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Italy takes over running of ArcelorMittal's steelworks

Italy's industry ministry on Tuesday took charge of ArcelorMittal's plants in the country under a special administration treatment, ending weeks of clashes with the world's secondlargest steelmaker.

The process is similar to Chapter 11 insolvency in the U.S., allowing a service or individual to rearrange its financial obligations and commitments.

It likewise helps the federal government purchase time while looking for new industrial partners for Acciaierie d'Italia (ADI)-- the Italian steel business.

ArcelorMittal said Rome's decision ended its participation in ADI, and its declaration did not discuss any plan to take legal action to combat it.

Weighed down by an increase in energy prices and a drop in rolled steel coil prices, ADI has run out of money and has collected substantial financial obligations with providers consisting of energy huge Eni and grid operator Snam.

ADI was previously referred to as Ilva, whose main plant in the southern city of Taranto is one of the biggest in Europe and is a major company in Italy's under-developed south.

ArcelorMittal took control of Ilva in 2018, becoming its top shareholder with 62% and leaving the remaining 38% to state investment company Invitalia.

The group noted that it had actually invested over 2 billion euros ($ 2.2 billion) in ADI, while it stated the Italian federal government provided less than one-third of the 2 billion euros it had guaranteed for the distressed steelworks.

Ukraine's Metinvest could be amongst those thinking about purchasing ADI, its CEO was priced estimate as saying last month.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's federal government has stated it prepares to supply instantaneous liquidity to ADI through an approximately five-year loan worth 320 million euros.

Special Commissioner Giancarlo Quaranta will now run ADI, a. ministry statement stated.

Quaranta has long experience of operating at the Taranto. steelworks, beginning in 1984, according to his Linkedin profile.

He was a manager for Ilva's previous owners, the Riva family,. and also operated at the plant under a previous. government-appointed special administration adopted in 2015.

(source: Reuters)