Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky has sold his 20 per cent stake in Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe and abandoned plans for a 50:50 joint venture, the companies announced. The decision enables Thyssenkrupp to intensify discussions with Jindal Steel International for a possible acquisition.

The move follows stalled negotiations between Thyssenkrupp and Kretinsky’s EP Group amid union opposition. The European steel sector continues to face high energy costs, cheap Chinese imports and delayed hydrogen-based decarbonisation.