Service Centers
Russel Metals to buy seven of Samuel’s operations
Written by David Schollaert
December 4, 2023
Canadian metals distributor Russel Metals Inc. plans to acquire Samuel, Son & Co.’s service center operations in Western Canada and the US for roughly CA$225 million (US$165.5 million).
In total, Russel will acquire seven Samuel operations that generated revenues of CA$457 million for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2023, according to a Russel press release on Monday, Dec. 4. The buy includes operations in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Calgary and Nisku, Alberta; and Langley and Surrey, British Columbia, in Canada; and facilities in Buffalo, N.Y., and Pittsburgh in the US.
“Our respective businesses are very complementary from both geographic and product mix perspectives,” said John Reid, Russel Metals’ president and CEO. “We look forward to having the approximately 340 Samuel employees join the Russel family.”
Russel said the purchase price is based on the working capital’s CA$186-million net book value and an additional CA$39 million related to equipment, machinery, and other sundry items.
The transaction is expected to close in Q1’24 or Q2’24 and will be financed from cash on hand – which totaled CA$569 million on Sept. 30, 2023, Russel said. It will be subject to Canadian regulatory clearance and customary closing conditions.
Samuel will retain its location in Delta, British Columbia, but will conduct an orderly shutdown of the facility.
“We are proud of the strength of the operations we are selling to Russel, which we believe can be made even stronger as part of this newly combined business,” said Samuel president and CEO Colin Osborne in a press release. “On behalf of Samuel, I would like to extend our appreciation to the team members who will be joining Russel for playing such an important role in our service center business.”
The acquisition strengthens Russel’s Western Canada presence with non-ferrous product lines and bolsters its existing operations in the US Midwest, the release said.
Toronto-based Russel is one of the largest service center groups in North America, with 46 Canadian locations and 17 US locations. It was ranked No. 5 in the Metal Center News Service Center Top 50 in 2023 with annual revenues last year of around CA$3.9 billion.
Correction: The original article posted on Monday, Dec. 4, incorrectly listed Russel Metals’ acquisitions as only carbon plate operations. The correct acquisitions include non-ferrous and carbon plate facilities. The updated article on Thursday, Dec. 7, reflects this.
David Schollaert
Read more from David SchollaertLatest in Service Centers
Olympic Steel profits fall 12% in Q1
Olympic Steel logged lower earnings in the first quarter of 2024, but the company said all three of its segments contributed to profitability.
Russel Metals’ earnings slide 33% in Q1
Russel Metals’ earnings fell in the first quarter, but the Toronto-based metals distributor sees steel prices stabilizing in the near term and staying above historical averages.
Ryerson logs Q1 loss, but more stability seen in sheet
Ryerson swung to a loss in the first quarter of 2024, but the company’s chief executive sees less volatility in the sheet steel market.
Reliance earnings fall 21% in tough pricing environment
Reliance Inc.’s earnings slumped in the first quarter of 2024, but the company expects better than normal seasonal recovery in demand in the second quarter.
Galvanized buyers report stable demand in quiet market
Galvanized buyers reported steady demand and ample supply this week as pricing momentum has shifted, potentially pointing down. Service centers, distributors, and manufacturers who are members of the Heating, Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) association met virtually on Tuesday, April 23, for the monthly meeting of HARDI’s Sheet Metal/Air Handling Council. Sentiment was noticeably […]