Vedanta Limited and Cairn India – Revise Terms for Merger

MUMBAI, July 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Vedanta Limited, Cairn India Limited ("Cairn India") and Vedanta Resources plc ("Vedanta plc" together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"), today announce revised and final terms to the recommended merger between Vedanta Limited and Cairn India (the "Transaction"), that was announced on 14 June 2015.

Key Highlights

• The Boards of Vedanta Limited and Cairn India have today approved revised and final terms for the Transaction, taking into account prevailing market conditions and having regard to underlying commercial factors.
• Pursuant to the revised and final terms, each Cairn India minority shareholder will receive for each equity share held:
  • ­   1 equity share in Vedanta Limited; and
  • ­   4 Redeemable Preference Shares with a face value of INR 10 in Vedanta Limited, with a coupon of 7.5% and tenure of 18 months from issuance.
  • ­   Implied premium of 20% to one month VWAP of Cairn India share price.
• The recent commodity price environment has further strengthened the strategic rationale of the Transaction outlined at the announcement:
  • ­   Diversified Tier-I portfolio de-risks earnings volatility and drives stable cash flows through the cycle.
  • ­   Strong historical evidence over the last 10 years, of diversified resources companies generating total shareholder returns superior to single-commodity companies.
  • ­   Improved ability to allocate capital to the highest return projects across the portfolio.
  • ­   Greater financial flexibility to sustain strong dividend distribution.
  • ­   Cost savings and greater capital efficiency, with potential re-rating to benefit all shareholders.
  • ­   Stronger balance sheet will allow for the Group's overall cost of capital to be reduced.
  • ­   Consistent with stated corporate strategy to simplify the Group structure.
  • ­   Offers significant long term sustainable value enhancement for all shareholders.
• The Transaction offers significant benefits for Cairn India shareholders
  • ­   De-risked earnings and stable cash flows supporting investment and dividends through the cycle, driving long term value.
  • ­   Attractive transaction terms.
  • ­   Exposure to Vedanta Limited's world class metals and mining assets – low cost, long life and well invested, delivering strong growth through production ramp ups.
  • ­   Improved optionality to allocate capital and increased participation in cost savings.
  • ­   Increased free float and trading liquidity.
  • ­   Potential re-rating of the merged company.
• The Jurisdictional High Courts have convened the shareholder meetings for each of Vedanta Limited and Cairn India on 8 September 2016 and 12 September 2016, respectively.
  • ­   The Notice convening the shareholder meetings will be sent to shareholders in due course.
• As previously announced, following completion of the Transaction:
  • ­   Vedanta plc ownership in Vedanta Limited is expected to decrease to 50.1% from its current 62.9% shareholding.
  • ­   Cairn India minority shareholders will own 20.2% and Vedanta Limited minority shareholders will own a 29.7% stake in the enlarged entity.

Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Resources plc, said: "I am pleased that the Boards of Cairn India and Vedanta Limited have approved the terms announced today. The simplified corporate structure will better align interests between all shareholders for the creation of long term sustainable value."

Sudhir Mathur, CFO and Acting CEO of Cairn India, said: "Cairn India shareholders will benefit from exposure to a diversified portfolio of world-class, low cost, long-life assets with significant growth. We are confident that the financial strength and diversified portfolio of Tier-I assets will provide de-risked earnings and stable cash flows, driving long-term value. Cairn India shareholders will benefit from the revised terms announced today, while retaining the upside from Cairn's strong oil & gas assets."

Tom Albanese, CEO of Vedanta Limited, said: "The strategic rationale for merging Vedanta Limited and Cairn India remains highly compelling. Diversified resources companies have delivered superior returns for shareholders historically. The Transaction consolidates our portfolio of attractive Tier-I assets and simplifies the group structure, better positioning the group to deliver superior value to all shareholders over the longer term."

Recommendations, Financial Advisers and Fairness Opinions

The non-conflicted, independent members of the Boards of Directors of Vedanta Limited, Cairn India and Vedanta plc unanimously approved the revised merger terms.

Independent valuers, Price Waterhouse & Co LLP and Walker Chandiok & Co LLP, have provided their joint recommendation on the exchange ratio for consideration by the Boards of Vedanta Limited and Cairn India.

Lazard & Co., Limited has acted as financial advisor to Vedanta Limited in relation to the Transaction and the Board of Directors of Vedanta Limited has received a fairness opinion from Lazard India Private Limited with regard to the fairness of the exchange ratio to Vedanta Limited, from a financial point of view.

The Board of Directors of Cairn India has received opinions from DSP Merrill Lynch Limited and JM Financial Institutional Securities Limited as to the fairness of the exchange ratio to Cairn India, from a financial point of view.

J.P. Morgan Cazenove and Morgan Stanley are acting as joint financial advisors and joint corporate brokers to Vedanta plc in relation to the Transaction.

Key Transaction Approvals

Completion of the Transaction will be conditional on receipt of the following approvals:

• Vedanta Limited and Cairn India shareholder approvals through postal ballot including e-voting :
  • ­   Majority of the minority shareholders voting required to vote in favour of the Transaction.
• At a High Court directed meeting (scheduled for 8 September 2016 for Vedanta Limited and 12 September 2016 for Cairn India):
  • ­   Majority in number and 75% in value of shareholders present and voting at the shareholder meeting, required to vote in favour of the Transaction;
  • ­   Vedanta plc and Vedanta Limited can vote at the meetings for Vedanta Limited and Cairn India, respectively.
  • ­   Additionally, for Vedanta Limited, majority in number and 75% in value of creditors present and voting at the secured and unsecured creditor meeting (held separately), required to vote in favour of the Transaction;
• Vedanta plc shareholder approval:
  • ­   Simple majority of holders present and voting at the shareholder meeting planned for September 2016 required to vote in favour of the Transaction.
• Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas - vesting of Cairn PSC's to Vedanta Limited.
• Jurisdictional High Courts where the registered offices of Vedanta Limited and Cairn India are situated.
• Foreign Investment Promotion Board - issue of redeemable preference shares to non-resident Cairn India shareholders.
• Regulatory and other approvals as may be required.

The appointed date for the scheme has been revised to 1 April 2016 from 1 April 2015 earlier. The Transaction is expected to close in Q1 CY2017.

Conference Calls for Analysts and Shareholders

There will be a conference call at 6.45 PM IST today:

Contacts

Vedanta Resources plc
Ashwin Bajaj
Director - Investor Relations

Radhika Arora
Associate General Manager - Investor Relations

Ravindra Bhandari
Manager - Investor Relations
Tel: +44 20 7659 4732
Tel:  +91 22 6646 1531
ir@vedanta.co.in

Vedanta Limited
Ashwin Bajaj
Director - Investor Relations

Sunila Martis
Manager – Investor Relations

Vishesh Pachnanda
Manager - Investor Relations

Tel:  +91 22 6646 1531
vedantaltd.ir@vedanta.co.in

Vedanta Group Communications
Roma Balwani
President - Group Communications, Sustainability and CSR
Tel: +91 22 6646 1000
gc@vedanta.co.in

Cairn India
Sudhir Mathur
Chief Financial Officer and Acting Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +91 124 677 3767
cilir@cairnindia.com

Arun Arora
Chief Communication Officer

Dheeraj Agarwal
Investor Relations

Financial Advisor to Vedanta Limited
Lazard & Co., Limited
Spiro Youakim
Fiona McHardy
Tel: +44 207 187 2000

Lazard India Private Limited
Deepak Sharma
Tel: +91 22 6752 6000

Financial Advisors to Cairn India
DSP Merrill Lynch Limited
Raj Balakrishnan
Jagan Dholakia
Tel: +91 22 6632 8000

JM Financial Institution Securities Limited
Vikas Kothari
Venugopan Nyalapelli
Tel: +91 22 6630 3030

Joint Financial Advisors, Joint Sponsors and Joint Corporate Brokers to Vedanta plc
J.P. Morgan Cazenove
Barry Weir
Edward Jack
Tel: +44 207 742 4000

Morgan Stanley
Teodor Todorov
Tom Perry
Tel: +44 207 425 8000

UK Media
Finsbury
Daniela Fleischmann
Tel:  +44 20 7251 3801

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

Notes:

If the Transaction were to occur, it would be considered a reverse takeover, under Listing Rule L.R. 5.6.4 (1).

Since Vedanta plc currently discloses detailed financial as well as operational information on Cairn India in its Annual Reports and periodic reporting (see references below), the directors of Vedanta plc consider that the publicly available information, specifically the publicly available information referenced in this announcement, contains sufficient information about the business to be potentially acquired, to provide a properly informed basis for assessing its financial position.

Detailed financial and non-financial, operational information on Cairn India covering the last three years can be found in the Vedanta plc FY16 and FY15 Annual Reports. For FY16, detailed financial information can be found in the FY16 Annual Report, on pages 48 – 55, 162 – 164 and 224 – 226 with detailed non-financial, operational information on pages 56 – 59. For FY15, detailed financial information can be found in the FY15 Annual Report on pages 44 – 49, 148 – 149 and 211 - 213 with detailed non-financial, operational information on pages 50 - 53. Further, a Five Year historical financial and operational summary for the Group and Cairn India can be found on pages 223-231 of the FY16 Annual Report.

The Vedanta plc Annual Reports and results referenced above can be found at: www.vedantaresources.com/investor-relations/results-and-reports/annual-interim-reports.aspx. The Vedanta plc FY2016 Annual Report can be found at http://www.vedantaresources.com/media/200956/vedanta_annual_report_fy2016__final.pdf and the FY2015 Annual Report can be found at http://www.vedantaresources.com/media/177388/22883_vedanta_ar2015_final.pdf.

Pursuant to L.R. 5.6.5 (1), L.R. 5.6.5 (2) and (3) respectively, the Group confirms that if the Transaction were to occur, it will not change the strategic direction or the nature of the Group's business, the Group's business will not be part of a different industry sector following completion of the Transaction and the Group's business will not deal with fundamentally different suppliers and end-users as a result of the Transaction. There will be no change in board or voting control of Vedanta as a result of the Transaction, if occurred.    

About Vedanta plc

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 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.

About Vedanta Limited

Vedanta Limited is a diversified natural resources company, whose business primarily involves producing oil & gas, zinc - lead - silver, copper, iron ore, aluminium and commercial power. The company has a presence across India, South Africa, Namibia, Australia and Ireland.

Vedanta Limited is the Indian subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Plc, a London-listed company. Governance and Sustainable Development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety and environment and on enhancing the lives of local communities. The company is conferred with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) 'Sustainable Plus Platinum label', ranking among the top 10 most sustainable companies in India

Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange in India and has ADRs listed on the New York Stock Exchange. For more information, please log on to www.vedantalimited.com. Vedanta Limited had gross assets of $28.3 billion as of 31 March 2016 and profit before tax (before exceptional items) of $1.0 billion for the year ending 31 March 2016.

About Cairn India

Cairn India is one of the largest independent oil & gas exploration and production companies in India. It operates 27% of India's domestic crude oil production and to date has opened 4 frontier basins with numerous discoveries. Cairn India has a portfolio of 9 blocks - one block in Rajasthan, which contains multiple assets, two on the west coast and four on the east coast of India and one each in Sri Lanka and South Africa. Oil and gas is currently being produced from Rajasthan, Ravva and Cambay. It is listed on the BSE and NSE in India. For more information, please visit www.cairnindia.com. Cairn India had gross assets of $8.5 billion as of 31 March 2016 and profit before tax (before exceptional items) of $342 million for the year ending 31 March 2016.

Disclaimer

This press release is for information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, any invitation or offer to sell, dispose, acquire, purchase or subscribe for any securities of any company mentioned herein in the United States or any other jurisdiction pursuant to the Transaction or otherwise, and neither this press release nor anything herein forms the basis for any contract or commitment whatsoever.  This press release does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus equivalent document.

The Transaction relates to securities of an Indian company and is proposed to be effected by means of a Scheme of Arrangement under Indian law.  A transaction effected by means of a Scheme of Arrangement is not subject to the proxy solicitation or tender offer rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). The Transaction is subject to the disclosure requirements, rules and practices applicable in India to Schemes of Arrangement, which differ from the requirements of the U.S. proxy solicitation and tender offer rules.

The Vedanta Limited securities to be issued in the Transaction have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Accordingly, the Vedanta Limited securities to be issued in the Transaction are expected to be issued in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act or another available exemption under the Securities Act.

No statement in this press release (including any statement of estimated synergies) is intended as a profit forecast or estimate for any period and no statement in this press release should be interpreted to mean that cash flow from operations, free cash flow, earnings, earnings per share or income on a clean current cost of supplies basis for any of Vedanta plc, Vedanta Limited or Cairn India, as appropriate, for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published cash flow from operations, free cash flow, earnings, earnings per share or income on a clean current cost of supplies basis for any of Vedanta plc, Vedanta Limited or Cairn India, as appropriate.

This press release contains statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Vedanta plc, Vedanta Limited and Cairn India and of the Transaction. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as at the date of this press release. Vedanta plc, Vedanta Limited and Cairn India expressly dislaim any obligation to update such statements other than as required by law or by the rules of any competent regulatory authority, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of any of Vedanta plc, Vedanta Limited or Cairn India to market risks and statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions including as to future potential cost savings, synergies, earnings, cash flow, return on average capital employed, production and prospects. Additional factors that could cause Vedanta Limited and its subsidiaries' results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the Vedanta Limited's 2015 Annual Reports on Form 20-F, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terms and phrases such as "anticipate", "believe", "could", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "plan", "objectives", "outlook", "probably", "project", "will", "seek", "target", "risks", "goals", "should" or their negatives and similar terms and phrases. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Neither Vedanta plc, Vedanta Limited or Cairn India, nor any of their respective associates or directors, officers or advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this press release will actually occur.

There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of any of Vedanta plc, Vedanta Limited or Cairn India and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this press release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for any of Vedanta plc's Vedanta Limited's or Cairn India's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) reserves estimates; (e) loss of market share and industry competition; (f) environmental and physical risks; (g) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (h) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (i) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including potential litigation and regulatory measures as a result of climate changes; (j) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (k) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (l) changes in trading conditions. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Certain information in this announcement is based upon unaudited management accounts and estimates. Unless otherwise indicated, all references in this press release to "US dollars", "US$" and "$" are to the lawful currency of the United States and all references to "INR" are to "Indian Rupee", the lawful currency of India. For the purposes of this press release and unless otherwise stated, for the convenience of the reader, the US dollar to INR exchange rate of 1: 66.33, the rate quoted by the Reserve Bank of India on 31^st March 2016 and an average US dollar to INR exchange rate of 1: 65.46 for the Vedanta Limited's and Cairn India's financial years to 31^st March 2016, have been applied for translation of certain amounts from INR to US dollar. Such translations should not be considered as a representation that such currencies could have been or could be converted into US dollars or INR (as the case may be) at any particular rate, the rate stated or at all.

Investors should seek their own tax advice.

J.P. Morgan Limited, which conducts its UK investment banking activities as J.P. Morgan Cazenove and is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting as corporate broker and financial advisor exclusively for Vedanta plc and no one else in connection with the Transaction and matters set out in this announcement and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the matters in this announcement nor be responsible to anyone other than Vedanta plc for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for providing advice in connection with the Transaction or any matter referred to herein. Neither J.P. Morgan Limited nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of J.P. Morgan Limited in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc ("Morgan Stanley") is acting as corporate broker and financial advisor to Vedanta plc and is advising no one else in connection with the Transaction and this announcement. In connection with such matters, Morgan Stanley, its affiliates and its and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, will not regard any other person as their client, nor will they owe or accept any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person other than Vedanta plc for providing the protections afforded to their clients or for providing advice in connection with this announcement, any matters referred to herein or otherwise.

Lazard & Co., Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, and Lazard India Private limited, a Category I Merchant Banker registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (together with Lazard & Co., Limited, "Lazard"), are acting as financial advisor to Vedanta Limited and are advising no one else in connection with the Transaction referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to any person other than Vedanta Limited for providing the protections afforded to the clients of Lazard, nor for providing advice in relation to the Transaction, the contents of this announcement or any other matters referred to herein. Neither Lazard nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Lazard in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

DSP Merrill Lynch Limited ("BofA Merrill Lynch") is acting as a financial advisor to Cairn India Limited and is advising no one else in connection with the Transaction and this announcement. In connection with such matters, BofA Merrill Lynch, its affiliates and its and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, will not regard any other person as their client, nor will they owe or accept any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person other than Cairn India Limited for providing the protections afforded to their clients or for providing advice in connection with this announcement, the Transaction, any matters referred to herein or otherwise.

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