"The talks with thyssenkrupp AG for a potential joint venture of its European steel business are currently ongoing and progressing," the company said in a statement. "Tata Steel would also like to reaffirm that it is currently pursuing a separate process for the potential sale of the South Yorkshire-based Specialty Steels business," it added.

The company had said as much during a closed-door briefing with analysts on Thursday, according to the Reuters news service.

Reuters has more on that story here.