OREANDA-NEWS. March 05, 2012. The interim consolidated financial statements of Russian Railways and its subsidiaries ("Group") prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards comprise the financial results of over 140 of its subsidiaries and 170 associated companies, reported the press-centre of RZD.

The Group’s total revenues for the six months ended 30 June 2011 increased by 9 percent to 691 billion rubles from 633 billion rubles for the six months ended 30 June 2010. The relative increase in revenue was largely driven by 8% increase in freight turnover and 4% increase in volumes of cargo shipped.

In 2009 to mitigate the impact of the world financial crisis the Group initiated a number of crisis-management measures and costs optimization programs which were temporarily suspended in 2011 resulting in operational expenses growth by 20% for the six months ended 2011 to 644 billion rubles from 539 billion rubles for the six months ended 30 June 2010. This increase was attributable to the following key factors:

Increase of payroll expenses as a result of salary indexation in line with the collective bargaining agreement, and resumption of the full-day working hours for certain employees who were transferred to the reduced work hours as a matter of anti-crisis measures - by 19,0 billion rubles;

Increase of social tax payments due to the growth of insurance payments’ effective rate in accordance with the Federal law №12-FZ dated 07.24.2009 - by 15,5 billion rubles;

Increase of fuel and electricity expenses in line with the general rise of prices in Russia and increased consumption due to turnover growth – by 19,2 billion rubles.

In the first half of 2011 the Group generated EBITDA of 165 billion rubles which is 20% lower than for the six months ended 30 June 2010 with an EBITDA margin of 24% for the six months ended 30 June 2011.

The Net Debt to EBITDA ratio for the six months ended 30 June 2011 was 0,72x which is slightly higher compared to the corresponding figure of 0,58 at the end of 2010, yet still below 1x. EBITDA to Net Interest Expenses ratio has increased to 86,58 as a result of the lower cost of borrowings and increased share of capitalized interest.

The Group’s net profit in the reporting period declined by 29% compared to 2010 and amounted to 67 billion rubles (95 billion rubles in 1 half of 2011).

The amount of Group’s capital investments for the six months ended 30 June 2011 has increased by 16,8% to 194 billion rubles from 166 billion rubles for the six months ended 30 June 2010, due to increased investments in infrastructure development projects.
 
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JSCo Russian Railways was created on October 1st, 2003 pursuant to Decree of the Russian Government №585 "On foundation of Open joint Stock Company "Russian railways" dated 18 September 2003. The Company is 100% owned by the Russian Government.