Mittal Steel clarifies purchase of Erdemir shares

Mittal Steel clarifies purchase of Erdemir shares

Mittal Steel Company N.V. (Mittal Steel) today made an announcement regarding its purchases of shares of Turkish steelmaker Ereğli Demir ve Çelik Fabrikaları T.A.Ş. (Erdemir). Mittal Steel disclosed that it bought an 8.61% stake in Erdemir via stock purchases from the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) during the period from December 30, 2002, through March 07, 2003. Mittal Steel emphasized that it has not made any other purchases or sale transactions of Erdemir shares after the aforementioned period. The purchases in question are not related to Erdemir's current privatization process.