Sales of long products accounted for approximately 8% of the Outokumpu Group's sales in 2021. The transaction includes Long Products’ melting, rod and bar operations in Sheffield, UK; bar operations in Richburg, US; and wire rod mill in Fagersta, Sweden. The transaction does not include Outokumpu Long Products AB operations in Degerfors and Storfors, Sweden. Approximately 650 employees in Sheffield, Richburg and Fagersta will transfer to the buyer as a part of the transaction.

Outokumpu Long Products AB’s units in Degerfors and Storfors in Sweden continue their operations for now as part of the Outokumpu Group, and different options are to be evaluated for the future of the units.

“This divestment marks the accomplishment of the turnaround program for the Long Products business in the past two years. With Marcegaglia, we have found a responsible and committed owner to develop the Long Products business even further. The sale is a natural step for Outokumpu in line with our strategy to focus on our core business, stainless steel flat products,” says Heikki Malinen, President and CEO at Outokumpu.

The total consideration on a debt and cash free basis amounts to Euro 228 million implying an EV / Adjusted 2021 EBITDA multiple of 4.9x[1]. In the January–September 2022 interim report, Outokumpu will classify its Long Products businesses to be divested as assets held for sale, report the businesses as discontinued operations and recognise an impairment charge of approximately Euro 50 million based on a preliminary assessment, subject to final review. Outokumpu will publish comparable historical financial information for January–September 2021 in connection with its January–September 2022 interim report. In the 2022 half-year report Outokumpu will consider the divestment as a non-adjusting event after the end of the reporting period and will disclose it in the notes to the half-year report.

Outokumpu expects to complete the divestment by the end of this year. The completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals by the competition authorities and requires for instance internal structuring before completion. The transaction will be carried out as a share sale.

While the final impacts of the transaction are still under analysis, with current estimates, Outokumpu does not expect any material gains or losses from the transaction beyond the impairment recognised in the third quarter results. The cumulative foreign exchange adjustments relating to foreign subsidiaries held for sale could impact profit or loss.

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