Thyssenkrupp's chief executive, Miguel Lopez, told analysts on Thursday that tougher upcoming European import quotas and tariffs have brightened investor sentiment toward steel companies and are having a constructive effect on the company's ongoing sale discussions with Jindal Steel International.
Speaking after the release of first-quarter results, Lopez said the market outlook has improved in recent months and that this improved sentiment is part of the fabric of the talks with Jindal. "There is a clear positive sentiment here," he said, noting the shift in tone has taken shape over the past four months and would factor into conversations with the Indian suitor.
Lopez characterized the negotiations over Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe (TKSE) as "intense." The current framework under discussion contemplates selling a majority stake in TKSE to Jindal Steel International, with those discussions ongoing.
The chief executive attributed the more favorable view of listed steel companies primarily to the introduction of tariffs and import quotas, saying these measures have altered market sentiment and that effect is visible in the company's engagement with Jindal.
Separately, Thyssenkrupp's chief financial officer disclosed a material pension obligation associated with the steel business. The pension liabilities tied to the steel division amount to roughly 2.4 billion, a figure presented during the same investor presentation.
Taken together, management framed the recent policy moves and the resulting market response as relevant context for the strategic discussions underway. The comments highlight how regulatory and trade instruments are intersecting with M&A activity in the European steel sector and are being considered within negotiations on a potential majority sale.
Contextual note: The company reported these remarks and the pension figure as part of its first-quarter investor presentation. Management described talks as active and acknowledged the role of recent trade policy developments in shaping market sentiment.