Steel division loses CEO, chairman as crisis intensifies
Workers request extraordinary supervisory board meeting
Government says no plans to take stake in Thyssenkrupp

FRANKFURTDUESSELDORF, Aug 30 Reuters Thyssenkrupp39;s planned sale of its steel business is at risk over uncertainty following a leadership crisis at the unit, the head of the German conglomerate39;s works council said on Friday.

The unit, a storied name in industry and a symbol of Germany39;s economic rise, has been hit by a combination of weak demand, cheaper Asian products and pressure to decarbonise that have knocked its competitiveness.

Uncertainty among the workforce is at a maximum. Fears about the future of employees and that of the company can be felt everywhere, said Tekin Nasikkol, who also sits on Thyssenkrupp39;s 20seat supervisory board.

His comments come after Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe TKSE said late on Thursday its chairman, chief executive and five other supervisory and management board members would leave, reflecting a deepening dispute over the steel unit39;s future.

Thyssenkrupp shares were flat at 1232 GMT after falling as much as 1.8 earlier. The Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach foundation, Thyssenkrupp39;s top shareholder with a 21 stake, also declined to comment.

At the core of the clash lies the question over how deep job and capacity cuts at TKSE should be, and how much money the business needs ahead of a partial sale to Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky.

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