Aug 13. Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant has inked an agreement to take over steel pipe maker with US roots John Maneely Company from Carlyle Group and the Zekelman family for USD3.53 bn. According to Carlyle's press release, the transaction is to be closed in 4Q 2008. John Maneely runs 11 companies in the US and Canada with aggregate annual capacity of over 3 mn pipe products. The company's FY 2008 revenue is estimated at USD 3 bn.