers. In certain foreign jurisdictions (e.g. Switzerland), the Group generally retains title to goods sold to end-customers solely to ensure the collectibility of its accounts receivable. In such instances, all other sales recognition criteria are met, which allows the Group to recognize sales revenue in conformity with underlying sales contracts.

Revenue is recognized net of applicable provisions for discounts and allowances and associated sales taxes (VAT) and export duties.

Revenues are inflows from sales of goods that constitute ongoing major operations of the Group and are reported as such in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Inflows from incidental and peripheral operations are considered gains and are included, net of related costs, in other income in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

The Group is involved in re-selling goods and services produced or rendered by other entities. Revenues are reported based on the gross amount billed to the customer when the Group has earned revenue as a principal from the sale of goods or services, or the net amount retained (that is, the amount billed to the customer reduced by the amount billed by the supplier) when the Group has earned a commission or fee as an agent. The Group evaluates the relevant facts and circumstances and takes into consideration the following factors in determining whether to recognizes revenue on a gross basis: (1) the Group is the primary obligor in the arrangement; (2) the Group has general inventory risk including customer returns; (3) the Group has latitude in establishing price; (4) the Group changes the product or performs part of the service; (5) the Group has discretion in supplier selection; (6) the Group is involved in the determination of product or service specifications; (7) the Group has physical loss inventory risk; and (8) the Group has credit risk. Otherwise, revenues are reported net when the Group performs as an agent or a broker without assuming the risks and rewards of ownership of goods. The evaluations of these factors, which at times can be contradictory, are subject to significant judgment and subjectivity. This accounting policy of reporting revenue gross as a principal versus net as an agent has no effect on gross profit, income from continuing operations before taxes, or net income.

In the situation when the Group acts as a supplier and as a buyer with the same counterparty, the Group analyzes the respective purchase and sales agreements to identify whether these transactions were concluded in contemplation with each other and, therefore, should be combined for accounting purposes deferring the revenue recognition to the point when the earnings process has culminated.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

In the Power segment (refer to Note 24), revenue is recognized based on unit of power measure (kilowatts) delivered to customers, since at that point revenue recognition criteria are met. The billings are usually done on a monthly basis, several days after each month end.

 

(u) Advertising costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the amounts of advertising costs were insignificant.

 

(v) Shipping and handling costs

The Group classifies all amounts billed to customers in a sale transaction and related to shipping and handling as part of sales revenue and all related shipping and handling costs as selling and distribution expenses. These costs totaled $1,186,703 $1,117,065 and $918,231 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

(w) Income taxes

Provision is made in the financial statements for taxation of profits in accordance with applicable legislation currently in force in individual jurisdictions. The Group accounts for income taxes under the liability method in accordance with FASB ASC 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”). Under the liability method, deferred income taxes reflect the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax and financial statement bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in the tax rates is recognized in income or expense in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized in the future. These evaluations are based on the expectations of future taxable income and reversals of the various taxable temporary differences.

ASC 740 prescribes the minimum recognition threshold a tax position must meet before being recognized in the financial statements and provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Group included accruals for unrecognized income tax benefits totaling $20,202 and $2,190, including interest and penalties of $3,499 and $438, as a component of accrued liabilities, respectively. Interest and penalties recognized in accordance with ASC 740 are classified in the financial statements as income taxes.

 

(x) Comprehensive income

FASB ASC 220, “Comprehensive Income” (“ASC 220”), requires the reporting of comprehensive income in addition to net income. Accumulated other comprehensive income includes foreign currency translation adjustments, unrealized holding gains and losses on available-for-sale securities and on derivative financial instruments, as well as pension liabilities not recognized as net periodic pension cost. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, in addition to net income, total comprehensive income included the effect of translation of the financial statements denominated in currencies other than the reporting currency (in accordance with ASC 830), changes in the carrying values of available-for-sale securities, and change in pension benefit obligation subsequent to the adoption of the ASC 715. In accordance with ASC 715, the Group recognizes

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

actuarial gains and losses, prior service costs and credits and transition assets or obligations (the full surplus or deficit in their plans) in the balance sheet. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the amount of comprehensive income included the effect of curtailment and actuarial gains and losses.

Accumulated other comprehensive loss is comprised of the following components:

 

    December 31, 2012     December 31, 2011     December 31, 2010  

Cumulative currency translation adjustment

    (337,701     (385,426     (239,667

Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities

    (3,480     (3,180     (935

Pension adjustments, net of related income taxes of $7,918 in 2012, $7,276 in 2011

    14,248        32,026        39,186   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (326,933     (356,580     (201,416
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(y) Stock-based compensation

The Group applies the fair-value method of accounting for employee stock-compensation costs as outlined in FASB ASC 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Group did not enter in any employee stock-compensation arrangements.

 

(z) Segment reporting

According to FASB ASC 280, “Segment Reporting” (“ASC 280”), segment reporting follows the internal organizational and reporting structure of the Group. The Group’s operations are presented in four business segments as follows:

 

   

Steel segment, comprising production and sales of semi-finished steel products, carbon and specialty long products, carbon and stainless flat products, value-added downstream metal products, including forgings, stampings, and hardware;

 

   

Mining segment, comprising production and sales of coal (coking and steam) and middlings, coke and chemical products, and iron ore, which supplies raw materials to the Steel, Ferroalloy and Power segments and also sells substantial amounts of raw materials to third parties;

 

   

Power segment, comprising generation and sales of electricity and heat power, which supplies electricity, gas and heat power to the Steel, Ferroalloy and Mining segments;

 

   

Ferroalloy segment, comprising production and sales of nickel, chrome and ferrosilicon, which supplies raw materials to the Steel segment and also sells substantial amounts of raw materials to third parties.

 

(aa) Financial instruments

The carrying amount of the Group’s financial instruments, which include cash equivalents, marketable securities, non-marketable debt securities, cost method investments, accounts receivable and accounts payable, and short-term borrowings approximates their fair value as of December 31, 2012 and 2011. For long-term

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

borrowings, the difference between fair value and carrying value is shown in Note 14. The Group, using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies, such as discounted cash flows, has determined the estimated fair values of financial instruments. Since different entities are located and operate in different regions of Russia and elsewhere with different business and financial market characteristics, there are generally very limited or no comparable market values available to assess the fair value of the Group’s debt and other financial instruments. The cost method investments are shares of Russian companies that are not publicly traded and their market value is not available. It is not practicable for the Group to estimate the fair value of these investments, for which a quoted market price is not available because it has not yet obtained or developed the valuation model necessary to make the estimate, and the cost of obtaining an independent valuation would be excessive considering the materiality of the instruments to the Group. Therefore, such investments are recorded at cost (refer to Note 8).

 

(bb) Guarantees

In accordance with FASB ASC 460, “Guarantees” (“ASC 460”), the fair value of a guarantee is determined and recorded as a liability at the time when the guarantee is issued. The initial guarantee amount is subsequently remeasured to reflect the changes in the underlying liability. The expense or re-measurement adjustments are included in the related line items of the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income, based on the nature of the guarantee. When the likelihood of performing on a guarantee becomes probable, a liability is accrued, provided it is reasonably determinable on the basis of the facts and circumstances at that time.

 

(cc) Accounting for contingencies

Certain conditions may exist as of the date of these consolidated financial statements, which may further result in a loss to the Group, but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. The Group’s management makes an assessment of such contingent liabilities, which is based on assumptions and is a matter of opinion. In assessing loss contingencies relating to legal or tax proceedings that involve the Group or unasserted claims that may result in such proceedings, the Group, after consultation with legal or tax advisors, evaluates the perceived merits of any legal or tax proceedings or unasserted claims as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought therein.

If the assessment of a contingency indicates that it is probable that a loss will be incurred and the amount of the liability can be estimated, then the estimated liability is accrued in the Group’s consolidated financial statements. If the assessment indicates that a potentially material loss contingency is not probable, but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, then the nature of the contingent liability, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss if determinable and material, would be disclosed.

Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the nature of the guarantee would be disclosed. However, in some instances in which disclosure is not otherwise required, the Group may disclose contingent liabilities or other uncertainties of an unusual nature which, in the judgment of management after consultation with its legal or tax counsel, may be of interest to shareholders or others.

 

(dd) Derivative instruments and hedging activities

The Group recognizes its derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in accordance with FASB ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”). The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as an accounting hedge and

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

further, on the type of hedging relationship. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Group did not have any derivatives designated as hedging instruments. Therefore, any gain or loss on a derivative instrument held by the Group is recognized currently in income.

The cross currency swap agreement involves the exchange of two principal amounts in two different currencies at the prevailing currency rate at contract inception. During the life of the swap, the counterparties exchange fixed rate interest payments in the swapped currencies. At maturity, the principal amounts are again swapped at a pre-determined rate of exchange. For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, a gain of $6,527 and loss of $20,784, respectively, related to the change in the fair value of the cross currency swap was included in the net foreign exchange gain (loss) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). There were no such gains or losses related to the change in the fair value of derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2010. There were no foreign currency forward and options contracts outstanding as of December 31, 2012 and 2011.

The cross currency option creates an embedded derivative, which should be measured at fair value, bifurcated at inception from the host agreement and recorded as a liability. When the underlying achieves the barrier value, the liability under the host contract converts into cross-currency at a pre-determined strike exchange rate and a modified interest rate. The fair value of the option is estimated using modified Black-Scholes model for barrier options. The liability under the host contract is recorded at amortized value, and the interest is accrued using effective interest rate. For the year ended December 31, 2012, a gain of $20,276, related to the change in the fair value of the option was included in the net foreign exchange gain (loss) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). There were no such gains or losses related to the change in the fair value of derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

(ee) Investments

The Group recognizes all its debt and equity investments in accordance with FASB ASC 320, “Investments—Debt and Equity Securities” (“ASC 320”). At acquisition, the Group classifies debt and equity securities into one of three categories: held-to-maturity, available-for-sale or trading. At each reporting date the Group reassesses the appropriateness of the classification.

Held-to-maturity securities

Investments in debt securities that the Group has both the ability and the intent to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and measured at amortized cost in the consolidated financial statements.

Trading securities

Investments (debt or equity), which the Group intends to sell in the near term, and which are usually acquired as part of the Group’s established strategy to buy and sell, generating profits based on short-term price movements, are classified by the Group as trading securities. Changes in fair value of trading securities are recognized in earnings.

 

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Available-for-sale securities

Investments (debt or equity), which are not classified as held-to-maturity or trading are classified as available-for-sale. Change in their fair value is reflected in other comprehensive income (loss).

Recoverability of equity method and other investments

Management periodically assesses the recoverability of the Group’s equity method and other investments. For investments in publicly traded entities, readily available quoted market prices are an indication of the fair value of the investments. For investments in non-publicly traded entities, if an identified event or change in circumstances requires an evaluation, management assesses their fair value based on valuation techniques including discounted cash flow estimates or sales proceeds, external appraisals and market prices of similar investments as appropriate.

Management considers the assumptions that a hypothetical market place participant would use in his analysis of discounted cash flows models and estimates of sales proceeds. If an investment is considered to be impaired and the decline in value is other than temporary, the Group records an impairment loss.

 

(ff) Concentration of credit and other risks

Financial instruments, which potentially expose the Group to concentrations of credit risk, consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments, trade accounts receivable and other receivables. Generally, the Group does not require any collateral to be pledged in connection with its investments in the above financial instruments.

The following table presents the exchange rates for the functional and operating currencies at various subsidiaries, other than the reporting currency:

 

     At April 15,      Year end rates*
at December 31,
     Average exchange rates*  for
the years ended December 31,
 

Currency

   2013      2012      2011      2010      2012      2011      2010  

Russian ruble

     30.93         30.37         32.20         30.48         31.09         29.39         30.37   

Euro

     0.76         0.76         0.77         0.76         0.78         0.72         0.75   

Romanian lei

     3.37         3.36         3.34         3.20         3.47         3.05         3.18   

Kazakh tenge

     150.93         150.74         148.40         147.40         149.11         146.62         147.34   

Bulgarian lev

     1.50         1.48         1.51         1.46         1.52         1.41         1.48   

Turkish lira

     1.79         1.79         1.91         1.54         1.80         1.67         1.51   

Ukrainian hryvnia

     7.99         7.99         7.99         7.96         7.99         7.97         7.94   

 

(*) Exchange rates shown in local currency units for one U.S. dollar

The majority of the balances and operations not already denominated in the reporting currency were denominated in the Russian ruble, euro, Romanian lei, Kazakh tenge, Bulgarian lev and Turkish lira.

The Russian ruble is not a convertible currency outside the territory of Russia. Official exchange rates are determined daily by the Central Bank of Russia (“CBR”) and are generally considered to be a reasonable approximation of market rates.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

(gg) Discontinued operation

FASB ASC 205 “Discontinued operation” (“ASC 205”) sets forth the financial accounting and reporting requirements for discontinued operations of a component of an entity. A “component of an entity” comprises operations and cash flows that can be clearly distinguished, operationally and for financial reporting purposes, from the rest of the entity. A component of an entity may be a reportable or an operating segment, a reporting unit, a subsidiary, or an asset group.

ASC 205 uses a single accounting model to account for all long-lived assets to be disposed of (by sale, abandonment, or distribution to owners). This includes asset disposal groups meeting the criteria for presentation as a discontinued operation, as specified in ASC 205. A long-lived asset group classified as held for sale is measured at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Additionally, in accordance with ASC 360, a loss is recognized for any write-down to fair value less cost to sell. A gain is recognized for any subsequent recovery of cost. Lastly, a gain or loss not previously recognized resulting from the sale of the asset disposal group is recognized at the date of sale.

In accordance with ASC 205, a subsidiary is reported as discontinued operation when both of the following conditions are met:

 

   

The operations and cash flow of the component have been (or will be) eliminated from the ongoing operations of the entity as a result of the disposal transaction.

 

   

The entity will not have any significant continuing involvement in the operations of the component after the disposal transaction.

In a period in which a component of an entity either has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale, the income statement for current and prior periods reports the results of operations of the component, including any gain or loss recognized from the sale or write-down, in discontinued operations. The results of operations of a component classified as held for sale are reported in discontinued operations in the periods in which they occur. The results of discontinued operations, less applicable income taxes (benefit), are reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items (if applicable).

 

(hh) Recently issued accounting pronouncements

Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment

In July 2012, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) ASU 2012-02, “Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment” (“ASU 2012-02”), which provides entities with an option to assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test in accordance with ASC 350. To perform a qualitative assessment on an indefinite-lived intangible asset, a company must identify and evaluate changes in economic, industry and company-specific events and circumstances that could affect the significant inputs used in determining the fair value of that asset. ASU 2012-02 is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2012-02 is not expected to have a material impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Technical Amendments and Corrections to SEC Sections

In August 27, 2012, the FASB released ASU 2012-03, “Technical Amendments and Corrections to SEC Sections” (“ASU 2012-03”), which contains technical corrections to existing guidance or affect guidance to specialized industries or entities. The Group does not expect that it will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Disclosures About Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

In January 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-01, “Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities” (“ASU 2013-01”), which affects entities that have derivatives accounted for in accordance with ASC 815, including bifurcated embedded derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending transactions that are either offset in accordance with FASB ASC 210, “Balance Sheet” or ASC 815, or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement. Entities with other types of financial assets and financial liabilities subject to a master netting arrangement or similar agreement also are affected because these amendments make them no longer subject to the disclosure requirements in ASU 2011-11, “Balance Sheet (topic 210), Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities”.

An entity is required to apply the amendments for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. An entity should provide the required disclosures retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The effective date is the same as the effective date of ASU 2011-11. It is not expected to have a material impact on the Group’s financial position or results of operations.

Other Comprehensive Income

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, “Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income” (“ASU 2013-02”). ASU 2013-02 does not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in the financial statements. However, the amendments require an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under U.S. GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts.

An entity may present reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the face of the statement in which the components of other comprehensive income are presented, or it may disclose those reclassification adjustments in the notes to the financial statements. Therefore, for all classifications of other comprehensive income, an entity may use either a gross display on the face of the financial statement or a net display on the face of the financial statement and disclose the gross change in the notes to the financial statements. If displayed gross, reclassification adjustments are reported separately from other changes in the respective balance; thus, the total change is reported as two amounts. If displayed net, reclassification adjustments are combined with other changes in the other comprehensive income item balance; thus, the total change is reported as a single amount.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The amendments in ASU 2013-02 are effective for public entities for the fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2012. It is not expected to have a material impact on the Group’s financial statements.

Obligations Resulting from Joint and Several Liability Arrangements for Which the Total Amount of the Obligation Is Fixed at the Reporting Date

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-04, “Obligations Resulting from Joint and Several Liability Arrangements for Which the Total Amount of the Obligation Is Fixed at the Reporting Date” (“ASU 2013-04”), which requires an entity to measure obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation within the scope of this guidance is fixed at the reporting date, as the sum of the following:

 

  a. The amount the reporting entity agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors

 

  b. Any additional amount the reporting entity expects to pay on behalf of its co-obligors.

The guidance in ASU 2013-04 also requires an entity to disclose the nature and amount of the obligation as well as other information about those obligations. A public entity is required to apply the amendments for the fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods.

The amendments in ASU 2013-04 should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented for those obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements within ASU 2013-04 scope that exist at the beginning of an entity’s fiscal year of adoption. An entity may elect to use hindsight for the comparative periods (if it changed its accounting as a result of adopting the amendments in ASU 2013-04) and should disclose that fact. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2013-04 is not expected to have a material impact on the Group’s financial statements.

Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity

In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, “Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity” (“ASU 2013-05”), which requires an entity to release into net income any cumulative translation adjustment related to ceased controlling interest in a subsidiary or group of assets within a foreign entity when (1) the subsidiary or group of assets is a nonprofit activity or a business (other than a sale of in substance real estate or conveyance of oil and gas mineral rights) and (2) there is a cumulative translation adjustment balance associated with that foreign entity. Accordingly, the cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income only if the sale or transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity in which the subsidiary or group of assets had resided.

For an equity method investment that is a foreign entity, the partial sale guidance in ASC 830 still applies. As such, a pro rata portion of the cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income upon a partial sale of such an equity method investment.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Additionally, the amendments in ASU 2013-05 clarify that the sale of an investment in a foreign entity includes both (1) events that result in the loss of a controlling financial interest in a foreign entity (that is, irrespective of any retained investment) and (2) events that result in an acquirer obtaining control of an acquiree in which it held an equity interest immediately before the acquisition date (sometimes also referred to as a step acquisition).

The amendments in ASU 2013-05 are effective prospectively for fiscal years (and interim reporting periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2013. The amendments should be applied prospectively to derecognition events occurring after the effective date. Prior periods should not be adjusted. Early adoption is permitted. If an entity elects to early adopt the amendments, it should apply them as of the beginning of the entity’s fiscal year of adoption. The Group is currently assessing the impact of the adoption of ASU 2013-04 on the Group’s financial statements.

There were various other updates recently issued, most of which represented technical corrections to the accounting literature or application to specific industries and are not expected to a have a material impact on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Group.

 

(ii) Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior periods’ consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassifications affect the presentation of certain items in the consolidated balance sheet and the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss), and have no impact on net income or equity.

 

3. ACQUISITIONS, INVESTMENTS AND DISPOSALS

As disclosed in the preceding note, the Group experienced significant growth through acquisitions. The following describes business combinations between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2012.

 

(a) Cognor Stahlhandel GmbH

On September 25, 2012, the Group acquired a 100% interest in Cognor Stahlhandel GmbH (“Cognor”), a metallurgical trader located in Austria, for $29,056 paid in cash. Before the acquisition, the 100% of the shares of Cognor were pledged to secure the Group’s loan issued to the related metallurgical plants (Note 9(a)). The acquisition is consistent with the Group’s strategy to expand its sales network and enlarge its client base. Cognor is included in the Steel segment.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

This acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting. The results of operations of Cognor are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition of control, September 25, 2012. The following table summarizes the historical values of net assets acquired at the date of acquisition of control:

 

     September 25, 2012  

Cash and cash equivalents

     4,884   

Other current assets

     107,839   

Property, plant and equipment

     49,097   

Other non-current assets

     3,384   

Current liabilities

     (184,027

Non-current liabilities

     (11,443

Deferred income tax liabilities

     (2,573
  

 

 

 

Fair value of net assets (liabilities) acquired

     (32,839

Fair value of noncontrolling interest

     (54
  

 

 

 

Goodwill

     61,949   
  

 

 

 

Total investment

     29,056   
  

 

 

 

Goodwill of $61,949 arising from the Group’s acquisition of Cognor represents expected benefits from the synergies related to the expansion of the trading activities and strengthening the position in the European market. As a result of the impairment analysis, an impairment loss of $62,118 for the year ended December 31, 2012 was recognized (refer to Note 23).

 

(b) Lomprom Rostov

On November 22, 2012, the Group acquired 100% of the shares of Lomprom Rostov, a factory performing collection and storage of scrap metal located in Shakhty, Russia, for a consideration of $100 paid in cash. Before the acquisition, the 100% of the shares of Lomprom Rostov were pledged to secure the Group’s loan issued to the related metallurgical plants (Note 9(a)). The acquisition is consistent with the Group’s program to decrease the cost of steel products production, in particular, the cost of production based on smelt-furnace. Lomprom Rostov is included in the Steel segment.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

This acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting. The results of operations of Lomprom Rostov are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition of control, November 22, 2012.

The purchase price allocation is preliminary, pending the receipt of the final property, plant and equipment and other identifiable assets appraisal. The following table summarizes the historical values of net assets acquired at the date of acquisition of control:

 

     November 22, 2012  

Cash and cash equivalents

     76   

Other current assets

     4,758   

Property, plant and equipment

     23,371   

Other non-current assets

     2   

Current liabilities

     (18,404

Non-current liabilities

     (22,416

Deferred income taxes

     (117
  

 

 

 

Fair value of net assets (liabilities) acquired

     (12,730

Goodwill

     12,830   
  

 

 

 

Total investment

     100   
  

 

 

 

Goodwill of $12,830 (subject to the purchase price allocation finalization) arising from the Group’s acquisition of Lomprom Rostov represents expected benefits from the synergies related to the reduction in production costs from using scrap in the Group’s subsidiaries melting operations.

 

(c) Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant

On December 22, 2011, the Group acquired 100% of the shares of Daveze Ltd, which held 100% of ownership interest in Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant (“DEMP”), a steel plant located in Donetsk, Ukraine, for a consideration of $537,000 to be paid in monthly installments during the period from December 2011 until December 2018. The acquisition is consistent with the Group’s program to expand its production and sales of steel products, in particular, continuously-cast billets and rolls of specialty steel that are exported to the United States and Europe. DEMP is included in the Steel segment.

This business combination was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. The results of operations of DEMP are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition of control, December 22, 2011. The fair value of purchase consideration at the date of acquisition of control was determined by the Group based on the amount of discounted cash payments that should be made by the Group until December 2018. The discount rate used is 8.37% per annum. The present value of purchase consideration as of December 22, 2011 amounted to $421,929. The amount of consideration outstanding as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $344,816 and $351,404, respectively, out of which $282,094 and $319,822, respectively, was recorded in Other long-term liabilities and $62,782 and $31,582, respectively, was recorded in Other current liability in accordance with the payment schedule. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, these liabilities were secured with the pledge of 100% of the shares of Daveze Ltd, 100% of the shares of DEMP and property, plant and equipment totaling $80,342 and $90,153, respectively.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

In the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011, the purchase price allocation was preliminary, pending the receipt of the final property, plant and equipment and other identifiable asset appraisal. During 2012, the Group completed the valuation and finalized the purchase price allocation for DEMP.

The following table summarizes the provisional values and adjustments to them to arrive to the final fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition of control:

 

     Provisional basis     Adjustments     Final basis  

Cash and cash equivalents

     480        —          480   

Other current assets

     230,402        —          230,402   

Property, plant and equipment

     233,101        21,723        254,824   

Other non-current assets

     1,457        —          1,457   

Current liabilities

     (210,699     —          (210,699

Non-current liabilities

     (24,801     —          (24,801

Deferred income taxes

     (31,692     (3,564     (35,256
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair value of net assets acquired

     198,248        18,159        216,407   

Goodwill

     223,681        (18,159     205,522   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment

     421,929        —          421,929   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Goodwill of $205,522 arising from the Group’s acquisition of DEMP represented expected benefits from the synergies related to continuously-cast billets and rolls of specialty steel products trading and strengthening the position in the European and United States markets. As a result of the impairment analysis, an impairment loss of $205,522 for the year ended December 31, 2012 was recognized (refer to Note 23).

 

(d) Toplofikatsia Rousse

On December 17, 2007, the Group acquired a 49% interest in Toplofikatsia Rousse (“TPP Rousse”), a power plant located in Rousse, Republic of Bulgaria, for $73,539 paid in cash. The purchase of 49% shares was accounted for using the equity method of accounting and was included within Long-term investments in related parties until December 9, 2010 (refer to Note 9(g)).

On December 9, 2010, the Group acquired the remaining 51% of the common shares of TPP Rousse for $71,932 paid in cash. As a result the Group increased its share in the share capital of TPP Rousse up to 100% from the previously owned 49%.

The business combination was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. The results of operations of TPP Rousse were included in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition of control, December 9, 2010. The purchase price allocation was preliminary, pending the receipt of the final property, plant and equipment and other identifiable asset appraisal. During 2011, the Group completed the valuation and finalized the purchase price allocation for TPP Rousse.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The following table summarizes the final fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition of control:

 

     December 9, 2010  

Cash and cash equivalents

     1,735   

Other current assets

     10,934   

Property, plant and equipment

     50,491   

Intangible assets

     28,921   

Other non-current assets

     154   

Current liabilities

     (29,414

Non-current liabilities

     (3,575

Deferred income taxes

     (3,436
  

 

 

 

Fair value of net assets acquired

     55,810   

Goodwill

     85,232   
  

 

 

 

Total investment

     141,042   
  

 

 

 

Goodwill of $85,232 arising from the Group’s acquisition of TPP Rousse represents expected benefits from the synergies related to the vertical integration of the Group’s business and expansion into additional markets for steam coal, which is used to fuel power plants in the European Union. The results of TPP Rousse as discontinued operations are included in the Power segment. Refer to Note 3(e).

 

(e) Discontinued operations

On December 13, 2012, the Group entered into an agreement with a third party to sell 100% of the shares of TPP Rousse for a consideration of approximately $25,000 (subject to a final adjustment). The transfer of shares requires obtaining regulatory approval and is expected to be completed in May 2013. The disposal of TPP Rousse is aligned with the revised strategy aimed at restructuring the Group’s assets and development of its core businesses.

The receivables under the sale and purchase agreement and intercompany receivables for the coal supply that existed as of the date of disposal are secured in favor of the Group by the pledge of TPP Rousse shares and receivables of TPP Rousse for electricity sold. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the intragroup accounts payable (due to the Group) amounted to $18,388 and $12,055, respectively. The intragroup sales to TPP Rousse included in revenue from continuing operations in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) amounted to $35,248, $33,851 and $4,965 during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

In the previous periods, the Group’s transactions with TPP Rousse were mainly represented by the coal supply to TPP Rousse, which are likely to be ceased after the disposal of this entity. The Group will not have any significant continuing involvement in the operations of TPP Rousse after the disposal transaction.

As at December 31, 2012, the Group classified TPP Rousse as held for sale (assets and liabilities of discontinued operations) and excluded the result of TPP Rousse from continuing operations and reported them as discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2012 and prior periods.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Following the classification of TPP Rousse as held for sale, the fair value of net assets was determined. The impairment loss of goodwill and long-lived assets of $82,742 and $13,031, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2012 was recognized to reduce the carrying amount of the assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations to their fair value less costs to sell. The impairment loss was recognized in consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income under the “Net loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes” line.

The results of TPP Rousse presented as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income were as follows for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

 

     2012     2011     2010  

Revenue, net

     37,010        38,991        4,355   

Net loss from discontinued operations before income taxes

     (110,668     (9,240     (574

Income tax benefit (expense)

     2,239        870        (26
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     (108,429     (8,370     (600
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The carrying amounts of the major classes of assets and liabilities of TPP Rousse presented as discontinued operations in consolidated balance sheets were as follows as of December 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

     December 31,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 

Condensed balance sheet selected data

     

Cash and cash equivalents

     3,035         731   

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

     5,681         8,114   

Inventories

     5,854         6,201   

Prepayments and other current assets

     533         1,163   

Property, plant and equipment and other non-current assets, net

     44,120         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current assets of discontinued operations

     59,223         16,209   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

     —           48,400   

Other non-current assets

     —           18,695   

Goodwill

     —           83,513   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total non-current assets of discontinued operations

     —           150,608   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     3,800         4,960   

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt

     12,234         —     

Other current liabilities

     1,767         223   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current liabilities of discontinued operations

     17,801         5,183   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-term debt

     —           13,495   

Deferred income taxes

     —           2,713   

Other non-current liabilities

     —           1,129   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total non-current liabilities of discontinued operations

     —           17,337   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The results of TPP Rousse as discontinued operations are included in the Power segment.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

(f) Ramateks

On June 18, 2010, the Group acquired 100% of the shares of Ramateks group of companies (“Ramateks”) for a consideration of $3,000 paid in cash. Ramateks includes two trading entities selling primarily steel products in Turkey. The acquisition is consistent with the Group’s program to expand its sales network and enlarge its client base.

This business combination was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. The results of operations of Ramateks are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition of control, June 18, 2010. The following table summarizes the fair values of net assets acquired at the date of acquisition of control:

 

     June 18, 2010  

Cash and cash equivalents

     360   

Other current assets

     15,419   

Property, plant and equipment

     7,276   

Deferred income taxes

     740   

Current liabilities

     (21,025

Long-term liabilities

     (2,190
  

 

 

 

Fair value of net assets acquired

     580   

Goodwill

     2,420   
  

 

 

 

Total investment

     3,000   
  

 

 

 

Goodwill of $2,420 arising from the Group’s acquisition of Ramateks represents expected benefits from the synergies related to the expansion of the trading activities and strengthening the position in the European market. Ramateks is included in the Steel segment.

 

(g) Donau Commodities SRL and Laminorul S.A.

On February 25, 2010, the Group acquired 100% of the shares of Donau Commodities SRL, which held 90.9% of ownership interest in Laminorul S.A., a steel plant located in Braila, Romania, for a consideration of 8.7 million euros paid in cash. The acquisition is consistent with the Group’s program to expand its production and sales of steel products, in particular related to construction and building industries in Romania.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

This transaction was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. The difference between the consideration paid and the fair value of net assets acquired was recorded as a bargain purchase. The results of operations of Donau Commodities SRL and Laminorul S.A. are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition of control, February 25, 2010. The following table summarizes the fair values of net assets acquired at the date of acquisition of control:

 

     February 25, 2010  

Cash and cash equivalents

     812   

Other current assets

     22,108   

Property, plant and equipment

     36,380   

Other non-current assets

     365   

Current liabilities

     (30,332

Deferred income tax

     (5,197

Long-term liabilities

     (4,779
  

 

 

 

Fair value of net assets acquired

     19,357   

Noncontrolling interest

     (1,760
  

 

 

 

Gain from bargain purchase

     (5,746
  

 

 

 

Total investment

     11,851   
  

 

 

 

A gain from bargain purchase of $5,746 arising from the acquisition of Donau Commodities SRL and Laminorul S.A. is a result of the decision of the former owners to sell these companies and turn their attention to other businesses due to the operational difficulties experienced by these entities and lack of sufficient working capital to finance business operations. This gain from bargain purchase was recognized in consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) as a component of other income (expense).

Donau Commodities SRL and Laminorul S.A. are included in the Steel segment.

 

(h) Goodwill

 

Balance at December 31, 2009

     894,374   
  

 

 

 

Acquisition of TPP Rousse (Note 3(d)), Energy segment

     85,232   

Acquisition of Ramateks (Note 3(f)), Steel segment

     2,420   

Acquisition of other subsidiaries, Steel segment

     2,371   

Discontinued operation—TPP Rousse (Note 3(e)), Steel segment

     (85,361

Translation difference

     (14,837
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2010

     884,199   
  

 

 

 

Acquisition of DEMP (Note 3(c)), Steel segment

     205,522   

Acquisition of other subsidiaries

     5,678   

Translation difference

     (45,885
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

     1,049,514   
  

 

 

 

Acquisition of Cognor (Note 3(a)), Steel segment

     61,949   

Acquisition of Lomprom (Note 3(b)), Steel segment

     12,830   

Impairment

     (363,640

Translation difference

     38,194   
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

     798,847   
  

 

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Goodwill arising on the above acquisitions is not deductible for tax purposes.

 

(i) Noncontrolling interests

The following table summarizes changes in noncontrolling interests for the three years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

 

Balance at December 31, 2009

     292,732   
  

 

 

 

Purchase of noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries by the Group

     (7,040

New acquisitions

     1,760   

Noncontrolling interests share in subsidiaries’ income from continuing operations

     34,761   

Translation difference

     (2,263
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2010

     319,950   
  

 

 

 

Purchase of noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries by the Group

     (20

Effect of changes in ownership of subsidiaries within the Group

     880   

Noncontrolling interests share in subsidiaries’ income from continuing operations

     75,562   

Translation difference

     (25,035
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

     371,337   
  

 

 

 

Purchase of noncontrolling interest in existing subsidiaries by the Group

     (528

New acquisitions

     54   

Effect of change in ownership of subsidiaries within the Group

     675   

Dividends declared to shareholders of noncontrolling interest

     (32,113

Noncontrolling share in subsidiaries’ income from continuing operations

     (317

Translation difference

     23,168   
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

     362,276   
  

 

 

 

At various dates during 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Group purchased noncontrolling interest in the following subsidiaries:

 

Year ended December 31, 2010:

 

Date of acquisition

 

Noncontrolling
interest acquired

    Cash paid  
    %     Amount    

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company (SKCC)

  February-December     0.71     4,947        16,505   

Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant (CMP)

  January-February     0.00     25        10   

Mechel Carbon

  June     0.79     5        308   

Other

  January-August       303        658   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        5,280        17,481   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

F-38


Table of Contents

MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Year ended December 31, 2011:

 

Date of acquisition

 

Noncontrolling
interest acquired

    Cash paid  
    %     Amount    

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company (SKCC)

  January-December     0.02     20        283   

Effect of changes in ownership of subsidiaries within the Group

  January-December       (880     —     
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        (860     283   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2012:

  

Date of acquisition

   Noncontrolling
interest
acquired
     Cash paid  
      %     Amount     

Izhstal

   October      1.63     435         595   

Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant (BMP)

   March      0.03     12         33   

Other

   July-August      0.03     81         4   
       

 

 

    

 

 

 
          528         632   
       

 

 

    

 

 

 

On different dates from February through December 2010, the Group acquired 0.71% of voting shares of SKCC for $16,505 paid in cash. The purchase of noncontrolling interest in SKCC was accounted for as an equity transaction and was recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.

During 2010, Mechel OAO exchanged the 100% of interest in the BCG Companies for the common shares of Mechel-Mining OAO and made additional capital contributions increasing the Group’s interest in Mechel-Mining OAO up to 98.69%. These transactions resulted in a dilution of the noncontrolling interest in Mechel-Mining OAO. The exchange of shares was accounted for as an equity transaction and was recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010 as an increase in the additional paid-in capital in the amount of $528.

On different dates from January through December 2011, the Group acquired 0.02% of voting shares of SKCC from third parties for $283 paid in cash. The purchase of noncontrolling interest in SKCC was accounted for as an equity transaction and was recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011.

On different dates from July through August 2012, the Group acquired 0.03% of voting shares of Tomusinsky Open Pit from third parties for $4 paid in cash. The purchase of noncontrolling interest in Tomusinsky Open Pit was accounted for as an equity transaction and was recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012.

In October 2012, the Group acquired 1.63% of voting shares of Izhstal for $595 paid in cash. The purchase of noncontrolling interest in Izhstal was accounted for as an equity transaction and was recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012.

In March 2012, the Group acquired 0.03% of voting shares of BMP for $33 paid in cash. The purchase of noncontrolling interest in BMP was accounted for as an equity transaction and was recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

 

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Table of Contents

MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

(j) Pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations data (unaudited)

The following unaudited pro forma consolidated statement of operations information for (i) 12 months ended December 31, 2012, gives effect to the business combinations that occurred in 2012, as if they had occurred at the beginning of 2012 and (ii) 12 months ended December 31, 2011, gives effect to the business combinations that occurred in 2012 and 2011, as if they had occurred at the beginning of 2011:

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2012     2011  

Revenue, net

     11,490,192        12,853,040   

Net (loss) income

     (1,681,544     670,520   

Net (loss) income per share

     (4.23     1.43   

The business combinations that occurred in 2012 contributed $97,923 to consolidated revenues and $9,471 of net loss to the Group’s consolidated net loss for the year ended December 31, 2012 from the dates of such acquisitions.

There were no significant one-off adjustments directly attributable to the business combinations that occurred in 2012 and were recorded in the Group’s net revenue and net income for the year ended December 31, 2012.

The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations information for (i) 12 months ended December 31, 2011, gives effect to the business combinations that occurred in 2011, as if they had occurred at the beginning of 2011 and (ii) 12 months ended December 31, 2010, gives effect to the business combinations that occurred in 2011 and 2010, as if they had occurred at the beginning of 2010:

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2011      2010  

Revenue, net

     12,542,894         9,814,858   

Net income

     687,657         640,336   

Net income per share

     1.46         1.52   

The business combinations that occurred in 2011 contributed $1,792 to consolidated revenues and $1,581 of net loss to the Group’s consolidated net income for the year ended December 31, 2011 from the dates of such acquisitions.

There were no significant one-off adjustments directly attributable to the business combinations that occurred in 2011 and were recorded in the Group’s net revenue and net income for the year ended December 31, 2011.

These unaudited pro forma amounts are provided for informational purposes only and do not purport to present the results of operations of the Group had the transactions assumed therein occurred on or as of the dates indicated, nor is it necessarily indicative of the results of operations, which may be achieved in the future.

 

 

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Table of Contents

MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

4. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash and cash equivalents are comprised of:

 

     December 31,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 

Russian ruble bank accounts

     174,599         116,949   

USD bank accounts

     82,659         432,624   

Euro bank accounts

     14,439         52,524   

Bank accounts in other currencies

     12,350         23,194   

Other

     10,911         17,357   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cash and cash equivalents

     294,958         642,648   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2012, short-term deposits with an original maturity of less than 90 days in the amounts of $107,004 and $107 were included in Russian ruble bank accounts and Bank accounts in other currencies, respectively.

As of December 31, 2011, short-term deposits with an original maturity of less than 90 days in the amounts of $249,986, $95,176 and $251 were included in USD bank accounts, Russian ruble bank accounts and Bank accounts in other currencies, respectively.

 

5. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET

Accounts receivable, net are comprised of:

 

     December 31,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 

Domestic customers

     594,343        503,566   

Foreign customers

     195,486        358,942   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total accounts receivable

     789,829        862,508   

Less allowance for doubtful accounts

     (84,367     (46,062
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total accounts receivable, net

     705,462        816,446   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following summarizes the changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31:

 

     2012     2011     2010  

Balance at beginning of year

     (46,062     (48,657     (66,764

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     (22,801     (2,230     19,739   

Accounts receivable written off, net

     4,208        3,424        1,482   

Allowance for doubtful accounts of acquired entities

     (17,890     (1,118     (4,728

Translation difference

     (1,822     2,519        1,614   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of year

     (84,367     (46,062     (48,657
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

F-41


Table of Contents

MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The significant increase in the allowance for doubtful accounts in 2012 was due to an increase in allowance for doubtful accounts of acquired entities and due to an increase of allowance for doubtful accounts in Group companies following to the deterioration in the collectability of foreign customers accounts receivable.

 

6. INVENTORIES

Inventories are comprised of:

 

     December 31,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 

Finished goods

     1,249,725         1,530,752   

Raw materials and purchased parts

     584,799         757,054   

Work-in-process

     238,665         305,090   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total inventories

     2,073,189         2,592,896   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the write-down of inventories to their net realizable value following the related market price decreases was $102,872 and $70,240, respectively.

The change in the write-downs of inventories by segment for the years ended December 31 is presented below:

 

     2012     2011     2010  

Steel segment

     14,308        3,873        (15,970

Mining segment.

     18,399        16,605        (6,614

Ferroalloy segment

     8,399        276        2,186   

Energy segment

     (71     (2,478     173   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total change in the write-down of inventories

     41,035        18,276        (20,225
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

7. PREPAYMENTS AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

Prepayments and other current assets are comprised of:

 

     December 31,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 

VAT and other taxes recoverable

     356,792         452,566   

Prepayments and advances for materials

     99,515         101,650   

Capitalized loan origination fees

     44,325         35,604   

Other receivables

     23,489         24,738   

Bank deposits with original maturities over 90 days

     2,782         7,283   

Short-term loans issued

     1,936         2,561   

Promissory notes received

     12         325   

Other current assets

     32,938         28,734   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total prepayments and other current assets

     561,789         653,461   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

F-42


Table of Contents

MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The following summarizes the changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts included in prepayments, other current assets and advances for materials for the years ended December 31:

 

     2012     2011     2010  

Balance at beginning of year

     (13,258     (16,174 )      (15,734 ) 

(Allowance for) recovery of allowance for doubtful accounts

     (5,543     3,561        (1,366

Translation difference

     (636     (645     926   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of year

     (19,437     (13,258     (16,174
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Generally in Russia, VAT related to sales is payable to the tax authorities on an accrual basis based upon invoices issued to the customer. VAT incurred on purchases may be reclaimed, subject to certain restrictions, against VAT related to sales. VAT related to purchase transactions, which is not yet reclaimable against VAT related to sales as of the balance sheet dates, is recognized in the balance sheets on a gross basis, i.e. as other current assets and taxes and social charges payable.

The capitalized origination fees on the Group’s loans in the amount of $44,325 and $35,604 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, are being amortized using the effective interest method over the loan term. The capitalized origination fees are classified between short-term and long-term assets in a manner consistent with the related debt.

 

8. LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS

Long-term investments are comprised of:

 

     December 31,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 

Equity method investments in related parties

     7,853         8,150   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Available-for-sale securities

     2,989         2,923   

Cost method investments

     9,114         8,500   

Other

     2,568         2,574   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other long-term investments

     14,671         13,997   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-term investments

     22,524         22,147   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) Equity method investments

Equity method investments are comprised of:

 

     Percent voting shares held at     Investment carrying value at  

Investee

   December 31,
2012
    December 31,
2011
    December 31,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 

Mechel Somani Carbon (Mining segment)

     51     51     560         528   

TPTU (Mining segment)

     40     40     4,376         4,323   

TRMZ (Mining segment)

     25     25     2,539         2,324   

RIKT (Mining segment)

     —          36     —           975   

BWS Bewehrungsstahl GmbH (Steel segment)

     36     —          378         —     
      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity method investments

         7,853         8,150   
      

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

F-43


Table of Contents

MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Mechel Somani Carbon Private Limited shares are owned by Mechel Carbon AG. The core business is distribution of metallurgical coals on the Indian market. The noncontrolling interest holders of 49% of the shares have substantive participating rights.

TPTU (Tomusinskiy Transportation Management Center) shares are owned by SKCC. The core business is provision of transportation services both to the Group’s subsidiaries and third parties.

TRMZ (Tomusinskiy Auto Repair Shop) shares are owned by SKCC and its subsidiaries. TRMZ provides repair services to the Group’s subsidiaries.

The core business of RIKT (Russian-Italian Telephone Company) is provision of communication services in Europe. SKCC and its subsidiaries owned 36% of the common shares of RIKT until December 24, 2012. The shares of RIKT were sold by SKCC and TOPM to third parties for consideration of $2,994.

BWS Bewehrungsstahl GmBH shares are owned by Cognor. The core business is cutting and processing steel products.

Summarized unaudited financial information on equity method investees as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 and for the years then ended is as follows:

 

Income data

   2012
(unaudited)
     2011
(unaudited)
     2010
(unaudited)
 

Revenues and other income

     57,268         43,255         33,767   

Operating income

     3,664         5,074         2,906   

Net income

     2,101         3,146         1,894   

Balance sheet data

   At December  31,
2012

(unaudited)
     At December  31,
2011

(unaudited)
        

Current assets

     37,300         20,065      

Non-current assets

     11,229         14,750      

Current liabilities

     20,573         8,106      

Non-current liabilities

     5,234         651      

 

 

F-44


Table of Contents

MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The following table shows movements in the equity method investments:

 

December 31, 2009

     82,950   
  

 

 

 

Investment in Nerungribank

     1,924   

Disposal of Nerungribank

     (4,913

Effect of consolidation of TPP Rousse

     (74,748

Translation difference

     2,367   

Share in net income

     1,184   
  

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

     8,764   
  

 

 

 

Capital contribution in affiliates

     571   

Translation difference

     (555

Dividends

     (934

Share in net income

     304   
  

 

 

 

December 31, 2011

     8,150   
  

 

 

 

Investment in BWS Bewehrungsstahl GmBH

     408   

Disposal of RIKT

     (822

Translation difference

     379   

Dividends

     (737

Share in net income

     475   
  

 

 

 

December 31, 2012

     7,853   
  

 

 

 

During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Group received cash dividends of $737, $934 and $nil, respectively.

 

(b) Cost method investments

Cost method investments represent investments in equity securities of various Russian companies, where the Group has less than a 20% equity interest and no significant influence. As shares of those Russian companies are not publicly traded, their market value is not available and the investment is recorded at cost.

The investments were not evaluated for impairment because the Group did not identify any events or changes in circumstances that may have a significant effect on the fair value of these investments.

During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Group received the dividends from these investments in the total amount of $25,981, that was recorded in Other (expenses) income, net (refer to Note 22).

 

(c) Available-for-sale securities

Investments in available-for-sale securities were as follows as of December 31, 2012:

 

     Cost      Fair
value
     Unrealized
gains
     Unrealized
losses
 

Equity securities

     6,469         2,989         —           (3,480
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total available-for-sale securities

     6,469         2,989         —           (3,480
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

F-45


Table of Contents

MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Investments in available-for-sale securities were as follows as of December 31, 2011:

 

     Cost      Fair
value
     Unrealized
gains
     Unrealized
losses
 

Equity securities

     6,103         2,923         —           (3,180
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total available-for-sale securities

     6,103         2,923         —           (3,180
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, available-for-sale securities represented investments into equity securities of well-established Russian energy companies.

 

9. RELATED PARTIES

During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Group had the following transactions and current balances in settlement with related parties:

 

     2012      Balances at December 31, 2012  
     Purchases      Sales      Other
gain/(loss)
    Financing
provided
(received),
net
     Receivable
from
     Payable
to
    Total
outstanding,
net
 

Related metallurgical plants

     874,135         431,188         (853,911     —           278,362         (212,302     66,060   

Metallurg-Trust

     441         320,047         —          —           161,785         (791     160,994   

Usipar

     32,351         —           —          —           —           —          —     

TPTU

     5,210         209         —          —           19         (560     (541

TRMZ

     4,509         1,630         —          —           265         (2,108     (1,843

Somani

     —           6,144         —          —           6,144           6,144   

Other

     405         359         (798     3,902         4,802         (198     4,604   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     917,051         759,577         (854,709     3,902         451,377         (215,959     235,418   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     2011      Balances at December 31, 2011  
     Purchases      Sales      Other
gain/(loss)
     Financing
provided
(received),
net
     Receivable
from
     Payable
to
    Total
outstanding,
net
 

Related metallurgical plants

     1,555,754         419,048         2,364         944,530         1,058,425         (177,745     880,680   

Metallurg-Trust

     1,403         422,989         —           —           176,105         (56     176,049   

Usipar

     72,114         61,189         —           —           80,544         —          80,544   

TPTU

     5,664         11         —           —           5         (633     (628

TRMZ

     4,446         1,629         —           —           191         (1,221     (1,030

Other

     202         10         —           —           18         (17     1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     1,639,583         904,876         2,364         944,530         1,315,288         (179,672     1,135,616   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

     2010  
     Purchases      Sales      Other
gain/(loss)
     Financing
provided
(received),
net
 

Calridge

           161         87,836   

Related metallurgical plants

     1,228,542         419,786         1,390         —     

Metallurg-Trust

     36         220,168         —           —     

Usipar

     7,456         13,372         —           —     

Laminorul

     1,140         12,231         —           —     

TPTU

     2,857         12         —           —     

TRMZ

     4,043         1,378         1,278         —     

TPP Rousse

     —           19,196         —           —     

Nerungribank

     60         —           49         —     

Other

     172         29         211         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     1,244,306         686,172         3,089         87,836   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) Transactions with the related metallurgical plants

In the second half of 2009, certain Russian and foreign metallurgical plants and trading companies, which were formerly part of the Estar Group or controlled by the Estar Group shareholders (“the related metallurgical plants”) became related parties to the Group through Mechel’s representation on the board of directors, management and other arrangements. In 2009, the companies that had business transactions with the Group were as follows: Volga Fest, Rostov Electrometallurgical Plant, Vostochnaya Mine, Experimental TES, Zlatoust Metallurgical Plant, Guryevsk Metallurgical Plant, Volgograd Small Diameter Pipe Plant (“VSDPP”), and Engels Pipe Plant (“EPP”). In addition, in 2010, the Group started transactions with Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant, Invicta Merchant Bar, Metrus Trading GmbH, MIR Steel, Nytva, Estar Egypt for Industries. In 2011 and 2012, the Group continued its operations with the related metallurgical plants. These transactions were carried out in the joint interest of both parties in expanding the Group’s operations and products range on the steel market and allowing the related metallurgical plants access to the Group’s strong supply and sales network.

In August 2011, the Group acquired 100% of Invicta Merchant Bar Ltd., a steel plant located in Queenborough, the United Kingdom. In December 2011, the Group acquired Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant (refer to Note 3(c)).

During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Group had the following transactions and current balances in settlement with the related metallurgical plants:

 

   

Re-selling of goods purchased by the Group either from third parties or entities of the former Estar group to the related metallurgical plants. Proceeds related to these sales amounted to $229,285, $203,134 and $227,512 in the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

For part of such transactions, the Group determined that it functioned as a principal, and the amounts of $217,645, $187,831 and $201,186 were included in revenue from sale of goods in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. In 2012, 2011 and 2010, these sales included $0, $54,167 and $65,774, respectively, of goods produced by the related metallurgical plants and resold further to other entities of the former Estar group.

 

 

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Table of Contents

MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

For the other part of such transactions, the Group determined that their results should be recognized as operating gains. Therefore, they are reported, net of related costs, within other operating income (expenses), net in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income in the amount of $1,845, $2,308 and $1,194 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

   

Revenues from sales of products manufactured by the Group and services rendered to the related metallurgical plants amounted to $213,543, $231,217 and $218,600 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

   

Cost of the related metallurgical plants’ products used in the Group’s production amounted to $104,978, $283,804 and $174,821 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

   

Cost of goods produced by the related metallurgical plants and further sold by the Group to third party customers amounted to $769,157, $1,221,419 and $974,206, including transportation costs, for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. For such transactions, the Group determined that it functioned as a principal, and the amounts of $1,260,832, $1,293,487 and $1,051,184 were included in revenue from the sale of goods in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The related metallurgical plants used raw materials and semi-finished goods purchased from the Group in their production. The Group concluded that its sales to the related metallurgical plants and the Group’s purchases from these entities were not in contemplation with each other and are reported separately in the statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

In 2011, the Group’s operations with certain related metallurgical plants (namely VSDPP, EPP and MIR Steel) started to be carried out on tolling terms. Revenues from sales of products (steel pipe, basis steel coils and sheets) manufactured by the related metallurgical plants for the Group under the tolling agreements amounted to $413,087 and $274,466 for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The related cost of goods sold for these transactions amounted to $403,492 and $262,511 for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. This cost includes cost of tolling services provided by the related metallurgical plants of $47,351 and $35,614 for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

In November 2011, the owners of the related metallurgical plants and the Group entered into a loan agreement pursuant to which a loan of $944,530 was granted by the Group. The loan consists of several tranches which bear interest at the range of 1-8.5% p.a. To secure the loan, shares in the major related metallurgical plants (or shares in parent companies of such metallurgical plants) were pledged. The proceeds from this loan were used by the related metallurgical plants to repay most of the accounts receivable owed to the Group. According to the loan agreement, in the event that the loan is not repaid at maturity (September 30, 2012), the Group is entitled to enforce the pledge over the pledged related metallurgical plants assets and thereby take control of these assets subject to approval from the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service.

In September 2012, the Group extended the term of the loan for additional nine months from October 1, 2012 the pledges and guarantees remained the same. From September through December 2012, the loan was partially repaid in the amount of $213,363. To make this repayment, the owners of the related metallurgical plants used the proceeds received by them from the Group for the sale of Cognor (Note 3(a)) and proceeds under a security deposit, as discussed further below.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

As of December 31, 2012, the loan balance amounted to $746,545, out of which $15,405 represents interest accrued on extended loan. The interest accrued on the loan amount before the extension was repaid in full.

The Group evaluates the recoverability of the loan amount based on the fair value of the pledged assets which, as of December 31, 2012, was $nil. This resulted in a $746,545 provision for amounts due from related parties recorded in 2012. The main reason for the pledged assets value deterioration was negative trends in the macroeconomic conditions which affected the performance of the related metallurgical plants.

Based on the combined design of the above mentioned loan and trading agreements, the Group has determined that the related metallurgical plants are Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”), and that the Group is not the primary beneficiary of the related metallurgical plants. The Group is limited in its exposure to risks by the net amounts receivable from the related metallurgical plants.

During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Group had the following transactions and current balances in settlement with the related metallurgical plants:

 

     2012      2011      2010  

Revenues

        

Steel segment products sales

     346,331         314,297         387,215   

Ferroalloy segment products sales

     17,838         36,141         19,002   

Mining segment products sales

     3,981         4,315         9,150   

Other revenues*

     63,038         64,295         4,419   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

     431,188         419,048         419,786   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Costs and expenses

        

Cost of goods for resale, production and operating expenses

     842,253         1,528,053         1,213,426   

Transportation expenses

     31,693         27,573         14,993   

Other expenses

     189         128         123   

Provision for amounts due from related metallugrical plants

     919,113         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses

     1,793,248         1,555,754         1,228,542   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

    

December 31,

2012

    

December 31,

2011

 

Assets

     

Trade accounts receivable

     90,231         83,910   

Prepayments and other current assets

     188,131         29,985   

Loans issued

     —           944,530   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

     278,362         1,058,425   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

     

Trade accounts payable

     148,384         129,630   

Advanced received and other payables

     39,664         48,115   

Long term payables

     4,601         —     

Loans received

     19,653         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     212,302         177,745   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* including power segment sales and services provided to related metallurgical plants by all segment companies

 

 

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Table of Contents

MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

As of December 31, 2012, the amounts of trade accounts receivable from the related metallurgical plants included $3,790 of allowance for doubtful accounts from Experimental TES. The amounts of prepayments and other current assets were reduced by $172,617 of allowance for doubtful accounts. This allowance includes the balance of $149,900 due from the owners of the related metallurgical plants, which represents the security deposit paid by the Group in November and December 2012 in line with the Group’s intention to acquire some of the assets pledged under the loan agreement. The valuation of these assets as of December 31, 2012 reduced their value to $100 and the difference is to be returned to the Group by the owners of the related metallurgical plants. The allowance for doubtful accounts was recognized based on the Group’s estimates of future cash inflows from these balances.

Inventories in stock purchased from these entities amounted to $105,260 and $184,992 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

(b) Metallurg Trust

In 2010, the Group started transactions with a trading company, Metallurg Trust, a party which can be significantly influenced by the Group through business relationships. Metallurg Trust is mostly involved in reselling the goods produced by Russian metallurgical plants described in Note 9(a) above on the domestic market and supplying raw materials and semi-finished goods.

During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Group sold to Metallurg Trust $320,047, $422,989 and $220,168, respectively, of pig iron, semi-finished goods, coal and chrome produced by the Group’s entities for further supply to the Russian metallurgical plants mentioned above. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Group had receivables from Metallurg Trust in the amount of $161,785 and $176,105, respectively. The Group provided to Metallurg Trust extended credit terms varying from 30 to 180 days. No allowance was created against this amount as the Group considers it to be fully collectible.

As of December 31, 2012, the amount of accounts payable to related metallurgical plants and Metallurg Trust included liabilities under the amicable agreement between Lomprom Rostov and other related and third parties. This agreement was signed in April 2010 under the following conditions: the repayment of debt is scheduled to be made on monthly equal installments after 3 years grace period through March 2017. The nominal value of debt to related metallurgical plants and Metallurg Trust was $26,945 and $965, respectively. The present value of debt to related metallurgical plants and Metallurg Trust in the amount of $20,952 and $775, respectively, was determined using a 12.2% discount rate.

 

(c) Usina Siderurgica do Para Ltda (Usipar)

Usipar is a steel company located in Brazil, owned by the Controlling Shareholder, and it became a related party of the Group in September 2010. During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and the period from September 2010 through December 31, 2010, the Group’s purchases of pig iron from Usipar amounted $32,351, $72,114 and $7,456, respectively, and the Group’s sales of coke and other raw materials to Usipar amounted $nil, $61,189 and $13,372, respectively. The Group further sold such pig iron to third party customers. For such transactions, the Group determined that it functioned as a principal, and the amounts of $34,820 and $75,683 were included in revenue from the sale of goods in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

As of December 31, 2011, the Group had trade accounts receivable from Usipar and prepayments made to Usipar in the amount of $23,841 and $56,703, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2012, Usipar repaid all amounts due to the Group.

 

(d) Laminorul S.A.

In October 2009, the Group became a related party to Laminorul S.A., a steel company located in Romania, through representation in the Administrative Council. The Group entered into an agreement for materials processing with Laminorul S.A. in June 2009.

On February 25, 2010, the Group acquired 100% of the shares of Donau Commodities SRL, which held a 90.9% ownership interest in Laminorul S.A. During the period from January 2010 through February 25, 2010, the Group’s sales to Laminorul S.A. amounted to $12,231 and the Group’s purchases of materials processing services from Laminorul S.A. amounted to $1,140.

 

(e) Tomusinskiy Transportation Management Center (TPTU)

The Group subsidiaries own 40% of the ordinary shares in TPTU, which provides transportation services. During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Group purchased transportation services in the amounts of $5,210, $5,664 and $2,857, respectively.

 

(f) Tomusinskiy Auto Repair Shop (TRMZ)

The Group subsidiaries own 25% of the ordinary shares in TRMZ, which provides auto repair services. During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Group purchased repair services in the amounts of $4,484, $4,797 and $4,043, respectively.

 

(g) TPP Rousse

The Group’s subsidiaries owned 49% of the common shares in TPP Rousse until December 9, 2010, when the Group purchased the remaining 51% of the common shares of TPP Rousse and has been consolidating it from that date. During the period from January 1, 2010 through December 8, 2010, the Group’s sales to TPP Rousse amounted to $19,196.

In accordance with FASB ASC 205, financial position and results of operations of TPP Rousse is accounted for in the Group’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 as discontinued operations (refer to Note 3(d,e)).

 

(h) Calridge Ltd.

Calridge Ltd. is a company wholly owned by the Controlling Shareholder. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Group issued U.S. dollar-denominated loans to Calridge Ltd. in the total amount of $135,336 bearing interest at 4%-8.5% p.a., which were fully repaid as of December 31, 2010. Interest income from these loans issued amounted to $358 in 2010. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Group also obtained

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

loans from Calridge Ltd. in the amount of $47,500 bearing interest at 3.5%-11.5%, which were fully repaid as of December 31, 2010. Interest expense comprised $322 in 2010. In January and February 2010, Calridge Ltd. settled the whole amount of its outstanding promissory notes to Coalmetbank, and Coalmetbank repaid the total amount of $59,030 to the Group. Interest income received from these loans issued comprised $125 in 2010.

 

(i) Nerungribank

Nerungribank OOO is a commercial bank located in Nerungri, the Republic Sakha, which provides a range of banking services to local clients. The Group subsidiaries owned 43.6% of the ordinary shares in Nerungribank during the period from January 2010 through April 2010. On April 2, 2010, in addition to the existing interest, the Group acquired 40.58% and during the period from June through December 2010, the Group acquired 9.69% of the common shares of Nerungribank. During the period when Nerungribank was a related party to the Group, the amount of interest income received was $49. The Group’s purchases of banking service amounted $60. On December 28, 2010, the Group sold 93.06% of the ordinary shares in Nerungribank to a third party, and since that date Nerungribank is no longer considered a related party to the Group.

 

10. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property, plant and equipment, net are comprised of:

 

     At December  31,
2012
    At December  31,
2011
 

Land

     105,112        127,447   

Buildings and land improvements

     1,566,204        1,408,608   

Transfer devices

     137,967        133,066   

Operating machinery and equipment .

     3,062,523        2,716,572   

Transportation equipment and vehicles

     919,081        795,842   

Tools, furniture, fixtures and other

     43,699        35,908   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     5,834,586        5,217,443   

Less: accumulated depreciation

     (2,052,712     (1,768,739
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating property, plant and equipment, net

     3,781,874        3,448,704   

Mining plant and equipment

     574,685        503,288   

Less: accumulated depletion

     (91,518     (81,646
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Mining plant and equipment, net

     483,167        421,642   

Construction-in-progress

     3,533,798        3,179,279   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

     7,798,839        7,049,625   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Included within construction-in-progress are advances to suppliers of equipment of $71,314 and $133,554 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Group incurred interest expenses of $911,277 and $739,009, respectively, of which interest capitalized in the cost of property, plant and equipment was $241,923 and $178,460, respectively. The depreciation charge amounted to $438,661 and $372,558 for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Mining plant and equipment, net included mining construction in progress in the amount of $181,838 and $140,477 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Construction-in-progress includes costs of acquisition of property, plant and equipment and may include the capitalized costs necessary to deliver the asset to its intended location and prepare it for its productive use. The internally developed assets at construction-in-progress stage may also include material, direct labor costs, and allocable material and manufacturing overhead costs clearly related to the construction. The amounts of capitalized costs related to the Elga project (construction of coal deposit complex, railroad, bridges, roads, etc.) were $2,381,423 and $1,824,559 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The Group decided to abandon and dispose of certain production equipment as a result of changes in its production strategy. For the year ended December 31, 2012, the loss resulting from write-off of equipment amounted to $11,429, out of which $7,294, $3,463, $598 and $74 related to the Mining, Steel, Ferroalloy and Energy segments, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the loss resulting from the write-off of equipment amounted to $11,006, out of which $8,225, $1,965 and $816 related to the Mining, Steel and Ferroalloy segments, respectively.

According to the results of the impairment analysis of long-lived assets, an impairment loss of $328,458 for the year ended December 31, 2012 was recognized (refer to Note 23).

 

11. MINERAL LICENSES, NET

Mineral licenses, net are comprised of the following:

 

     December 31,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 

Coal deposits

     3,917,536        3,814,771   

Chrome deposits

     1,367,152        1,388,856   

Iron ore deposits

     91,376        78,059   

Nickel deposits

     —          34,516   

Limestone deposits

     2,851        2,689   

Quartzite deposits

     308        306   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Mineral licenses before depletion

     5,379,223        5,319,197   

Accumulated depletion

     (720,566     (585,521
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Mineral licenses, net

     4,658,657        4,733,676   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Most of existing mineral licenses were recorded upon acquisition of mining and ferroalloy subsidiaries. Fair values of mineral licenses pertaining to the appraised underlying mineral assets at the date of acquisition were determined by the Group based on appraisals performed by independent mining engineers for each acquisition date. The carrying values of the mineral licenses were reduced proportionate to the depletion of the respective mineral reserves at each deposit related to mining and production of reserves adjusted for the reserves re-measurement and purchase accounting effects. No residual value is assumed in the mineral license valuation.

To determine the value of the mineral licenses as of December 31, 2012, the Group used quantities of underlying mineral assets, production data and other factors, including economic viability and any new exploration data.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The Group’s mining and ferroalloy segments production activities are located within Russia, Kazakhstan and the United States. The Group’s mineral reserves and deposits are situated on the land belonging to government and regional authorities. In Russia, mining minerals require a subsoil license from the state authorities with respect to identified mineral deposits. The Group obtains licenses from such authorities and pays certain taxes to explore and produce from these deposits. These licenses expire up to 2037, with the most significant licenses expiring between 2013 and 2024, and management believes that they may be extended at the initiative of the Group without substantial cost. Management intends to extend such licenses for deposits expected to remain productive subsequent to their license expiry dates. In Kazakhstan, the Group has mining licenses for the period ended in 2029 for a chrome deposit and license expiring in 2017 for a nickel deposit. In the United States, the Group controls coal reserves and resources through a combination of lease and ownership. The leases contain percentage royalties, which vary from 3% to 8.5% and depend on coal selling prices and most of these leases contain minimums recoupable from the future production. The leases expire over the period from 2013 to 2018, and they generally contain extension clauses.

The Group holds the license for the development of the Elga coal deposit, located in the Far Eastern part of the Russian Federation. The current license expires in 2020 and is subject to renewal conditioned upon complying with certain commitments and obligations undertaken by Mechel under the Purchase and Sales Agreement and the license requirements. According to the license, as amended in May 2010, the Group is required to meet the following construction deadlines and operational milestones: (a) build a rail line from the Ulak station on the Baikal-Amur Mainline up to the coal deposit by December 31, 2011; (b) complete construction of the first phase of the Elga coal complex by December 31, 2013; (c) reach annual coal production capacity of 9.0 million tonnes by July 1, 2013; (d) reach annual coal production capacity of 18.0 million tonnes by July 1, 2018; and (e) commission a coal washing plant with an annual capacity of 9.0 million tonnes by December 31, 2015. All amendments of the terms of the license were approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology.

The Group has significant commitments for the construction of the railway (refer to Note 25). Management believes that as of April 15, 2013, the Group is in compliance with the requirements and commitments set by the license. Based on the results of the impairment analysis of long-lived assets performed by the Group during the year ended December 31, 2012, a loss from impairment of nickel mineral licenses was recognized in the amount of $10,514 (refer to Note 23).

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

12. OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS

Other non-current assets are comprised of the following:

 

     December 31,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 

Capitalized loan origination fees

     83,275         86,409   

Intangible assets, net

     17,806         16,545   

Prepaid royalty

     26,187         25,203   

VAT receivable

     16,181         18,206   

Advance payment to non state pension funds

     15,934         13,539   

Deferred assets from sale and lease back

     13,574         13,630   

Prepaid bonds

     5,252         10,074   

Single payment for participation in auction

     —           7,180   

Other

     5,357         12,959   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other non-current assets

     183,566         203,745   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, advanced payments of $15,934 and $13,539 were made by Yakutugol in terms of agreed pension benefit program to Almaznaya Osen’ and Mechel Fund non-state pension funds (refer to Note 16).

As of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the amounts of $69,700 and $71,673, respectively, related to capitalized origination fees on bank loans that were recorded as a non-current asset, and are being amortized using the effective interest method over the loan term (refer to Note 13). The capitalized origination fees are classified between short-term and long-term assets in a manner consistent with the related debt. The Export Credit Agency (“ECA”) fees capitalized within loan origination fees amounted to $13,575 and $14,736 as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The ECA fees are the export credit insurance cover issued by the respective Export Credit Agency acting as an intermediary between national governments and exporters to issue export financing.

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the amount of VAT receivable of $16,181 and $18,206, respectively, is comprised of a long-term portion of VAT related to Kazakh subsidiaries. According to the Group’s expectations, the reimbursement of this VAT amount will have a period of more than one year after the balance sheet date.

The BCG Companies have total bonding requirements of $21,171, of which $5,252 and $10,074 is collateralized by cash deposits and investments that are included in Bank deposits with original maturities over 90 days and Prepaid bonds as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. As of those dates, the insured bonding program included $20,860 and $19,304, respectively, in bonding capacity under an insured program that contained $4,942 and $9,733, respectively, in cash and investment collateral. Insurers have the right to increase collateral requirements should they consider it necessary to lower their risks. In March 2013, the Company increased its insured bonding requirements by $3,078 to secure permits for a slurry impoundment at its Coal Mountain operation.

In January-February 2012, Yakutugol won an auction conducted by Rosnedra (the Russian Federal Subsoil Use Agency) to acquire the subsoil licenses for Sutamsky and Sivaglinsky iron ore deposit areas for 91 million Russian rubles ($2,826) and 140 million Russian rubles ($4,354), respectively. The deposits are located in the

 

 

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Table of Contents

MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The single payment for participation in auction was recorded within Other non-current assets as of December 31, 2011 in the amount of $7,180. The subsoil licenses were legally received by the Group on February 29, 2012 for Sivaglinsky iron ore area and on March 5, 2012 for Sutamsky iron ore area.

 

13. DEBT

 

     December 31, 2012      December 31, 2011  

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt:

   Amount      Rate p.a., %      Amount      Rate p.a., %  

Russian ruble-denominated:

           

Banks and financial institutions

     40,629         15.3         217,168         6.4-9.2   

Bonds issue

     195,635         7.4-11.3         380,349         8.1-19.0   

Corporate lenders

     3,144         0.0-7.0         5,782         0.0   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Total

     239,408            603,299      

U.S. dollar-denominated:

           

Banks and financial institutions

     15,698         1.8         291,503         1.3-8.0   

Corporate lenders

     —           —           260         6.5   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Total

     15,698            291,763      

Euro-denominated:

           

Banks and financial institutions

     49,809         1.1-4.5         341,928         1.8-9.4   

Corporate lenders

     3,831         2.9         —           —     
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Total

     53,640            341,928      

Romanian lei-denominated:

           

Banks and financial institutions

     46,055         9.9         16,922         8.4-9.4   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Total

     46,055            16,922      

Kazakh tenge-denominated:

           

Banks and financial institutions

     16,585         9.5         28,538         9.5   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Total

     16,585            28,538      

Turkish lira-denominated:

           

Banks and financial institutions

     6,222         11.0-14.0         10,418         13.8-17.8   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Total

     6,222            10,418      

Total short-term borrowings

     377,608            1,292,868      

Current portion of long-term debt

     1,083,142            1,358,489      
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Total short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt

     1,460,750            2,651,357      
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

The weighted average interest rate of the ruble-denominated short-term borrowings as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was 14.4% and 7.2% p.a., respectively. The weighted average interest rate of the U.S. dollar-denominated short-term borrowings as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was 1.8% and 4.0% p.a., respectively. The weighted average interest rate of the euro-denominated short-term borrowings as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was 3.5% and 4.9% p.a., respectively. The weighted average interest rate of the Romanian lei-denominated short-term borrowings as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was 9.9% and 9.3% p.a., respectively. The weighted average interest

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

rate of the Kazakh tenge-denominated short-term borrowings as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was 9.5% and 9.5% p.a., respectively. The weighted average interest rate of the Turkish lira-denominated short-term borrowings as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was 13.3% and 16.4% p.a., respectively.

 

     December 31, 2012      December 31, 2011  

Long-term debt, net of current portion:

   Amount     Rate p.a., %      Amount     Rate p.a., %  

Russian ruble-denominated:

         

Banks and financial institutions

     2,938,742        7.5-14.0         2,674,866        6.0-14.0   

Bonds issue

     2,205,928        8.3-11.3         1,552,133        7.4-10.0   

Corporate lenders

     236        0.0         228        0.0   
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

Total

     5,144,906           4,227,227     

U.S. dollar-denominated:

         

Syndicated loan

     1,003,964        5.3         1,765,926        4.3-6.0   

Banks and financial institutions

     2,255,364        1.9-7.9         1,604,383        0.0-8.1   

Corporate lenders

     20,325        0.0-8.4         29,216        0.0-12.0   
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

Total

     3,279,653           3,399,525     

Euro-denominated:

         

Banks and financial institutions

     585,274        1.0-7.3         463,722        2.0-8.1   

Corporate lenders

     —          —           44        0.0   
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

Total

     585,274           463,766     

Turkish lira-denominated:

         

Banks and financial institutions

     2,798        11.9         —          —     
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

Total

     2,798           —       

Total long-term obligations

     9,012,631           8,090,518     

Less: current portion

     (1,083,142        (1,358,489  
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

Total long-term debt, net of current portion

     7,929,489           6,732,029     
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

The weighted average interest rate of the ruble-denominated long-term borrowings as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was 10.3% and 9.1% p.a., respectively. The weighted average interest rate of the U.S. dollar-denominated long-term borrowings as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was 5.8% and 5.6% p.a., respectively. The weighted average interest rate of the euro-denominated long-term borrowings as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was 3.6% and 4.2% p.a., respectively. The weighted average interest rate of the Turkish lira-denominated short-term borrowings was 11.9% as of December 31, 2012.

Aggregate scheduled maturities of the debt outstanding as of December 31, 2012, are as follows:

 

Payable by:

      

2013

     1,460,750   

2014

     2,613,174   

2015

     2,932,315   

2016

     1,440,152   

2017

     736,864   

Thereafter

     206,984   
  

 

 

 

Total

     9,390,239   
  

 

 

 

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The unused portion under all credit facilities as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was $580,939 and $904,059, respectively. As of December 31, 2012, the Group’s credit facilities provided aggregated borrowing capacity of $9,971,178, of which $1,508,336 expires within a year.

The outstanding balances of short-term and long-term debt by denominated currencies and major banks as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were as follows:

 

     December 31, 2012      December 31, 2011  

Short-term and long-term debt:

   Amount      Amount  

Russian ruble-denominated:

     

Bonds

     2,401,563         1,932,482   

Sberbank

     1,057,451         1,352,453   

VTB

     883,976         740,599   

Gazprombank

     817,520         449,994   

Eurasian Development Bank

     92,227         87,004   

Transcreditbank

     78,152         58,695   

UniCredit Bank (former Bayerische Hypo-und-Vereinsbank)

     31,606         41,410   

Alfa-bank

     —           31,060   

MBRR

     —           31,060   

Other

     21,819         105,769   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     5,384,314         4,830,526   

U.S. dollar-denominated:

     

Gazprombank

     1,500,000         1,765,926   

Syndicated credit facility

     1,003,964         1,000,000   

UniCredit Bank (former Bayerische Hypo-und-Vereinsbank)

     196,313         243,563   

Alfa-bank

     150,000         150,000   

Fortis Bank

     148,712         85,722   

Sberbank

     131,333         177,000   

Uralsib

     50,000         145,000   

Raiffeisen Bank

     43,250         50,000   

Other

     71,779         74,077   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     3,295,351         3,691,288   

Euro-denominated:

     

Fortis Bank

     205,905         158,981   

ING Bank

     85,025         91,166   

UniCredit Bank (former Bayerische Hypo-und-Vereinsbank)

     78,289         147,931   

VTB

     66,924         65,351   

Uralsib

     46,357         64,715   

Gazprombank

     35,762         34,947   

Raiffeisen Bank

     25,726         55,822   

Sberbank

     7,174         7,011   

Alfa-bank

     —           7,811   

Other

     87,752         171,959   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     638,914         805,694   

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

     December 31, 2012      December 31, 2011  

Short-term and long-term debt:

   Amount      Amount  

Romanian lei-denominated:

     

Raiffeisen Bank

     46,055         16,922   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     46,055         16,922   

Kazakh tenge-denominated:

     

Sberbank

     16,585         28,538   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     16,585         28,538   

Turkish lira-denominated:

     

Other

     9,020         10,418   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     9,020         10,418   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total short-term and long-term debt

     9,390,239         9,383,386   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) Revolving credit lines

In 2010-2012, the Group negotiated revolving credit agreements providing for unrestricted borrowings up to $1,163,091 with several banks. These revolving credit lines allow the Group to withdraw, repay and re-draw in the agreed amounts, timing and number of times until the arrangement expires. Borrowings bear interest at 1.1-12.0% p.a., and are continuously renewable at the Group’s option for 1-5 years provided there is compliance with the terms of the agreement.

As of December 31, 2012, the Group intends to renew obligations in the amount of $289,881 incurred under those agreements for a period extending beyond one year from the balance sheet date. Accordingly, the long-term debt maturing in one year or earlier was excluded from current liabilities because the Group consummated a financing agreement meeting the conditions set forth in FASB ASC 470-10, “Debt” (“ASC 470”), prior to the issuance of the balance sheet.

 

(b) Syndicated loan

In September 2010, the Group executed a $2,000,000 syndicated pre-export facility agreement and refinanced its remaining debt obligations under previously obtained credit facilities. The facility was split between CMP, SKCC, SUNP and Yakutugol in the amounts of $95,238, $857,143, $190,476 and $857,143, respectively. The facility was drawn in two tranches, a 3-year and a 5-year tranche in amount of $800,000 and $1,200,000, respectively. The repayment was scheduled in monthly installments after the 9 and 15 month grace periods, respectively. The credit facility bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 4.0-5.8% p.a.

The Group appointed ING Bank N.V. and The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. as Co-ordinators. In addition, BNP Paribas SA, CJSC UniCredit Bank, Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft, HSBC Bank plc, Natixis, OJSC “Nordea Bank”, Raiffeisen Zentralbank Oesterreich AG, Société Générale, UniCredit Bank AG, VTB Bank (Austria) AG, VTB Bank (Deutschland) AG and VTB Bank (France) SA acted as Mandated Lead Arrangers and Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse as Lenders for the facility.

In December 2012, our subsidiaries Yakutugol and SKCC and a syndicate of banks coordinated by ING Bank N.V., Société Générale, UniCredit, JSCB Rosbank and ABN AMRO Bank N.V. entered into an

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

amendment and restatement agreement to the existing pre-export facility agreements for a total amount of $1,000,000. The amendments provide that the loan, which was in a monthly repayment phase, will be repayable in equal monthly installments from December 2013 through August 2015. The amended facility bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 5.0 p.a. CMP and SUNP repaid the facility in the amount of $252,275 by the end of December 2012.

The Group treated this refinancing as a debt modification under ASC 470. The fees associated with the modified debt, along with existing capitalized origination fees, were capitalized and will be amortized as an adjustment of interest expense over the remaining term of the syndicated loan using the effective interest method.

 

(c) Gazprombank facility

In February 2010, the Group signed a prolongation agreement for a $1,000,000 U.S. dollar-denominated credit facility with Gazprombank. According to this agreement, the credit facility including the short-term portion of $480,000 falling due in 2010 was rescheduled to be repaid in 2013-2015. Starting from October 25, 2011 through February 6, 2015, the credit facility bears interest at LIBOR plus 5.3% p.a.

In April 2012, Yakutugol and SKCC signed loan agreements with Gazprombank for credit facilities in the amount of $500,000 maturing in five years with a three year grace period bearing interest at 7.5% p.a.

 

(d) Sberbank facility

On October 9, 2012, Sberbank opened four credit lines to our subsidiary SKCC in the total amount of 24 billion Russian rubles ($772,258 as of the dates when facilities were obtained) for the purpose of working capital financing, falling due in five years. The repayment should be made in eight equal installments starting from December 2015 through October 2017. As of December 31, 2012, the outstanding balance was $452,777.

Interest is payable at a floating rate varying from 12.1% to 13.1% per year for one of four credit lines and from 10.5% to 11.5% per year for the other three credit lines. The exact rate applicable to each loan depends on the ratio of SKCC revenue and the current amount of the liabilities under the loan. The interest rate is 10.5% - 12.1% at the end of the year. The obligations under the credit line agreement are guaranteed by Yakutugol, Mechel Mining OAO and Mechel OAO.

 

(e) Bonds

On June 21, 2006, Mechel OAO issued 5,000,000 ruble-denominated bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 5 billion Russian rubles ($184,877 as of the placement date). The bonds were issued at 100% par value. Interest is payable every 6 months in arrears. The interest rate for the first coupon period was determined upon the issuance based on the bids of buyers and amounted to 8.4% p.a. The interest rate for the second to the eighth coupon periods was set as equal to that of the first period. The bondholders had an option to demand repayment of the bonds at par value starting June 21, 2010 and November 16, 2011. The interest rate for the ninth and tenth coupon was set at 8.5% p.a. The interest rate for the eleventh to the fourteenth coupon periods was set at 7.4% p.a. The obligatory redemption date is June 12, 2013. The costs related to the issuance of bonds in the amount of $739 were capitalized and are amortized to interest expense over the term of bonds. The balance outstanding as of December 31, 2012 was $163,721 and is classified as current debt.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

On July 30, 2009, Mechel OAO issued 5,000,000 ruble-denominated bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 5 billion Russian rubles ($159,154 as of the placement date). The bonds were issued at 100% par value. Interest is payable every 3 months in arrears. The interest rate for the first coupon period was determined upon the issuance based on the bids of buyers and amounted to 19% p.a. The interest rate for the second to the twelfth coupon periods is set as equal to that of the first period. The interest rate for the thirteenth to the sixteenth coupon periods was set at 11.3% p.a. The interest rate for the seventeenth to the twenty-eighth coupon periods is set by the Group and made public 5 days before the respective coupon period starts. The bondholders have an option to demand repayment of the bonds at par value starting July 26, 2013. The obligatory redemption date is July 21, 2016. Bonds are secured by a guarantee issued by Yakutugol. The costs related to the issuance of bonds in the amount of $1,844 were capitalized and are amortized to interest expense over the term of bonds. The balance outstanding as of December 31, 2012 was $52,361 and is classified as current debt in amount $31,914 and as long-term debt in amount $20,717 as the Group has ability and intent to refinance part of obligations under these bonds in case of early redemption through long-term facility received from VTB in April 2013 (refer to Note 26).

On October 20, 2009, Mechel OAO issued 5,000,000 ruble-denominated bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 5 billion Russian rubles ($170,327 as of the placement date). The bonds were issued at 100% par value. Interest is payable every 3 months in arrears. The interest rate for the first coupon period was determined upon the issuance based on the bids of buyers and amounted to 12.5% p.a. The interest rate for the second to the twelfth coupon periods is set as equal to that of the first period. The interest rate for the thirteenth to the fourteenth coupon periods was set at 11.3% p.a. The interest rate for the fifteenth to the thirty-sixth coupon periods is set by the Group and made public 5 days before the respective coupon period starts. The bondholders have an option to demand repayment of the bonds at par value starting April 19, 2013. The obligatory redemption date is October 9, 2018. Bonds are secured by a guarantee issued by Yakutugol. The costs related to the issuance of bonds in the amount of $703 were capitalized and are amortized to interest expense over the term of bonds. The balance outstanding as of December 31, 2012 was $45,402 and is classified as long-term debt as the Group has ability and intent to refinance the obligations under these bonds in case of early redemption through long-term facility received from VTB in April 2013 (refer to Note 26).

On November 13, 2009, Mechel OAO issued 5,000,000 ruble-denominated bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 5 billion Russian rubles ($174,398 as of the placement date). The bonds were issued at 100% par value. Interest is payable every 6 months in arrears. The interest rate for the first coupon period was determined upon the issuance based on the bids of buyers and amounted to 12.5% p.a. The interest rate for the second to the fourth coupon periods is set as equal to that of the first period. The interest rate for the fifth and sixth coupon periods is set by the Group and made public 5 days before the respective coupon period starts. The bonds were redeemed on November 9, 2012 in full amount.

On March 16, 2010, Mechel OAO issued 5,000,000 ruble-denominated bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 5 billion Russian rubles ($170,443 as of the placement date). The bonds were issued at 100% par value. Interest is payable every 6 months in arrears. The interest rate for the first coupon period was determined upon the issuance based on the bids of buyers and amounted to 9.8% p.a. The interest rate for the second to the sixth coupon periods is set as equal to that of the first period. The obligatory redemption date is March 12, 2013. The costs related to the issuance of bonds in the amount of $1,620 were capitalized and are amortized to interest expense over the term of bonds. The balance outstanding as of December 31, 2012 was $164,622 and is classified as long-term debt as the Group has ability and intent to refinance the obligations under these bonds in case of early redemption through long-term facility received from VTB in April 2013 (refer to Note 26).

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

On April 28, 2010, Mechel OAO issued 5,000,000 ruble-denominated bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 5 billion Russian rubles ($172,044 as of the placement date). The bonds were issued at 100% par value. Interest is payable every 6 months in arrears. The interest rate for the first coupon period was determined upon the issuance based on the bids of buyers and amounted to 9.8% p.a. The interest rate for the second to the sixth coupon periods is set as equal to that of the first period. The obligatory redemption date is April 24, 2013. The costs related to the issuance of bonds in the amount of $360 were capitalized and are amortized to interest expense over the term of bonds. The balance outstanding as of December 31, 2012 was $164,622 and is classified as long-term debt as the Group has ability and intent to refinance the obligations under these bonds in case of early redemption through long-term facility received from VTB in April 2013 (refer to Note 26).

On September 7, 2010, Mechel OAO issued two 5,000,000 ruble-denominated bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 10 billion Russian rubles ($327,042 as of the placement date). The bonds were issued at 100% par value. Interest is payable every 6 months in arrears. The interest rate for the first coupon period was determined upon the issuance based on the bids of buyers and amounted to 10.0% p.a. The interest rate for the second to the tenth coupon periods is set as equal to that of the first period. The interest rate for the eleventh to twentieth coupon periods is set by the Group and made public 5 days before the respective coupon period starts. The bondholders have an option to demand repayment of the bonds at par value starting August 27, 2015. The obligatory redemption date is August 25, 2020. The costs related to the issuance of bonds in the amount of $864 were capitalized and are amortized to interest expense over the term of bonds. The balance outstanding as of December 31, 2012 was $329,243 and is classified as long-term debt.

On February 22, 2011, Mechel OAO made two issues of 5,000,000 ruble-denominated bonds each in an aggregate principal amount of 10 billion Russian rubles ($342,996 as of the placement date). The bonds were issued at 100% par value. Interest is payable every 6 months in arrears. The interest rate for the first coupon period was determined upon the issuance based on the bids of buyers and amounted to 8.3% p.a. The interest rate for the second to the sixth coupon periods is set as equal to that of the first period. The interest rate for the seventh to twentieth coupon periods is set by the Group and made public 5 days before the respective coupon period starts. The bondholders have an option to demand repayment of the bonds at par value starting February 14, 2014. The obligatory redemption date is February 9, 2021. The costs related to the issuance of bonds in the amount of $2,355 were capitalized and are amortized to interest expense over the redemption date of bonds. The balance outstanding as of December 31, 2012 in the amount of $329,243 is classified as long-term debt.

On June 9, 2011, Mechel OAO made two issues of 5,000,000 ruble-denominated bonds each in an aggregate principal amount of 10 billion Russian rubles ($361,210 as of the placement date). The bonds were issued at 100% par value. Interest is payable every 6 months in arrears. The interest rate for the first coupon period was determined upon the issuance based on the bids of buyers and amounted to 8.4% p.a. The interest rate for the second to the tenth coupon periods is set as equal to that of the first period. The interest rate for the eleventh to twentieth coupon periods is set by the Group and made public 5 days before the respective coupon period starts. The bondholders have an option to demand repayment of the bonds at par value starting May 29, 2016. The obligatory redemption date is May 27, 2021. The costs related to the issuance of bonds in the amount of $1,293 were capitalized and are amortized to interest expense over the redemption date of bonds. The balance outstanding as of December 31, 2012 in amount of $329,243 is classified as long-term debt.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

On June 14, 2011, Mechel OAO issued 5,000,000 ruble-denominated bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 5 billion Russian rubles ($179,916 as of the placement date). The bonds were issued at 100% par value. Interest is payable every 6 months in arrears. The interest rate for the first coupon period was determined upon the issuance based on the bids of buyers and amounted to 8.4% p.a. The interest rate for the second to the tenth coupon periods is set as equal to that of the first period. The interest rate for the eleventh to twentieth coupon periods is set by the Group and made public 5 days before the respective coupon period starts. The bondholders have an option to demand repayment of the bonds at par value starting June 3, 2016. The obligatory redemption date is June 1, 2021. The costs related to the issuance of bonds in the amount of $574 were capitalized and are amortized to interest expense over the redemption date of bonds. The balance outstanding as of December 31, 2012 in amount of $164,622 and is classified as long-term debt.

On February 14, 2012, Mechel OAO issued 5,000,000 ruble-denominated bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 5 billion Russian rubles ($167,295 as of the placement date). The bonds were issued at 100% par value. Interest is payable every 6 months in arrears. The interest rate for the first coupon period was determined upon the issuance based on the bids of buyers and amounted to 10.25% p.a. The interest rate for the second to the fourth coupon periods is set as equal to that of the first period. The interest rate for the fifth to sixth coupon periods is set by the Group and made public 5 days before the respective coupon period starts. The bondholders have an option to demand repayment of the bonds at par value starting February 5, 2014. The obligatory redemption date is February 10, 2015. The costs related to the issuance of bonds in the amount of $571 were capitalized and are amortized to interest expense over the redemption date of bonds. The balance outstanding as of December 31, 2012 in the amount of $164,622 is classified as long-term debt.

On April 10, 2012, Mechel OAO made five issues of ruble-denominated bonds in an aggregate principal amount of 15 billion Russian rubles ($506,145 as of the placement date). The bonds were issued at 100% par value. Interest is payable every 6 months in arrears. The interest rate for all coupon periods amounted to 11.25% p.a. The obligatory redemption date is April 7, 2015. The costs related to the issuance of bonds in the amount of $251 were capitalized and are amortized to interest expense over the redemption date of bonds. The balance outstanding as of December 31, 2012 in the amount of $493,865 is classified as long-term debt.

 

(f) Other loans

In addition to a $1,000,000 U.S. dollar-denominated credit facility, in 2011-2012, Gazprombank provided long-term ruble, U.S. dollar and euro-denominated loans to the Group’s subsidiaries bearing interest at 4.3-11.0% p.a. The outstanding balances as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were $1,353,282 and $484,941, respectively.

In addition to a 24 billion Russian rubles ($772,258 as of the dates when facilities were obtained) credit facility, during 2009-2012, Sberbank provided long-term and short-term ruble, U.S. dollar, Kazakh tenge and euro-denominated loans to the Group’s subsidiaries bearing interest at 4.3-14.0% p.a. The outstanding balances as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were $759,766 and $604,714, respectively.

During 2008, VTB provided a short-term ruble-denominated loan to the Group’s subsidiaries (CMP, SKCC and Yakutugol) bearing interest at 12.0% p.a., which was increased by the bank in November 2009 up to 14.6% p.a. for Yakutugol and SKCC and up to 14.0% p.a. for CMP. In September 2010, the interest rate was decreased to 9.8% p.a. for SKCC. In April 2011, the interest rate was decreased to 8.4% p.a. for SKCC and Yakutugol. In

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

accordance with an amendment to the agreement, the loan should be repaid in November 2012. In April 2012, VTB signed an amendment resulting in a repayment of the facility in four equal payments starting from July 2014 through April 2015. Accordingly, the Group classified the outstanding balance under this facility agreement as long-term debt as of December 31, 2011. In 2012, the interest rate was agreed to be MosPrime plus 4.5% p.a. The outstanding balances as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were $447,770 and $422,411, respectively.

During 2010-2012, VTB provided ruble and euro-denominated long-term and short-term loans to CMP, HBL and Mechel OAO, bearing interest at 5.3-12.0% p.a. The outstanding balances as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were $503,129 and $383,539, respectively.

In 2012, Uralsib Bank provided BMP and Mechel-Trans with long-term U.S. dollar and euro-denominated loans bearing interest at 6.8-7.3% p.a. The outstanding balance as of December 31, 2012 was $96,357.

In 2011, TransCreditBank provided a long-term ruble-denominated loan to SKCC bearing interest at 9.65% p.a. Starting from May 2012, the interest rate is MosPrime plus a margin 4.95% p.a. The outstanding balances as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were $78,152 and $58,695 respectively.

During 2006-2011, UniCredit Bank provided short-term and long-term U.S. dollar and euro-denominated loans to the Group’s subsidiaries bearing interest at 1.0-8.0% p.a. The outstanding balances as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were $306,208 and $106,814, respectively.

During 2007-2010, Fortis Bank provided the Group’s subsidiaries with U.S. dollar and euro-denominated loans bearing interest at 1.7-7.5% p.a. The outstanding balances as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were $354,617 and $213,840, respectively.

During 2011-2012, Alfa-bank provided MTAG with long-term U.S. dollar-denominated loans bearing interest at 5.9-7.9% p.a. in the total amount of $150,000. The outstanding balance as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were $150,000 and $150,000 respectively.

In 2011, Eurasian Development Bank provided Yakutugol with a long-term ruble-denominated loan bearing interest at 9.2% in the total amount of $95,319. The outstanding balance as of December 31, 2012 was $92,227.

In 2008-2012, ING bank provided the Group’s subsidiaries with short-term and long-term multi-currency-denominated loans bearing interest at 1.6-3.9% p.a. The outstanding balances as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were $85,025 and $91,166, respectively.

In 2009-2011, Raiffeisenbank provided the Group’s subsidiaries with short-term and long-term multi-currency-denominated loans bearing interest at 1.1-9.9% p.a. The outstanding balances as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were $115,031 and $122,064, respectively.

 

(g) Pledges

The syndicated pre-export credit facility was secured by 1,212,594 common shares of Yakutugol (30% of total common shares) and 10,832,764 common shares of SKCC (30% of total common shares) as of

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

December 31, 2012. In January 2013, the number of shares pledged was renegotiated. The indebtedness under the credit facility is secured by the pledge of 1,010,498 common shares of Yakutugol (25% plus 1 of total common shares) and 9,027,306 common shares of SKCC (25% plus 1 of total common shares).

The indebtedness under the credit facility with Gazprombank is secured by the pledge of 1,010,498 common shares of Yakutugol (25% plus 1 of total common shares) and 9,027,306 common shares of SKCC (25% plus 1 of total common shares).

The indebtedness under the long-term credit facility provided by Sberbank to CMP totaling $493,865 and $465,895 as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, is secured by the pledge of 1,866,711 common shares of BMP (25% plus 1 share of total common shares).

The indebtedness under the long-term credit facility provided by Fortis to CMP totaling $282,130 and $135,103 as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, is secured by the pledge of 632,393 common shares of CMP (20% of total common shares).

The indebtedness under the long-term credit facility of $500,000 provided by Gazprombank to Yakutugol and SKCC is secured by the pledge of 62,533 common shares of KMP (25% plus 1 of total common shares) as of December 31, 2012.

As of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the carrying value of property, plant and equipment pledged under the loan agreements amounted to $1,208,167 and $789,929, respectively. Carrying value of inventories pledged under the loan agreements amounted to $111,723 and $282,399 as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Accounts receivable pledged as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 amounted to $17,359 and $79,667, respectively. Cash pledged under the loan agreements amounted to $2,340 and $117,461 as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

 

(h) Covenants

The Group’s loan agreements contain a number of covenants and restrictions, which include, but are not limited to, financial ratios, maximum amount of debt, minimum value of shareholders’ equity and certain cross-default provisions. The covenants also include, among other restrictions, limitations on: (1) indebtedness of certain companies in our group; (2) amount of dividends on our common and preferred shares; and (3) amounts that can be spent for capital expenditures, new investments and acquisitions. Covenant breaches if not waived generally permit lenders to demand accelerated repayment of principal and interest.

The table below sets out the requirements of most significant restrictive debt covenants and the actual ratios/amounts as of December 31, 2012.

 

Restrictive Covenant

  

Requirement

   Actual as of
December 31,
2012
 

Mechel’s Adjusted Shareholders Equity, as defined in respective loan agreements

  

Greater than or equal to $4,000,000

   $ 4,135,944   

Mechel’s Net Borrowings to EBITDA

  

Shall not exceed 5.5:1.0

     7.2:1.0   

Mechel’s EBITDA to Net Interest Expense

  

Shall not be less than 2.65:1.0

     1.85:1.0   

Mechel’s Net Borrowings

  

Not exceed $11,000,000

   $ 9,613,020   

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

As of December 31, 2012, the Group was not in compliance with financial covenants under various loan agreements, but received appropriate waivers from the lenders and covenant amendments from the banks. Specifically, the Group received, after December 31, 2012, consents and covenant amendments relating to the following breaches under various long-term and short-term loans totaling $5,952,620:

 

   

The Group would not have been in compliance with “Net Borrowings to EBITDA” ratio as defined by numerous debt agreements at a level not exceeding 5.5:1.0 as of December 31, 2012, while the actual “Net Borrowings to EBITDA” ratio was 7.2:1.0. As of June 30, 2013, the ratio of “Net Borrowings to EBITDA” shall not exceed 7.5:1.0, reducing to 3.5:1.0 as of June 30, 2017.

 

   

The Group would not have been in compliance with “EBITDA to Net Interest Expenses” ratio set at a level not less than 2.65:1, while the actual “EBITDA to Net Interest Expenses” ratio was 1.85:1.0. As of June 30, 2013, the ratio of “EBITDA to Net Interest Expenses” shall not be less than 1.5:1.0, increasing to 4.0:1.0 as of June 30, 2017.

 

   

The Group would not have been in compliance with the “Net Borrowings to EBITDA” ratio set at a level not exceeding 3.5:1.0 as of December 31, 2012 for Mechel-Mining OAO under numerous loan agreements.

 

   

HBL would not have been in compliance with its financial covenants “Net Equity” and “Shareholders’ Equity” under the long-term euro-denominated agreement signed with VTB (Deutschland) set at a level to be equal or greater than $nil. As of December 31, 2012, these amounts were negative. The outstanding balance under this loan agreement was $61,970 as of December 31, 2012.

In addition, Mechel OAO would not have been in compliance with indebtedness related ratio set by the long-term credit facility agreement signed with Bank of China. As of December 31, 2012, the Group had $18,438 of loans repayable within next twelve months including $13,828 of long-term debt that was classified as short-term liabilities as of that date because of the covenant violations.

One of the waivers that the Group received from UniCredit Bank is subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions before April 30, 2013. Management believes that it is probable that such conditions will be met by April 30, 2012.

In addition, the loan agreements set restrictions on the distribution of the Group’s earnings for the dividend payments on ordinary and preferred shares if: (i) the Group’s ratio of “Net Borrowings to EBITDA” exceeds or equal to 3.0:1.0; (ii) the amount of dividends exceeds 60% of net profit for the year; (iii) the amount of dividends on preferred shares exceeds 20% of net profit for the respective year, and (iv) the Group incurs a loss during the year the payment of dividend on preferred shares shall not exceed 7,500,000 Russian rubles ($245).

In accordance with the Group’s projections, the Group has both intent and ability to meet the covenants during and for the year ending December 31, 2013. As a result, no reclassification of long-term debt to short-term liabilities due to covenant violations as of December 31, 2012 has been made, except for the amount under the facility signed with Bank of China as described above.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

14. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

FASB ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurement” (“ASC 820”), defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820 establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. This hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:

 

   

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

 

   

Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data;

 

   

Level 3 —   Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

 

(a) Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis

The Group has segregated all financial assets and liabilities that are measures at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 into the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine the fair value at the measurement date in the table below:

 

December 31, 2012    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3     Fair Value
Measurements
 

Assets:

         

Available-for-sale securities

     2,989         —          —          2,989   

Total assets

     2,989         —          —          2,989   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

         

Contingent liability

     —           —          (25,665     (25,665

Swap transaction

     —           (14,257     —          (14,257

Option

     —           (23,623     —          (23,623

Total liabilities

     —           (37,880     (25,665     (63,545
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
December 31, 2011    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3     Fair Value
Measurements
 

Assets:

         

Available-for-sale securities

     2,923         —          —          2,923   

Total assets

     2,923         —          —          2,923   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

         

Contingent liability

     —           —          (23,759     (23,759 ) 

Swap transaction

     —           (20,784     —          (20,784 ) 

Total liabilities

     —           (20,784     (23,759     (44,543
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

To determine the fair value of available-for-sale securities quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets were used by the Group and they were considered as Level 1 inputs.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

On July 12, 2011, the Group entered into a non-deliverable cross currency 5 billion Russian rubles swap agreement with VTB Bank (Austria). The termination date of the swap is August 28, 2015. The underlying instrument for the swap transaction is a 5 billion Russian rubles bond bearing interest at 10% and maturing on August 25, 2020 (put option date – September 1, 2015) issued by Mechel OAO on September 7, 2010. Under the terms of the agreement, VTB Bank pays interest of 10% p.a. at 5 billion Russian rubles notional amount, the Group pays interest of 5.69% p.a. on $176,367 notional amount.

Interest is paid on a semi-annual basis with the first payment on March 2, 2012. On the termination date, VTB Bank pays to the Group the notional amount of 5 billion Russian rubles, and the Group pays to VTB Bank the notional amount of $176,367. The business objective of this instrument is to decrease the effective interest rate for a 5 billion Russian rubles bond during the year ending December 31, 2012 via a positive net cash inflow from interest payments under the swap instrument according to the Group’s expectations about U.S. dollar and ruble exchange rate fluctuations.

The Group accounts for the above mentioned swap instrument at fair value as a derivative instrument not designated or qualifying as a hedging instrument under ASC 815. For the year ended December 31, 2012, $6,527 gain related to the change in the fair value of this swap instrument was included in the net foreign exchange gain (loss) in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) and consolidated statements of cash flows. As of December 31, 2012, the fair value of this swap instrument was recorded in Other long-term liabilities in the amount of $14,257.

The fair value of the Group’s swap contract is valued based upon quotes obtained from counterparties to the agreements and is designated as Level 2. Such quotes have been derived using discounted cash flows analysis that incorporates observable market parameters for all significant inputs such as interest yield curves and currency rates.

In October 2012, SKCC entered into a cross currency option with Sberbank. The option is contracted in respect of three facilities totaling to 13 billion Russian rubles ($428,016 at the exchange rate as of December 31, 2012) falling due on October 6, 2017. The ruble-denominated facilities bear floating interest rate of 10.5%-11.5% p.a. The option is designed to convert the ruble notional amount into U.S. dollars at a pre-determined strike exchange rate (6.5 billion Russian rubles – at the exchange rate of 31.04 Russian rubles per 1 U.S. dollar, 5.0 billion Russian rubles – at the exchange rate of 30.80 Russian rubles per 1 U.S. dollar, 1.5 billion Russian rubles – at the exchange rate of 31.00 Russian rubles per 1 U.S. dollar) when the barrier exchange rate (indicated at Reuters) achieves 50 Russian rubles per 1 U.S. dollar. Simultaneously, the interest rate is modified into floating 10.0% - 11.0% p.a. After the triggering event, all future payments will be in U.S. dollars. The business objective of this instrument is the decrease in interest rate on the ruble-denominated facilities based on the Group’s expectations about U.S. dollar and ruble exchange rate fluctuations.

The Group accounts for the above mentioned option at fair value as a derivative instrument not designated or qualifying as a hedging instrument under ASC 815. For the year ended December 31, 2012, $20,276 gain related to the change in the fair value of this option was included in the net foreign exchange gain (loss) in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) and consolidated statements of cash flows. As of December 31, 2012, the fair value of this option was recorded in Other long-term liabilities in the amount of $23,623.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The fair value of the Group’s option contract is valued based upon quotes obtained from counterparties to the agreements and is designated as Level 2. Such quotes have been derived using discounted cash flows analysis that incorporates observable market parameters for all significant inputs such as interest yield curves and currency rates.

The contingent liability measured at fair value is represented by the Drilling Program contingent liability with the maturity date of May 7, 2014, which was calculated using estimated tonnage of coal in-place determined by the independent appraiser. The present value of this liability was determined using an 8% discount rate, stated in the agreement for actual settlement of contingent obligation, which represents the estimate of the amount that would have been paid if the Group had settled the liability at the balance sheet date (refer to Note 25(f)).

The Group’s model inputs used involve significant management judgment. Such assets and liabilities are typically classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The table below sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of Group’s Level 3 financial liability for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

 

     Contingent liability  

Balance at beginning of 2010

     (20,369

Gain resulting from remeasurement of contingent liability (Note 25)

     (1,630

Transfers in and out of Level 3

     —     
  

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of 2011

     (21,999
  

 

 

 

Loss resulting from remeasurement of contingent liability (Note 25)

     (1,760

Transfers in and out of Level 3

     —     
  

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of 2012

     (23,759

Loss resulting from remeasurement of contingent liability (Note 25)

     (1,906

Transfers in and out of Level 3

     —     
  

 

 

 

Balance at end of year

     (25,665
  

 

 

 

 

(b) Fair value of assets and liabilities not measured at fair value

As of December 31, 2012, the fair value of variable and fixed rate long-term loans (based on future cash flows discounted at current long-term market rates available for corporations) was as follows:

 

As of December 31, 2012

   Estimated
fair value
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Carrying value incl.
interest accrued
 

Russian ruble-denominated debt

     4,817,314         2,039,688         1,023,523         1,754,103         5,098,403   

U.S. dollar-denominated debt

     2,468,734         —           1,759,015         709,719         2,479,536   

Euro-denominated debt

     430,135         —           374,837         55,298         433,346   

Turkish lira-denominated

     1,487         —           —           1,487         1,487   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

     7,717,670         2,039,688         3,157,375         2,520,607         8,012,772   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The fair value of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable and accounts payable, short-term borrowings, bank financing, equipment financing contracts and other financial instruments not included in the tables above approximates carrying value.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The Group assessed the maximum amount of loss due to credit risk that would be incurred if the parties that make up a concentration of credit risk failed to perform according to the terms of contracts and consider the probable amount of such loss immaterial for the periods presented in these financial statements.

 

15. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

The Group has numerous asset removal obligations that it is required to perform under law or contract once an asset is permanently taken out of service. The main part of these obligations is not expected to be paid for many years, and will be funded from general Group resources at the time of removal. The Group’s asset retirement obligations primarily relate to its steel and mining production facilities with related landfills and dump areas and its mines.

The following table presents the movements in asset retirement obligations for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

 

     2012     2011     2010  

Asset retirement obligation at beginning of year

     43,241        54,496        59,695   

Liabilities incurred in the current year

     —          —          82   

Liabilities settled in the current year

     (2,436     (4,819     (2,821

Accretion expense

     5,021        6,659        6,545   

Revision in estimated cash flow

     1,946        (11,769     (8,228

Translation difference

     2,082        (1,326     (777
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Asset retirement obligation at end of year

     49,854        43,241        54,496   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Revision in estimated cash flow represented the effect of the changes resulting from the management revisions to the timing and/or the amounts of the original estimates, and is recorded through an increase or decrease in the value of the underlying non-current assets. The effects of revisions in estimated cash flows relate mainly to continuous refinement of future asset removal activities and restoration costs at SKCC and Yakutugol during the year ended December 31, 2012, at Izhstal and Yakutugol during the year ended December 31, 2011, at CMP and SKCC during the year ended December 31, 2010 as assessed by the Group with the help of independent environmental engineers.

 

16. PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

In addition to the state pension and social insurance required by the Russian legislation, the Group has a number of defined benefit occupational pension plans that cover the majority of production employees and some other postretirement benefit plans.

A number of the Group’s companies provide their former employees with old age retirement pensions. The old age retirement pension is conditional to the member qualifying for the state old age pension. Some employees are also eligible for an early retirement in accordance with the state pension regulations and specific coal industry rules (so-called “territorial treaties”), which also provide for certain post retirement benefits in addition to old age pensions. Additionally the Group voluntarily provides financial support, of a defined benefit nature, to its old age and disabled pensioners, who did not acquire any pension under the occupational pension program.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The Group also provides several types of long-term employee benefits such as death-in-service benefit and invalidity pension of a defined benefit nature. The Group may also provide the former employees with reimbursement of coal and wood used for heating purposes. In addition, one-time lump sum benefits are paid to employees of a number of the Group’s companies upon retirement depending on the employment service with the Group and the salary level of an individual employee. All pension plans are unfunded until the qualifying event occurs.

Several entities contribute certain amounts to non-state pension funds (Almaznaya Osen’ and Mechel Fund), which, together with amounts earned from investing the contributions, are intended to provide pensions to members of pension plans. However, pursuant to agreements between the Group and these non-state pension funds, under certain circumstances, these assets are not effectively restricted from possible withdrawal by the employer. Based on this fact, these assets do not qualify as “plan assets” under U.S. GAAP and these pension schemes are considered to be fully unfunded.

During 2010, the Group introduced a new corporate plan for the majority of the Russian entities except for Yakutugol. During 2011, the Group also introduced a new corporate plan for Yakutugol. As a result the Group ceased to bear any liabilities to provide either pension or lump sum upon retirement benefits, or both, to the employees who do not participate in the corporate pension plan. In addition, the Group terminated the provision of the guarantees concerning the amount of the pension provided via a non-state pension fund to those employees who were born after a certain year.

As of December 31, 2012, there were 70,352 active participants under the defined benefit pension plans and 38,486 pensioners receiving monthly pensions or other regular financial support from these plans. As of December 31, 2011, the related figures were 74,788 and 39,332, respectively. The majority of employees at the Group’s major subsidiaries belong to the trade unions.

The total number of the BCG Companies’ employees and their dependents eligible for benefits as of December 31, 2012 was 565 and the total number of retirees and their dependents was 157. As of December 31, 2011, the related figures were 569 and 153, respectively. The majority of employees belong to the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA).

Actuarial valuation of pension and other post employment and postretirement benefits was performed in March 2013, with the measurement date of December 31, 2012. Members’ census data as of that date was collected for all relevant business units of the Group.

Pension costs determined by the Group are supported by an independent qualified actuary, and are charged to the statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) ratably over employees’ working service with the Group.

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, projected benefit obligation and other postretirement benefit obligations amounted to $197,262 and $165,678, respectively.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

(a) Projected benefit obligation

The movements in the projected benefit obligation (“PBO”) were as follows during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

 

     2012     2011     2010  

Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year

     120,906        146,735        156,880   

Service cost

     4,328        5,684        6,986   

Interest cost

     9,859        11,451        12,568   

Obligations arising from acquisitions and other

     8,472        10,211        762   

Benefits paid

     (16,535     (12,582     (15,085

Actuarial loss (gain)

     13,223        2,416        (4,505

Plan amendments

     3,290        274        8,852   

Curtailment gain

     (2,999     (38,226     (18,237

Translation difference

     7,214        (5,057     (1,486
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Projected benefit obligation at end of year

     147,758        120,906        146,735   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Upon the acquisition of Cognor on September 25, 2012 (refer to Note 3(a)), the Group recognized additional PBO in the amount of $8,472.

The curtailment gain was recognized in 2012 due to the redundancies at Romanian entities, the redundancies and the termination of provision of the financial support to future pensioners at SUNP.

The actuarial loss in 2012 was recognized as a result of changes in assumptions, including the decrease in discount rates and the decrease in mortality rates.

The reasons for the reduction in the PBO in 2011 are the change of pension program at Yakutugol and clarification of terms and conditions of benefits provided under the corporate pension plan at Mechel-Remservice. Overall, the impact on the PBO is gain in the amount of $28,342 for Yakutugol and $8,804 for Mechel-Remservice.

In addition, business activities of one of the subsidiaries of SKCC were significantly terminated and the majority of employees were made redundant in 2011. The impact on PBO is $533.

Upon the acquisition of DEMP on December 22, 2011 (refer to Note 3(c)), the Group recognized additional PBO in the amount of $10,211.

The curtailment gain was recognized in 2010 due to an introduction of a new corporate plan for the majority of the Russian entities resulting in a termination of the defined benefit pension and lump sum upon retirement for certain employees and overall decrease in number of employees.

The plan amendments in 2010 related to the adoption of changes to the collective bargaining agreements of Yakutugol introducing partial compensation of heating expenses to current employees and pensioners and change in valuation of lump sum upon retirement provided by Yakutugol.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets were as follows as of December 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

     December 31,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 

Pension obligation, current portion

     18,313         20,535   

Pension obligation, net of current portion

     129,445         100,371   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total pension obligation

     147,758         120,906   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The components of net periodic benefit cost were as follows for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

 

     2012     2011     2010  

Service cost

     4,328        5,684        6,986   

Amortization of prior service cost

     1,922        1,444        670   

Interest cost

     9,859        11,451        12,568   

Amortization of actuarial gain

     (4,301     (4,522     (2,581

Curtailment gain

     (1,691     (38,711     (13,910

Other benefits

     —          —          545   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

     10,117        (24,654     4,278   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The PBO, accumulated benefit obligation, fair value of plan assets and funded status were as follows as of December 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

     December 31,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 

Projected benefit obligation

     147,758        120,906   

Accumulated benefit obligation

     128,159        107,503   

Fair value of plan assets

     —          —     

Funded status

     (147,758     (120,906

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) were as follows for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

     2012     2011  

Net gain

     (36,344     (50,052

Prior service cost

     9,790        8,021   

Translation difference

     631        (1,315
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total amount recognised in AOCI

     (25,923     (43,346
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The change in the PBO recognized in OCI was as follows for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

 

     2012     2011     2010  

Additional (gain) loss arising during the year

     13,223        2,416        (4,505

Less re-classified (gain) loss amortization

     (3,103     (4,177     (606

Additional prior service cost (credit) from plan amendment

     3,290        274        8,852   

Less re-classified prior service cost amortization

     2,032        613        3,023   

Translation difference

     (161     84        2,461   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net amount recognised in other comprehensive income for the year

     17,423        6,338        4,391   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The key actuarial assumptions used to determine benefit obligations were as follows as of December 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

     2012     2011  

Discount rate

    

Russian entities

     7.00     8.00

Romanian entities

     7.40     7.40

German entities

     3.00     5.14

Ukrainian entities

     10.00     14.00

Austrian entities

     3.75     —     

Expected return on plan assets

     N/A        N/A   

Rate of compensation increase

    

Russian entities

     6.88     6.88

Romanian entities

     5.17     5.17

German entities

     4.00     4.00

Ukrainian entities

     5.30     5.00

Austrian entities

     3.50     —     

The key actuarial assumptions used to determine net benefit cost for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

     2012     2011  

Discount rate

    

Russian entities

     8.00     8.00

Romanian entities

     6.50     7.00

German entities

     5.14     5.15

Ukrainian entities

     14.00     14.00

Austrian entities

     3.75     —     

Expected return on plan assets

     N/A        N/A   

Rate of compensation increase

    

Russian entities

     6.88     7.29

Romanian entities

     4.34     5.37

German entities

     4.00     4.00

Ukrainian entities

     5.60     9.00

Austrian entities

     3.50     —     

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The results of sensitivity analysis of PBO as of December 31, 2012 are presented below:

 

     Change in PBO
as of  December 31, 2012
% from the “Base Case” PBO
 

Discount rate of 1% p.a. lower than “base case”

     7.6

Salary growth of 1% p.a. higher than “base case”

     2.6

Staff turnover rate plus 3% p.p. for all ages

     (7.7 %) 

The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost during the year ended December 31, 2013:

 

     2013  

Transition obligation (asset)

     —     

Net gain

     (2,305

Prior service cost

     1,836   
  

 

 

 

Total amounts expected to be recognized during 2012

     (469
  

 

 

 

The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid:

 

     2013      2014      2015      2016      2017      2018-2022      Total  

Pensions (including monthly financial support)

     5,056         4,203         4,182         4,208         4,231         19,300         41,180   

Other benefits

     13,257         5,199         5,490         5,812         6,349         31,234         67,341   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expected benefits to be paid

     18,313         9,402         9,672         10,020         10,580         50,534         108,521   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(b) Other postretirement benefit obligations

Upon the acquisition by the Group of the BCG Companies on May 7, 2009, the Group recognized the healthcare postretirement benefit obligations. The movements in accumulated postretirement benefit obligation were as follows during the year ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

 

     2012     2011     2010  

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at beginning of year

     44,772        40,534        27,109   

Service cost

     2,106        1,956        1,178   

Interest cost

     2,300        2,132        1,837   

Actuarial loss

     2,516        2,044        12,001   

Benefits paid

     (2,190     (1,894     (1,591
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at end of year

     49,504        44,772        40,534   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets were as follows as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

 

     December 31,
2012
     December 31,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Postretirement obligation, current portion

     1,731         1,470         1,259   

Postretirement obligation, net of current portion

     47,773         43,302         39,275   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total postretirement obligation

     49,504         44,772         40,534   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The components of net periodic benefit cost were as follows for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

 

     2012      2011      2010  

Service cost

     2,106         1,956         1,178   

Amortization of prior service cost

     670         603         144   

Interest cost

     2,300         2,132         1,837   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

     5,076         4,691         3,159   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

A summary of accumulated postretirement benefit obligation, employer contributions, benefits paid and funded status were as follows as of December 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

     December 31,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at end of year

     49,504        44,772   

Employer contributions

     2,189        1,894   

Benefits paid

     (2,189     (1,894

Funded status at end of year

     (49,504     (44,772

Amounts recognized in AOCI were as follows for the year ended December 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

     2012      2011  

Net actuarial loss

     20,020         18,174   

Other changes in assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income were as follows as of December 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

     December 31,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 

Net actuarial loss

     2,516        2,044   

Amortization of net loss

     (670     (603
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total recognized in other comprehensive income

     1,846        1,441   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Other information used in actuarial valuation as of December 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

     December 31,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 

Market-related value of assets as of beginning of fiscal period

     —           —     

Amount of future annual benefits of plan participants covered by insurance contracts issued by the employer or related parties

     —           —     

Alternative amortization methods used

     

Prior service cost

     N/A         N/A   

Unrecognized net (gain)/loss

     None         None   

Employer commitments to make future plan amendments (that serve as the basis for the employer’s accounting for the plan)

     None         None   

The key actuarial assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at December 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

     2012     2011  

Discount rate

     4.48     5.20

Expected return on plan assets

     N/A        N/A   

Rate of compensation increase

     N/A        N/A   

Healthcare cost trend rate

     9.00     9.50

Ultimate rate

     5.00     5.00

Number of years to reach ultimate rate

     7        10   

The key actuarial assumptions used to determine net benefit cost for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

     2012     2011  

Discount rate

     5.20     5.64

Expected return on plan assets

     N/A        N/A   

Healthcare cost trend assumed for the subsequent year

     9.50     10.00

Ultimate rate

     5.00     5.00

Number of years to reach ultimate rate

     9        10   

The results of sensitivity analysis of postretirement benefit obligations as of December 31, 2012 are presented below:

 

     Change in
postretirement
benefit

obligations
as of December 31,
2012
 

Annual effect of 1% point increase in healthcare cost trend on:

  

Service and interest cost components

     1,203   

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation

     8,541   

Annual effect of 1% point decrease in healthcare cost trend on:

  

Service and interest cost components

     (886

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation

     (6,782

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost during the year ended December 31, 2013:

 

     2013  

Transition obligation (asset)

     —     

Net loss

     805   

Prior service cost (credit)

     —     
  

 

 

 

Total amounts expected to be recognized during 2012

     805   
  

 

 

 

The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid:

 

     2013      2014      2015      2016      2017      2018-2022      Total  

Estimated future benefit payments
reflecting expected future service

     1,731         1,837         1,899         1,968         2,007         10,659         20,101   

 

17. FINANCE LEASES

In 2009-2012, several subsidiaries of the Group entered into agreements with third parties for the lease of transport and production equipment. The leases were classified as finance (capital) leases in accordance with ASC 840, “Leases”, as they contain a bargain purchase option and the title to the leased equipment transfers to the lessee at the end of the lease term.

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the net book value of the leased assets was as follows:

 

     December 31, 2012     December 31, 2011  

Transport equipment and vehicles

     562,199        471,416   

Operating machinery and equipment

     160,117        172,627   

Construction in progress

     13,989        596   

Less: accumulated depreciation

     (117,282     (73,037
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net value of property, plant and equipment, obtained under capital lease agreements

     619,023        571,602   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The carrying amount and maturities of capital lease liabilities as of December 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

     Total payable      Interest     Net payable  

Payable in 2013

     189,992         (57,902     132,090   

Payable in 2014

     162,221         (40,822     121,399   

Payable in 2015

     115,445         (26,464     88,981   

Payable in 2016

     78,078         (15,718     62,360   

Payable in 2017

     58,807         (7,810     50,997   

Payable thereafter

     25,275         (1,244     24,031   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capital lease liabilities

     629,818         (149,960     479,858   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The discount rate used for the calculation of the present value of minimum lease payments equals the implicit rate for the lessor and varies on different groups of equipment from 6.5% to 16.4% (U.S. dollar-denominated contracts), from 4.9% to 26.4% (euro-denominated contracts) and from 5.3% to 26.3% (ruble-denominated contracts). Interest expense charged to the accompanying Group’s statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) in 2012 and 2011 amounted to $69,388 and $52,679, respectively.

In 2011-2012, the Group signed several finance lease contracts under which leased property was expected to be received in 2013-2017. The total amount of commitments under these lease contracts as of December 31, 2012 is equal to $94,392.

 

18. EQUITY

 

(a) Capital stock

The capital stock of Mechel OAO consists of 497,969,086 authorized common shares with par value of 10 Russian rubles (approximately $0.0003), of which 416,270,745 common shares were outstanding as of December 31, 2012 and 2011.

 

(b) Preferred shares

On April 30, 2008, Mechel’s Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting adopted changes to its Charter, authorizing up to 138,756,915 preferred shares with a nominal value of 10 Russian rubles each for future issuances (representing 25% of the Mechel OAO’s share capital). Under the Russian law and the Mechel OAO’s Charter, these stocks are non-cumulative and have no voting rights, unless dividends are not paid in the year. The dividend yield is also fixed by the Charter and amounts to 0.2% of Mechel’s consolidated net income per 1% of preferred stocks issued.

 

(c) Dividends

In accordance with applicable legislation, Mechel and its subsidiaries can distribute all profits as dividends or transfer them to reserves. Dividends may only be declared from accumulated undistributed and unreserved earnings as shown in the statutory financial statements of both Russian and foreign Group’s subsidiaries. Dividends from Russian companies are generally subject to a 9% withholding tax for residents and 15% for non-residents, which can be reduced or eliminated if paid to foreign owners under certain applicable double tax treaties.

Effective January 1, 2008, intercompany dividends may be subject to a withholding tax of 0% (if at the date of dividends declaration, the dividend-recipient Russian company held a controlling (over 50%) interest in the share capital of the dividend payer for a period over one year, if the cost of acquisition of shares of the company paying dividends exceeded 500 million Russian rubles and the residence of the dividend distribution company is not included into the Ministry of Finance offshore list). Before 2011, dividends received by the Russian entities were subject to a profit tax of 0% only when all the relevant criteria described above were satisfied; otherwise the tax rate was 9%. One of the criteria was that the cost of the acquisition or receipt of ownership of the holding in the charter capital of the organization paying the dividends or depositary receipts conferring the right to receive dividends exceeds 500 million Russian rubles. This criterion was abolished by the Federal Law starting from January 1, 2011 in relation to the dividends accrued on the basis of results of the activities of organizations for 2010 and subsequent periods. Approximately $9,370,410 and $9,397,863 of statutory undistributed earnings were available for dividends as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

On June 6, 2011, Mechel declared a dividend of 5,816 million Russian rubles ($208,650) to its shareholders for 2010, out of which $78,281 was subject to the distribution to the holders of preferred shares. During July-December 2011, the dividends declared for 2010 were paid in full amount.

On June 6, 2012, Mechel declared a dividend of 5,959 million Russian rubles ($180,909) to its shareholders for 2011, out of which $79,056 was subject to the distribution to the holders of preferred shares. During 2012, the dividends declared for 2011 were paid in full amount.

 

(d) Earnings per share

Net income per common share for all periods presented was determined in accordance with FASB ASC 260, “Earnings Per Share” (“ASC 260”), by dividing income available to shareholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the three years ended December 31:

 

     2012     2011      2010  

Net (loss) income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders of Mechel OAO

     (1,635,195     657,974         649,033   

Total weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period

     416,270,745        416,270,745         416,270,745   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

(Loss) earnings per share from continuing operations (in U.S. dollars)

     (3.93     1.58         1.56   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     2012     2011     2010  

Net (loss) income from discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders of Mechel OAO

     (108,429     (8,370     (600

Total weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period

     416,270,745        416,270,745        416,270,745   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss per share effect of discontinued operations (in U.S. dollars)

     (0.26     (0.02     (0.00
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders of Mechel OAO for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 has been computed by deducting the dividends on preferred shares for the years then ended, declared on June 30, 2012 and 2011, in the amount of $79,056 and $78,281, respectively, from net income attributable to shareholders of Mechel OAO.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The total weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period was as follows:

 

Dates outstanding

   Shares
outstanding
     Fraction of
period (days)
     Weighted-average
number of shares
 

2010:

        

Common shares: January 1 – December 31

     416,270,745         365         416,270,745   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total weighted average shares outstanding during the period

     416,270,745            416,270,745   

2011:

        

Common shares: January 1 – December 31

     416,270,745         365         416,270,745   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total weighted average shares outstanding during the period

     416,270,745            416,270,745   

2012:

        

Common shares: January 1 – December 31

     416,270,745         365         416,270,745   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total weighted average shares outstanding during the period

     416,270,745            416,270,745   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

There were no dilutive securities issued as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

 

(e) Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests

In February-December 2010, the Group purchased 0.71% of SKCC from noncontrolling shareholders for $16,505 paid in cash. The transaction was accounted for as an equity transaction, and the difference between the fair value of the consideration paid and share of carrying value of net assets acquired, of $11,558, was attributed to additional paid-in capital.

On different dates from January through December 2011, the Group acquired 0.02% of voting shares of SKCC from third parties for $283 paid in cash. The purchase of noncontrolling interest in SKCC was accounted for as an equity transaction and was recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011.

In March 2012, the Group purchased 0.03% of BMP from noncontrolling shareholders for $33 paid in cash. The transaction was accounted for as an equity transaction, and the difference between the fair value of the consideration paid and share of carrying value of net assets acquired, of $21, was attributed to additional paid-in capital.

In October 2012, the Group purchased 1.63% of Izhstal from noncontrolling shareholders for $595 paid in cash. The transaction was accounted for as an equity transaction, and the difference between the fair value of the consideration paid and share of carrying value of net assets acquired, of $160, was attributed to additional paid-in capital.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

19. INCOME TAXES

(Loss) income from continuing operations, before income tax and discontinued operations attributable to different jurisdictions was as follows:

 

     Years ended December 31,  
     2012     2011     2010  

Russia

     (775,543     1,457,608        1,180,230   

Switzerland

     2,639        (57,874     61,583   

British Virgin Islands

     16,808        5,467        144,032   

Romania

     (340,988     (161,345     (114,597

Lithuania

     (10,832     (1,542     (3,514

Kazakhstan

     (104,772     (43,111     (48,751

USA

     (114,985     36,397        (34,223

Other

     (49,628     (63,033     (215,556
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     (1,377,301     1,172,567        969,204   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Years ended December 31,  
     2012     2011      2010  

Current income tax expense (benefit)

       

Russia

     239,714        323,134         195,529   

Switzerland

     (3,604     7,512         921   

Romania

     (94     1,153         80   

Lithuania

     —          —           —     

Kazakhstan

     1,395        5,783         531   

USA

     8        31         —     

Other

     7,771        15,355         4,215   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     245,190        352,968         201,276   

 

Deferred income tax expense (benefit)

      

Russia

     15,553        17,683        34,106   

Switzerland

     1,434        (999     (2,822

Romania

     (14,450     (592     (794

Lithuania

     (116     234        48   

Kazakhstan

     (8,853     (10,546     55,964   

USA

     (54,773     2,052        (8,007

Other

     (4,830     (50     (3,141
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (66,035     7,782        75,354   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total income tax expense

     179,155        360,750        276,630   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

In January 2013, the Group created the consolidated group of taxpayers in accordance with additions to part one of the Tax code of the Russian Federation, under the Federal law of the Russian Federation of November 16, 2011 No. 321-FZ. As of January 1, 2013, the consolidated group of taxpayers consisted of 16 subsidiaries of the Group, together with Mechel OAO, which is the responsible taxpayer under the agreement.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

For subsidiaries which are not included in the consolidated group of taxpayers, income taxes are calculated on an individual subsidiary basis. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized in the accompanying consolidated financial statements in the amount determined by the Group in accordance with ASC 740.

Taxes represent the Group’s provision for profit tax. During 2010-2012, income tax was calculated at 20% of taxable profit in Russia, at 10.8% in Switzerland, at 16% in Romania, at 15% in Lithuania, at 20% in Kazakhstan. The Group’s subsidiaries incorporated in Liechtenstein and British Virgin Islands are exempt from profit tax. In June 2011, new amendments in the tax legislation of the US resulted in the decrease in tax rate to 40.0% in 2012 from 40.5% in 2009-2011. In December 2010 the tax legislation of Ukraine was amended to decrease the statutory income tax rate gradually from 25% in 2010 to 23% from April 1, 2011, 21% from January 1, 2012, 19% from January 1, 2013 and 16% from January 1, 2014 and thereafter.

The changes in income tax rates are effective from January 1 in each of the respective years. As of December 31, 2012, and 2011, the effect of these changes in the total amount of $7,976 and $4,135 respectively, was recognized as a decrease (in 2011) and an increase (in 2012) in the income tax expense for the year then ended in the Group’s statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

The reconciliation between the income tax (benefit) expense computed by applying the Russian enacted statutory tax rates to the income from continuing operations before tax and noncontrolling interest, to the income tax expense reported in the financial statements is as follows:

 

     Years ended December 31,  
     2012     2011     2010  

Theoretical income tax (benefit) expense computed on income before taxes at Russian statutory rate (20%)

     (275,460     234,513        193,841   

Effects of other jurisdictions and permanent differences:

      

Non-deductible expenses and non-taxable income, net

     300,010        8,127        11,670   

Social expenditures

     4,705        9,355        1,102   

Change in valuation allowance

     159,033        73,730        55,179   

Change in unrecognized tax benefits under ASC 740

     17,598        (2,285     (12,965

Different tax rates in foreign jurisdictions

     (22,280     9,238        (34,919

Fines and penalties related to taxes

     6,002        2,743        (20

Change in tax rate and tax legislation

     (7,976     (4,135     59,635   

Effect from intragroup transactions

     —          28,002        —     

Other permanent differences

     (2,477     1,462        3,107   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax expense, as reported

     179,155        360,750        276,630   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The deferred tax balances were calculated by applying the currently enacted statutory tax rate in each jurisdiction applicable to the period in which the temporary differences between the carrying amounts and tax base (both in respective local currencies) of assets and liabilities are expected to reverse.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 

Deferred tax assets, current:

    

Inventory

     15,473        13,172   

Net operating loss carry-forwards

     61,170        23,185   

Bad debt allowance

     8,938        2,740   

Timing difference in cost recognition

     26,787        5,862   

Accrued liabilities

     10,236        6,925   

Vacation provision

     2,588        2,811   

Other

     5,910        1,097   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred tax asset, current

     131,102        55,792   

Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, current

     (80,828     (12,536
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred tax asset net of valuation allowance, current

     50,274        43,256   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets, non-current:

    

Net operating loss carry-forwards

     669,390        440,083   

Asset retirement obligation

     8,326        7,784   

Property, plant and equipment

     62,908        23,726   

Pension obligations

     19,579        17,931   

Other

     3,762        19,397   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets, non-current

     763,965        508,921   

Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, non-current

     (517,672     (334,993
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred tax asset net of valuation allowance, non-current

     246,293        173,928   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred tax asset, net

     296,567        217,184   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     December 31,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 

Deferred tax liabilities, current:

     

Timing difference in revenue recognition

     5,399         9,362   

Timing difference in cost recognition

     7,261         12,306   

Inventories

     37,851         39,187   

Bad debt allowance

     9,279         6,418   

Other

     9,311         6,469   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax liabilities, current

     69,101         73,742   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities, non-current:

     

Property, plant and equipment

     522,056         479,613   

Mineral licenses

     1,135,713         1,143,478   

Timing difference in cost recognition

     2,529         11,969   

Other

     18,771         1,532   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax liabilities, non-current

     1,679,069         1,636,592   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax liability

     1,748,170         1,710,334   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

A deferred tax liability of approximately $3,667 and $27,849 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, has not been recognized for temporary differences related to the Group’s investment in foreign subsidiaries primarily as a result of unremitted earnings of consolidated subsidiaries, as it is the Group’s intention, generally, to reinvest such earnings permanently.

Similarly, a deferred tax liability of $74,410 and $92,719 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, has not been recognized for temporary difference related to unremitted earnings of consolidated domestic subsidiaries as management believes the Group has both the ability and intention to effect a tax-free reorganization or merger of major subsidiaries into Mechel.

For financial reporting purposes, a valuation allowance is recognized to reflect management’s estimate for realization of the deferred tax assets. Valuation allowances are provided when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized in the future. These evaluations are based on expectations of future taxable income and reversals of the various taxable temporary differences. Deferred tax assets on net operating loss carry forwards which are considered to be realized in the future, are mostly related to the Russian, Kazakh and U.S. jurisdictions. For the Russian, Kazakh and U.S. income tax purposes, certain subsidiaries of the Group have accumulated tax losses incurred primarily in 2009-2011, which may be carried forward for use against their future income within 10 years in the full amounts.

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, deferred tax assets on net operating loss carry forwards for statutory income tax purposes amounted to $730,560 and $463,268, respectively. As management concluded that the utilization of a substantial portion of such losses is not probable, the valuation allowances in the amount of $542,970 and $347,529 were recorded against net operating loss carry forwards by the Group as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Unrecognized tax benefits

Unrecognized income tax benefits of $20,202, including interest and penalties of $3,499, as of December 31, 2012 and $2,190, including interest and penalties of $438, as of December 31, 2011 were recorded by the Group in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

The reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized income tax benefits, net of interest and penalties, is as follows:

 

     2012      2011  

Unrecognized income tax benefits at the beginning of year

     1,752         3,549   

Increases as a result of tax positions taken during a prior period (DEMP acquisition)

     —           143   

Increases as a result of tax positions taken during the current period

     14,537         —     

Decreases relating to settlements with tax authorities

     —           (2,029

Translation difference

     414         89   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Unrecognized income tax benefits at the end of year

     16,703         1,752   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

All unrecognized income tax benefits, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. Interest and penalties recognized in accordance with ASC 740 are classified in the financial statements as income taxes. The Group recognized interest and penalties of $3,061 and $189 in 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

As of December 31, 2012, the tax years ended December 31, 2010-2012 remained subject to examination by Russian tax authorities. As of December 31, 2012, the tax years ended December 31, 2007-2012 remained subject to examination by Swiss, Liechtenstein, Romanian, Belgium, Ukraine and the U.S. tax authorities. In some companies certain periods were reviewed by the tax authorities and based on the history the Group believes that probability of the repetitive review is less than 10%. Based on the underlying purchase agreement, any tax risks, which may be identified by the U.S. tax authorities for the period before the date of acquisition of the BCG Companies, will be imposed to the Seller.

Although the Group believes it is more likely than not that all recognized income tax benefits would be sustained upon examination, the Group has recognized some income tax benefits that have a reasonable possibility of successfully being challenged by the tax authorities.

 

20. TAXES OTHER THAN INCOME TAX

Taxes other than income tax included in the consolidated statements of operations are comprised of the following:

 

     Years ended December 31,  
     2012      2011      2010  

Property and land tax

     99,676         99,593         91,235   

VAT

     2,106         1,444         2,887   

Fines and penalties related to taxes

     2,534         291         1,881   

Other taxes and penalties

     22,831         1,460         14,737   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total taxes other than income tax

     127,147         102,788         110,740   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Property and land tax includes accruals for land tax, which amounted to $31,938, $39,855 and $37,775 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. This tax is levied on the land beneath the Group’s production subsidiaries that is occupied based on the right of ownership.

Property and land tax also includes expenses for the operating lease of land, which ranges between 1 and 49 years. These land lease expenses amounted to $38,161, $20,141 and $14,583 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The table below presents future land rental payments for the next five years under non-cancelable operating lease agreements based on the current rental rates:

 

Year of payment

   Operating
lease payments
 

2013

     60,428   

2014

     44,813   

2015

     45,427   

2016

     45,626   

2017

     43,693   

Included in other taxes and penalties related to taxes are $4,248, $2,524 relating to fees for the environmental restoration and air contaminant emission for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Included in other taxes and penalties related to taxes are $12,614 income relating to reversal of franchise tax and $5,137 and $21,429 income relating to recalculation of mining taxes that belong to previous financial years for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

21. GENERAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES

General, administrative and other operating expenses are comprised of the following:

 

     Years ended December 31,  
     2012     2011     2010  

Personnel and social contributions

     345,299        326,849        274,484   

Office expenses

     50,978        55,311        47,197   

Audit and consulting services

     28,648        29,330        26,430   

Depreciation

     23,908        23,257        24,262   

Social expenses

     23,890        48,487        24,190   

Consumables

     18,284        23,393        14,410   

Banking charges and services

     17,546        17,271        13,891   

Settlement of litigation

     16,608        —          —     

Rent

     10,463        12,520        7,776   

Business trips

     7,896        10,704        9,320   

Insurance

     7,574        8,025        7,077   

Mitigation of accidents consequences

     4,388        17,786        3,685   

Contributions to Mechel Fund

     —          8,915        —     

Obligation for stream mitigation

     —          8,364        51   

Disposals of property, plant and equipment

     (5,311     (7,428     783   

Other

     37,521        26,063        29,437   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total general, administrative and other operating expenses

     587,692        608,847        482,993   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Contributions to Mechel Fund included founder contributions to the pension fund made by a number of the Group’s entities in the total amount of $8,915 during the year ended December 31, 2011, which based on the management’s interpretation of the Russian legislation do not meet the definition of an asset.

Obligation for stream mitigation in the total amount of $8,364 and $51 during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, represents the cost of removal of the negative environmental impact of the BCG Companies’ mining operations according to Compensatory Mitigation Plans submitted to the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Settlement of litigation in the total amount of $16,608 during the year ended December 31, 2012, represents an accrual for a lawsuit settlement between Suncoke and the BCG Companies for failure of performance of its obligations under contracts to supply coal to Suncoke in 2008.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

22. OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES), NET

Other income (expenses), net is comprised of the following:

 

     Years ended December 31,  
     2012     2011     2010  

(Loss) gain resulting from remeasurement of contingent liability

     (1,906     (1,760     (1,630

Gain (loss) on sale of investments

     2,166        (6     (2,589

Gain on forgiveness of fines and penalties

     2,777        47        —     

Gain on accounts payable with expired legal term

     4,057        5,390        5,523   

Gain from bargain purchase

     —          —          7,515   

Loss on remeasurement of equity interest (refer to Note 3(d))

     —          —          (2,044

Loss on currency operations

     (3,933     (6,078     (6,408

Other taxes

     —          (6,081     (5,743

Dividends received

     25,981        28        1,036   

Other income (expenses), net

     1,090        1,458        (4,191
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income (expenses), net

     30,232        (7,002     (8,531
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gain on accounts payable with expired legal term constitutes gain on the write-off of payable amounts that were written-off due to legal liquidation of the creditors or expiration of the statute of limitation.

During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Group received dividends from cost investments of $25,981, $28 and $1,036, respectively.

 

23. IMPAIRMENT OF GOODWILL AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS

As of December 31, 2012, the Group performed an impairment analysis of goodwill at all reporting units where events occur that could potentially lead to the impairment. The Group considers the relationship between market capitalization and its book value, among other factors, when reviewing for indicators of impairment. In addition, the Group’s long-lived assets were tested for recoverability at those reporting units, where events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Cash flow forecasts used in the test were based on the assumptions as of December 31, 2012.

The forecasted period for non-mining subsidiaries of the Group was assumed to be five years to reach stabilized cash flows, and the value beyond the forecasted period was based on the terminal growth rate of 2.5%. For mining subsidiaries of the Group the forecasted period was based on the remaining life of the mines. Cash flows projections were prepared using assumptions that comparable market participants would use.

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Forecasted inflation rates for the period 2013-2017 that were used in cash flow projections were as follows:

 

Region

   2013     2014     2015     2016     2017  

Russia

     7     6     6     6     6

USA

     3     2     2     2     2

Bulgaria

     4     4     4     4     4

Romania

     4     4     4     4     4

Other European countries

     2     2     2     2     2

Kazakhstan

     7     6     6     6     6

Ukraine

     7     6     6     6     6

Discount rates were estimated in nominal terms on the weighted average cost of capital basis. To discount cash flows projections, the Group used similar discount rates for Russia, Eastern Europe, Kazakhstan, and the USA, assuming that this approach reflected market rates for investments of a similar risk as of December 31, 2012 in these regions. These rates, estimated for each year for the forecasted period, are as follows:

 

     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017  

Discount rate

     10.49     10.68     10.74     10.68     10.51

Based on the results of the impairment analysis of long-lived assets, including definite-lived intangibles and goodwill performed by the Group during the year ended December 31, 2012, an impairment loss of $707,891 was recognized. As a result of the continued downturn in the nickel price and margin deterioration, the Group recognized impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets in relation to its Ferroalloy segment reporting unit, SUNP. Additionally, as a result of the fall in prices for commodities, the extension of the European market weakness and lack of positive prospects for the recovery of the European market, the Group recognized impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets in relation to its Steel segment (Ductil Steel S.A., Nemunas, Mechel Targoviste S.A., Laminorul S.A., Mechel Campia Turzii S.A., Donetsk Electrometallurgical Plant (DEMP), Cognor) and Ferroalloy segment (SUNP, Kaznikel) reporting units.

The expected revenue growth was lower than the assumptions made at the acquisition of these reporting units. Impairment losses of continuing operations are recognized and presented in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) in Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets line.

According to the results of the impairment analysis of goodwill, an impairment loss of $368,919 for the year ended December 31, 2012 was recognized in the following reporting units:

 

Reporting unit

   Segment    Impairment loss as for the year
ended
December 31, 2012
 

DEMP

   Steel      205,522   

Ductil Steel S.A.

   Steel      92,398   

Cognor

   Steel      62,118   

SUNP

   Ferroalloy      6,950   

Nemunas

   Steel      1,931   
     

 

 

 

Total

        368,919   
     

 

 

 

 

 

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MECHEL OAO

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

According to the results of the impairment analysis of long-lived assets, an impairment loss of $338,972 for the year ended December 31, 2012 was recognized in the following reporting units:

 

Reporting unit

   Segment    Impairment loss as for the year
ended

December 31, 2012
 

Ductil Steel S.A.

   Steel      115,181   

SUNP

   Ferroalloy      94,249   

Mechel Targoviste S.A.

   Steel      48,806   

Kazakhstansky Nickel Mining Company

   Ferroalloy      22,679   

Laminorul S.A

   Steel      29,933   

Mechel Campia Turzii S.A

   Steel      19,727   

Nemunas

   Steel      8,397   
     

 

 

 

Total

        338,972   
     

 

 

 

According to the results of the impairment analysis of goodwill as of December 31, 2012, the following reporting units have the estimated fair values that are not substantially in excess of their carrying values and goodwill for such reporting units, if impaired, could materially impact the Group’s results:

 

Reporting unit

   Segment      The excess of fair value
over carrying value
    Goodwill allocated to the
reporting unit
 

Kuzbass Power Sales Company (KPSC)

     Power         2     64,112   

The material assumptions that drive the estimated fair values of KPSC are represented by projected electricity prices, sales volumes, steam coal prices, discount rates. Some of these assumptions materially deviate from the Group’s historical results primarily due to the market downturns and economic slowdowns in the recent years in Russia, where KPSC are located. All these material assumptions are based on the Group’s projections and are subject to risk and uncertainty.

Based on the sensitivity analysis carried out as of December 31, 2012, the following minimum changes in key assumptions used in the goodwill impairment test would trigger the impairment of goodwill at some reporting units (the actual impairment loss that the Group would need to recognize under these hypotheses would depend on the appraisal of the fair values of the reporting unit’s assets, which has not been conducted):

 

   

0.1% decrease in future planned revenues;

 

   

0.1% point increase in discount rates for each year within the forecasted period;

 

   

0.2% point decrease in cash flows growth rate after the forecasted period.

The Group believes that the values assigned to key assumptions and estimates represent the most realistic assessment of future trends.

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

24. SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Group has four reportable business segments: Steel, Mining, Ferroalloy and Power. These segments are combinations of subsidiaries and have separate management teams and offer different products and services. The above four segments meet criteria for reportable segments. Subsidiaries are consolidated by the segment to which they belong based on their products and by which they are managed.

The Group’s management evaluates performance of the segments based on segment revenues, gross margin, operating income and income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest.

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Segmental information for 2012, 2011 and 2010 is as follows:

 

    2012     2011     2010  
    Mining     Steel     Ferro-
alloy
    Power     Elimina-
tions
*****
    Total     Mining     Steel     Ferro-
alloy
    Power     Elimina-
tions
*****
    Total     Mining     Steel     Ferro-
alloy
    Power     Elimina-
tions
*****
    Total  

Revenues from external customers

    3,297,560        6,803,413        416,721        757,239          11,274,933        4,173,799        7,154,417        475,254        737,675          12,541,145        3,055,914        5,586,224        455,199        649,309          9,746,646   

Intersegment revenues

    717,495        267,908        87,411        483,873          1,556,687        1,018,229        310,416        199,191        506,807          2,034,643        800,250        247,453        173,853        409,015          1,630,571   

Gross margin

    1,884,096        1,045,017        (35,321     309,351        47,580        3,250,723        2,867,839        1,123,573        30,821        312,422        (30,317     4,304,338        2,091,644        1,103,763        93,541        299,010        (20,924     3,567,034   

Gross margin*, %

    46.9     14.8     -7.0     24.9       28.8     55.2     15.1     4.6     25.1       34.3     54.2     18.9     14.9     28.3       36.6

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    317,005        169,582        88,969        10,662          586,218        328,521        125,987        89,986        11,863          556,357        281,392        110,910        67,303        14,456          474,061   

Loss on write-off of property, plant and equipment

    7,294        3,463        598        74          11,429        8,225        1,965        816        —            11,006        2,993        3,039        4,744        —            10,776   

Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets

    —          (583,985     (123,906     —            (707,891     —          —          —          —            —          —          —          —          —            —     

Provision for amounts due from related parties

    (22,668     (896,445     —          —            (919,113     —          —          —          —            —          —          —          —          —            —     

Operating income (loss)

    644,278        (1,364,557     (259,896     34,720        47,580        (897,875     1,691,385        191,749        (44,912     32,199        (30,317     1,840,104        1,185,892        297,557        22,958        46,729        (20,924     1,532,212   

Income/(loss) from equity investees

    475        —          —          —            475        304        —          —          —            304        (10     8        —          1,186          1,184   

Interest income

    50,599        19,814        59        37          70,509        8,864        7,668        48        205          16,785        11,275        5,570        184        138          17,167   

Intersegment interest income

    50,896        2,113        —          —            53,009        130,096        5,709        2,069        —            137,874        122,001        29,166        5,166        —            156,333   

Interest expense**

    280,597        341,064        29,109        18,583          669,353        310,121        221,494        20,545        8,388          560,548        333,633        201,085        22,112        1,454          558,284   

Intersegment interest expense

    190        42,121        4,909        5,789          53,009        197        97,462        31,023        9,192          137,874        51        27,057        111,129        18,096          156,333   

Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

    —          —          —          (108,429       (108,429     —          —          —          (8,370       (8,370     —          —          —          (600       (600

Segment assets***

    9,669,628        5,636,905        1,904,932        483,838          17,695,303        10,134,892        6,391,790        2,226,695        556,422          19,309,799        8,159,792        4,863,128        2,186,668        568,598          15,778,186   

Assets of discontinued operations****

    —          —          —          59,223          59,223        —          —          —          166,817          166,817        —          —          —          180,043          180,043   

Invesments in equity investees****

    7,475        378        —          —            7,853        8,150        —          —          —            8,150        8,764        —          —          —            8,764   

Goodwill****

    478,636        32,491        96,471        191,249          798,847        451,627        319,782        97,621        180,484          1,049,514        475,270        116,157        103,127        189,645          884,199   

Capital expenditures

    612,225        360,573        46,258        9,744          1,028,800        1,209,736        538,995        62,143        16,122          1,826,996        621,927        315,246        41,712        12,667          991,552   

Income tax (expense)/ benefit

    (153,495     (25,251     2,849        (3,258       (179,155     (302,919     (48,613     (1,747     (7,471       (360,750     (185,807     (20,953     (64,616     (5,254       (276,630

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

* Gross margin percentage is calculated as a function of total revenues for the segment, including both from external customers and intersegment.
** Interest expense incurred by the production subsidiaries is included in the corresponding segment. Directly attributed interest expense incurred by the servicing subsidiaries (trading houses and corporate) is included in the appropriate segment based on the nature and purpose of the debt, while the interest expense related to general financing of the Group is allocated to segments proportionate to respective segment revenues.
*** Net of effects of intersegment eliminations
**** Included in total segment assets.
***** Eliminations represent adjustments for the elimination of intersegment unrealized profit (loss).

The amount of electricity transmission costs, included in the selling and distribution expenses of power segment, for 2012, 2011 and 2010 is $221,511, $226,056 and, $208,912, respectively.

The following table presents the Group’s revenues segregated between domestic and export sales. Domestic represents sales by a subsidiary in the country in which it is located. This category is further divided between subsidiaries located in Russia and other countries. Export represents cross-border sales by a subsidiary regardless of its location.

 

     2012      2011      2010  

Domestic:

        

Russia

     5,517,592         5,699,912         4,787,251   

Other

     1,325,122         1,433,383         766,255   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     6,842,714         7,133,295         5,553,506   

Export

     4,432,219         5,407,850         4,193,140   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenue, net

     11,274,933         12,541,145         9,746,646   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Allocation of total revenue by country is based on the location of the customer. The Group’s total revenue from external customers by geographic area for the last three fiscal years was as follows:

 

     2012      2011      2010  

Russia

     5,563,962         5,727,424         4,803,407   

Europe

     1,976,550         2,676,151         1,839,543   

Asia

     1,681,242         1,557,307         1,271,586   

CIS

     1,026,929         1,030,807         646,371   

Middle East

     670,808         916,088         908,694   

USA

     137,385         238,812         97,371   

Other regions

     218,057         394,556         179,674   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     11,274,933         12,541,145         9,746,646   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

The majority of the Group’s long-lived assets are located in Russia and the US. The carrying amounts of long-lived assets pertaining to the Group’s major operations located outside Russia as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:

 

     2012      2011  

USA

     2,188,341         2,253,571   

CIS

     1,660,489         1,762,393   

Romania

     7,230         228,564   

Bulgaria

     94         48,545   

Germany

     39,908         43,132   

Lithuania

     7         8,672   

Turkey

     5,680         5,686   

Switzerland/Liechtenstein

     259         95   

Chezh Republic

     17,956         951   

Austria

     25,928         —     

Other

     15,985         10,896   

Because of the significant number of customers, there are no individual external customers that generate sales greater than 10% of the Group’s consolidated total revenue.

The following table presents the breakdown the Group’s revenues from external customers by major products:

 

     December 31,
2012
     December 31,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Mining segment:

        

Coal and middlings

     2,419,203         3,256,129         2,187,108   

Iron ore concentrate

     444,672         370,086         338,771   

Coke and chemical products

     366,982         451,207         408,456   

Other

     66,703         96,377         121,579   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     3,297,560         4,173,799         3,055,914   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Power segment:

        

Electricity

     671,283         580,730         558,119   

Other

     85,956         156,945         91,190   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     757,239         737,675         649,309   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Steel segment:

        

Long steel products

     2,884,918         3,076,496         2,266,765   

Semi-finished steel products

     1,163,208         1,300,120         1,235,592   

Hardware

     888,918         944,269         723,014   

Flat steel products

     635,810         739,468         487,337   

Forgings and stampings

     442,581         469,291         312,372   

Steel pipes

     260,649         240,589         114,819   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other

     527,329         384,184         446,325   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     6,803,413         7,154,417         5,586,224   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

     December 31,
2012
     December 31,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Ferroalloy segment:

        

Nickel

     165,724         255,155         251,648   

Chrome

     131,252         105,744         93,551   

Ferrosilicon

     65,591         84,740         91,666   

Other

     54,154         29,615         18,334   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     416,721         475,254         455,199   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenue

     11,274,933         12,541,145         9,746,646   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

25. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

In the course of carrying out its operations and other activities, the Group and its subsidiaries enter into various agreements, which would require the Group to invest in or provide financing to specific projects or undertakings. In management’s opinion, these commitments are entered into under standard terms, which are representative of each specific project’s potential and should not result in an unreasonable loss.

As of December 31, 2012, the total Group’s contractual commitments to acquire property, plant and equipment amounted to $1,428,520.

Included in the commitments related to acquisition of property, plant and equipment are amounts arising from various purchase agreements in respect of railway construction for the Elga project. The total amount of remaining commitments under the construction contracts as of December 31, 2012 is equal to $844,910.

The BCG Companies utilize coal preparation and loading facilities on their property that are owned and operated by third parties. The agreements covering the BCG Companies use of these facilities expire in 2016 and require minimum payment amounts should the BCG Companies fail to achieve defined throughput levels. These minimum amounts total $3,960 annually for the period from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015 and $2,640 in 2016.

Contingencies

 

(a) Guarantees

As of December 31, 2012, the Group guaranteed the fulfillment of obligations to third parties for the total amount of $2,068. These guarantees are given by the Group under mortgage loans provided to individuals.

 

(b) Environmental

In the course of the Group’s operations, the Group may be subject to environmental claims and legal proceedings. The quantification of environmental exposures requires an assessment of many factors, including changing laws and regulations, improvements in environmental technologies, the quality of information available related to specific sites, the assessment stage of each site investigation, preliminary findings and the length of

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

time involved in remediation or settlement. The BCG Companies are subject to extensive U.S. laws, government regulations and other requirements relating to the protection of the environment, health and safety and other matters, which could impose additional costs to the Group. The U.S. regulatory agencies have the authority to temporarily or permanently close the BCG Companies’ mines or modify their operations because the operations of the BCG Companies may impact the environment or cause or contribute to contamination or exposure to hazardous substances, which could result in environmental liabilities and limit the Group’s ability to produce and sell coal in the United States. Management does not believe that any pending environmental claims or proceedings will have a material adverse effect on its financial position and results of operations.

The Group estimated the total amount of capital investments to address environmental concerns at its various subsidiaries at $8,992 as of December 31, 2012. These amounts are not accrued in the consolidated financial statements until actual capital investments are made.

Possible liabilities, which were identified by management as those that can be subject to potential claims from environmental authorities are not accrued in the consolidated financial statements. The amount of such liabilities was not significant.

 

(c) EU ascension commitments

Integration of Romania into the European Union (“EU”) required, in particular, adoption of a new national strategy aimed at restructuring of major metallurgical entities, including Mechel Targoviste S.A. and Mechel Campia Turzii S.A. As an integral part of the restructuring process, individual viability plans agreed with EU consultants are to be incorporated into the business plans of entities. Implementation of these plans and achievement of the targets should be provided by investors in accordance with their contractual obligations under privatization contracts. Viability plans of Mechel Targoviste S.A. and Mechel Campia Turzii S.A. include additional investments into technology development and ecology improvement. After the completion of the restructuring, key business performance indicators of both companies are to be in line with effectiveness requirements of the EU.

In September 2010, the European Commission confirmed the compliance of Mechel Targoviste S.A. and Mechel Campia Turzii S.A. with all the key benchmark indicators required.

 

(d) Taxation

The Group is subject to taxation to the largest extent in Russia, and secondarily in other jurisdictions. Russian tax, currency and customs legislation is subject to varying interpretations, and changes, which can occur frequently. Management’s interpretation of such legislation as applied to the transactions and activity of the Group may be challenged by the relevant regional and federal authorities. Recent events within the Russian Federation suggest that the tax authorities are taking a more assertive position in its interpretation of the legislation and assessments and as a result, it is possible that transactions and activities that have not been challenged in the past may be challenged. As such, significant additional taxes, penalties and interest may be assessed. Fiscal periods remain open to review by the authorities in respect of taxes for three calendar years preceding the year of review. Under certain circumstances reviews may cover longer periods.

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

In Russia, generally tax declarations remain open and subject to inspection for a period of three years. The fact that a year has been reviewed does not close that year, or any tax declaration applicable to that year, from further review during the three-year period.

In other tax jurisdictions where the Group conducts operations or holds shares, taxes are generally charged on the income arising in that jurisdiction. In some jurisdictions agreements to avoid double taxation are signed between different jurisdictions; however, the risk of additional taxation exists, especially in respect of certain domiciles where some of the Group entities are located and which are considered to be tax havens.

The new Russian transfer pricing legislation, which came into force on January 1, 2012, allows the Russian tax authority to apply transfer pricing adjustments and impose additional profits tax liabilities in respect of all “controlled” transactions if the transaction price differs from the market level of prices. The list of “controlled” transactions includes transactions performed with related parties and certain types of cross-border transactions. For domestic transactions the transfer pricing rules apply only if the amount of all transaction with related party exceeds 3 billion Russian rubles in 2012. In cases where the domestic transaction resulted in an accrual of additional tax liabilities for one party, another party could correspondingly adjust its profit tax liabilities according to the special notification issued by the authorized body in due course.

The current Russian transfer pricing rules have considerably increased the compliance burden for the taxpayers compared to the transfer pricing rules which were in effect before 2012 due to, inter alia, shifting the burden of proof from the Russian tax authorities to the taxpayers. These rules are applicable not only to the transactions taking place in 2012 but also to the prior transactions with related parties if related income and expenses were recognized in 2012. Special transfer pricing rules apply to transactions with securities and derivatives.

Due to the uncertainty and absence of current practice of application of the current Russian transfer pricing legislation the Russian tax authorities may challenge the level of prices applied by the Group under the “controlled” transactions and accrue additional tax liabilities unless the Group is able to demonstrate the use of market prices with respect to the “controlled” transactions, and that there has been proper reporting to the Russian tax authorities, supported by appropriate available transfer pricing documentation.

Management believes that it has paid or accrued all taxes that are applicable. Where uncertainty exists, the Group has accrued tax liabilities based on management’s best estimate of the probable outflow of resources embodying economic benefits, which will be required to settle these liabilities. In accordance with FASB ASC 450, “Contingencies” (“ASC 450”), the Group accrued $39,274 and $12,179 of other tax claims that management believes are probable, as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. In addition, income tax accrual was made under ASC 740 (refer to Note 19).

As of December 31, 2012, the Group does not believe that any other material tax matters exist relating to the Group, including current pending or future governmental claims and demands, which would require adjustment to the accompanying financial statements in order for those statements not to be materially misstated or misleading.

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

Possible liabilities, which were identified by management as those that can be subject to different interpretations of the tax law and regulations are not accrued in the consolidated financial statements. The amount of such liabilities was approximately $20,000.

 

(e) Litigation, claims and assessments

The Group is subject to various lawsuits and claims with respect to such matters as personal injury, wrongful death, damage to property, exposure to hazardous substances, governmental regulations including environmental remediation, employment and contract disputes and other claims and actions arising out of the normal course of business. In the cases related to the U.S. subsidiaries, insurance or other indemnification protection is generally available to the Group from the previous owners, which should offset the financial impact on the Group, if any. Therefore, management’s current estimates related to these pending claims, individually and in the aggregate, are immaterial to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Group. If the Group is unable to recover the losses from the previous owners, it is reasonably possible that the ultimate liabilities with respect to these lawsuits and claims may be material to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Group.

In 2008, Pinnacle Mining Company (“Pinnacle”) filed a suit against the Group’s US subsidiary and a third party engineering firm in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Beckley, West Virginia. Pinnacle asserts claims against defendants for negligence, strict liability, violation of the Federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, and injunctive relief. The case arises from mining activity by the Group’s subsidiary in the “safety zone” of a coal slurry impoundment maintained by Pinnacle. The parties filed a joint motion to stay, and the court granted the stay, which has allowed additional time for the regulatory agencies involved to determine what steps are necessary for remediation. A plan has been submitted by the defendants and was approved by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (“WVDEP”). The Group completed an installation of pumps to dewater the mine in accordance with the plan. At present, the Group has an unresolved issue regarding Pinnacle’s access to the underground part of the mine. The Group is defending the matter and anticipates settlement of this matter between $500 and $1,000.

The Group’s US subsidiary is a defendant in a case brought in September 2008 in the Circuit Court of Ohio County by Mountain State Carbon, LLC. The lawsuit alleges breach of contract, implied duty of good faith and fair dealing against the Group’s US subsidiary. Mountain State claims damages of $4,500.

The Group does not expect to suffer any losses resulting from these lawsuits that related to event prior to the Group’s acquisition of the BCG Companies as it has full indemnity from the BCG Companies’ previous owners in accordance with the terms of the acquisition agreement.

In April 2009, a person who had been a noncontrolling Group’s shareholder between October 2007 and July 2008, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claiming that the Group had not disclosed significant facts of the Group’s financial position, business activities among the Group’s subsidiaries and improper conduct of business through the use of transfer pricing on sales of coal and tax evasion. Claims were based on the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russian Federation decision and press publications around it. The amount of claims and evidences of the Group’s alleged wrong-doing were not stated in the suit. During 2010, the court heard motions of both parties and accepted the motion from the Group. In

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

August 2011, the district court granted the Group’s motion to dismiss the amended complaint and agreed with the Group that the plaintiffs had not pled and could not plead any motive on the part of the individual defendants to have misled investors. The court did not allow the plaintiffs to amend their complaint.

In September 2011, the plaintiffs filed a notice of their intent to appeal the district court’s decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the second circuit. In March 2012, U.S. Court of Appeals heard oral arguments and, on April 11, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit fully affirmed the decision of the District Court. No further appeals followed, and the decision of the District Court became final.

 

(f) Drilling Program

On acquisition of the BCG Companies, the purchase price included contingent payment, which depends on the results of additional geological researches of the reserves of the BCG companies (“Drilling program”). Organization and completion of the Drilling Program by independent experts is the sellers’ responsibility, and was supposed to be fulfilled until July, 2011. Each tonne of the additional coal reserves and resources will be remitted to the sellers at $3.04 per tonne if the payment occurs on May 7, 2014, and will be discounted in case of earlier repayment. In September 2011, the Group received a letter prepared by independent expert, related to the results of the Drilling Program. The letter appears to state that approximately 54.8 million tonnes of additional coal resources ($3.04 per tonne) were identified pursuant to the Drilling Program. The Group believes that the content of the letter does not support its conclusions, and for that and a number of other reasons the letter is deficient. The Group has requested additional supporting data and information to evaluate the results of the Drilling Program. The amount recorded as a liability in respect of the Drilling Program was $25,665 and $23,759 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively (refer to Note 14).

 

(g) Russian business environment

Russia continues economic reforms and development of its legal, tax and regulatory frameworks as required by a market economy. The future stability of the Russian economy is largely dependent upon these reforms and developments and the effectiveness of economic, financial and monetary measures undertaken by the government.

The Russian economy is vulnerable to market downturns and economic slowdowns elsewhere in the world. The global financial crisis has resulted in uncertainty regarding further economic growth, availability of financing and cost of capital, which could negatively affect the Group’s future financial position, results of operations and business prospects.

Management believes it is taking appropriate measures to support the sustainability of the Group’s business in the current circumstances.

 

26. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

(a) Vanino Sea Trade Port acquisition

On December 7, 2012, the Group won an auction to acquire 74,195 common shares (73.33% of the total common shares or 55% of the total shares) of Vanino Sea Trade Port OAO (“Port Vanino”), the largest seaport in Khabarovsk Krai, located in the Tatar Strait in Russia, for 15.5 billion Russian rubles ($501,444 as of the auction date).

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

On January 9, 2013, the shares of Port Vanino were transferred and the Group made a cash payment of 15.5 billion Russian rubles. On the same date, 72,780 of the acquired shares were sold to several Russian and foreign investors (“Investors”).

On January 28, 2013, the Group acquired additional 21,892 common shares (21.64% of the total common shares or 16.23% of the total shares) and 16,039 preferred shares (47.56% of the total preferred shares or 11.89% of the total shares) of Port Vanino from a minority shareholder. The aggregate consideration for the preferred shares was 275 million Russian rubles ($9,152) and was fully paid. The maximum aggregate consideration for the common shares is 4.77 billion Russian rubles ($158,817) which is to be paid by October 2013. The Group has an option to sell and to require one of the Investors to buy 22,707 common shares and 16,039 preferred shares for the maximum aggregate price of $174,611. The option can be exercised by October 2013.

The purchases resulted in 23,307 common shares and 16,039 preferred shares being held by the Group. These shares represent 29.2% of the total share capital of Port Vanino, or 23.04% of the total common shares, which enables the Group to have significant influence over the operations of the investee.

This acquisition will be accounted for using the equity method of accounting and will be included within long-term investments in related parties as of January 28, 2013.

In addition to the information disclosed with respect to this acquisition, ASC 805 requires the Group to disclose the amounts to be recognized at the acquisition date for assets acquired and liabilities assumed. It is impracticable to disclose this information because the Group has not completed the purchase price allocation as of the date when the financial statements were available to be issued.

 

(b) Romanian Plants disposal

During the period from February 15, 2013 through February 18, 2013, the Group disposed of a 86.6% interest in Mechel Targoviste S.A., a 86.6% interest in Mechel Campia Turzii S.A., a 100% interest in Ductil Steel and a 90.9% interest in Laminorul S.A. for a nominal consideration of 230 Romanian lei ($0.1 as of the date of agreement) paid in cash. The disposal is consistent with the Group’s strategy aimed at development of its core business, in particular consolidating the Group’s leading position as a metallurgical coal producer.

All disposed companies are accounted for in the Steel segment. The carrying amounts of major classes of assets and liabilities of disposed companies as of December 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

     December 31, 2012  

Cash and cash equivalents

     2,890   

Other current assets

     106,546   

Property, plant and equipment

     1,136   

Other non-current assets

     524   

Current liabilities

     (155,283

Non-current liabilities

     (12,032

Net debt to other Group’s subsidiaries

     (443,118
  

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

     —     

Total net assets (liabilities)

     (499,337
  

 

 

 

Goodwill

     —     

Noncontrolling interests

     37,587   

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended

December 31, 2012

(All amounts are in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless stated otherwise)

 

There were no significant subsequent write-downs of the carrying value of net assets to the fair value less cost to sell. The fair value of Group’s net receivables from the disposed companies as of the disposal date is $nil.

 

(c) New borrowings

Subsequent to December 31, 2012, significant new borrowing agreements entered into by the Group were as follows:

In March 2013, Mechel-Trans entered into a short-term credit facility with Moscow Credit Bank for the total amount of $55,000 falling due in March 2014. The facility bears interest at 8.0% p.a.

In April 2013, Mechel OAO entered into an amended agreement with VTB Bank for the total amount of 40 billion Russian rubles ($1,282,698 at the exchange rate as of the agreement date) falling due in April 2018. The facility ceases to be revolving and consists of three tranches with the purpose to refinance the existing debt. All tranches bear interest at Mosprime 3M plus a Margin varying in the range 2.65-4.95% depending on the “Net Borrowings to EBITDA” ratio calculated on the basis of the Group’s consolidated financial statements. Repayment of the debt under all tranches is made in sixteen equal quarterly payments. The borrower’s obligations under the loan agreement are guaranteed by BFP, CMP, Mechel-Trans, Mechel Service and Mechel Trading Ltd. and secured by the pledge of 25% plus 1 shares of Mechel-Mining OAO. In accordance with ASC 470-10-45-14, the Group reclassified current borrowings in the aggregate amount of $823,108 to long-term debt as of December 31, 2012 based on the long-term refinancing arrangement agreed with VTB in April 2013.

In April 2013, Mechel-Trans entered into a short-term credit facility with Moscow Credit Bank for the total amount of $33,000 falling due in April 2014. The facility bears interest at 8.0% p.a.

In April 2013, Ural Stamping Plant entered into a long-term revolving credit facility with Gazprombank for the total amount of 1.6 billion Russian rubles ($51,811 at the exchange rate as of the agreement date) falling due in April 2016. The facility bears interest at 10.2% p.a. The borrower’s obligations under the loan agreement are guaranteed by Mechel OAO, Mechel Service, Mechel Energo, BMP and CMP and secured by the pledge of 25% plus 1 shares of USP and 25% plus 1 shares of Izhstal.

In April 2013, BMP entered into a long-term revolving credit facility with Gazprombank for the total amount of 1.7 billion Russian rubles ($55,049 at the exchange rate as of the agreement date) falling due in April 2016. The facility bears interest at 10.2% p.a. The borrower’s obligations under the loan agreement are guaranteed by Mechel OAO, Mechel Service, Mechel-Energo, USP and CMP and secured by the pledge of 25% plus 1 shares of USP and 25% plus 1 shares of Izhstal.

 

 

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