New Delhi:  Tata Steel, which is mulling options to defeat Brazil's CSN's counter-offer to its takeover proposal of Anglo/Dutch steel maker Corus, today (Nov 24, 2006) played down reports of the Indian giant raising the price saying the company had not taken any decision in the manner speculated.

"Tata Steel has not taken any decision in the manner speculated in the media at its scheduled Board meeting held on November 23," the company said in a press statement.

The statement, however, did not elaborate.

"Tata Steel is not making any other comments on this matter and all media comments remain speculations," it said.

The Indian company had in October made a 8.1 billion dollar takeover offer, but Brazil's Companhia Siderurgica Nacionl SA trumped Tata with a slightly higher offer of 8.3 billion dollars for Europe's second largest steel maker.