Vedanta signals potential merger of Indian units in restructuring effort

REUTERS - Oil and metals producer Vedanta Resources Plc signalled on Tuesday it is considering a merger of two or more of its Indian subsidiaries, which could provide the debt-burdened units access to cash from other operations.

In a statement which disclosed the possibility of a merger of its Bombay-listed subsidiaries Vedanta Ltd and Cairn India Ltd (CIL) , the holding company, Vedanta Resources PLC, said it would maintain its London-listing in case such transaction took place.

"Should a transaction with CIL proceed, it could potentially be considered a reverse takeover," Vedanta said in the statement.

"In addition, in line with the group's stated strategy to continue to simplify the group structure, the group continues to evaluate a transaction with the government ofIndia in relation to their minority stakes in Hindustan Zinc Limited and Bharat Aluminium Company," it added, referring to two other subsidiaries in which the government holds large stakes.

The statement was issued in response to media reports suggesting an imminent merger.

Vedanta Resources shares in London rose as much as 8 percent after the announcement, on course for the biggest one-day rise since mid April.

The London-listed parent has a majority stake in Vedanta Resources, which in turn holds a controlling stake in Cairn.

Vedanta Resources had net debt of $8.5 billion as of March 31.

Shares Cairn India earlier closed down 4.3 percent at 173 rupees while shares in Vedanta Ltd closed up 3.1 percent at 182.55 rupees on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

(Reporting by Silvia Antonioli and Aastha Agnihotri in Bengaluru; Editing by David Holmes)