2018 fleet expansion increased to 8%, dividend outlook re-affirmed
16.01.2019
Globaltrans Investment PLC (the “Company” and together with its consolidated subsidiaries “Globaltrans” or the “Group”; LSE ticker: GLTR) announces that the Group increased its investment in fleet expansion in 2018 due to a combination of continued solid demand for bulk cargo transportation and the Group’s ability to secure additional railcars at attractive prices. On top of the 3,900 units initially targeted, the Group acquired a further 847 units for a total fleet expansion of 4,747 units in 2018. This is equivalent to 8% of the Group’s owned fleet[1] and gives Globaltrans needed capacity to support its development heading into 2019. The acquired fleet includes 3,862 gondola cars, 481 flat cars and 404 containers, all of which have already been delivered and put into operation.
CEO Valery Shpakov commented: “In 2018 we increased our investments in rolling stock in order to strengthen our position in the market and support our new long-term contracts. Our business continued to gain momentum and we are on track to provide shareholders with strong returns as we indicated in August with the intention of paying total dividends for 2018 of around RUB 16 billion, including the interim payment of RUB 8.2 billion. Looking ahead, we anticipate the added capacity will augment the Group’s performance during 2019 and we intend to maintain our policy of selective and opportunistic investment, while delivering attractive shareholder remuneration.”
ENQUIRIES
Globaltrans Investor Relations
Mikhail Perestyuk / Daria Plotnikova
+357 25 328 860
irteam@globaltrans.com
For international media
Lightship Consulting
Laura Gilbert
+44 7799 413351
Laura.Gilbert@lightshipconsulting.co.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
Globaltrans is a leading freight rail transportation group with operations in Russia, the CIS and the Baltic countries. The Group’s main business is the provision of freight rail transportation services. Globaltrans provides services to more than 500 customers and its key customers include a number of prominent Russian industrial groups in the metals and mining and the oil products and oil sectors.
The Group had a Total Fleet of about 66 thousand units at 30 June 2018. Universal gondola cars and rail tank cars constitute the backbone of the Group’s fleet. About 95% of the Total Fleet is owned by the Group with an average age of 11 years.
In the first six months of 2018, the Group’s Freight Rail Turnover (including Engaged Fleet) was 82.7 billion tonnes-km with the total revenue amounted to RUB 43.4 billion.
Globaltrans' global depositary receipts (ticker symbol: GLTR) have been listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange since May 2008. Globaltrans was the first freight rail transportation group with operations in Russia to have an international listing.
To learn more about Globaltrans, please visit www.globaltrans.com
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
Some of the information in this announcement may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of Globaltrans. You can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as 'expect', 'believe', 'anticipate', 'estimate', 'intend', 'will', 'could', 'may' or 'might', the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Globaltrans wishes to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. Globaltrans does not intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Many factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in projections or forward-looking statements of Globaltrans, including, among others, general economic conditions, the competitive environment, risks associated with operating in Russia, rapid technological and market change in the industries Globaltrans operates in, as well as many other risks specifically related to Globaltrans and its operations.
[1] The Group’s owned fleet (fleet owned and leased in under finance lease) amounted to 61,250 units as of 31 December 2017.