Birmingham Steel Corporation Appoints New General Sales Manager for Cartersville, Georgia Operation; Correnti Realigns Sales Management Responsibilities.

Business Editors

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 8, 2000

Birmingham Steel Corporation (NYSE:BIR) today announced that Jerry Nelson, age 39, has been appointed General Sales Manager for its Cartersville, Georgia, facility. For the past eight years, Nelson worked for Nucor Corporation, most recently as sales manager for Nucor's facility in Berkley, South Carolina.

Previously, Nelson served as sales manager at Nucor's facility in Darlington, South Carolina, where his responsibilities included sales and marketing of cold finished, light structural merchant and SBQ (special bar quality) steel products. Nelson was also involved with the successful start-up of Nucor's Berkley operation. He began his career with LTV Steel Corporation and also worked for five years with Bethlehem Steel Corporation. Nelson is a 1983 graduate of Allegheny College.

John D. Correnti, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Birmingham Steel, commented, "We are pleased to have someone with the Jerry's credentials and experience join our organization. His leadership skills, as well as his past association and expertise with start-up operations, will be extremely valuable as we seek to build and grow the customer base for mid-section merchant products from our new Cartersville operation. I am confident Jerry will be an excellent addition to the Birmingham Steel management team."

Correnti also announced realignment of the Company's sales management responsibilities. Effective immediately, Mike Wagner, who currently serves as Vice President - General Sales Manager for Birmingham Steel's SBQ operations, will assume the additional responsibility for Birmingham Steel's merchant product sales nationwide. Bob Wilson, who currently serves as Vice President - Sales, will be responsible for all of Birmingham Steel's rebar sales.

Correnti commented, "We are realigning the management of our sales organization in order to improve our competitive position and to better serve our customers. We believe the new sales structure will allow Birmingham Steel to be more responsive to changes in the marketplace and enable us to continue to grow and expand market share."

Birmingham Steel operates in the mini-mill sector of the steel industry and conducts operations at facilities located across the United States. The common stock of Birmingham Steel is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "BIR."

Except for historical information, the matters described in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including economic conditions, market demand factors, equipment breakdowns or failures, the Company's continued compliance with its financing arrangements and its principal debt agreements, as well as other risks described from time to time in the Company's periodic and special filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this document speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update such forward-looking statements.