The Italian government has launched a tender to find a buyer for the assets of the troubled Italian steel group Ilva, giving prospective national and international purchasers a month to make their offers. The assets in question include Ilva Spa, Ilva Servizi Marittimi, Ilvaform, Innse Cilindri, Sanac, Taranto Energia, Socova and Tillet.
On January 4 , Italian economic development minister Federica Guidi signed a decree putting the Ilva facilities up for sale as part of efforts by Italy’s government to keep the struggling steel manufacturer alive.
The government's call for bidders was published in several Italian and foreign dailies. Would-be buyers have from January 10 to February 10 to submit their offers. The tender is open to individual companies or alliances of all nationalities that are able to "ensure production continuity" and maintain "adequate employment levels" at Ilva.
Ilva, an employer of about 20,000 people, has been blamed for years of environmental degradation and high levels of cancer caused by its plant in the southern Italian port city of Taranto.
Italy's Marcegaglia and Arvedi, along with ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel producer, are all potentially interested in the Taranto-based plant, according to Italian media sources.