Worthington Steel launches Kloeckner delisting offer
Worthington Steel, Inc. opened the acceptance period for a public delisting tender offer for all outstanding shares of German metals processor Kloeckner & Co SE that it does not already own.
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Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Worthington Steel, Inc. opened the acceptance period for a public delisting tender offer for all outstanding shares of German metals processor Kloeckner & Co SE that it does not already own. Kloeckner shareholders can tender their shares for EUR 11.00 in cash per share.
The acceptance period runs from July 15, 2026 to August 12, 2026 (24:00 Frankfurt am Main local time / 18:00 New York local time). Worthington Steel already holds approximately 62% of Kloeckner’s outstanding shares following completion of a voluntary public takeover offer on June 3, 2026. The delisting tender is not subject to any closing conditions and has no minimum acceptance threshold, and is made on the terms set out in an offer document approved by German regulator BaFin under the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (WpÜG).
Once the delisting becomes effective, Kloeckner shares will no longer be admitted to trading on regulated markets in Germany or on comparable markets abroad, which may result in significantly reduced liquidity and limited price discovery for the shares.
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Delisting Offer financial
German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (WpÜG) regulatory
Tier II tender offer regulatory
foreign private issuer regulatory
Prime Standard financial
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.*
On July 15, 2026, Worthington Steel, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the “Company” or “Worthington Steel”) issued a press release announcing the opening of the acceptance period for the public delisting tender offer (“Delisting Offer”) for all outstanding shares of Klöckner & Co SE, a European stock corporation (societas europaea) organized under the laws of Germany (“Kloeckner”) not already held by Worthington Steel, by Worthington Steel GmbH, a limited liability company established under German law (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) (“Bidder”) and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Worthington Steel, following approval of the offer document for the Delisting Offer (the “Delisting Offer Document”) by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – “Bafin”) and publication in accordance with the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Übernahmegesetz – “WpÜG”). A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by this reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits:
Exhibit No.
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99.1*
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Press Release, dated July 15, 2026 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
* The information “furnished” in this Current Report on Form 8-K under Item 7.01 (including Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any registration statement or other filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Important Information
This Current Report on Form 8-K and the materials included herewith constitute neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell Kloeckner shares. The terms relating to the Delisting Offer are set out in the offer document which has been published following authorization by Bafin. Bidder reserves the right to deviate from the key points set out herein and in the Delisting Offer Document in the final terms of the Delisting Offer to the extent legally permissible. Investors and Kloeckner shareholders are strongly advised to read the offer document and all other documents relating to the Delisting Offer, as they contain important information.
The Delisting Offer is made exclusively on the basis of the applicable provisions of German law, in particular the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Übernahmegesetz – “WpÜG”) and certain securities laws provisions of the United States of America (the “United States” or “U.S.”). The Delisting Offer is not made in accordance with the legal requirements of any jurisdiction other than the Federal Republic of Germany or the United States (to the extent applicable). Accordingly, no announcements, registrations, approvals or authorizations for the offer have been made, arranged for or granted outside the Federal Republic of Germany or the United States (to the extent applicable). Investors and holders of Kloeckner shares may not claim to be protected by the investor protection laws of any jurisdiction other than the Federal Republic of Germany or the United States (as applicable). Subject to the exceptions described in the offer document and any exemptions to be granted by the relevant regulatory authorities, no Delisting Offer is being made, directly or indirectly, in any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of applicable national law. This Current Report on Form 8-K may not be published or otherwise distributed, in whole or in part, in any jurisdiction in which the Delisting Offer would be prohibited by applicable national law.
Bidder and its affiliates or affiliates of its financial advisor reserve the right to directly or indirectly purchase or arrange to purchase Kloeckner shares or any other securities that are convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for such Kloeckner shares outside of the Delisting Offer, provided that such purchases or arrangements to purchase are not made in the United States and comply with the applicable German statutory provisions, in particular the WpÜG. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase, including the number of Kloeckner shares purchased or to be purchased and the consideration paid or agreed, will be published in German and English language without undue delay if and to the extent required under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, the United States or any other relevant jurisdiction.
The Delisting Offer referenced in this Current Report on Form 8-K relates to shares in a German company and is subject to the statutory provisions of the Federal Republic of Germany on the implementation of such an offer, which differ from those of the United States and other jurisdictions in certain material respects. The financial information relating to Bidder and Kloeckner included elsewhere, including in the Delisting Offer Document, are prepared in accordance with provisions applicable in the Federal Republic of Germany and are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States; therefore, it may not be comparable to financial information relating to U.S. companies or companies from other jurisdictions outside the Federal Republic of Germany. The Delisting Offer has not been submitted to the review or registration procedures of any securities regulator
outside of Germany and has not been approved or recommended by any other securities regulator. Kloeckner shareholders whose place of residence, incorporation or place of habitual abode is in the United States should note that the Delisting Offer is made in respect of securities of a company which is a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “U.S. Exchange Act”), and the shares of which are not registered under Section 12 of the U.S. Exchange Act and that the company is not subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the U.S. Exchange Act, and is not required to, and does not, file any reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) thereunder. The Delisting Offer is made in the United States pursuant to Section 14(e) and Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act, subject to the exemption provided under Rule 14d-1(d) under the U.S. Exchange Act, for a Tier II tender offer and is principally governed by disclosure and other regulations and procedures of the Federal Republic of Germany, including with respect to the Delisting Offer timetable, settlement procedures, withdrawal and timing of payments, which are different from those of the United States. The Delisting Offer is made to Kloeckner’s shareholders resident in the United States on the same terms as those made to all other shareholders of Kloeckner to whom an offer is made. Any informational documents, including this Current Report on Form 8-K, will be disseminated to U.S. shareholders on a basis comparable to the method that such documents are provided to Kloeckner’s other shareholders. To the extent that the Delisting Offer is subject to U.S. securities laws, such laws only apply to Kloeckner shareholders in the United States, and no other person has any claims under such laws.
Any agreement concluded with the bidder as a result of the acceptance of the Delisting Offer will be governed exclusively by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany and shall be construed accordingly. It may be difficult for Kloeckner shareholders from the United States (or from jurisdictions other than Germany) to enforce their rights and claims arising in connection with the Delisting Offer under the Securities Act of 1933 (or other laws known to them) because the bidder and Kloeckner are located outside the United States (or the jurisdiction in which the shareholder is domiciled) and their respective officers and directors are domiciled outside the United States (or the jurisdiction in which the shareholder is domiciled). It may be impossible to sue a non-U.S. company or its officers and directors in a non-U.S. court for violations of U.S. securities laws. It may also be impossible to compel a non-U.S. company or its subsidiaries to submit to the judgment of a U.S. court.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K includes forward-looking statements, including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Exchange Act. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Delisting Offer, and other statements that are not historical or current fact and are characterized by terms like “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “is of the opinion,” “tries,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “assumes,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “should” and “aims” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current intentions, assumptions or expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding Worthington Steel’s and Kloeckner’s respective businesses and the proposed acquisition, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, (i) the ability of the parties to successfully complete the proposed acquisition on the anticipated terms and timing, (ii) the effects of the transaction on Worthington Steel’s and Kloeckner’s operations, including on the combined company’s future financial condition and performance, operating results, strategy and plans, including anticipated tax treatment, unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, losses, future prospects, and business and management strategies for the management, expansion and growth of the new combined company’s operations, and (iii) the other factors detailed in Worthington Steel’s reports filed with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the caption “Risk Factors,” as well as the other risks discussed in Worthington Steel’s filings with the SEC. In addition, these statements are based on assumptions that are subject to change. Further, it cannot be ruled out that Worthington Steel and/or Kloeckner will change their intentions and assessments expressed in documents or notifications or in Delisting Offer Document or other documents or notifications relating to the Delisting Offer. This Current Report on Form 8-K speaks only as of the date hereof. Each of Worthington Steel and Kloeckner disclaims any duty to update the information herein.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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WORTHINGTON STEEL, INC. |
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July 15, 2026 |
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/s/ Joseph Y. Heuer |
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Joseph Y. Heuer |
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EXHIBIT 99.1 |
Worthington Steel Announces Start of Acceptance Period for Public Delisting Tender Offer for Kloeckner & Co SE
COLUMBUS, OHIO (July 15, 2026) – Worthington Steel, Inc. (NYSE: WS) today announced the opening of the acceptance period for the Public Delisting Tender Offer (“Delisting Offer”) for all outstanding shares of Kloeckner & Co SE (“Kloeckner”) not already held by Worthington Steel, following approval of the offer document for the Delisting Offer (the “Delisting Offer Document”) by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – “Bafin”) and publication in accordance with the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (WpÜG).
Starting today, Kloeckner shareholders can accept the Delisting Offer by tendering their shares for a cash consideration of EUR 11.00 per Kloeckner share. The acceptance period runs from July 15, 2026 to August 12, 2026, 24:00 hrs (Frankfurt am Main local time) / 18 hrs (New York local time).
Worthington Steel currently holds approximately 62% of Kloeckner’s outstanding shares following the completion of its Voluntary Public Takeover Offer on June 3, 2026. The Delisting Offer provides remaining Kloeckner shareholders with an additional opportunity to tender their shares for cash consideration.
The Delisting Offer is not subject to any closing conditions and does not include a minimum acceptance threshold. It is made exclusively pursuant to the terms set out in the Delisting Offer Document approved by Bafin.
Following the effectiveness of the delisting, Kloeckner shares will no longer be admitted to trading on a regulated market in Germany or on a comparable market abroad, which may result in significantly reduced liquidity and limited price discovery for Kloeckner shares.
The Delisting Offer Document and other information relating to the Delisting Offer are available as of today on the following website: www.strong-for-good.com.
About Worthington Steel
Worthington Steel (NYSE:WS) is a metals processor that partners with customers to deliver highly technical and customized solutions. Worthington Steel’s expertise in carbon flat-roll steel processing, electrical steel laminations and tailor welded solutions is driving steel toward a more sustainable future.
As one of the most trusted metals processors in North America, Worthington Steel and its approximately 6,000 employees harness the power of steel to advance our customers’ visions through value-added processing capabilities including galvanizing, pickling, configured blanking,
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Worthington Steel
July 15, 2026
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specialty cold reduction, lightweighting and electrical lamination. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Worthington Steel operates 37 facilities in seven states and 10 countries. Following a people-first Philosophy, commitment to sustainability and proven business system, Worthington Steel’s purpose is to generate positive returns by providing trusted and innovative solutions for customers, creating opportunities for employees and strengthening its communities.
About Kloeckner & Co
Kloeckner & Co is now one of the largest producer-independent metals processors and one of the leading steel service center companies. With its distribution and service network of around 110 warehouse and processing locations, primarily in North America and the “DACH” region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland), Kloeckner & Co supplies more than 60,000 customers. Currently, the Group has more than 6,000 employees. Kloeckner & Co had sales of some €6.4 billion in fiscal year 2025. By consistently implementing its corporate strategy, Kloeckner & Co strives to become one of the leading service center and metal processing companies in North America and Europe. The focus is on continued targeted expansion of the service center and higher value-added business, diversification of the product and service portfolio as well as integration of additional CO2-reduced solutions under the Nexigen® umbrella brand. The shares of Kloeckner & Co SE are admitted to trading on the regulated market segment (Regulierter Markt) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse) with further post-admission obligations (Prime Standard). Kloeckner & Co shares are listed in the SDAX® index of Deutsche Börse.
ISIN: DE000KC01000; WKN: KC0100 ISIN: DE000KC01V24; WKN: KC01V2
Media Contacts:
Worthington Steel
Melissa Dykstra
Vice President, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations
Phone: 614-840-4144
Melissa.Dykstra@WorthingtonSteel.com
European Media Contact
Brunswick Group
Julia Klostermann
Director
+49 174-740-2796
Jklostermann@brunswickgroup.com
Important information:
This press release constitutes neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell Kloeckner shares. The terms relating to the Delisting Offer are set out in the offer document which has been published following authorization by the German Federal Financial Supervisory
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Worthington Steel
July 15, 2026
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Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – Bafin). The bidder reserves the right to deviate from the key points set out herein in the final terms of the Delisting Offer to the extent legally permissible. Investors and Kloeckner shareholders are strongly advised to read the offer document and all other documents relating to the Delisting Offer, as they contain important information.
The Delisting Offer is made exclusively on the basis of the applicable provisions of German law, in particular the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs und Übernahmegesetz – WpÜG) and certain securities laws provisions of the United States of America (the "United States" or "U.S."). The Delisting Offer is not made in accordance with the legal requirements of any jurisdiction other than the Federal Republic of Germany or the United States (to the extent applicable). Accordingly, no announcements, registrations, approvals or authorizations for the offer have been made, arranged for or granted outside the Federal Republic of Germany or the United States (to the extent applicable). Investors and holders of Kloeckner shares may not claim to be protected by the investor protection laws of any jurisdiction other than the Federal Republic of Germany or the United States (as applicable). Subject to the exceptions described in the offer document and any exemptions to be granted by the relevant regulatory authorities, no Delisting Offer is be, directly or indirectly, in any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of applicable national law. This press release may not be published or otherwise distributed, in whole or in part, in any jurisdiction in which the Delisting Offer would be prohibited by applicable national law.
The bidder and its affiliates or affiliates of its financial advisor reserve the right to directly or indirectly purchase or arrange to purchase Kloeckner shares or any other securities that are convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for such Kloeckner shares outside of the Delisting Offer, provided that such purchases or arrangements to purchase are not made in the United States and comply with the applicable German statutory provisions, in particular the WpÜG. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase, including the number of Kloeckner shares purchased or to be purchased and the consideration paid or agreed, will be published in German and English language without undue delay if and to the extent required under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, the United States or any other relevant jurisdiction.
The Delisting Offer referenced in this press release relates to shares in a German company and is subject to the statutory provisions of the Federal Republic of Germany on the implementation of such an offer, which differ from those of the United States and other jurisdictions in certain material respects. The financial information relating to the bidder and Kloeckner included elsewhere, including in the offer document, are prepared in accordance with provisions applicable in the Federal Republic of Germany and are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States; therefore, it may not be comparable to financial information relating to United States companies or companies from other jurisdictions outside the Federal Republic of Germany. The Delisting Offer will not be submitted to the review or registration procedures of any securities regulator outside of Germany and has not been approved
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or recommended by any other securities regulator. Kloeckner shareholders whose place of residence, incorporation or place of habitual abode is in the United States should note that the Delisting Offer is made in respect of securities of a company which is a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "U.S. Exchange Act"), and the shares of which are not registered under Section 12 of the U.S. Exchange Act and that the company is not subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the U.S. Exchange Act, and is not required to, and does not, file any reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") thereunder. The Delisting Offer is made in the United States pursuant to Section 14(e) and Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act, subject to the exemption provided under Rule 14d-1(d) under the U.S. Exchange Act, for a Tier II tender offer and is principally governed by disclosure and other regulations and procedures of the Federal Republic of Germany, including with respect to the Delisting Offer timetable, settlement procedures, withdrawal and timing of payments, which are different from those of the United States. The Delisting Offer is made to Kloeckner’s shareholders resident in the United States on the same terms as those made to all other shareholders of Kloeckner to whom an offer is made. Any informational documents, including this press release, will be disseminated to U.S. shareholders on a basis comparable to the method that such documents are provided to Kloeckner’s other shareholders. To the extent that the Delisting Offer is subject to United States securities laws, such laws only apply to Kloeckner shareholders in the United States, and no other person has any claims under such laws.
Any agreement concluded with the bidder as a result of the acceptance of the Delisting Offer will be governed exclusively by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany and shall be construed accordingly. It may be difficult for Kloeckner shareholders from the United States (or from jurisdictions other than Germany) to enforce their rights and claims arising in connection with the Delisting Offer under the Securities Act of 1933 (or other laws known to them) because the bidder and Kloeckner are located outside the United States (or the jurisdiction in which the shareholder is domiciled) and their respective officers and directors are domiciled outside the United States (or the jurisdiction in which the shareholder is domiciled). It may be impossible to sue a non-U.S. company or its officers and directors in a non-U.S. court for violations of U.S. securities laws. It may also be impossible to compel a non-U.S. company or its subsidiaries to submit to the judgment of a U.S. court.
Forward-looking statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements, including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Exchange Act. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Delisting Offer, and other statements that are not historical or current fact and are characterized by terms like “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “is of the opinion,” “tries,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “assumes,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “should” and “aims” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current intentions, assumptions or expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied
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in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding Worthington Steel’s and Kloeckner’s respective businesses and the proposed acquisition, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, (i) the ability of the parties to successfully complete the proposed acquisition on the anticipated terms and timing, (ii) the effects of the transaction on Worthington Steel’s and Kloeckner’s operations, including on the combined company’s future financial condition and performance, operating results, strategy and plans, including anticipated tax treatment, unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, losses, future prospects, and business and management strategies for the management, expansion and growth of the new combined company’s operations, and (iii) the other factors detailed in Worthington Steel’s reports filed with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the caption “Risk Factors,” as well as the other risks discussed in Worthington Steel’s filings with the SEC. In addition, these statements are based on assumptions that are subject to change. Further, it cannot be ruled out that Worthington Steel and/or Kloeckner will change their intentions and assessments expressed in documents or notifications or in the offer document after publication of the documents, notifications or the offer document. This press release speaks only as of the date hereof. Each of Worthington Steel and Kloeckner disclaims any duty to update the information herein.