Tata Steel 'eyes' UK firm's Indian assets

The British firm has run into trouble in the country due to global slowdown; is in rescue talks with banks

Tata Steel has set its sights on the Indian iron ore assets of one of Britain's largest independent steel trading companies, Stemcor, according to a media report.

The British firm has run into trouble as a result of a global slowdown in the steel industry and is in rescue talks with banks after defaulting on more than $1 billion of loans. The cash crunch has forced the company to offload some of its physical assets, including its iron ore mine in Odisha which could fetch an estimated $800 million.     

According to The Sunday Times’ sources, Tata Steel is keen to grab the iron ore to feed its Indian mills. The company, which bought over British steelmaker Corus in 2007, faces stiff competition for the mines from another Indian rival, Jindal Steel and Power. Stemcor has been granted a payment holiday by banks on its unpaid debt until September 16.     

It presented a recovery plan last week that proposed shrinking the business. The move would slash revenues by about 30 per cent.     

Stemcor is to present a full debt restructuring plan to lenders by the end of August. The company's Indian beneficiation plant takes low- grade iron ore fines from various local mines and refines these, while the pellet plant, located near local steelmakers, converts low-grade iron fines into value-added pellets.

Iron ore is a key ingredient to produce steel and India is a main supplier of spot cargoes to China, the world's largest buyer of the metal.