Mergers: Japanese Fever

Japan's two biggest steelmakers — Yawata Iron & Steel and Fuji Iron & Steel — are in the process of merging into a colossus that will produce some 22.3 million tons of steel a year and rank second in the world only to U.S. Steel (30.9 million tons). The automaking di vision of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is being combined with the truck-making Isuzu Motors to form Japan's third largest automaker, after Toyota Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. Other mergers are afoot in petrochemicals, electric equipment, heavy machinery, banking and shipbuilding.

All...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!