TOKYO, May 9 (Reuters) - Nippon Steel ( NISTF ), Japan's

biggest steelmaker, posted on Thursday a 20.8% fall in net

profit for the year ended in March to 549.4 billion yen, beating

estimates.

Nippon Steel ( NISTF ) had been expected to post a net profit of 464.6

billion yen, according to a LSEG poll of analysts.

For the year ending in March 2025, Nippon Steel ( NISTF ) forecast a

net profit of 300 billion yen.

The company reiterated that it planned to close its $15

billion deal to buy U.S. Steel by the end of this year at

the latest.