Former owner surfaces as potential bidder for Severstal Steel in Warren

WARREN — A former owner of the Severstal steel mill here has resurfaced as a potential bidder for a group of North American steel mills that the Russian steelmaker has reportedly put on the market.

American Metals Market, a Pittsburgh-based industry publication, reported last week that Ira Rennert, owner of The Renco Group, had submitted a bid for Severstal’s holdings in Warren, as well as those in Sparrows Point, Md., and Wheeling, W.Va. The bid, which would be backed by Los Angeles-based Aurora Capital Group, could be announced as early as this week, American Metals Market reported.

Neither the Renco Group nor Aurora Capital Group returned calls for comment today. A spokeswoman for Severstal Warren said it was “the company’s policy not to comment on market rumors.”

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