Spotlight still on Vedanta $3 billion debt despite spinoff plan
A streamlined structure could also help Agarwal sell unprofitable or low-growth assets — something the billionaire has long avoided.
A streamlined structure could also help Agarwal sell unprofitable or low-growth assets — something the billionaire has long avoided.
Vedanta Ltd, burdened with debt, plans to complete the divestment of its steel assets by March 2024, according to Chairman Anil Agarwal. The conglomerate also intends to demerge its business units into independent companies to unlock value. Agarwal stated that the steel assets would be sold in the current fiscal year. Vedanta Resources, the UK-based parent company, has faced challenges in raising funds due to rating downgrades and concerns about meeting debt obligations. Agarwal confirmed that all payments due in 2024 would be honored.
Mumbai-listed Vedanta, which produces copper, aluminium, iron ore and crude oil, and is a subsidiary of the London-based Vedanta Resources (VRL), said the exercise was aimed at building a simplified corporate structure that would appeal to focused investors.
The loan deal, if sealed, will take care of debt repayments until January without the need to restructure the bonds. The discussions regarding lending rates are currently in progress and the loan could be priced around 14-15% with a duration of three years. The company has appointed advisory firm Morrow Sodali to identify the holders of its $1 billion 13.875% bonds and $1 billion 6.125% bonds due in 2024 and the $1.2 billion 8.95% bonds due in 2025, as reported earlier.
Since September 2022, about 750 senior executives (CXOs and CXO-1) out of about 5,000 top professionals (with more than Rs 1 crore salary) exited unicorns and soonicorns.
By extending inter-company loans, VRL can address outstanding external debt requirements, including a $1bn bond due in January 2024. The move could also enable VRL to borrow $2.4bn, upfront, using brand fee receivables to repay outstanding debt obligations.
The Indian government may postpone its plans to sell its stake in Hindustan Zinc until a turnaround in the industry's fortunes, following advice from merchant bankers, two government sources told Reuters. The government though, still hopes to push through the long-delayed sale this financial year, one of the sources said.
India is unlikely to miss its budget deficit target for this fiscal year due to support from the central bank, despite hindrances such as weather, risks from divestment revenue and meek corporate tax collections, economists claim. The banks had tripled their surplus transfer to the government, allowing the state to reap a windfall that ameliorates concerns about any instability in its financial position.
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed Vedanta's plea to direct the Centre to divest its 29.54% residual stake in Hindustan Zinc (HZL) in the open market, saying it cannot interfere with a "policy decision". A Bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, while rejecting Vedanta's application, said the company giving up on its call option was not conditional on the government having agreed to sell its stake in the open market.
Vedanta's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation fell 22% on year to ₹35,241 crore in FY23 on lower prices of aluminum, lead and silver and a rise in raw material costs though company managed to better its operational performance.
To help tide over the repayment requirement, the percentage of royalty from Indian listed entity Vedanta Limited has increased from 2% to 3% starting this year. Also, Vedana Resources Ltd. (VRL) had informed investors earlier this month that it has entered into a similar royalty agreement with Hindustan Zinc and fixed the royalty percentage at 1.7%.