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Thyssenkrupp Explores Selling 30% Stake in Bearings Unit
Company Last Year Spun Off Submarine Unit, Is in Talks to Sell Steel Operations
Thyssenkrupp AG is considering the sale of a roughly 30% stake in its Rothe Erde bearings business, people familiar with the matter said, in a deal that could value the asset at about 1.5 billion euros ($1.8 billion).
The German industrial heavyweight is working with an adviser to gauge buyer interest, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential information.
Deliberations are at an early stage and there’s no certainty they’ll lead to a transaction, the people said.
“We regularly receive offers for various transaction opportunities and keep all options open and review each offer,” a spokesperson for Thyssenkrupp said in an emailed statement.
Shares in Thyssenkrupp have risen more than 230% in Frankfurt trading over the last 12 months, giving the company a market value of about 6.9 billion euros.
Thyssenkrupp is in the midst of a broader streamlining program aimed at shedding legacy units and giving it more space to focus on higher-margin engineering and technology businesses. The company last year spun off its submarine unit TKMS and is working on a similar plan for its metals trading operations. It’s also in talks to sell its massive steel operations to India’s Jindal Steel Ltd.
Based in Dortmund, the Rothe Erde business manufactures slewed bearings and large rings used in energy, construction and heavy machinery applications. It employs about 6,000 people. A Thyssenkrupp facts and figures report noted that Rothe Erde delivered a stable contribution within its broader industrial portfolio in fiscal year 2024/2025.
Thyssenkrupp Materials NA ranks No. 97 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest private carriers in North America, and No. 5 among manufacturing carriers.
