ZF Could Sell Steering Business to Ease TRW Deal

ZF Friedrichshafen AG may dispose of its steering business to avoid antitrust problems in its bid to acquire TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., sources tell Reuters.

They say ZF has discussed selling the 50% stake it holds in its ZF Lenksysteme steering gear venture to partner Robert Bosch GmbH. The business produced revenue of €4.1 billion last year. That compares with $2.7 billion (€2 billion) generated by TRW's steering systems unit in 2013.

ZF hopes to have a divestiture plan in place before it finalizes a deal to buy TRW, according to Reuters' sources. The two suppliers declined to comment.