Essar Steel Minnesota LLC Commences Consent Solicitation Relating to Senior Secured Notes due 2020

HIBBING, MN, June 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ - Essar Steel Minnesota LLC ("ESML") announced today that it commenced a solicitation of consents (the "Solicitation") from holders of its $450,000,000 aggregate principal amount outstanding of 11.500% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the "Notes") upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Notice of Consent Solicitation dated June 23, 2014 (the "Notice").

The Solicitation will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on June 26, 2014, unless earlier terminated (such time on such date, as the same may be earlier terminated or later extended, the "Expiration Time"). 

ESML urges holders of record review the Notice for the specific terms and conditions of the Solicitation.

ESML has engaged Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC to act as the "Solicitation Agent" and D.F. King & Co., Inc. to act as the "Tabulation Agent" for the Solicitation.  Questions regarding the Solicitation may be directed to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC at (800) 820-1653 (toll-free) or (212) 325-2544 (collect).  Requests for documents relating to the Solicitation may be directed to D.F. King & Co., Inc. at (800) 549-6650 (toll-free), (212) 269-5550 (banks and brokers), and (212) 493-6940 (confirmation), or to ESML at (212) 292-2600, and [email protected].

DISCLAIMER

This press release is for informational purposes only, is not a consent solicitation and must be read in conjunction with the Notice.  The Solicitation is not being made to, and the consents are not being solicited from, holders of Notes in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to make such Solicitation or grant such consent.  This press release and the Notice contain important information which should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the Proposed Amendments.  Those documents should be read and consulted for additional information regarding consent procedures and the conditions for the consent solicitation.  To receive copies of the Notice or for questions relating to the Solicitation, please contact the Solicitation Agent or the Tabulation Agent at the contact information above.  If any holder is in any doubt as to the action it should take or is unsure of the impact of the implementation of the proposed amendments described in the Notice, it is recommended to seek its own financial and legal advice, including as to any tax consequences, immediately from its stockbroker, bank, manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent financial or legal adviser.  Any individual or company whose Notes are held on its behalf by a broker, dealer, bank, custodian, trust company or other nominee or intermediary must contact such entity if it wishes to consent to the proposed amendments.  None of ESML, the Solicitation Agent, the Trustee, the Escrow Agent, the Tabulation Agent or any person who controls, or is a director, officer, employee, agent of any such person, or any affiliate of any such person, makes any recommendation whether holders of the Notes should consent to the proposed amendments.

Under no circumstances shall this press release constitute an offer to sell or issue securities or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for the Notes or any other security in any jurisdiction.

About Essar Steel Minnesota LLC

ESML is an iron ore producer engaged in the development of a 7 mtpa fully-integrated pellet production facility in the western Mesabi Range in northern Minnesota. When completed, the $1.8 billion Project will consist of an open-pit iron ore mine, crushing, concentrating and pelletizing facilities and a rail line and train-loading system.  ESML has an aggregate of approximately 1.8 billion tonnes of measured and indicated magnetite iron resources, of which approximately 1.7 billion tonnes are classified as proven or probable reserves, and an additional 0.2 billion tonnes of inferred magnetite iron resources. These estimates are based on ESML's NI 43-101 report.

For further information on Essar Steel Minnesota, please visit www.essarsteelmn.com

The notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under such laws or applicable exemptions from such registration requirements.

The information made available in this news release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such statements reflect ESML's current view of future events, results of operations, cash flows, performance, business prospects and opportunities. Wherever used, the words "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "will continue," "will likely result," "may," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements as such term is defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Any such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and ESML's actual growth, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, performance, business prospects and opportunities could differ materially from historical results or from the results expressed in these forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date made and ESML undertakes no obligation to update or publicly announce the revision of any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect new information, future events, developments or changed circumstances or for any other reason.

SOURCE Essar Steel Minnesota LLC