Evraz waits for approval to buy out Highveld

The Russian Evraz Group, a steel production and mining business with operations mainly in Russia, is currently awaiting approval from the antitrust authorities of both the European Commission (EC) and South Africa to buy out the South African Highveld Steel & Vanadium by acquiring the company's remaining shares from Anglo American Plc. The official petition was filed by the Russian steel giant to the EC on December 22. The provisional deadline for the decision is set as February 6, 2007. Evraz's representatives could not be contacted on the issue due to the extended New Year holidays in Russia.