BERLIN (Reuters) - German steelmaker ThyssenKrupp (>> ThyssenKrupp AG) has denied a magazine report that it is preparing to sell its automotive division.

Weekly magazine Focus said in an advance release of an article to be published in Monday's edition that ThyssenKrupp, struggling with billions of euros of debt and a loss-making Steel Americas business, had asked potential investors for indicative offers for its automotive operations.

"That's nonsense," a spokeswoman at the Essen-based company told Reuters on Sunday. "We want to develop the business further strategically."

Last year, ThyssenKrupp sold its Tailored Blanks unit, then market leader in laser-welded blanks for the automotive industry, to Chinese peer Wuhan Iron and Steel (>> Wuhan Iron and Steel Co., Ltd.).

(Reporting by Matthias Inverardi; Writing by Andreas Cremer; Editing by Mark Potter)

Stocks treated in this article : ThyssenKrupp AG, Wuhan Iron and Steel Co., Ltd.
Valeurs citées dans l'article : ThyssenKrupp AG, Wuhan Iron and Steel Co., Ltd.