ArcelorMittal has responded to the Acciaierie d'Italia (ADI) claim for damages in the amount of 7 billion euros ($8.4 billion) by filing a claim in the amount of 1.8 billion euros, the company announced on Thursday, January 29.
The lawsuit filed by the ADI Emergency Administration on January 12, 2026, along with a subpoena to a Milan court, alleges that ArcelorMittal incited ADI's directors and local management to mismanagement as part of a unified strategy to reduce production, destroy business and extract profits from Italy, causing damage estimated at about 7 billion euros.
ArcelorMittal has categorically denied all these allegations, including allegations that it unlawfully influenced management decisions or acted to the detriment of ADI and its holding company Acciaierie d'Italia Holding Spa (ADIH).
The company said that since 2021, ADIH has been under the joint and equal control of Invitalia, which is wholly owned by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance and has been appointed by the Italian government to implement a public-private partnership aimed at resuming and acquiring Ilva's business.
ArcelorMittal said it had fulfilled all its contractual obligations, invested about 2 billion euros in the business and had no illegal influence on local management. She added that a significant part of these investments were directed towards the implementation of the environmental plan necessary to comply with the requirements of the Italian Integrated Environmental Permit (AIA).
The company said the operating environment deteriorated shortly after the deal closed due to what it called Invitalia's hostile behavior and legislative interference by the Italian government.
ArcelorMittal added that in June 2025, it initiated international arbitration against Italy, accusing it of illegal expropriation and unfair and discriminatory treatment.
"These actions caused serious damage to ArcelorMittal, led to the loss of its investments and negatively affected its broader interests in Europe, bringing the total amount of the damages claim to over 1.8 billion euros," ArcelorMittal said in a statement.
Representatives of ADI declined to comment when Fastmarkets contacted them on Friday, January 30.
General information
ArcelorMittal acquired ADI, which was known as Ilva at the time, in 2018, when it acquired a 94.4% stake.
In 2019, less than a year after ArcelorMittal began leasing assets, the government lifted legal protections that the company said were necessary to implement the environmental plan without incurring criminal charges. ArcelorMittal stated that this prevented the fulfillment of the previous conditions and led to the termination of the lease agreement.
