MITTAL STEEL CHARM OFFENSIVE ARRIVES IN BRUSSELS.

Mittal Steel chief executive Lakshmi Mittal continued his European charm offensive in Brussels on February 1 when he met EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes for talks. At the meeting, Mr Mittal spelled out his plans to buy European steel giant Arcelor (see Europe Information 3026). Mrs Kroes explained that due to the size of the firms involved, the deal would probably have to be notified to the Commission under the rules of the EU Merger Regulation. The Commission would then have the power to block the bid, if it felt that competition in the Single Market was under threat.

Brussels was the latest stop for Mr Mittal, who has embarked on a frantic tour of European governments and policy-makers in his bid to win their support for the proposed takeover. He has already held talks in Luxembourg with Prime Minister Jean-Claude Junker and with French Finance Minister Thierry Breton in Paris. His next destination is Spain on February 2, before returning to Belgium for meetings with the Walloon and Federal governments.

Mittal Steel launched its euro 18 billion takeover bid for Arcelor on January 24. Arcelor was established in 2002, grouping together steel interests in France...