By Michael Bathon - Aug 20, 2011 4:59 AM GMT+0800 

ShengdaTech Inc. (SDTH.NSDQ), a maker of nano precipitated calcium carbonate for the tire industry, sought bankruptcy protection from creditors without citing a reason.

The company listed $295.4 million in assets and $180.9 million in debt as of Sept. 30 in Chapter 11 documents filed today in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Reno, Nevada.

Bob Olsen, a lawyer with Greenberg Traurig LLP, which is representing the company, wouldn’t comment on the filing. His colleague Nancy Peterman wasn’t immediately available to return a phone call seeking comment.

Nano precipitated calcium carbonate or NPCC, is a chemical additive used in automotive and polyvinyl chloride products. ShengdaTech is a leading maker of NPCC in China, according to the company website. The company says it’s the only supplier of NPCC products to the tire industry.

The Reno-based company said in court papers that unsecured creditors should expect to see a recovery from the reorganization.

The 20 largest unsecured creditors are owed about $167.5 million. Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (BK) is the biggest, acting as the indenture trustee for 6.5 percent noteholders owed about $130 million, court documents show. The bank is also listed as the trustee for 6 percent noteholders owed about $36.3 million. Fifteen of the 20 creditors are listed as owed an “unknown” amount.

ShengdaTech fell 4 cents, or 6.4 percent, to 59 cents today in over the counter trading. The stock has dropped 88 percent this year, according to Bloomberg data.