Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the
Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Federative Republic of Brazil
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F ___X___ Form 40-F _______
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes _______ No ___X____
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| VICUNHA SIDERURGIA S.A. | COMPANHIA SIDERÚRGICA NACIONAL |
PRESS RELEASE
Vicunha Siderurgia S.A., a company with head offices in the City of Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, enrolled with the Corporate Taxpayer's Registry (CNPJ) under No. 02.871.007/0001-04, and Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional, a publicly traded company with head offices in the City of Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, enrolled with the Corporate Taxpayer's Registry (CNPJ) under No. 33.042.730/0001-04, do hereby inform their shareholders and the public, in accordance with the Instrução CVM No. 358, dated January 3, 2002, of the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Comission (Comissão de Valores Mobiliários), that they have been informed by their controlling shareholders that, on this date:
| I. | the Steinbruch family, controlling shareholder of Vicunha Steel S.A., has agreed to purchase additional shares issued by Vicunha Steel S.A. equivalent to almost all of the voting capital of Vicunha Steel S.A. held by the sellers, the share purchase and sale contract of which, with all terms and conditions, will be executed and delivered upon the fulfillment of certain conditions; |
| II. | once the above mentioned purchase is accomplished, the Steinbruch family will become the sole controlling shareholder of Vicunha Steel S.A.; |
| III. | Vicunha Steel S.A. is a closed corporation which, through Vicunha Aços S.A., owns 99.9% of the voting and total capital stock of Vicunha Siderurgia S.A.; and |
| IV. | the shares issued by Vicunha Siderurgia S.A. are not publicly traded and its shareholding of 46.48% in the voting and total capital of CSN remains unchanged. |
Rio de Janeiro, February 28, 2005.
| Vicunha Siderurgia S.A. | Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional | ||
| Rubens dos Santos | Lauro Henrique Campos Rezende | ||
| Investor Relations Officer | Executive Investor Relations Officer |
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COMPANHIA SIDERÚRGICA NACIONAL
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| By: |
/S/
Lauro Henrique Rezende
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Lauro Henrique Rezende
Investments Executive Officer
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This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on management's current view and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans" and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.