Vallourec to dispose of German assets, relocate oil & gas ops to Brazil
(Reuters) - French steel pipemaker Vallourec narrowed on Wednesday its full-year EBITDA guidance and said it plans to launch the disposal process for its German assets as well as relocate its oil & gas activities to Brazil. “Our German operations continue to underperform,” Vallourec’s chairman and CEO, Edouard Guinotte, said in a statement. Advertisement Once the disposal programme is completed Vallourec will no longer produce tubes for its industrial sectors segment in Europe, he added in a conference call. The company sees the planned upgrade of Brazil capabilities resulting in better competitiveness and enhanced margin and cash flow generation as well as a positive CO2 impact, citing the “excellent carbon footprint of Brazilian operations.” Advertisement On the back of a recent decline in iron ore prices, Vallourec said it now expects 2021 EBITDA close to the lower end of the 475-525 million euros ($537-$594 million) range communicated last July, and a negative cash flow consumption between 380 and 300 million euros. The company’s quarterly results represented year-on-year growth with revenue at 834 million euros, up 16.4%, and EBITDA rising 80% to 128 million euros.