Atlas Group Holdings (AHS)

Shares / Stock Code

AHS

Stock Exchange / Sharemarket

ax

Atlas Group Holdings (AHS) specialises in the primary processing and distribution of specialty metal products. The Company is also engaged in the supply of steel products sourced from manufacturers around the world. AHS is a leading distributor in Australian and New Zealand for Arcelor, which is a large European steel manufacturer. The Company listed on the ASX on 23rd June, 2003. AHS currently operates in operations in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Thailand. It focuses its development through two business divisions: distribution and the primary processing. The distribution division markets steel flat products, stainless steel sections, quenched and tempered steel plate, aluminum flat products, tubular products and engineering steels. The primary processing division deals with the processing of supplier made products to bring them in a form suitable for sale. During fiscal 2007, the Wiremill closure was completed. During the fiscal 2006, the Company ended the automotive operations of Southward Engineering Co Limited.

In 1918, AHS commenced the manufacturing tool steels in Canada. By 1938 the Company became a key producer of tool and specialty steels in the country. Many of the global businesses operations that Atlas began since 1918, have been merged into other companies and now the only company that still lasts and maintains the Atlas name in the specialty metals industry is Atlas Group Holdings Limited. AHS originated from the Canadian parent in 1939 when they set up operations in Australia. To date, the Company’s distribution warehousing and steel processing network is spread across 22 major cities and towns in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.

History

Atlas Group evolved from Atlas Steels Canada who commenced the manufacturing of tool steels in Australian market in 1939. In 1963 Rio Algom Ltd, a Canadian mining company who had the total ownership of Atlas Steels (Aust) Pty Ltd until 1987 acquired Atlas Steel Limited (Canada) together with the Australian operations. Atlas became floated on the ASX in 1987. In 1991, Atlas Steels Limited took over TPS Holdings Ltd and expanded its operations to include a metals distribution division and a manufacturing division. In 1993 Atlas took over the businesses of Queensland Tube Mills in Brisbane and Atlas Tube Mills in Auckland, New Zealand. It also acquired PWB Anchor in 1994 and took over Alucor Australia Pty Ltd and Coil Cut Australia Pty Ltd in 1995.

In 1995, Email group acquired Atlas Steel. In 2001, Smorgan Steel with OneSteel took over Email group. In 2001, Atlas group was dissociated from Email. In 2003, the group renamed to Atlas Specialty Metals. In June 2003 the metals distribution and processing companies of Atlas and Bisalloy listed on the ASX as Atlas Group Holdings Limited. In 2004, AHS took over New Zealand steel processor Southward Engineering.