Vedanta Resources PLC Vedanta-Cairn Merger Effective (2287C)

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RNS Number : 2287C

Vedanta Resources PLC

11 April 2017

Vedanta Resources plc

16 Berkeley Street

London W1J 8DZ

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

www.vedantaresources.com

11 April 2017

Vedanta Resources plc

Vedanta Limited - Cairn India Merger Effective

Vedanta Resources plc's subsidiary Vedanta Limited and Cairn India Limited today made the below announcement.

VEDANTA - CAIRN MERGER EFFECTIVE

Vedanta Limited ("Vedanta") and Cairn India Limited ("Cairn India") today announced that the merger of Cairn India with Vedanta pursuant to the Scheme of Arrangement has become effective.

Vedanta is ranked #6 (1) among the global diversified natural resources companies, and the only one with majority of its sales to the growing Indian market. This merger consolidates Vedanta's position as one of the world's largest diversified natural resources companies, with world-class, low-cost assets in Metals & Mining and Oil & Gas. The merged company will have a larger pro forma market cap of $15.6 bn (2) , and higher free float of 49.9%. Vedanta will have one of the strongest balance sheets in the Indian corporate sector with flexibility to balance capital allocation to the highest return projects while providing a strong and stable dividend.

Vedanta is India's premier natural resources company, providing the metals and energy to build India and fuel its growth. The combined entity is uniquely positioned to unlock India's wealth of world-class energy and mineral resources. The merged company is committed to enhancing oil & gas production, and preserving the "Cairn" brand.

Navin Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Limited said:

"We are pleased to have completed the Vedanta Ltd - Cairn India merger and are very excited about the future of the combined company. I would like to thank the shareholders of both companies for their support for this transaction and welcome the Cairn India shareholders into Vedanta Ltd's shareholder register. With world class assets in Metals & Mining and Oil & Gas, Vedanta will fuel India's economic growth and generate value for all stakeholders."

Sudhir Mathur, Acting CEO of Cairn India said:

"I am very excited about Vedanta's commitment to grow our Oil & Gas business. The merger with Vedanta Ltd will de-risk Cairn India by providing access to a portfolio of diversified

Tier-I, low cost, long-life assets, to deliver significant near term growth, while retaining the substantial upside from our oil & gas business."

Tom Albanese, CEO of Vedanta Limited said:

"Our continued focus to remain a low-cost operator with low leverage will provide us the financial flexibility throughout the cycle and help us create long term value for all stakeholders. This merger will increase the appeal of Vedanta Ltd to global investors as it simplifies the structure and increases the size and free float of the company."

Thursday 27 April, 2017 has been fixed as the Record date for determining the list of the shareholders of Cairn India to whom the equity and preference shares of Vedanta will be allotted as per terms of the Scheme. Shareholders of Cairn India will receive for each equity share held:

   --     1 (One) equity share in Vedanta of face value INR 1 each 

-- 4 (Four) 7.5% Redeemable Preference Share ("RPS") in Vedanta with a face value of INR 10 each

Cairn India shareholders as on said Record Date, who will become shareholders of Vedanta, would also receive an interim dividend of Rs. 17.70 per equity share as approved by the Board of Vedanta on 30 March 2017.

No shares will be issued to Vedanta or any of its subsidiaries for their shareholding in Cairn India.

Vedanta will arrange for a third-party facility enabling a cash exit for RPS holders at par within 30 days from issuance.

   (1)   Based on CY 2016 reported EBITDA of diversified natural resources companies globally 

(2) Based on pro-forma shares outstanding post the merger and closing market price as on April 10, 2017

For further information, please contact:

 
 Communications                      Finsbury 
 Roma Balwani                        Daniela Fleischmann 
  President - Group Sustainability    Tel: [phone] 
  and Communications 
  Tel: [phone] 
  [e-mail] 
 Investors 
 Ashwin Bajaj                        Tel: [phone] 
  Director - Investor Relations       Tel: [phone] 
                                      [e-mail] 
  Radhika Arora 
  Associate General Manager 
  - Investor Relations 
 
  Sunila Martis 
  Associate General Manager 
  - Investor Relations 
 

About Vedanta Resources

Vedanta Resources plc ("Vedanta") is a London listed diversified global natural resources company. The group produces aluminium, copper, zinc, lead, silver, iron ore, oil & gas and commercial energy. Vedanta has operations in India, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Ireland, Liberia and Australia. With an empowered talent pool globally, Vedanta places strong emphasis on partnering with all its stakeholders based on the core values of trust, sustainability, growth, entrepreneurship, integrity, respect and care. For more information, please visit www.vedantaresources.com.

Disclaimer

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" - that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "should" or "will." Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For us, uncertainties arise from the behaviour of financial and metals markets including the London Metal Exchange, fluctuations in interest and/or exchange rates and metal prices; from future integration of acquired businesses; and from numerous other matters of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different that those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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April 11, 2017 09:41 ET (13:41 GMT)