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ArcelorMittal mulls bid for Italian steel giant

London, July 5, 2014

ArcelorMittal, the world's biggest steelmaker, is considering making an offer later this month for Italy's second largest steel producer Lucchini, according to Italian union CGIL FIOM.

Lucchini, formerly owned by Russia's Severstal, was declared insolvent in 2012 and later placed under "special administration" - a procedure designed to save large companies and avoid heavy job losses. It fell victim to the 2008 recession that has cut Europe's steel demand by about a quarter.

"There hasn't been a formal expression of interest yet, but in the last few days ArcelorMittal has been conducting due diligence of the Piombino," said Gianni Venturi, national co-ordinator for Italian union FIOM CGIL.

Both ArcelorMittal and Lucchini declined to comment.

Also in the running for Lucchini are India's Jindal Steel and Power and JSW Steel, though they are not interested in the company's blast furnace in Piombino, which employs around 4,000 people directly and indirectly.

"Should ArcelorMittal go ahead with a formal offer, this is likely to include either all assets or only the blast furnace since there is already consolidated interest for the processing lines from the Indian Group Jindal South West," said Venturi.

Italy's unions and politicians favour an offer that includes a commitment to keep the blast furnace running. The furnace, idled in April, is part of a complex that last year produced one million tonnes of steel or four per cent of Italy's output.

Last month, ArcelorMittal said the Italian government had asked it to consider investing in or buying steelmaker Ilva - the biggest producer in Europe which is also under special administration.-Reuters
 




Tags: Steel | Italy | ArcelorMittal |

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