- Italian Industry Minister Di Maio says the tender to sell the Ilva steel plant to ArcelorMittal (MT -1.8%) was illegitimate but it was not the company's fault and the Ilva sale might still go ahead, clarifying an earlier report.
- Di Maio says MT was awarded the tender without rival companies being allowed to improve the terms of their initial bids, citing an opinion by state lawyers.
- The minister says the previous government was to blame for the “illegitimate” tender, not MT, which had “always acted in good faith,” and he confirms a Sept. 15 deadline to complete the sale remains in place.