18.05.06

A claim was filled with the Chelyabinsk Arbitration Court on behalf of the international metals firm Starwood Trading Ltd (UK) seeking 18 million rubles from OAO Zlatoustovskii Metals Factory (ZMZ, Chelyabinsk) for the delivery of inferior product.

Starwood is represented by two firms, Alinga Consulting Group in Moscow and Sovetnik in Chelyabinsk.

According to the findings of SGS, an independent, international metals inspection firm, between December 2004 and April 2005, ZMZ produced and delivered goods to Starwood that did not meet basic specifications. SGS’s inspection was carried out in the presence of ZMZ management and took into account the production processes specific to that factory.

Alinga Consulting Group fully supports the opinion expressed in a recent Starwood press release which states: "By conscientiously paying the damages specified in our claim, ZMZ can positively affect their reputation within international circles and reestablish their place as a market leader in supplying all-around high-quality metal products to the markets of Southeast Asia."