ArcelorMittal has confirmed that it has been subpoenaed in Milan in connection with a lawsuit concerning Acciaierie d'Italia Spa (ADI), which operates under the management of Ilva Spa and is currently under emergency management.
ArcelorMittal stated that the accusations made by the ADI Emergency Commissioners have no legal or factual basis, stressing that the company will firmly defend its position before all competent authorities.
In a statement, ArcelorMittal categorically rejected the claims set out in the lawsuit, which alleges that the company misled the management of ADI and local authorities, caused the collapse of factories, deliberately sought to "destroy" the company's activities and "embezzle" profits from Italy.
As part of the lawsuit, ArcelorMittal is accused of causing damage to ADI in the amount of about 7 billion euros. The company has stated that these accusations are completely unfounded.
The company recalled that Acciaierie d'Italia Holding (ADIH), the parent company of ADI, has been operating under a joint and equitable management structure with Invitalia, the investment arm of the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance, since 2021.
It was noted that Invitalia was appointed as part of a public–private partnership to reopen Ilva facilities with the ultimate goal of transferring full ownership of ADI to the public sector.
ArcelorMittal highlighted its significant experience in the sale of inefficient assets and said it had invested about 2 billion euros in its Italian businesses.
According to the company, a significant part of these investments was aimed at implementing a large-scale environmental plan provided for by the Italian integrated environmental permit. ArcelorMittal stressed that significant resources were devoted to fulfilling environmental obligations.
The company also rejected any allegations of undue influence on local authorities, saying that all obligations were fulfilled in full compliance with the law.
ArcelorMittal noted that the situation worsened after the Italian government abolished criminal liability measures for the implementation of the environmental protection plan in 2019.
According to the company, this decision exposed it to criminal risks and undermined the fundamental conditions of the acquisition. As a result, ArcelorMittal initiated the termination of the lease agreement, which was later followed by the creation of a joint management structure with Invitalia.
In a statement, ArcelorMittal said that the hostile behavior, deliberate actions and negligence of Invitalia and Ilva, combined with the inappropriate and illegal intervention of the Italian authorities, had seriously undermined the operating environment.
Despite the fact that the company has introduced several
