A war of words is underway between Essar Steel Algoma secured creditors and former parent company Essar Global Fund. In a letter to the CCAA monitor Essar Global asserted that with the restructuring efforts still not resolved, the Sale and Investment Solicatation Process should be reopened to allow Essar to present its interest in acquiring […]
On Friday of this past week AK Steel announced a $40 per ton ($2.00/cwt) spot base price increase on all the flat rolled products they produce: hot rolled, cold rolled and galvanized steels. On Monday morning, NLMK USA followed with the same $40 per ton announcement. We learned NLMK lead times are in February on […]
Members of the USW were headed to court today for the hearing regarding the sale of Stelco, the former US Steel Canada, to Bedrock Industries. The sale has the support of the Ontario government and Stelco but is meeting some resistance from union workers and the City of Hamilton. The USW says the proposal leaves […]
Stelco, the former U.S. Steel Canada, has officially requested to be sold to Bedrock Industries after more than two years in Canadian creditor protection. “Ontario welcomes this latest development in the effort to restructure Stelco as an important step toward saving 2,100 jobs, protecting pensions and supporting economic development in the Hamilton region while ensuring […]
US Steel Canada has officially changed its name back to the Steel Company of Canada or, as better known, Stelco, during a ceremony held at Hamilton Works on Friday. The newly designed Stelco flags were raised alongside the flag of Canada as two young girls sang the Canadian national anthem. A similar ceremony was held […]
US Steel Canada has moved closer to a resolution of creditor protection proceedings and a sale of the company. The government of Ontario and Bedrock Industries announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the restructuring of US Steel Canada. The MOU terms are confidential but Ontario says it has agreed to support […]
Pensioners at US Steel Canada lost another court battle to put their pension claims ahead of US Steel’s debt claims. A ruling by the Ontario Court of Appeals on Friday, upheld a decision made by Justice Herman Wilton-Siegel in March. Pensioners, provincial government, and former Stelco president Bob Milbourne claimed that US Steel, the largest […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
An attempt by US Steel to prevent US Steel Canada from continuing to use processes the parent company developed for high strength steels, has been thwarted by the Ontario Superior Court. US Steel claims it owns the intellectual property used by USSC, including the processes used to produce various grades of advanced high strength steel. […]
United Steelworkers are continuing to fight for the release of the secret deal between the Canadian government and US Steel. NDP MP Scott Duvall, on Thursday, called on the House of Commons on Thursday to release the terms of the agreement. United Steelworkers’ Ontario/Atlantic Director Marty Warren said Duvall’s demand must be acted on if […]
In a surprise move on Friday, US Steel requested that the court shorten the CCAA protection period for US Steel Canada. US Steel Canada had petitioned the court to extend the CCAA period to July 28, 2016 but US Steel attorneys requested the Stay Period extend only to May 29. Justice Herman Wilton-Siegel, who has […]
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. […]
Closing arguments were heard Wednesday in the eight-day trial to determine if US Steel is owed more than $2.2 billion in debt by US Steel Canada. Lawyers for the union and province said that US Steel is calling equity investments debt as a way to recoup the cost of buying the former Stelco facilities. “What […]
Today is Day 4 in a scheduled six day trial to settle the question of US Steel’s claim to $2.2 billion in debt from US Steel Canada. Day 1 (Jan. 14) began with a recap of the purchase of the former Stelco steel company. Larry Brockway, a vice-president at US Steel that was involved with […]
US Steel Canada is doing better than expected despite still losing money. According to the 18th Monitor’s report for the CCAA protected company, November’s operation loss was $5.8 million, about half the forecast of $11 million. Operational loss year to date (as of November 30) was $109.4 million. Net loss for the eleven months was […]
On Monday of this week, Steel Market Update conducted an interview with Michael McQuade, CEO for US Steel Canada. The purpose of our interview was to see if USSC will be a viable supplier for 2016 automotive contracts. Many times articles begin by our customers asking what might be construed as a simple question that […]
US Steel has filed court documents seeking a process trial date of November 20 to request approval of repayment of $2.2 billion in debt that it claims is owed by US Steel Canada. The court date was delayed by other restructuring issues and has been hotly contested by the USW, former Stelco president Bob Milbourne, […]
US Steel Canada and its parent company US Steel Corp. are parting ways but uncertainty about the future of the Canadian steel mill lingers. In a Superior Court decision last week, Justice Herman Wilton-Siegal agreed to sever the connection between the companies and allow US Steel Canada to suspend health care benefits to more than […]
Does the U.S. Steel purchase of the former Stelco facility (Hamilton and Lake Erie Works) rank up there with the Severstal and later RG Steel purchase of the former Sparrows Point, Wheeling-Pittsburgh and Warren facilities? I remember Saikat Day, who was the CEO of Severstal NA at the time, when speaking to our 2014 Steel […]
The Ontario Superior Court has reserved judgment on a plan by US Steel Corporation for the company and US Steel Canada to “go their separate ways.” Justice Herman J. Wilton Siegal said it is one of the toughest decisions he has had to make from the bench and will issue a summary of his decision […]
Mediation may be the solution to the controversial issues between US Steel and stakeholders at US Steel Canada. Former Ontario Superior Court associate chief justice Douglas Cunningham will preside over a three-day session scheduled to begin next week. “The mediation shall address the feasibility of a comprehensive agreement among the parties,” wrote Superior Court Justice […]
US Steel Corp. lost its bid to keep objections to its debt claims out of the CCAA proceedings for US Steel Canada. US Steel claims it is owed $2.2 billion by USSC, an amount that the United Steelworkers, the province, and former Stelco president Bob Milbourne question. Justice Herman Wilton-Siegel in his decision wrote that […]
US Steel Canada is requesting a new DIP (Debtor in Possession) Lender to replace parent company US Steel Corp. in its creditor protection proceedings. An agreement has been made with Brookfield Capital Partners Ltd for financing up to $150 million Canadian. Brookfield was one of the hedge funds that originally helped Stelco out of creditor […]
Union workers at Hamilton and Lake Erie works have asked the Superior Court to order US Steel Canada to release the identity of potential bidders for the CCAA protected assets. The information on the 39 companies that have shown interest in buying all or part of USSC is crucial to the interests of workers said […]
According to Investopedia, a subsidy is “a benefit given by the government to groups or individuals usually in the form of a cash payment or tax reduction. The subsidy is usually given to remove some type of burden and is often considered to be in the interest of the public.” The example accompanying the definition […]
PRO-TEC Coating Company, a 50/50 joint venture between United States Steel Corporation and Kobe Steel, Ltd., of Japan, announced today that its president, Bryan Vaughn, will retire effective June 1, 2015 after 34 years of service in the steel industry. Brent Rosebrook, currently vice president of finance and administration at PRO-TEC, has been named acting […]
US Steel can keep its secrets. Superior Court Justice Herman Wilton-Siegel ruled on Wednesday that the details of the agreement between US Steel and the government of Canada cannot be released by the court—only by the Ministry of Industry. And, so far, neither the Ministry nor US Steel is willing to reveal the contents of […]