Bradken to Acquire AmeriCast From Castle Harlan
We are pleased to announce that AmeriCast has agreed to be purchased by Bradken Ltd., a leading
supplier of differentiated consumable products to the resources and freight rail industries. Bradken is
the largest steel foundries owner in Australia. As proud new members of the Bradken family we will
begin today to transition to our new name, Bradken Ltd. Bradken, along with Castle Harlan, the
previous majority owner of AmeriCast, acquired AmeriCast in November 2006. Since then, Bradken
has actively participated in our business through the Board of Directors.
Headquartered in Newcastle, Australia, Bradken has an 85 year history in the foundry market place,
employs nearly 3,000 employees, directs a network of over 20 manufacturing facilities of which 11
are foundries, and has annual sales of approximately $800 million. It has five strategic divisions
including: Mining, Rail, Industrial, Mineral Processing, and Power & Cement. Bradken has
significant market share across its product groups including freight wagons, bogies, draw gear,
ground engaging tools, crawler shoes, mill liners, industrial cast products and wear plate & block.
More information about Bradken can be found at www.bradken.com.au.
Commenting on the acquisition, Brian Hodges, Bradken Managing Director, said, "The acquisition of
AmeriCast will significantly expand Bradken's capabilities in large steel castings and provides a base
from which to expand some of Bradken's mining consumables product business in the North American
market."
Tom Armstrong, AmeriCast CEO, added, "AmeriCast is a very good fit addition for Bradken.
Together they form both broader and stronger companies. While our name will change, most things
will not as we move forward working with Bradken to develop and then act on opportunities where
we both can continue to grow." The current management and leadership teams will continue to lead
the North American operations.
Bradken and AmeriCast have much in common:
o Long term foundry and machining skills
o Customer focused
o Committed to safety, health, and the environment
o Continuously improving everything we do
o Market synergies
During Castle Harlan's ownership, we purchased Atlas Castings and Technology in April 2007 and
A.G. Anderson in April of this year, and divested our Prospect division in February 2008. We also
expanded our AmeriCast Global business further in China, opening an office and finishing facility in
Xuzhou. Finally, we more than doubled growth and productivity-related capital expenditures that
should continue to benefit AmeriCast in the coming years. The Castle Harlan team that worked with
AmeriCast previously, particularly Howard Morgan and Anand Philip, will continue to support
Bradken's growth in the Americas, and in particular, AmeriCast.
The business remains well capitalized, with a strong balance sheet and liquidity of over $48 million.
Taking account of the acquisitions and divestiture and other actions taken, AmeriCast is expected to
have total revenues this year of more than $340 million and EBITDA of more than $47 million. The
Company's 11% Notes Due 2014 will remain outstanding after completion of the transaction, in
accordance with the terms of the indenture governing the notes.
Demonstrating the successful lasting relationship among the parties and their community
involvement, Castle Harlan and AmeriCast have agreed to contribute $600,000 to endow the Castle
Harlan - AmeriCast Scholarship Fund, which will be dedicated to providing need and merit-based
educational scholarships to the children of AmeriCast's approximately 2,000 employees.
Bradken ownership is great news for AmeriCast as we will be moving into a long term relationship
with a publicly owned business. Bradken is committed to strengthening our position in the global
casting market and to value added service that our OEM partners have come to expect.
AmeriCast, based in Atchison, Kansas, has manufacturing facilities there and in St. Joseph, Missouri;
in Tacoma and Chehalis, Washington; Amite, Louisiana, and London, Ontario, as well as a trading
office in Xuzhou, China. The company designs and manufactures large, highly engineered ferrous
sand castings, machined components and assemblies for major companies in the energy, mining,
railroad and mass transit industries.
