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Tata considers bids for UK steel plants Tata considers bids for UK steel plants
(about 9 hours later)
Business Secretary Sajid Javid and Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones have travelled to Mumbai for a Tata board meeting to discuss bids for Port Talbot and its other UK steel operations.Business Secretary Sajid Javid and Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones have travelled to Mumbai for a Tata board meeting to discuss bids for Port Talbot and its other UK steel operations.
Four bids are understood to have been submitted for the business, which also has sites at Newport and Rotherham. Tata said there had been seven expressions of interest in the business, which also has sites at Newport and Rotherham.
The bids come from management buyout vehicle Excalibur Steel, Sanjeev Gupta's Liberty House, India's JSW Steel and Greybull Capital. But it has declined to comment on any potential buyer.
Tata declined to comment on the bids. The board is expected to draw up a shortlist on Wednesday.
Earlier this year Tata decided to sell its loss-making UK steel operations, putting thousands of jobs under threat. Those reported to have put their hats in the ring are Greybull Capital, which has already bought Tata's long products business.
Excalibur and Liberty House are thought to be willing to work together, and Greybull recently bought Tata's Scunthorpe plant. Management buyout vehicle, Excalibur Steel, which is led by Stuart Wilkie, the head of Tata's UK strip steel unit, based in south Wales.
Excalibur is willing to work together with Sanjeev Gupta's Liberty House, which has acquired two of Tata's smaller mills.
Others thought to be in the running include India's JSW Steel, China's Hebei Iron and Steel Group, and Endless, one of the UK's largest turnaround specialists based in Yorkshire.
US billionaire investor Wilbur Ross is also thought to have made a late submission.
It is not clear at this stage who has made an actual bid.
Protest plannedProtest planned
Mr Jones said at First Minister's Questions on Tuesday that although the Excalibur bid had considerable technical expertise, it was yet to raise funding.Mr Jones said at First Minister's Questions on Tuesday that although the Excalibur bid had considerable technical expertise, it was yet to raise funding.
Meanwhile, hundreds of steelworkers will protest in London later to highlight the crisis facing their industry in the UK.Meanwhile, hundreds of steelworkers will protest in London later to highlight the crisis facing their industry in the UK.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady will tell the event that the UK should follow the US and impose stiff import tariffs to stop China dumping steel on world markets.TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady will tell the event that the UK should follow the US and impose stiff import tariffs to stop China dumping steel on world markets.
"Market economy access for China is the last thing British steelworkers need. The government must reverse course," she will say."Market economy access for China is the last thing British steelworkers need. The government must reverse course," she will say.
Angela Eagle, shadow business secretary, also called on ministers to stop "kowtowing to China".Angela Eagle, shadow business secretary, also called on ministers to stop "kowtowing to China".
Meanwhile, steel makers around the world are urging G7 leaders meeting in Japan to take joint action against Chinese steel dumping.Meanwhile, steel makers around the world are urging G7 leaders meeting in Japan to take joint action against Chinese steel dumping.
Steel trade groups from the US, Europe, Canada, Japan and UK Steel have signed a statement warning world leaders that steelmakers will remain under pressure until action is taken.Steel trade groups from the US, Europe, Canada, Japan and UK Steel have signed a statement warning world leaders that steelmakers will remain under pressure until action is taken.
Gareth Stace, director of UK Steel, said: "Chinese government policies have contributed to significant global excess capacity in steel, unfair trade and distortions in steel trade flows around the world."Gareth Stace, director of UK Steel, said: "Chinese government policies have contributed to significant global excess capacity in steel, unfair trade and distortions in steel trade flows around the world."