AZGARD-9 DEPOSITS 25% Rs.4.027 billion FOR PAK AMERICAN FERTILIZERS

Islamabad, April 17, 2006

The Privatisation Commission (PC) has received the first installment of25 % the bid amount from the successful bidder AZGARD-9 amounting to Rs.4.027 billion (Rupees four billion 27 million five hundred thousand only) for the strategic sale of Pak American Fertilizers Ltd (PAFL) as per the terms of the bid documents. The remaining amount of the price will be paid within 60 days after the issuance date of LOA. The Privatisation Commission issued the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) in favour of the second highest bidder i.e. AZGARD-9 & Jehangir Siddiqui Securities Consortium for the strategic sale of Pak American Fertilizers Ltd (PAFL) at their offer of Rs.16.11 billion at the rate of Rs.537 per share. It may be recalled that pursuant to the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCOP) decision on March 31, 2006  AZGARD-9 the second highest bidder was issued Letter of Acceptance (LoA) after the first bidder failed to with the terms of the bid as per the terms of the LoA.

Mr. Ahmed Shaikh CEO of AZGARD-9 while depositing the 25 % down payment as per Share Purchase Agreement hoped that through this acquisition his group has embarked with public private partnership. He expressed the intentions to make fresh investment for expansion of plant capacity and to increase the production in order to bridge the short fall in the demand and supply of the urea. We were determined to work in order to create a win win scenario for both the public and private sectors and operate in a highly socially responsible manner supporting the community, the environment and our workforce, he added. The CEO of AZGARD-9 assured that anybody who wishes to work on the merit basis would be retained.

Azgard is a leading value added textile exporter form vertical, spinning, weaving and garments with expected sales of Rs.7 billion this year. AZGARD-9 has acquired PAFL in partnership with Jehangir Siddiqui Securities, one of the leading groups of Pakistan in financial sector.

PAFL is the first fertilizer manufacturing concern in Pakistan. It was established in 1959. The bidding for the privatisation of PAFL was held at Karachi on February 28, 2006.

Pak American Fertilizers Limited (PAFL) is located at Iskanderabad (Daudkhel), Distt: Mianwali and produces 1050 metric tons of urea per day. PAFL is the subsidiary of National Fertilizer Corporation of Pakistan (NFC). Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) provided loan for setting up the fertilizer plant. The plant was commissioned in 1999. The old plant was closed down in 1997 and a new Ammonia/Urea Plant commenced commercial  production in 1999.  The new plant is designed to produce 600 Ton/Day Ammonia and 1,050 Ton/Day urea using natural gas as feed and fuel. Both plants have been designed by TOYO Engineering Japan. Ammonia plant is under license from Kellogg International, USA, while urea plant is TEC's own. The plants are latest in design and most modern. The company possesses over 11,481 Kanals of land, comprising 6,432 for Factory, 2,818 for Housing  Colony and 2,230 for experimental farm.