Steel analysts mixed on potential CMC sale

Nov 30, 2011 | 04:18 PM | Sean Davidson

Tags  Carl Icahn, Commercial Metals, CMC, PSC Metals, steel, scrap, Nucor, SDI Steel Dynamics

NEW YORK — Investor Carl Icahn’s unsolicited offer to acquire Commercial Metals Co. (CMC) has divided industry analysts on whether other steel producers, such as Nucor Corp., Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) or Gerdau SA, will see it as an opportunity to make competing offers.

"We believe the primary (candidates to buy) CMC’s steel mills and fabrication assets would be Nucor, Steel Dynamics or Gerdau since all three are already electric-arc furnace producers with intimate knowledge of the long-products markets," said Brian Yu, an analyst at Citi Investment Research & Analysis.

Icahn already controls 9.98 percent of CMC and, if successful, likely would merge CMC’s recycling assets with his wholly owned PSC Metals Inc. but divest non-core assets. ....





Latest Pricing Trends

Poll

What is causing the most weakness to the U.S. metals industry?

Imports
Stagnant non-residential construction demand
Sequestration and government cuts
Global uncertainty, particularly in Europe
Too many suppliers chasing too few orders


View previous results

AMM Events