Monday 16 Dec 2024
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TOKYO (Sept 20): Nippon Steel plans to sell at least ¥30 billion (US$211 million or RM883.6 million) in assets in this fiscal year to manage its debt, the Nikkei quoted its vice chairman as saying on Friday, as it waits to know the fate of its US$14.9 billion bid for US Steel.

Earlier this year, Nippon Steel agreed with three Japanese megabanks for US$16 billion in loans to fund the acquisition of US Steel. However, the deal is facing political opposition in the United States amid the Nov 5 presidential elections.

Nippon Steel plans to sell at least ¥30 billion in assets including real estate and inventories to improve capital efficiency amid the US Steel takeover, the Japanese steelmaker's vice chairman, Takahiro Mori, was quoted by Nikkei newswire as saying.

Nippon Steel did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for a comment.

The Japanese company's debt-to-equity ratio is expected to increase to 0.9 from 0.5 as a result of the US Steel deal which both companies target to close by the end of December, pending approvals.

This ratio may come down to 0.7 by the end of March if certain steps are taken, Mori told Nikkei.

Uploaded by Magessan Varatharaja

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