By Alexander Hübner and Marleen Kaesebier

(Reuters) -Siemens Healthineers is preparing for the possibility that its biggest shareholder Siemens AG may reduce its stake in the medical technology company to less than 50%, its CFO said on Wednesday.

Those preparations include talking to credit rating agencies, Jochen Schmitz told journalists on a conference call after the company reported fourth-quarter results.

“We are talking to them, we are preparing ourselves,” he said of the rating agencies. “We have to do that because we don’t know what Siemens will decide”.

Siemens is expected to clarify its intentions during an investor day next week.

Schmitz said that the group has had many offers from banks to advise it on potential refinancing options.

“The most important thing is clarity,” c

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