Yongtai acquires stake in UK Covpress

Private Chinese tire maker Shangdong Yongtai Chemical Group Co has acquired a majority stake in Covpress International Holdings, a UK-based supplier of body panels, according to British media.

The deal would enable the Chinese company to expand into Europe and other global markets, reported the Birmingham Post, a weekly newspaper in Birmingham, England.

Yongtai was joined by TIA Treadsetters, a tire maker in western central England in the deal. The two companies paid 30 million pounds (282 million yuan) for the deal.

With the acquisition, Yongtai now owns a 70 percent stake in Covpress while TIA Treadsetters holds the remaining 30 percent interest, according to thePost.

Covpress, based in Coventry in England, supplies body panels to Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan Motor Co and Renault SA.

Yongtai, located in the East China province of Shandong, supplies tires to customers in 30 countries.