Mumbai: Ess Dee Aluminium Ltd has joined the battle to get hold of Canadian Alcan Inc's packaging unit in a transaction projected at $1 billion.

Worldwide miner Rio Tinto Ltd is all set to sell Alcan’s packaging business section when it decided to purchase the Canadian company in a $38.1 billion contract in July.

Other suitors for the unit comprise Essel Propack Ltd and Australia's Amcor Ltd.

Company functionaries at Ess Dee that makes packaging material for drug companies, were not immediately available whilst a representative for Essel Propack declined tp comment on the report.

In August, Ess Dee Director Ajay Doshi stated the company was making discussions to buy Vedanta Resources Plc's foils business, India Foils Ltd.

Earlier, Sudip Dutta, Ess Dee Chairman and Managing Director had said the company was seeking acquisitions in European market.

DSP Merrill Lynch and Enam are advising Ess Dee on the Alcan packaging deal.