The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has granted regulatory clearance for Tata Steel 's proposed acquisition of a controlling stake in Thriveni Pellets. The approval covers the purchase of a 50.01% equity stake, which will give the steel major majority control over the pellets manufacturing company.

Strategic Acquisition Details

The regulatory approval represents a significant milestone in Tata Steel's expansion strategy. The acquisition structure provides key details about the transaction:

Business Implications

The acquisition of Thriveni Pellets aligns with Tata Steel's operational requirements in the steel manufacturing sector. Pellets serve as a crucial raw material input in steel production processes, and securing a controlling stake in a pellets manufacturer could enhance the company's supply chain integration.

The CCI's approval indicates that the transaction has met all necessary competition law requirements and does not raise concerns about market concentration or anti-competitive practices in the relevant business segments.

Regulatory Clearance

The Competition Commission of India's approval is a mandatory requirement for acquisitions that cross specified thresholds under the Competition Act. The clearance allows Tata Steel to proceed with completing the transaction and taking operational control of Thriveni Pellets' business operations.

This regulatory milestone positions Tata Steel to move forward with finalizing the acquisition and integrating Thriveni Pellets into its broader operational framework.

Tata Steel has secured a crucial extension of interim relief from the Orissa High Court in two major litigation matters involving demand notices worth a combined ₹4,313.61 crore related to its Sukinda chromite block operations. The court has extended interim protection until January 19, 2026, providing the steel major continued respite from potential coercive action by mining authorities.

First Demand Notice: ₹1,902.72 Crore

The initial legal challenge stems from a demand letter received on July 3, 2025, from the Deputy Director of Mines, Jajpur. The key details of this case include:

The company successfully obtained interim protection on August 14, 2025, which has been extended multiple times, with the latest extension running until January 8, 2026, before the current extension to January 19, 2026.

Second Demand Notice: ₹2,410.89 Crore

A separate and larger demand emerged later in 2025, creating additional legal complexity for the steel manufacturer:

This second matter follows a similar pattern, with the High Court granting interim protection on November 21, 2025, subsequently extended until January 8, 2026, and now further extended to January 19, 2026.

Legal Timeline and Current Status

Both cases represent significant financial exposure for Tata Steel, with the combined demand notices totaling ₹4,313.61 crore. The interim protection prevents mining authorities from taking any coercive measures while the legal proceedings continue. The company's proactive approach in challenging these demands through writ petitions has successfully secured court protection across both matters.

The next hearing date of January 19, 2026, will be crucial for determining the future course of these proceedings. The steel major's legal strategy appears focused on challenging the validity of the demand notices and the underlying assessments of alleged shortfalls in mineral and chrome ore dispatch.

Market Response

Despite the significant legal challenges, Tata Steel shares demonstrated resilience, closing at ₹183.30 on the BSE, registering a gain of ₹4.90 or 2.75% on the trading session when this development was announced.