Investment in， and obtaining control of， Latinusa， an Indonesian tinplate producer --Strengthening the tinplate business in the growing Asian market--

Nippon Steel Corporation (location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, president: Shoji Muneoka, “Nippon Steel”), as part of its global player strategy, has decided to invest in PT Pelat Timah Nusantara (location: Indonesia, “Latinusa”) with the objective of capturing the robust tinplate demand in Asia. As a result, Nippon Steel will acquire control of Latinusa, and Latinusa will become a consolidated subsidiary of Nippon Steel.

PT Krakatau Steel (Persero) (“Krakatau”), an Indonesian state-owned steel company, has been preparing for the initial public offering of Latinusa’s shares, with a view to privatizing its subsidiary which manufactures and sells tinplates, while at the same time inviting tenders from potential strategic partners for the sale of a majority block of Latinusa’s shares. Nippon Steel responded to it by forming a consortium with Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Metal One Corporation and Nippon Steel Trading Co., Ltd. Today, Nippon Steel and these consortium members signed a share purchase agreement with Krakatau, by which the consortium will acquire 55% of total issued shares of Latinusa (counting after the initial public offering). With Nippon Steel’s 35% holdings, representing a controlling stake in the consortium, Latinusa is expected to become a consolidated subsidiary of Nippon Steel.

Setting sights on capturing the expanding demand for tinplates in Indonesia by enhancing competitiveness of Latinusa through stable supplies of substrates and technical assistance, Nippon Steel intends to strengthen its tinplate business in the growing market in Asia by securing a manufacturing base in Indonesia, in addition to the production bases located in Japan and two Nippon Steel Group companies overseas, namely Guangzhou Pacific Tinplate Co., Ltd. (PATIN) (location: China) and Siam Tinplate Co., Ltd. (STP) (location: Thailand).


Reference 1 : Consortium members’ shares in Latinusa
Nippon Steel Corporation　　　　　　35%
Mitsui & Co., Ltd. 　　　　　　　　10%
Metal One Corporation　　　　　　　　5%
Nippon Steel Trading Co., Ltd.　　　5%


Reference 2 : Company Overview of Latinusa (PT Pelat Timah Nusantara)
Foundation: 1982
Representative: Ardhiman TA, President Director
Location: Jakarta (Head office), Cilegon (Works)
Capital: IDR 101.9 billion (JPY 1 billion, exchange rate: JPY0.01 /IDR)
Business: Production and sale of tinplate
Financial Year-end: End of December
Sales: IDR1465.9 billion (FY2008) (JPY14.7 billion)
Shareholder: PT Krakatau Steel: 93.9%, other: 6.1%

Reference 3 : Company Overview of Krakatau (PT Krakatau Steel)
Foundation: 1971
Representative: Fazwar Bujang, President Director
Location: Jakarta (Head office), Cilegon (Works)
Capital: IDR 2000 billion (JPY 20 billion, exchange rate: JPY0.01 /IDR)
Business: Production and sale of flat sheet, tinplate, galvanized sheet,
bar and wire, pipe and tube
Financial Year-end: End of December
Sales: IDR 20 trillion (FY2008) (JPY200 billion)
Shareholder: Indonesian state: 100%

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