SMU Steel Summit: "No Comment" from Ferriola on Big River

Those hoping for the inside scoop on Nucor’s plans to purchase Big River Steel were left to speculate following comments by Nucor Chairman and CEO John Ferriola during Steel Market Update’s steel summit this week in Atlanta.

Ferriola neither confirmed nor denied Nucor’s rumored interest in BRS, but his posture suggested it’s a possibility. Nucor plans to continue expanding through both internal growth and timely acquisitions, he told the 900 steel executives who filled the Georgia International Convention Center on Wednesday. The steelmaker generated over a billion dollars in cash last year and expects to exceed that performance this year, he said, so it has the resources to take advantage of any opportunities. “We do have the ability to take action when it’s the right time with the right company,” he told SMU President and Publisher John Packard, who moderated the executive one-on-one at the conference.