OREANDA-NEWS. June 17, 2011. With respect to matters published in the Economy Section of the O Globo newspaper on June 12 and June 14, MMX Mineracao e Metalicos S/A ("MMX") and LLX Operacoes Portuarias S/A ("LLX") wish to make it clear that:

The EBX Group, its controlling shareholder, Eike Batista, and its related companies MMX and LLX, wish to express their indignation at the content of newspaper articles that portray part of an operation to acquire real estate that has strategic importance for MMX’s business – which involved, in fact, more than 10 participants, 147 thousand m? and an amount of BRL  50 million – as if it were an isolated business deal of BRL  10 million, involving only a Municipal Secretary and an Attorney for the municipality of Itaguai. The transaction reported by the O Globo newspaper was conducted with the same high standards of business ethics and transparency that underpin all of Eike Batista’s business dealings and companies. The assertion that "Eike Batista is said to have paid a 20,500% premium for land belonging to the authorities where his port is situated" (sic) is incorrect, since more than 100 pieces of real estate have been acquired since 2007, involving some 250 vendors, in the same area and for values equal to or above the one in question. This has nothing to do with paying a premium but rather with paying market value.

MMX and LLX completed all real estate transactions based on market driven valuations, specialised technical reports, and after rigorous legal and technical due diligence conducted by external consultants and their teams.

Specifically in relation to the real estate transaction cited in the newspaper articles, on 20 January 2010 MMX acquired, at market value, 4 lots that together make up a total area of approximately 147 thousand m?. All of the vendors received the same amount per square meter. These 4 lots were purchased with a view to doubling the iron ore export capacity of the Sudeste Superport, from 50 million to 100 million tonnes per year, thus allowing for a substantial increase in revenue for the business, and creating significant value for all MMX shareholders. The acquisition of land and the doubling of the capacity of the port are fully in line with MMX’s business plan. This operation was reported to the market on December 03, 2010, the day following the signing of the binding documents for the transaction, by means of a Relevant  Fact filed with the CVM (Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission), as reported by the O Globo newspaper itself on January 04, 2010.

The negotiations that resulted in the finalizing of the real estate transaction on December 20, 2010, lasted for about 3 months and were conducted by MMX and LLX executives with the vendor group for the 4 pieces of land. Ownership and possession of the 4 pieces of land, at the time of negotiation, were held by a consortium consisting of 5 legal entities, amongst which were the companies in which Alexandre Oberg and Alexandre Valle are partners. MMX and LLX, at all stages of the negotiation, were aware that Alexandre Oberg and Alexandre Valle were partners in two of the entities that make up the consortium of property vendors.

The companies in which Alexandre Valle and Alexandre Oberg were partners held minority interests in the property consortium, with the total of their shares coming to approximately 18% of the total land area of the 4 pieces of land. MMX and LLX were only interested in the acquisition of all of the 147 thousand square meters, which is why all discussions and negotiations were conducted in conjunction with the various partners of the vendor companies involved and with their respective lawyers – a group numbering more than 10 participants, when taken into account the participation of spouses and attorneys. The deal was only finalized after all the parties had reached an agreement on price and conditions, and also after conducting careful due diligence with respect to legal title and the documentation of the properties.

During the course of the due diligence and by analysing the breakdown of transfers of ownership of, and title to, the properties, MMX and LLX both had access to the purchase and sale contracts and also the receipts showing fully paid up amounts made between the 4 vendors, Alexandre Valle and Alexandre Oberg, and the former owners of the land. All these documents and signatures have been fully recorded and notarized and also have electronic stamps and sworn public depositions as to their dates. These same documents – pejoratively nicknamed "under the table contracts" – were signed between 4 of the vendors, amongst whom Alexandre Valle and Alexandre Oberg, and the former owners of the land, in the months of January, May and December 2007, the year in which LLX was founded and started business and at a time when the appreciation of real estate values on the Ilha da Madeira was just beginning. The assertion in the newspaper report that these properties were acquired by Alexandre Valle, Alexandre Oberg and the other co-owner 3 months before the sale to MMX is completely unfounded.

A detailed analysis of these title deeds and receipts shows without any doubt that at least some of the real estate transactions conducted by the vendors took place before LLX even existed and before the development of the Sudeste Superport had been effectively disclosed.

LLX was incorporated in March 2007 and began operations in May of that same year. The area on the Ilha da Madeira became part of LLX’s business portfolio through the acquisition of Pedreira Sepetiba Ltda., (a quarry), this deal being finalized in October of 2007. Originally, the quarry was acquired so that LLX could quarry stone for the construction of the Superporto do Acu breakwater, in Sao JJSC  da Barra.

After the first few months of operation of the quarry, at the end of the 2007, the LLX technical team saw an opportunity to develop a private iron ore terminal to meet the demands of MMX, in the form of own cargo for the group controlled by Eike Batista, and also as a logistics solution to transport the production of other mining companies located in the iron quadrangle of Minas Gerais State.

The Sudeste Superport only then begins to take form with a first project for a capacity of 50 million tonnes of cargo during 2008. This is the year that the project actually begins to be developed, with a capital contribution by shareholders, obtaining of financing, discussions to organize supplies of equipment, choice of engineering companies and the start of the acquisition of real estate surrounding the quarry.

It is also in 2008 that other businesses in the region of Itaguai grow more consistently, developed by companies such as CSN, Petrobras, CSA, Usiminas and even the Brazilian Navy, which announces the setting up of a shipyard for the construction of submarines in the area.

It is also at this point that we see a boom in the real estate market in the region and the escalation of property prices.

The sale of public property is common in any infrastructure project in the world. The companies controlled by Eike Batista deal regularly with the sale of public property of different types and the consequent obligation to pay for the substitution of any type of property, for the well-being of the taxpayer and the State. Any process of this nature relies on executive and legislative approval and the external safeguards given by the Office of Public Auditors and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The EBX Group and its companies work on the premise that their investments have sufficient economic value to allow for substantial improvement in the quality of life of communities where they develop their projects. Some BRL 100 million was invested in social initiatives before the construction of the Sudeste Superport was even completed, directly benefiting more than 5 thousand people through professional qualification programs, improvements in the productive chain for the local fishing industry, renewal of environmentally degraded areas, environmental education programs, improvements in urban infrastructure, construction of a public school, a municipal park and a multi-purpose sports court, and a project for a new sea-front for the Ilha da Madeira, among other actions. Finally, the political battle going on between councillors of Itaguai Municipal Council and the disagreements that exist between opposition politicians and politicians linked to the Mayor of Itaguai are known to all.

MMX and LLX are focused on developing their businesses and these will generate jobs and income for the population, which will also benefit from the numerous social and environmental programs which are being deployed in the region.