25 oktober, 2007
10:35 CET
Rautaruukki sells remaining reinforcing steel units
Rautaruukki Oyj Stock exchange release 25 October 2007 at 11.35
Rautaruukki Corporation signed an agreement on 24 October 2007 to sell the
steel reinforcing business of Ruukki Betonstahl GmbH of Germany and Ruukki
Welbond BV of the Netherlands to the Al-Tuwairqi Group of Saudia Arabia. These
transactions mark the completion of Rautaruukki's withdrawal, started last
year, from the reinforcing steel business. The transaction will free up capital
of over EUR 25 million. Rautaruukki estimates to book a capital loss of
approximately EUR 2 million of the transaction for the fourth quarter of 2007.
Ruukki Betonstahl GmbH generated net sales of EUR 89.9 million in 2006 and
employed 68 persons at the end of September 2007. Likewise, Ruukki Welbond BV
generated net sales of EUR 16.4 million and employed 46 persons. The aggregate
operating loss of the units amounted to four million euros during the first
nine months of 2007. Both businesses have been reported as part of Ruukki
Metals division.
Completion of the transaction requires the final approval of the German
competition authorities and the transaction is expected to be closed in
November 2007.
The Al-Tuwairqi Group owns Thamesteel Ltd, which, for example, makes
reinforcing steel.
Further information is available from:
Mikko Hietanen, CFO, tel. +358 20 529 9030
Rautaruukki Oyj
Anne Pirilä
SVP, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations
Rautaruukki supplies metal-based components, systems and integrated systems to
the construction and mechanical engineering industries. The company has a wide
selection of metal products and services. Rautaruukki has operations in 24
countries and employs 14,500 people. Net sales in 2006 totalled EUR 3.7 billion.
The company's share is quoted on the OMX Nordic Exchange Helsinki (Rautaruukki
Oyj: RTRKS). The Corporation has used the marketing name Ruukki since 2004.
DISTRIBUTION
OMX Nordic Exchange Helsinki
Main media
www.ruukki.com