ARCELOR SA YIELDED SUNDAY TO A TAKEOVER BID FROM MITTAL STEEL CO., LUXEMBOURG ECONOMY MINISTER JEANNOT KRECKE SAID, SIGNALING AN END TO A BITTER FIVE-MONTH TAKEOVER BATTLE TO CREATE THE WORLD'S LARGEST STEELMAKER, AP REPORTED. SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER A NINE-HOUR MEETING OF ARCELOR'S BOARD, KRECKE SAID HE WAS «VERY SATISFIED» WITH THE CONCLUSION, DOW JONES NEWSWIRES REPORTED. THE DEAL TOOK SO LONG BECAUSE ARCELOR NEEDED TO OBTAIN THE MAXIMUM VALUE FOR THE COMPANY, HE SAID.
