OREANDA-NEWS. January 19, 2009. Board Chairman Igor Konovalov, Director General Roman Shevchenko, and CFO Alexander Larionov held an internet conference on the subject: "Inprom's Business Program - 2009. Focus on Retaining Market Share, and Production Development."

"We are firm about our plans and full of real optimism and enthusiasm that Inprom will successfully overcome the current crisis, Igor Konovalov said. The company's business model has proved its consistency amid several (economic) cataclysms over the last 13 years. The real economics cannot exist without metals. Even during the collapse of the metals market in 4Q08 the company generated stable cash flow on a daily basis, due to our large and diversified clientele in 30 economically developed Russian regions."

According to Roman Shevchenko, the company's priorities for 2009 are to retain a 5% share of the Russian steel distribution market, further development of steel processing services, with processed steel to account for 16% of aggregate sales (in volume terms), and a focus on cooperation with solvent end-users. Alexander Larionov said that the company's 2009 revenue was forecast at around 15.5 bln rubles, with positive free cash flow to exceed 1.2 bln rubles, according to Inprom's business plan approved by the Board of Directors.