Essar Steel Algoma will lay off 300-330 personnel during a maintenance shutdown of the plate and strip complex this week, said Brenda Stenta, manager of corporate relations for Algoma. The layoffs are only temporary and employees should return to work after about a week. The maintenance shutdown coincides with a weakness in the plate market […]
Essar Steel Algoma issued layoff notices to approximately 70-85 employees just before the Labor Day weekend citing low demand and pricing for steel plate. Plate demand is down in the energy, rail and agricultural markets and is coupled with prices below hot-rolled coil due to low priced and dumped imports. Said Brenda Stenta, spokesperson for […]
Essar Steel Algoma generated positive earnings in May and June, due to higher steel pricing, resulting in net revenue of C$136 million in June and total net revenue of C$753 million for the first half of 2016. EBITDA before restructuring costs was negative C$49 million for the first six months of 2016. For the reporting […]
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal has renewed its dumping finding against China, Brazil and Ukraine and its subsidy finding against India in regards to the import of hot rolled steel sheet and strip. The CITT decision extends antidumping and subsidy duties another five years. In a press release from Essar Steel Algoma, applauding the decision, […]
A wolf in sheep’s clothing is still a wolf. Essar Global clothed in the nomenclature of Ontario Steel Investments works is still Essar Global according to US Steel Canada. The bid by Ontario Steel Investments (Ontario Steelworks), announced on Tuesday, was rejected by US Steel Canada on Wednesday. US Steel Canada said it had already […]
Ontario Steel Investments Limited (Ontario Steelworks) said on Tuesday that it has submitted a bid to buy US Steel Canada. The August 5th offer includes the assumption of the US Steel Canada pension plan, currently estimated at C$954 million ($724 million) and a commitment to provide C$25 million per year for post-employment benefits for current […]
I don’t know if I have ever seen a market quite like the one we are living through right now. Supply is being constrained through the use of the trade suits coupled with US Steel taking down two blast furnaces at Granite City and AK Steel taking down their lone blast furnace at Ashland. There […]
A new bidder may step forward for Essar Steel Algoma, according to UK publication Financial Times. According to the Financial Times, Liberty House, a metal trade and integrated steel producer, hopes to secure deals for both Essar Steel Algoma and US Steel Canada. Liberty is also watching the developments in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy at […]
SAULT STE. MARIE – Essar Steel Algoma Inc. (Algoma) has received notice from the Term Lenders that the Consortium Agreement between KPS Capital Partners LP and certain Term Lenders has been terminated. The Term Lenders have indicated that they remain committed to a going-concern outcome for Algoma and all of its stakeholders, and to closing […]
Ontario Steel Investment says it signed a letter of intent with USW Local 2251 for the acquisition of Essar Steel Algoma. Ontario Steel says it will assume all employer liabilities for Essar Steel Algoma’s pension plan in return for a purchase price of US $900 million for the acquisition of the company. Ontario Steel is […]
It appears that Essar Global has been eliminated from the bidders vying for the assets of US Steel Canada. The Hamilton Spectator is reporting that the USSC board of directors has rejected a bid from Essar Global because of concerns that the company lacks the financial resources to complete a purchase. Essar was rejected as […]
Essar Steel Algoma filed a formal motion for approval of the sale of the company to KPS Capital. The asset purchase agreement will sell the assets of Algoma for a combination of cash sufficient to pay the outstanding liabilities under the DIP facility, a credit bid of the term loan debt, and assumption of certain […]
USW Local 1005 says it is prepared to fight for what belongs to the active workers and 20,000 pensioners at US Steel Canada. The Canadian USW Local representing Hamilton Works is angry about media reports “that there are bidders interested in purchasing Stelco and Algoma and they will not assume ‘legacy obligations’ referring to pension […]
Essar Steel Algoma announced today (June 17) that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement with KPS Capital Partners, LP. The sale is subject to approval by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. KPS, a leading private equity firm in the manufacturing sector, has a history of transforming challenged businesses into healthy, independent companies. […]
Speculation continues to grow that KPS Capital, the suitor for Essar Steel Algoma, will also buy US Steel Canada and merge the two companies. Sources for the Globe and Mail and Hamilton Spectator say that KPS is one of the two remaining bidders for the former Stelco operations in Hamilton and Nanticoke. According to anonymous […]
Two bidders continue to vie for purchase of the Hamilton and Nanticoke steel plants in Canada. According to the Hamilton Spectator, sources close to the sale confirm that Essar Group of India and KPS Capital Partners LP of New York are the final contenders for US Steel Canada. KPS is also interested in gaining Essar […]
As most of you know, I am in New York City running with the steel crowd associated with the Steel Success Strategies and the surrounding steel “events” entertaining the industry over the first three days of this week. I have probably spoken to 60-70 individuals about many subjects of interest, pricing, lead times, potential for […]
The contract for USW Local 2251, the biggest union representing 2,207 steelworkers at Essar Steel Algoma, will expire on July 31, 2016. President of Local 2251, Mike Da Prat, says it is not a foregone conclusion that workers will agree to continue working under the expired contract. The second largest union, Local 2724, representing 457 […]
The sales process is continuing for Canadian steel mills Essar Steel Algoma and US Steel Canada. Confidentiality agreements prevent the identities of potential bidders to be released but some information has been slipping out. Essar Steel Algoma Despite the “cone of silence” that the media has called the quiet period around the Algoma negotiations, the […]
The sales process is continuing for Canadian steel mills Essar Steel Algoma and US Steel Canada. Confidentiality agreements prevent the identities of potential bidders to be released but some information has been slipping out. Essar Steel Algoma Despite the “cone of silence” that the media has called the quiet period around the Algoma negotiations, the […]
The city of Sault Ste. Marie wants its property taxes and is asking the court to demand Essar Steel Algoma pay them. Essar Steel Algoma, failed to make its first 2016 payment of $1.8 million on March 7 and a second payment due May 5. Algoma, which entered CCAA restructuring last fall, has $14 million […]
Cliffs Natural Resources first quarter earnings were stronger than expected by many analysts. The company posted net income of $117 million compared to a net loss of $762 million a year ago. Lourenco Goncalves, Cliffs’ Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Cliffs’ first-quarter results clearly demonstrate how far we have come on our turnaround. […]
We have received a number of calls from sellers of steel asking for our help in trying to explain, from an independent source, why flat rolled steel prices are moving higher and why we expect this trend to continue. When looking at the history of Steel Market Update, our steel market intelligence publication was actually […]
Essar Steel Algoma announced that it has entered Phase Two of the Sale and Investment Solicitation Process. The company reports receiving “several bids” in the first phase of the sale. During the second phase of the process, qualified bidders will be invited to a management presentation and participate in on-site tours and inspection of the […]
We have been asked about the possible restart of the blast furnace at AK Steel or the furnaces at Granite City as steel prices rise and lead times remain extended. We spoke with a couple of analysts over the weekend who told us they did not see the AK Steel furnace running at any point […]
Essar Steel Algoma and USW Local 2724 have agreed to extend bargaining discussions during the sales and solicitation process. A joint press release from Essar Steel Algoma and USW Local 2724 follows: SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO – Essar Steel Algoma Inc., the USW and its Local 2724 have agreed to extend bargaining discussions in light […]
Bank lenders to Essar Steel Group have approached Tata Steel and JSW Steel to buy out the company according to sources quoted by CNBC. Bankers took matters in their own hands after expressing concern that Essar Steel cannot pay back Rs 40,000 crore (about $6 billion) in loans to State Bank of India and other […]
Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Christian Provenzano has appealed to Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne for help in saving Essar Steel Algoma. Under terms of the sales and investment solicitation process, potential buyers for Essar Steel Algoma are to submit binding offers by May 13. “Based on my own assessment of the matter and taking into consideration […]
An Essar Steel Algoma and US Steel Canada combo may be in the works. Bloomberg reports that bidders for US Steel Canada are looking at combining the operations at Algoma with those at Hamilton and Lake Erie Works. The resulting steel company could become a major competitor in the North American steel market. Potential bidders, […]
SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO – On January 29, 2016, Essar Steel Algoma appealed to the Federal Court of Appeal to overturn the January 6, 2016 decision of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (“CITT”) regarding dumped and subsidized hot-rolled carbon steel plate and high-strength low-alloy steel plate imports from India and Russia. In their ruling, the […]