Management Team named for
Bethlehem Lukens Plate Division
Public Relations Division
Public Affairs Department
1170 Eighth Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18016-7699
(610) 694-3711 - Phone
(610) 694-1509 - Fax
For Immediate Release
BETHLEHEM, Pa., April 6, 1998 — Bethlehem Steel Corporation (BS:NYSE) today announced the management team to lead its new plate Division that will be established upon the completion of its merger with Lukens Inc. (LUC:NYSE).Curtis H. Barnette, chairman and chief executive officer of Bethlehem, said, "Plans for the combination of Bethlehem and Lukens are proceeding very satisfactorily. Until the closing, which we hope will be in early May, Bethlehem and Lukens will continue to be separate and independent companies. When the closing does take place, the leadership of Bethlehem Lukens Plate, a Division of Bethlehem Steel Corporation, will become effective."
Mr. Barnette said, "The president of the Division will be Van R. Reiner, presently senior manager, Burns Harbor Division (Ind.). Mr. Reiner’s career of twenty-four years with Bethlehem has included responsibility for various production operations at the coke ovens and slab mill/plate mill at Burns Harbor and as superintendent of Bethlehem’s Galvanized Products Division, an operating unit of Burns Harbor, located in Lackawanna, N.Y."
Mr. Barnette introduced Mr. Reiner as "a highly experienced executive with extensive steel operating and management skills. We are fortunate to have Van and this management team designated at an early date to help establish this newest Division of Bethlehem as the premier carbon and alloy plate business." Mr. Reiner will report to Roger P. Penny, president and chief operating officer of Bethlehem.
R. W. Van Sant, chairman and chief executive officer, Lukens Inc., has been appointed a senior advisor and will report to Mr. Barnette. He will assist Mr. Reiner and will help with the stainless steel businesses until asset sales are completed as previously announced.
Bethlehem Lukens Plate will be headquartered in Coatesville, Pa. This carbon and alloy plate operation will have facilities at Coatesville and Conshohocken, Pa., at Bethlehem’s Burns Harbor Division in northern Indiana, and at Sparrows Point, Md.
Other members of the management team whose appointments were also announced are:
Frederick J. Smith, senior vice president, operations, Lukens, will be vice president, operations, reporting to Mr. Reiner.
Lawrence N. Blake, vice president, marketing, Sparrows Point Division, will be vice president, commercial. Reporting to Mr. Blake will be Charles M. Mattia, currently vice president, commercial, at Lukens. He will become general manager, marketing.
Edmund P. Reybitz, assistant treasurer at Bethlehem, will be division controller.
Mark S. Kamon, special assistant to the chairman at Lukens, will become manager, materials and planning.
Jacquelin J. Brova, general manager, compensation and benefits services, human resources, with Bethlehem, will be manager, human resources and administration.
Dr. Steven S. Hansen, manager, cold rolled and coated sheet, research, for Bethlehem, will be manager, technical services.
Steven R. Lacy, assistant general counsel, Lukens, will be division counsel, reporting to William H. Graham, vice president, general counsel and secretary, Bethlehem Steel Corporation.
Mr. Barnette said that, "Current Lukens officers who will not continue in the new Division have agreed to serve as advisors to help us with the transition. We appreciate their assistance and wish them the very best of future success."
Bethlehem and Lukens announced in December 1997 their intention to merge the two Pennsylvania-based companies and to combine their carbon and alloy plate mill operations. Review and approval by regulatory agencies is being completed, and proxies to Lukens’ stockholders will be mailed soon. Subject to Lukens’ stockholders’ approval, closing is expected to occur early in May.