PC APPOINTS CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS LIMITED AS FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR THE PRIVATISATION OF NATIONAL REFINERY LIMITED

Islamabad, April 21, 2004

Privatisation Commission has engaged Citigroup Global Markets Limited of UK  to provide financial advisory services for the privatisation of the National  Refinery Limited.

An Invitation for Expression of Interest was invited from firms/ consortiums  including Investment Banks having ample experience in privatisation,  restructuring and merger/ acquisitions in the Oil & Gas sector for providing  Financial Advisory Services for the privatisation of National Refinery  Limited, which was responded by Nine parties including BMA Capital Management Limited, Citigroup Global Markets Limited, UK, Faysal Bank Limited, Global Securities Pakistan Limited, KASB Securities (Pvt) Ltd, Pak Kuwait Investment Company (Pvt) Limited, KPMG of UK together with Taseer Hadi Khalid & Co., PricewaterhouseCoopers Project Advisory Pte Ltd of Singapore and SG Corporate Financial Advisory of France together with Habib Bank Limited.

A Request for Proposals Package was sent to the aforesaid nine parties who  then submitted technical and financial proposals. An Evaluation Committee  was constituted to evaluate the technical proposals. The committee prequalified four parties whose financial proposals were opened in their presence. After combining the technical and financial scores, Citigroup was found to be the top-ranked interested party. The results of evaluation were submitted for approval to the Board of Privatisation Commission, which then authorized carrying out of negotiations with Citigroup for entering into a financial advisory agreement. The negotiations were successfully concluded and an agreement with Citigroup has been executed.

Subject to market conditions, it is expected the privatisation of National Refinery Limited would be completed within one year. Citigroup has been appointed through a competitive process, strictly in accordance with the Privatisation Commission (Hiring of Financial Advisor) Regulations, 2001.

The Government has decided to privatise National Refinery Limited. It is proposed to sell up to 51 % equity of NRL and transfer management control to a strategic investor.

NRL is a petroleum refining and petrochemical complex consisting of one fuel refinery; two lube refineries and a BTX (petrochemical) plant. It is located in Karachi. The company's refineries have a combined processing capacity of 2,710,500 tonnes per annum of crude oil. During the last five years the  plants have been operated at 87 % to 102 % of their crude processing capacity.

For the financial year ended June 30, 2003, NRL's net sales were more than Rs. 36 billion and profit after tax was Rs. 1,352 million. The company's financial performance has improved consistently over the last seven years.