OAK BROOK, Ill., Aug. 08, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A. M. Castle & Co. (NYSE:CAS) (“Castle”), a global
distributor of specialty metal and supply chain solutions, and Duferco Steel, Inc. (“Duferco”), an international steel and
steel-making raw materials commodities trading organization, jointly announced today that the two companies have reached an
agreement by which Castle will sell its 50% joint venture ownership in the partners’ Kreher Steel business (“Kreher”), to Duferco.
Upon completion of this transaction, which is subject to customary closing and documentation conditions, Duferco will become the
100% owner of Kreher. Castle will receive approximately $31.6 million as a result of the transaction, with the sale expected
to close on August 22th, 2016.
Steve Scheinkman, President and CEO of A. M. Castle commented, “While we have enjoyed a long-standing and
valuable partnership with Duferco, Castle’s decision to divest its interest in Kreher, which has significant business in the Oil &
Gas end market, is in line with our recent streamlined focus on the Industrial and Aerospace markets. The sale will allow us to
direct our full attention on getting closer to our customers in those end markets, growing our business and improving our
profitability over the long-term. We want to thank the management and employees of Kreher for their contributions to Castle over
the years, and wish them well. Similarly, we wish Duferco the best with the Kreher business, as they have been a constructive
partner over the years.”
Matthew De Morgan, CEO of Duferco International Trading Holding concluded, “For our part we are delighted to be
offered this opportunity to increase our stake in Kreher. Castle's decision to focus more the Industrial and Aerospace end markets
has in fact dovetailed nicely with our strategy to increase our exposure to the US Oil & Gas sector. Kreher enjoys a strong and
experienced management team with an enviable performance record, both in terms of returns for the shareholders as well as the care
and attention paid to their customers and suppliers. We will fully support Kreher’s management team to continue growing the
business and thank all Kreher's stakeholders for their continued loyalty to the company."
About A. M. Castle & Co.
Founded in 1890, A. M. Castle & Co. is a global distributor of specialty metal and supply chain services,
principally serving the producer durable equipment, aerospace, heavy equipment, industrial goods, construction equipment, and
retail sectors of the global economy. Its customer base includes many Fortune 500 companies as well as thousands of medium and
smaller-sized firms spread across a variety of industries. The Company specializes in the distribution of alloy and stainless
steels, nickel alloys, aluminum and carbon. Together, Castle and its affiliated companies operate out of 21 service centers
throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol
"CAS".
About Duferco Group
Duferco International Trading Holding S.A. (DITH) is an international steel and steel-making raw materials
commodities trading organization, with its global headquarters in Lugano, Switzerland. It was first founded in Brazil in 1979.
Today, DITH is one of the world’s largest steel and raw materials trading and distribution companies, with sales of circa 20
million metric tons of steel and raw materials in 2015. The organization has a network of offices in 76 locations and commercial
activities in over 120 countries around the world and enjoys one of the largest distribution and processing networks in the sector,
selling 3.35 million metric tons per annum of steel to over 44,000 customers worldwide. These distribution facilities provide
tailored services to a broad cross-section of industries including automotive, oil and gas, mining, residential and industrial
construction, OEM, high value engineering uses and white goods manufacturing. For further information, visit www.duferco.com
For Further Information: -At ALPHA IR- Analyst Contact Chris Donovan or Chris Hodges (312) 445-2870 Email: CAS@alpha-ir.com