It is also unlikely: only about one-third of Arcelor's widely dispersed group of shareholders usually attend such meetings.

ECONOMIST: Steel: Treating shareholders as pig iron | The

Mittal overtook Arcelor as the world's largest steelmaker after buying America's International Steel Group in 2005.

ECONOMIST: Lakshmi's gamble | The

Some Arcelor shareholders have complained they had little say in the deal with Severstal, which would give the Russian group's majority-owner and chairman, Alexei Mordashov, 32.2% of the enlarged group.

BBC: NEWS | Business | Mittal and Arcelor to hold talks