Chronology of events in Tatas' bid for Corus

London/Mumbai -- The Tatas, India's largest private sector conglomerate with 96 companies in its fold, had formally bid for acquiring Anglo-Dutch steel-maker Corus Group Oct 17. Here's the chronology of events surrounding the biggest-ever takeover bid by an Indian entity:

Oct 17: After weeks of speculation, Tata Steel proposes to formally pay 455 pence a share in cash to acquire Corus in a deal that could value the Anglo-Dutch steel-maker at $7.6 billion.

Oct 20: Corus issues statement saying it had agreed to being acquired by the Tatas to create the world's fifth-largest producer of the commodity with a combined output of over 23 million tones. The two companies also say Ratan Tata will be chairman of merged entity.

Nov 1: Tata Steel denies reports that it may join hands with Corus to bid for Brazil's biggest steel firm Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (CSN), which is itself reportedly keen to acquire Corus.

Nov 17: Brazil's CSN formally enters fray for acquiring Corus with a bid of 475 pence per share, against 455 pence proposed by the Tatas.

Nov 27: Corus says the extraordinary meeting of its shareholders stands deferred to Dec 20, against Dec 4 fixed earlier, to facilitate counteroffers from Tatas and CSN.

Dec 10: Tata Steel revises bid to 500 pence a share, which is approved by the board of directors of Corus, amid market concerns over high valuation.

Dec 11: CSN says it is making a counter-offer of 515 pence a share to take over Corus, which is higher than the revised offer of 500 pence a share by the Tata group.

Dec 20: The Takeover Panel, Britain's watchdog on mergers and acquisitions, sets Jan 30 as the deadline to decide who will get Corus in the battle. It also says if no outright winner emerges, an auction be conducted to name winner.

Dec 22: The European Commission clears Tata Steel's bid to buy Corus, subject to approval from shareholders.

Jan 27: The Takeover Panel asks an auction for acquisition of Corus be held at 4:30 pm GMT (10 p.m. India time) on Jan 30, after the close of trading hours at London Stock Exchange.

Jan 30: The European Commission clears CSN's Tata bid to buy Corus, subject to approval from shareholders.

Jan 31: Tatas emerge winners in the auction by agreeing to pay 608 pence per share, against 603 pence offered by CSN, to value the Anglo-Dutch steel-maker at $11.3 billion.