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Baosteel ratings pressured by merger with Wuhan - Moody's-The 18th China(Guangzhou)Int’l Metal &Metallurgy Exhibiti
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9/27/2016 金属展-冶金展-钢铁展-steel expo-metal &metallurgy expo |
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Xinhua reported that rating agency Moody''s said in its initial assessment of the move that the announced merger of Baosteel Group and Wuhan Iron and Steel Group is credit negative and will put pressure on Baosteel''s ratings.
The initial assessment by Moody''s is that the merger will strengthen the merged entity''s market position as the largest steel producer by capacity in China, rationalize production capacity, management costs and capital expenditures, as well as reduce price cutting from competition in the domestic market.
However, the benefits will take time to be realized, the agency noted.
On the other hand, Wuhan Iron and Steel Group''s weaker operations and financial position will weaken Baosteel''s financial capacity, and the debt leverage will remain high after the merger.
The details of the merger have yet to be finalized. Once detailed information becomes available, Moody''s said it will assess the impact on the ratings within the Baosteel group.
Last year, crude steel output of Baosteel and Wuhan Iron and Steel was 34.94 million tonnes and 25.78 million tonnes, respectively. After the merger, the output of the newly merged company will exceed that of Hebei Province''s HeSteel Group to rank first in China and become the world''s second largest steelmaker, after ArcelorMittal. -The
18th China(Guangzhou)Int’l Metal &Metallurgy Exhibition
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