OREANDA-NEWS.  OAO Severstal (MICEX-RTS: CHMF; LSE: SVST), one of the world’s leading vertically integrated steel and steel-related mining companies, today announces its Q3 and 9M 2013 financial results.
Q3 2013 vs. Q2 2013 analysis:

Vigorous focus on cost control and efficiency enhancements drove continued earnings improvements in Q3. Cost control highlights include:
13.3 % q/q decrease in cost of sales at Severstal Russian Steel;
23.7% decrease in consolidated G&A expenses;
Vorkuta coking coal unit costs 19.8% lower at USD 81/t;
Revenue decreased 6.5% q/q to USD 3,192 million (Q2 2013: USD 3,414 million) due to softer prices and sales volumes at Severstal Russian Steel and at Severstal Resources’ iron ore units;
EBITDA up by 13.4% q/q to USD 543 million (Q2 2013: USD 479 million) driven by cost control and efficiency improvements at Severstal Russian Steel and Severstal Resources. EBITDA margin increased 3.0 ppts to 17.0% (Q2 2013: 14.0%), the highest since Q2 2012;
Net profit of USD 157 million (Q2 2013: net loss of USD 44 million, driven by FX losses of USD 226 million);
Capex of USD 282 million5 broadly in line q/q (Q2 2013: USD 253 million);
Recommended dividend payment of 2.01 roubles per share (approximately USD 0.06) for the 9 months ended 30 September 2013.
9M 2013 vs. 9M 2012 analysis:

Revenue down 9.6% y/y to USD 9,928 million (9M 2012: USD 10,988 million) primarily due to a weaker pricing environment;
EBITDA decreased 18.8% y/y to USD 1,452 million (9M 2012: USD 1,789 million) as a result of a weaker steel and bulks pricing environment;
Net profit contracted 82.8% to USD 157 million (9M 2012: USD 912 million), due to lower earnings and a sizeable FX loss of USD 267 million in 9M 2013 compared to the FX gain of USD 131 million in 9M 2012.
Financial position highlights:

Further decrease in gross debt to USD 4,977 million (8.7% down q/q) following the repayment of USD 544 million Eurobonds in July 2013. Net debt remains stable q/q at USD 3,963 million and net debt/EBITDA stabilized at 2.2x;
Solid liquidity position with USD 1,014 million in cash and cash equivalents more than covering short-term debt of USD 624 million6, with committed unused credit lines of USD 1,692 million. We intend to maintain cash on the balance sheet at approximately USD 1 billion going forward.
Full version of the press release

5 Represents cash outflow on capex in the period.
6 Represents principal amount of debt