This case is reserved for use by Columbia Business School Faculty only.
When a war-damaged developing country asks to review a contract with the world's largest steel company, what financial and corporate social responsibility issues come into play?
When a war-damaged developing country asks to review a contract with the world's largest steel company, what financial and corporate social responsibility issues come into play?
In 2006, war-damaged Liberia elected a new leader, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, whose goal was to review all concession contracts awarded by the country's previous interim government. These contracts included a mining deal signed with ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel company. The project was beset with challenges and would require a significant investment; ArcelorMittal needed to weigh the pros and cons carefully before deciding either to walk away or to negotiate sticking points such as whether to cede ownership of mining-related infrastructure. In this case students examine Liberian economic data, financial details for the project, steel pricing and demand as well as implications for ArcelorMittal's corporate social responsibility in considering negotiating strategies for both sides.
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