JFE Holdings, Inc. announced consolidated earnings results for the fourth quarter and year ended March 31, 2013. For the quarter, the company reported net sales of JPY 882.1 billion, operating income of JPY 19.7 billion, ordinary income of JPY 29.3 billion, income before income taxes and minority interests of JPY 29.4 billion and net income of JPY 17.6 billion. For the year, the company reported net sales of JPY 3,189,196 million compared to JPY 3,166,511 million a year ago. Operating income was JPY 39,873 million compared to JPY 44,779 million a year ago. Ordinary income was JPY 52,214 million compared to JPY 52,977 million a year ago. Net income was JPY 39,599 million or JPY 71.20 per share compared to net loss of JPY 36,633 million or JPY 68.71 per share a year ago. ROE was 2.7% compared to negative ROE of 2.6% a year ago. ROA was 1.3% compared to 1.3% a year ago. ROS was 1.3% compared to 1.4% a year ago. Net cash provided by operating activities was JPY 287,071 million compared to JPY 110,087 million a year ago. Net cash used for investment activities totaled JPY 163.6 billion, largely the result of acquisitions of fixed assets. Income before income taxes and minority interests was JPY 75,381 million compared to loss before income taxes and minority interests of JPY 71,850 million a year ago. Payments for purchase of property, plant, equipment and intangible assets were JPY 174,165 million compared to JPY 193,470 million a year ago. The company announced year end dividend of JPY 20.00 per share, for 2012. The company paid year end dividend of JPY 10.00 per share, for 2011. The dividend will be payable from June 21, 2013.

JFE Holdings, Inc. announced that they will report fiscal year 2013 results on Apr 23, 2013

ThyssenKrupp AG is holding talks with the potential buyers for its Steel Americas plants in the USA and Brazil. “ThyssenKrupp is currently in intensive discussions with these potential investors. The group is continuing to consider both the sale of the two plants together as a unit or separately to different investors. [We are] confident of finding a solution for Steel Americas before the end of the 2012-13 fiscal year,” the company said in a statement. The company has received binding offers from at least five potential buyers, according to media reports on March 1, 2013. ThyssenKrupp declined to name the final bidders or the amounts offered, however, the company added that those who had carried out due diligence on the plants in November 2013 have “continued to show strong interest in an acquisition.” Companhia Siderurgica Nacional is reported to have submitted a preliminary bid of $3.8 billion for the sheet rolling mill and coating lines in Alabama and slab plant in Rio de Janeiro, ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation together have offered €1.6 billion for the US plant, the reports said. Other rumored bidders include Nucor Corporation, United States Steel Corp. and JFE Holdings, Inc. Ternium S.A. eyes Brazilian plant, but it is not yet clear if it has submitted a bid.