Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel said Wednesday they have finalized their “historic partnership,” a deal that gives the U.S. government a say in some matters and comes a year-and-a-half after the Japanese company first proposed its nearly $15 billion buyout of the iconic American steelmaker.

A year and a half after a deal between Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel was announced, the two companies said they finalized their “historic partnership.”

Takahiro Mori told reporters in Tokyo that the company would not rule out the option of issuing equity, but said Nippon Steel would seek to avoid structures that could hit existing investors and the earnings per share of the combined company. He gave no further details.