OREANDA-NEWS. September 8, 2011.  Smartora Trading Ltd. (“Smartora” or the “Company”), a Cypriot company affiliated with the Group DF group of companies, announced today that it has acquired 32.68 percent of Tifast S.r.l (“Tifast”), an Italian titanium and other alloy production company located in San Liberato, Italy.

Commenting on the transaction, Mr. Dmitry Firtash, Chairman of the Board of Group DF, stated: “The plant in Europe will allow Ukraine to enter the European titanium market, to get closer to customers, first and foremost – in the European aerospace industry. Ukraine must develop its resources, enhance its raw material processing capacity, and manufacture jointly with advanced European enterprises higher value-added products.”

The acquisition of European titanium facilities opens up new opportunities for Ukrainian industries. Ukraine boasts one-fifth of the global reserves of titaniferous ore. Group DF has developed an investment program for the development of the titanium industry in Ukraine.

The Tifast acquisition deal is advantageous for all parties. Smartora’s contributions of capital will assist Tifast in further modernising its production facilities, as Tifast increases its product offerings and enhances its position in the European market.