Platinum Equity has agreed to acquire Ryerson Inc., Chicago, IL, for $2 billion, which includes the assumption of debt. The price represents a 15% premium over Ryerson’s closing share price on Feb. 31, 2007, the day Ryerson announced it was considering strategic alternatives.
Ryerson is a distributor and processor of metals in North America, with 2006 revenues of $5.9 billion.
  ;
With the transaction, Ryerson will go from a public to a private company.
  ;
The merger agreement allows Ryerson to solicit additional proposals from other potential acquirers through Aug. 18, 2007.
  ;
When Ryerson announced it was considering strategic alternatives for the company, 50 potential acquirers were identified and contacted, including foreign and domestic …
