ASCA AND ROSAT OBSERVATIONS OF THE SEYFERT-1 GALAXY RX-J0437.4-4711

Results of ASCA and ROSAT observations of the Seyfert 1 galaxy RX J043 7.4-4711 are presented. The X-ray continuum spectrum can be described by the sum of a power law with photon index 2.15 +/- 0.04 and a soft e mission component characterized by a blackbody with temperature 29 +/- 2 eV, The total luminosity of the soft component is larger than that of the power-law component if the power law is cut off around a few hu ndred keV, A weak absorption edge with tau = 0.26 +/- 0.13 at the rest -frame energy of E = 0.83 +/- 0.05 keV and an Fe K alpha line with EW = 430 +/- 220 eV at an energy E = 6.47 +/- 0.15 keV are also detected. The X-ray flux showed a 47 per cent increase between two ASCA observa tions 4 months apart, but no spectral variability was seen. We argue t hat reprocessing of the hard X-ray emission cannot produce all the sof t X-ray emission, since the total luminosity of the soft component is larger than that of the integrated power-law component. Similarities w ith some stellar black hole candidates are briefly discussed.