Nippon Steel and Sumimoto Metal Corp Acquires Rival Nisshin Steel

by Jeff Yoders on FEBRUARY 1, 2016

A major steel merger happened in Japan over the weekend and, despite assurances from Russia’s oil minister, details on a global oil production slowdown are still not forthcoming.

Nippon Steel Acquires Nisshin Steel

Japan’s top steelmaker, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp., unveiled a plan on Monday to take control of fourth-ranked rival Nisshin Steel and trim some of their combined steel output in the face of a global supply glut. A deal would be the latest in a series of consolidations and plant closures as producers ace a slump in prices due to falling demand and competition from export of overproduced Chinese steel.

Nippon Steel, which already holds 8.3% of Nisshin, said the two firms struck a memorandum of understanding on Monday to turn Nisshin into a subsidiary. Nippon Steel said it is considering extending its stake to 51% to 66%.

Source: Metalminer