Italy's troubled steelmaker Acciaierie d'Italia, formerly known as Ilva, remains open to new acquisition bids as minister Adolfo Urso confirms the process is competitive & comparative. Two bidders, Flacks Group & Jindal Steel International, are in active talks, but neither deal is finalised. The Italian government has approved a €149 million emergency loan to keep the Taranto blast furnaces running. The plant carries €7 billion in certified damages & has nearly 4,000 workers on temporary layoff.