What to Do with IPSCO

Article Excerpt

IPSCO INC. $173.34 (Toronto symbol IPS; SI Rating: Average) (800-667-1616; www.ipsco.com; Shares outstanding: 47.2 million; Market cap: $8.2 billion) has now agreed to a takeover offer from specialty steel producer SSAB of Sweden. SSAB intends to pay $160 U.S. a share ($177.44 Cdn.) for IPSCO. IPSCO’s board of directors has endorsed the offer. The stock is now trading below the takeover price, which suggests this bid will succeed. However, a competing offer could still emerge. Bidders could include Nasdaq listed Steel Dynamics, the fifth-largest U.S. steel maker, as well as Evraz Group SA, Russia’s biggest steel company. For now, IPSCO is a hold. hold…