Nippon Steel Says It Could Issue Equity to Fund US Takeover

Nippon Steel Corp. will consider a capital increase to fund its long-awaited $14.1 billion purchase of United States Steel Corp. and associated investment promises, the company’s vice chairman said on Thursday.

Takahiro Mori told reporters in Tokyo that the company would not rule out the option of issuing equity, but said Nippon Steel would seek to avoid structures that could hit existing investors and the earnings per share of the combined company. He gave no further details.