Steel Mills
Algoma IPO Nears with Legato Deal Expected to Close This Week
Written by Michael Cowden
October 19, 2021
Algoma Steel’s initial public offering (IPO) is around the corner following shareholder approval of a deal between the Canadian steelmaker and Legato Merger Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC)
The merger between the New York-based SPAC and privately held Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario-based Algoma is expected to close this week, an Algoma spokeswoman said.
Legato shareholders approved the merger last week. The transaction will see Algoma acquired by the SPAC, which was created to take the private steelmaker public.
Once the deal closes, Algoma will go public and its shares will trade on the Nasdaq Stock Market and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker ASTL, according to a press release.
The deal, announced in May, has been valued at $1.7 billion. Proceeds from the IPO are expected to help fund Algoma’s transition to electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking.
Algoma makes hot-rolled coil, cold-rolled coil and plate for a range of end markets including automotive, construction, energy and defense, according to the company’s website.
The company has two blast furnaces: The No. 7 has daily capacity of 8,400 tons of iron. The No. 6 has capacity of 3,000 tons of iron per day but is idle, according to SMU’s blast furnace status table.
Algoma is the latest in a host of steelmakers around the world to announce plans to switch to EAF steelmaking.
In North America, U.S. Steel has already replaced the blast furnace at its Fairfield Works in Alabama with an EAF. And the Pittsburgh-based steelmaker last month also announced plans to build a $3 billion EAF sheet mill with capacity of three million tons per year.
And U.S. Steel’s mill in Košice, Slovakia, is said to be considering an EAF as Europe looks to decarbonize. Other integrated steelmakers in Europe – Swedish steelmaker SSAB, for example – already have plans to replace their blast furnaces with EAFs.
The backdrop for such decisions: The steel industry accounts for 8% of total global CO2 emissions. And most developed countries have announced or begun implementing plans to significantly reduce those emissions.
Decarbonization is also expected to be a hot topic at the next Conference of the Parties meeting. Also known as COP26, the event will be held in November in Glasgow, Scotland.
The Conference of the Parties is the main decision-making body of the United Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
By Michael Cowden, Michael@SteelMarketUpdate.com
Michael Cowden
Read more from Michael CowdenLatest in Steel Mills
Mexico’s TYASA breaks ground on SBQ rolling mill
Mexican steelmaker Talleres y Aceros (TYASA) broke ground this month on the construction of a new special bar quality (SBQ) rolling mill in the state of Veracruz.
Goncalves sees more US trade actions ahead, says Nippon deal for USS has ‘zero chance’
Cleveland-Cliffs’ Lourenco Goncalves thinks trade measures announced by the US government on Tuesday against China were just the opening salvo in a series of trade actions. Case in point: The Biden administration targeted China’s “unfair” trade policies with additional tariffs on an array of Chinese-made goods - including steel, aluminum, and EVs.
Nucor holds weekly HRC price steady after last week’s cut
Nucor chose to hold its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil steady this week after stunning the market last week with a significant price decline. The steelmaker said in a letter to customers on Monday morning that its $760-per-short-ton (st) CSP base price for HR coil is effective immediately. The price is unchanged from the CSP announced on May 6 but down $65/st from $825/st April 29.
Nucor’s Jellison set to retire, Spicer tapped for EVP role
Nucor said EVP Douglas J. Jellison plans to retire on June 8 after more than 33 years with the company. Randy J. Spicer will be promoted to EVP effective May 12.
Republican Senators demand Biden block USS sale to Nippon
Three vocal Republican senators are demanding that President Joe Biden block the sale of U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel.