Shenhua eyes Rio Tinto's coal assets

China's State-owned Shenhua Group Corp Ltd and India's Aditya Birla Group are among companies considering bids for some of Rio Tinto Ltd's Australian coal assets, valued at an estimated $3.2 billion, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Rio Tinto, led by new CEO Sam Walsh, is offloading a string of assets to help cut its $26 billion in debt and protect its single-A credit rating.

Shenhua Group has shown interest in buying coal mines in Australia and was among the suitors for Whitehaven Coal Ltd.