Russia's Severstal says offers $1.24 bln for Esmark

MOSCOW May 20 (Reuters) - Russian mining and metals giant Severstal (CHMFq.L) has offered $1.24 billion for all of outstanding shares in U.S. steel producer and distributor Esmark Inc ESMK.O, a Severstal spokeswoman told Reuters on Tuesday.

The company said earlier on Tuesday it had made an offer to buy Esmark for $17 per share and that its proposal had been cleared by U.S. trade union United Steelworkers. (Reporting by Polina Devitt; Writing by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Tanya Mosolova)