Trent surges after Tesco says to buy 50 percent in unit

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Shares in Trent Ltd surge 17.9 percent after Tesco Plc said on Tuesday it had applied to buy a 50 percent stake in the company's unit, Trent Hypermarket Ltd.

The world's third-largest retailer, which already has a franchise agreement to provide support to Trent's Star Bazaar chain, has made an application to India's Foreign Investment Promotion Board and plans to invest $110 million, an official at the Indian trade ministry said.

(Reporting by Abhishek Vishnoi; Editing by Supriya Kurane)