Essar Steel Algoma asks for consent

NEWS RELEASE

ESSAR STEEL ALGOMA

Essar Steel Algoma Inc. (“Essar Steel Algoma”) announced today that it has commenced a cash tender offer (the “Tender Offer”) to purchase any and all of its outstanding $400 million aggregate principal amount of 9.375 percent Senior Secured Notes due 2015 (the “Notes”). 

As part of the Tender Offer, Essar Steel Algoma is soliciting consents (the “Consent Solicitation”) from the holders of the Notes for certain proposed amendments that would eliminate or modify certain covenants and events of default and other provisions contained in the indenture governing the Notes and would release the liens on the collateral that secures the obligations with respect to the Notes.

Holders who tender their Notes will be deemed to consent to all of the proposed amendments and holders may not deliver consents to the proposed amendments without tendering their Notes in the Tender Offer. 

The Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation are being made pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement, dated October 17, 2014 (the “Offer to Purchase”), and a related Letter of Transmittal and Consent, which more fully set forth the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation. 

The Tender Offer will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on November 14, 2014, unless the Tender Offer is extended or earlier terminated (the “Expiration Date”).

Under the terms of the Tender Offer, holders of the Notes who validly tender and do not withdraw their Notes prior to 5 p.m., New York City time on October 30, 2014 (as such time and date may be extended, the “Early Tender Deadline”) and whose Notes are accepted for purchase, will receive the “Total Consideration,” which is equal to (i) $996 per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes validly tendered (and not withdrawn) (the “Tender Offer Consideration”) plus (ii) an early tender payment of $10 per $1,000 in principal amount of the Notes validly tendered (and not withdrawn) (the “Early Tender Payment”). 

Holders of Notes who validly tender their Notes (and do not withdraw) after the Early Tender Deadline, but on or before the Expiration Date, and whose Notes are accepted for purchase, will receive only the Tender Offer Consideration. 

Essar Steel Algoma reserves the right, at any time following the Early Tender Deadline, but prior to the Expiration Date (the “Early Acceptance Date”), to accept for purchase all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn before the Early Acceptance Date. 

If Essar Steel Algoma elects to exercise this early purchase option, Essar Steel Algoma will pay the Total Consideration, or the Tender Offer Consideration, as the case may be, for the Notes accepted for purchase on the Early Acceptance Date promptly following the Early Acceptance Date. 

The date of such payment, which may be the same calendar day as the Early Acceptance Date, is referred to as the “Early Payment Date.”

In addition to the Total Consideration or the Tender Offer Consideration, as the case may be, holders whose Notes are accepted in the tender offer will receive accrued and unpaid interest from and including the most recent interest payment date, and up to, but excluding, the applicable payment date. 

Essar Steel Algoma intends to call for redemption any Notes not tendered in the Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation.

Essar Steel Algoma may issue a notice of redemption at any time following the Early Tender Deadline.

The Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation are contingent upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, including the condition that Essar Steel Algoma has completed certain financing transactions as described in the Offer to Purchase. 

If any of the conditions are not satisfied, Essar Steel Algoma is not obligated to accept for payment, purchase or pay for, and may delay the acceptance for payment of, any tendered Notes and may even terminate the Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation. 

Full details of the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation are included in the Offer to Purchase. 

This press release does not constitute a notice of redemption under the optional redemption provisions of the indenture governing the Notes, nor does it constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security. 

No offer, solicitation, or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. 

None of Essar Steel Algoma, the Dealer Manager and Solicitation Agent, the Information Agent, the Tender Agent or any other person makes any recommendation as to whether holders of notes should tender their notes, and no one has been authorized to make such a recommendation. 

Essar Steel Algoma Inc. is based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. As a fully integrated steel producer, the Company derives its revenues primarily from the manufacture and sale of hot and cold rolled steel products including sheet and plate.

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