UPDATE 1-Petropavlovsk sees FY output at lower end of range

LONDON, July 22 (Reuters) – Russian miner Petropavlovsk (POG.L) expects annual output to be at the lower end of the previously announced 670,000-760,000 ounce range after first-half gold production fell 26 percent on planned work at its Pioneer mine.

Gold production fell to 166,300 ounces from 224,600 ounces in the year-earlier period.

The London-listed company also announced that it acquired new mining licences in the Amur and Krasnoyarsk region of Russia.

The miner, which is considering a Hong Kong listing for its iron ore assets, last month launched its first Kuranakh iron ore mine. [ID:nLDE65N0WI]

The first product sales from Kuranakh are expected in August, it said on Thursday.

On June 7, Petropavlovsk said Hong-Kong based investors had agreed to take a $60 million equity stake in the group’s non-precious metals division, valuing the iron ore operations at $860 million. [ID:nLDE65G16Q]

(Reporting by Julie Crust; editing by Victoria Bryan)

UPDATE 1-Shampoo maker BaWang says products safe as shares dive

HONG KONG, July 14 (Reuters) – Chinese herbal shampoo maker BaWang International (Group) (1338.HK) said on Wednesday that its products met safety standards as its shares tumbled following a media report that they contained a toxic chemical.

The Hong Kong-listed company made the statement in response to a report in local magazine Next alleging that tests showed some of the company’s shampoo products contained the cancer-causing chemical dioxane, sending is shares down 18 percent to HK$4.81 on Wednesday. By the midday trading break, the shares were at HK$5.05, down 14.1 percent.

BaWang said in a statement obtained by Reuters that all of its products had undergone stringent quality tests and met standards required by the mainland and Hong Kong authorities.

It said its products also complied with safety requirements prescribed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and “the level of dixoane is far below the world safety guidance and will not jeopardise health”.

BaWang, which hired movie star Jackie Chan and pop singer Faye Wong to promote its products, was one of most popular IPOs in 2009, when it listed on July 3.

Its retail public offering portion was 446 times subscribed and the company priced its HK$1.67 billion ($213.6 million) IPO at the top end of the indicative range. HSBC (0005.HK) and Morgan Stanley (MS.N) managed the deal. (US$1=HK$7.76) (Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Chris Lewis)

Shampoo maker BaWang says products safe, shares dive

(Reuters) – Chinese herbal shampoo maker BaWang International (Group) (1338.HK) said on Wednesday that the level of dioxane in its products is far below the safety limit prescribed by the authorities and will not jeopardize the health of users.

The Hong Kong-listed company made the statement in response to a media report that its products contained the cancer-causing chemical dioxane, sending its shares down 18 percent to HK$4.81 on Wednesday.

BaWang said in a statement obtained by Reuters that all of its products had undergone stringent quality tests and met standards required by the mainland and Hong Kong authorities.

(Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Chris Lewis)

Shampoo maker BaWang says products safe, shares dive

July 14 (Reuters) – Chinese herbal shampoo maker BaWang International (Group) (1338.HK) said on Wednesday that the level of dioxane in its products is far below the safety limit prescribed by the authorities and will not jeopardise the health of users.

The Hong Kong-listed company made the statement in response to a media report that its products contained the cancer-causing chemical dioxane, sending is shares down 18 percent to HK$4.81 on Wednesday.

BaWang said in a statement obtained by Reuters that all of its products had undergone stringent quality tests and met standards required by the mainland and Hong Kong authorities. (US$1=HK$7.76) (Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Chris Lewis)

Sembcorp Successfully Completes Tender Offer for Cascal Shares

Sembcorp Industries Ltd (Sembcorp) today announces the successful completion of the initial tender offer (the “Offer”) by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sembcorp Utilities Pte Ltd (Sembcorp Utilities), for all of the issued and outstanding common shares (Shares) of Cascal N.V. (Cascal) (NYSE: HOO), a New York Stock Exchange-listed company, set forth in the Amendment and Supplement to Offer to Purchase dated June 30, 2010, which amends and supplements the Offer to Purchase dated May 21, 2010 (together, as amended from time to time, the “Offer to Purchase”).

The Offer period (as extended) expired at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on Thursday, July 8, 2010. BNY Mellon Shareowner Services, the depositary for the Offer, has advised that a total of 28,398,090 Shares were validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the initial tender offer period, representing approximately 92.26% of the issued and outstanding Shares. All of the Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn have been accepted for payment. The Shares tendered include 39,888 Shares tendered subject to guaranteed delivery procedures prior to the expiration of the initial offer period.

With the successful close of the Offer, Sembcorp is now a 92.26% majority shareholder in Cascal. At US$6.75 per share, the total consideration for the stake in Cascal amounts to US$191,687,107.50.

Tang Kin Fei, Group President & CEO of Sembcorp Industries said: “We are pleased with the positive outcome of the tender offer and our acquisition of an 92.26% stake in Cascal. This acquisition is strategic to our group and will transform Sembcorp into a global water player with enhanced capabilities to serve the total water and wastewater needs of both industrial and municipal customers.”

As disclosed in the Offer to Purchase, now that the initial tender offer has been consummated, subject to and in accordance with applicable laws, Sembcorp intends to cause Cascal to (1) delist the Shares from the New York Stock Exchange, (2) suspend Cascal’s obligation to file reports under Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”), pending termination of registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act and (3) terminate the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act.

Sembcorp also announces today that it is making available an opportunity for the remaining Cascal shareholders to divest their shares to Sembcorp Utilities, by commencing a subsequent offer period for the remaining Shares. This subsequent offer commences immediately and will expire at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on Friday, July 30, 2010. During the subsequent offer period, any Shares validly tendered will be immediately accepted for payment, and tendering shareholders will promptly thereafter be paid US$6.75 per Share in cash, less any withholding taxes and without interest, which is the same

amount per Share that was offered to Cascal shareholders who previously tendered during the initial offer period.

The procedures for tendering Shares during the subsequent offer period are the same as during the initial offer period, except that Shares tendered during the subsequent offer period may not be tendered by the guaranteed delivery procedure and may not be withdrawn.

In addition, following the expiration of the subsequent offering period, should Sembcorp own at least 95% of the issued and outstanding Shares, Sembcorp intends to complete the acquisition of Cascal by effecting squeeze-out proceedings under the Dutch Civil Code. The price paid to minority stockholders in such proceedings would be determined by the Dutch Court. Upon the consummation of a squeeze-out proceeding, Cascal will no longer be a public company.

Cascal’s stockholders may obtain copies of all of the offer documents free of charge at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website (http://www.sec.gov ) or by directing a request to MacKenzie Partners, Inc., the Information Agent for the Offer, at 212-929-5500 or toll-free at 800-322-2885.

The transaction is not expected to have a material impact on the earnings per share of Sembcorp Industries for the current financial year. Transaction costs will be incurred within the first year of acquisition. The transaction is expected to be accretive to earnings starting from the second year after the acquisition.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell any common shares of Cascal. The tender offer is being made pursuant to a tender offer statement on Schedule TO filed by Sembcorp Utilities with the SEC on May 21, 2010, as amended and supplemented from time to time. The solicitation of offers to buy common shares of Cascal is only being made pursuant to the Amendment and Supplement to Offer to Purchase dated June 30, 2010, which amends and supplements the Offer to Purchase dated May 21, 2010, the Amended and Restated Letter of Transmittal and related documents. Cascal stockholders are strongly advised to read the tender offer statement and the solicitation/recommendation statement regarding the tender offer as they contain important information, including the various terms of, and conditions to, the tender offer.

Investors and stockholders may obtain free copies of these statements and other documents filed by Sembcorp Utilities and Cascal at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov ). Investors and stockholders should seek legal or other professional advice before acting or relying on any of the information provided above.

ABOUT SEMBCORP INDUSTRIES

Sembcorp Industries is a leading energy, water and marine group. With facilities with over 5,200 megawatts of power capacity and over four million cubic metres of water per day in operation and under development, Sembcorp is a trusted provider of essential energy and water solutions to customers in Singapore, China, India, Vietnam, the UK, Oman and the UAE.

Aside from its energy and water business, the Sembcorp Industries Group also encompasses a world leader in marine & offshore engineering, as well as an established provider of environmental services and developer of integrated townships and industrial parks. The Group has total assets of over S$9 billion and employs more than 6,700 employees. Listed on the main board of the Singapore Exchange, it is a component stock of the Straits Times Index and several MSCI indices.

ABOUT SEMBCORP’S WATER BUSINESS

Competitive and technologically advanced water solutions are core to Sembcorp’s utilities service offering. Globally, Sembcorp owns and manages water facilities with a combined capacity of over four million cubic metres per day in operation and under development serving both municipal and industrial customers.

Sembcorp’s broad expertise in wastewater treatment encompasses the ability to treat highly concentrated wastewater and high salinity wastewater discharged by industries, using advanced biological treatment processes. Furthermore, it is able to reclaim high grade industrial water, demineralized water and potable water from treated effluent. Through treating wastewater and recovering usable water from the effluent which can in turn be supplied back to customers, Sembcorp’s facilities are able to minimize liquid discharge and promote a sustainable alternative water supply. The company also has expertise in both reverse osmosis and thermal processes for seawater desalination and provides water for industrial use to customers in petrochemical and chemical zones. These include demineralized water, industrial water, raw water, chilled water, cooling water and seawater cooling.

Note to Editors:

Following a company rebrand, please refer to the company as “Sembcorp” (with “S” in upper case and “c” in lower case), or “Sembcorp Industries” in full. Please also note that “Sembcorp” is not an abbreviation of “Sembawang Corporation” but a brand name in itself, and it is therefore incorrect to refer to our company as “Sembawang”, “Sembawang Corporation” or similar.

For media and analysts queries please contact:

For Singapore:
Ng Lay San (Ms)
Vice President
Group Corporate Relations
DID: +65-6723-3150
Email: ng.laysan@sembcorp.com

Fock Siu Ling (Ms)
PR Counsel
Group Corporate Relations
DID: +65-6723-3152
Email: fock.siuling@sembcorp.com

Lim Yuan See (Ms)
Associate Director, Singapore
Kreab Gavin Anderson
DID: +65-6339-9110
Email: ylim@kreabgavinanderson.com

For US:
Richard A. Mahony (Mr)
Managing Partner, New York
Kreab Gavin Anderson
DID: +1-212-515-1960
Email: rmahony@kreabgavinanderson.com

For UK:
Natalie Biasin (Ms)
Associate Director, London
Kreab Gavin Anderson
DID: +44-20-7074-1864
Email: nbiasin@kreabgavinanderson.com

SOURCE Sembcorp Industries Ltd

Ferrexpo 2010 pellet output up 18 pct as demand continues

LONDON, June 2 (Reuters) – Ukrainian iron ore producer Ferrexpo Plc (FXPO.L) said total pellet production in the year to date jumped 18 percent as it continued to buy third-party concentrate to meet ongoing higher demand from steelmakers.

Overall pellet production has grown to 4.0 million tonnes this year, the London-listed company said on Wednesday via an e-mail.

Including 100,100 tonnes of pellets from purchased concentrate, overall pellet output rose to 860,300 tonnes in May, a 12 percent rise on the year-earlier period.

Total pellet production from its own raw materials grew to 760,200 tonnes in May from 755,100 tonnes in the year-earlier period.

(Reporting by Julie Crust; editing by Paul Sandle)

Cape Lambert off-loads Lady Annie mine

An exploration company has sold its copper mine in north-west Queensland less than a year after it purchased the operation.

Cape Lambert Resources, based in Western Australia, has sold the Lady Annie Mine near Mount Isa for $135 million.

Executive chairman Tony Sage says the company’s objective has always been to develop mines rather than operate them and the sale will bring benefits to the region.

“The first thing though is obviously to get the mining operation – a lot of the services around Mount Isa will be increased, as well with fuel obviously, just groceries and that – that will need to run the camp out there,” he said.

“You have got to feed over 100 people.

“The whole region will get a spin-off effect starting from June right through the end of December.”

He says a Hong Kong listed company purchased Lady Annie and it is expected operations will “ramp up” over the next few months.

“The new owners are operators, they are going to start I would say from the beginning of May to crank everything up,” he said.

“The mining operation will restart and also the processing operation, so the mining operation will start first and they take full control beginning of June.

“You will see a big ramp-up from there.”

EU Commission to probe UK’s failure to protect citizens from secret surveillance

London, Apr.15 (ANI): Britain’s failure to protect its citizens from secret surveillance on the Internet is to be investigated by the European Commission.

According to The Independent, the move will fuel claims that Britain is sliding towards a Big Brother state and could end with the Government being forced to defend its policy on internet privacy in front of judges in Europe.
The legal action is being brought over the use of controversial behavioural advertising services that were tested on British Telecom’s Internet customers without their consent.

Yesterday, the EU said it wanted “clear consent” from Internet users that their private data was being used to gather commercial information about their web shopping habits.

Under the programme, the UK-listed company Phorm has developed technology that allows Internet service providers (ISPs) to track what their users are doing online. ISPs can then sell that information to media companies and advertisers, who can use it to place more relevant advertisements on websites the user subsequently visits.

The EU has accused Britain of turning a blind eye to the growth in this kind of Internet marketing.

The Commission is also critical of the Government’s implementation of the European electronic privacy and personal data protection rules. They state that EU countries must ensure the confidentiality of communications by banning the interception and surveillance of Internet users without their consent. (ANI)