UK bailout talks for Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Steel fall through – FT report

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Reuters) – Bailout talks between Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Steel with the UK government have ended, leaving both firms to rely on private financing to overcome the impact of coronavirus on business, the Financial Times reported on Friday.

The report https://www.ft.com/content/ea0f0775-d97e-4aba-9ec9-7da1945f2a1a said that talks for an emergency funding fell through as Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) did not qualify for taxpayer support. It is the luxury car unit of India’s Tata Motors Ltd <TAMO.NS> and Tata Steel, both owned by Indian conglomerate Tata Group.

The bailout plan, titled “Project Birch”, had been authorized by Finance Minister Rishi Sunak in May to rescue companies that are seen as strategically important, with the Treasury saying it may step in to support crucial businesses on a “last resort” basis after other options run out.

The report, citing a source familiar with the matter, said that the funding scheme became infeasible for Tata as it imposed strict conditions on any lending.

“Tata Steel remains in ongoing and constructive talks with the UK Government on areas of potential support,” Tata Steel said in an emailed statement.

The UK Treasury said it would not comment on individual companies. Tata Motors did not immediately respond to request for comment.

(Reporting by Rebekah Mathew and Rama Venkat in Bengaluru; editing by Grant McCool)