Steel Dynamics (STLD)

Technology, operating and start-up risks associated with our contemplated Mesabi Nugget project may prevent us from realizing the anticipated benefits and could result in a loss of our investment.

While we and certain other joint venture partners built and operated a successful small scale pilot project in Minnesota using Kobe Steel’s proprietary ITmK3’s iron-making process to produce a cost effective iron nugget product, we have no assurance that the full scale commercial plant we are now contemplating, in which we would likely be the dominant investor and owner, will be successful.  Although, we believe that a full scale commercial plant should be capable of consistently producing high-quality iron nuggets in sufficient quantities and at a cost that will compare favorably with the cost of scrap and scrap substitute products, including pig iron, there can be no assurance that these expectations can be achieved.  If we proceed with this project, which could entail an investment in excess of [$200] million, and if we thereafter encounter cost overruns, construction delays or systems or process difficulties during or after start-up, the anticipated capital costs could materially increase, the expected operating cost benefits from the development of this iron nugget product could be diminished or lost, and we could also lose our investment in the project.

Technology, operating and start-up risks associated with our contemplated Mesabi Nugget project may prevent us from realizing the anticipated benefits and could result in a loss of our investment.

While we and certain other joint venture partners built and operated a successful small scale pilot project in Minnesota using Kobe Steel’s proprietary ITmK3’s iron-making process to produce a cost effective iron nugget product, we have no assurance that the full scale commercial plant we are know contemplating, in which we would likely be the dominant investor and owner, will be successful. Although, we believe that a full scale commercial plant should be capable of consistently producing high-quality iron nuggets in sufficient quantities and at a cost that will compare favorably with the cost of scrap and scrap substitute products, including pig iron, there can be no assurance that these expectations can be achieved. If we proceed with this project, which could entail an investment in excess of $100 million, and if we thereafter encounter cost overruns, construction delays or systems or process difficulties during or after start-up, the anticipated capital costs could materially increase, the expected operating cost benefits from the development of this iron nugget product could be diminished or lost, and we could also lose our investment in the project.