Regulator clears way for URALCHEM to float shares abroad
MOSCOW. Aug 7 (Interfax) - The Federal Financial Markets Service (FFMS) has granted permission for Russian fertilizer producer URALCHEM to place 125 million common shares outside of Russia, the FFMS said in a statement.
URALCHEM said in a report under Russian accounting standards (RAS) for 2008 that it has charter capital of 500 million common shares with par value of four rubles each. The company could thus float up to 25% of its stock outside Russia.
URALCHEM in April announced plans to sell about 20% of its shares in an initial public offering in the fall. Ahead of the IPO, the company planned to place 45 million new shares with par value of 20 rubles in a private subscription to Cyprus-based ACF-Agrochem Finance Limited and URALCHEM Management Co. The placement could have increased charter capital by 45%, with the new shares accounting for 31%.
But in September the company's board of directors reversed the decision to issue new shares.
An official URALCHEM spokesman told Interfax that the company has returned to plans to hold an IPO. "We have analyzed the company's financial report for the last six months as well as the market and decided to continue steps in this direction [IPO preparations]," the spokesman said.
The spokesman declined to name a timeframe for the IPO or the amount of shares the company plans to float. "At this stage, it's difficult to talk about the volume or date of the placement. We are simply carrying out gradual work to prepare for the IPO," the spokesman said.
URALCHEM was formed in 2007 with chemical assets controlled by Dmitry Mazepin. The company includes controlling stakes in the Kirovo-Chepetsky Chemicals Plant, Perm's Azot and Voskresensk Mineral Fertilizers, and a 7.5% stake in Togliattiazot.
Agrochem Finance owns 99% of URALCHEM, and Chemical Invest owns 1%.