Japan's Nippon Steel raises full-year profit forecast, confident on U.S. Steel deal
Boosts annual profit f'cast by Y40 bln
Dialogue with 700 stakeholders fostered deal understanding
Sees former U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo as a strong advisor
Adds bullets, quotes and detail
By Yuka Obayashi and Katya Golubkova
TOKYO, Aug 1 (Reuters) -Japan's biggest steelmaker Nippon Steel 5401.T on Thursday raised its full-year profit forecast amid improving margins in the steel business, and reiterated its confidence in closing its proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel X.N by year-end.
Net profit in April-June, its first quarter, fell 11% from a year earlier to 157.6 billion yen ($1 billion), but exceeded analyst expectations of 108.7 billion yen as per LSEG data.
The world's fourth-biggest steelmaker increased its net profit forecast for the year ending in March 2025 to 340 billion yen from 300 billion yen, expecting its steel business to improve. Still, the revised figure fell short of analysts' estimate of 372.6 billion yen.
"We face an unprecedented slump in steel demand, but our efforts have borne fruit," Vice Chairman Takahiro Mori said, noting its restructuring including shutting down steel plants.
Nippon Steel, which clinched the $14.9 billion deal to buy U.S. Steel last December, said on Thursday it received a second request for information and data from the U.S. Department of Justice as part of the U.S. government's review of the deal.
"We are confident that we can close the deal by the end of this year," Mori said, citing his repeated visits to the U.S. and dialogue with some 700 stakeholders, including employees of the U.S. Steel, have helped to foster a better understanding of the deal.
Both steelmakers have received all regulatory approvals outside of the United States for the deal, but face political opposition, U.S. regulatory scrutiny and objections from the powerful United Steelworkers (USW) union, which fears the deal could lead to job losses.
"The union has not explicitly changed its position, but the right understanding has been disseminated around it," Mori said.
As a part of its bid, which has faced resistance from both Democrats and Republicans, Nippon Steel said it has committed to no job cuts, job or production transfer overseas or plant closures even after the current agreement between USW and U.S. Steel expires in September 2026.
Last month, Nippon Steel said it hired former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to help seal the deal.
"Pompeo will become a strong advisor to us as he is well respected by both Republicans and Democrats," Mori said, adding the deal is expected to receive understanding regardless of who becomes the next U.S. president since it would be good for the U.S. economy.
($1 = 149.6100 yen)
Reporting by Katya Golubkova and Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Himani Sarkar, Varun H K and Bernadette Baum
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