Beijing steel maker divests manufacturing business

Through the transaction, the Company expects to receive a net working capital injection of $1 million, and realize a reversal of equity deficiency of approximately $1.6 billion, benefiting from a large reduction in total liabilities. The transaction will also save the Company from incurring future losses and obligations from steel manufacturing.

 

After the sale, the Company plans to focus on accelerating its cleantech business via its 84.5% equity ownership in Catalon Chemical Corp. ("Catalon"), which develops and manufactures De-NOx honeycomb catalysts and industrial ceramics. The Company will also own 32% of Tianwu Tongyong (Tianjin) International Trading Co., Ltd, which mainly sources overseas iron ore for steel mills, and 99% of Maoming Hengda Iron and Steel Co., Ltd, which holds valuable land assets worth an estimated RMB 250 million.

 

"As we concentrate our efforts on where we can have the greatest growth and return on investments, we are fully committed to accelerating our cleantech business. With the air pollution getting worse throughout China, the government in December launched a new policy to curb emissions from coal in its next five-year plan. The new policy will offer additional subsidies for power plants that can meet ultra-low emission requirements, including minimum oxygen content and concentration level of smoke dust, sulfur dioxide, and NOx emission. We anticipate our De-NOx honeycomb catalysts business will contribute to our growth and profitability in 2016." Ms. Yunshan Li, Chief Executive Officer of General Steel, concluded.