Cogne finalizes Mannesmann tubes acquisition to expand stainless footprint
Italian long stainless steel and nickel alloy producer Cogne Acciai Speciali has finalized the acquisition of Mannesmann Stainless Tubes from German steelmaker Salzgitter, it said Nov. 1.
The Eur135 million ($144.5 million) deal was first announced in February, with Cogne saying at the time that the acquisition would widen its footprint to encompass the market for seamless tubes and stainless steel nickel alloy pipes. The EC cleared the merger in June.
“With this new acquisition we realize a further step in our strategy, which brings us a historic player in the seamless tube market, whose upstream integration with Cogne will make it even more competitive,” Cogne CEO Massimiliano Burelli said.
Mannesmann Stainless Tubes produces seamless stainless steel and nickel-based tubes in Germany, France, Italy and the US.
Upon joining the group, the company will be renamed DMV. Cogne previously provided Mannesmann with semi-finished products.
Cogne manufactures long products in stainless steel and nickel-based alloys for the aerospace, automotive and energy industries, as well as supplying the medical technology, food, chemical and plant engineering, and mechanical engineering sectors.
Platts, part of S&P Commodity Insight, assessed European 18-8 stainless steel scrap solids at Eur1,1170/mt Nov.1 on a CIF Rotterdam basis, stable on the day and up Eur10 week over week.
The 18-8 stainless steel scrap clips and solids are a commonly used reference for the grade-304 stainless steel scrap. The scrap contains a minimum of 16% chrome content and minimum of 7% nickel content.
Cogne approves capital increase to buy Mannesmann
Cogne Acciai Speciali has approved a €45 million ($50m) capital increase. This decision will provide the necessary financial support for the acquisition of Mannesmann Stainless Tubes from Salzgitter AG, Kallanish learns from the Italian stainless long steel producer.
In a statement, Cogne highlights that this financial operation is a significant move designed to bolster the company’s ongoing expansion and strengthen its position in the special steel industry. It aims to enhance its portfolio and expertise in the global market.
The acquisition is expected to be finalised in the fourth quarter. Cogne, a subsidiary of Walsin Lihwa, is committed to expanding its global reach and catering to increasing demand from the aerospace, nuclear, medical, and energy sectors. As part of its ongoing efforts to improve operations, the company is currently investing in the modernisation of its Aosta plant in Italy. This includes revamping the cooling chamber of the continuous casting machine for special steel blooms. The upgrade was implemented during this year’s four-week summer shutdown.
The steelmaker recently expanded its operations by acquiring ComSteel Inox, its main stainless steel scrap supplier, and a portion of Outokumpu’s long products business in Degerfors and Storfors, Sweden.
Since it was acquired by Walsin Lihwa, it has grown through a series of mergers. Last year, it completed the acquisition of Sheffield-headquartered Special Melted Products (SMP). Walsin is investing over €110 million ($121m) in Cogne’s Aosta plant between 2022-2024. The growth strategy involves gaining market share in Europe and Asia, and developing the group’s presence in the US (see Kallanish passim).
Natalia Capra France
