NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Hindustan Zinc Ltd’s proposal to buy certain zinc assets from Vedanta Group for $2.98 billion in cash has lapsed as the Indian miner did not get shareholders’ approval within the stipulated time limit, said two government sources.
The deal was announced in mid-January, after which Hindustan Zinc had three months to call an extraordinary general meeting to seek approval from its minority shareholders, according to Indian rules for listed companies.
“The issue is dead because three months have lapsed,” said the first government official.
In March, Hindustan Zinc declared a final dividend of 110 billion rupees ($1.34 billion), tying up its cash reserves through which it was planning to fund the acquisition, the source noted. Its consolidated gross investments and cash and cash equivalents of 164.82 billion rupees as of Dec. 31.
The sources asked to be anonymous as they are not authorised to speak to the media.
The Indian government is the largest minority shareholder in Hindustan Zinc with a 29.54% stake, while Vedanta owns 64.9%.
The government had opposed Hindustan Zinc’s deal to buy two Vedanta Group entities, saying it was a “related party transaction” and underscored its opposition to the deal being funded through cash reserves.
Hindustan Zinc’s shares prices have tumbled since the deal was announced, which has jeopardized the government’s plan to sell part of its stake. It has since put that plan on hold.
The lapsing of the deal is a blow for Vedanta Resources, as the billionaire Anil Agarwal-owned mining giant had planned to pare down some of its $7.7 billion in net debt via the sale.
Hindustan Zinc, Vedanta and the federal ministries of finance and mines did not immediately respond to Reuters emails seeking comment. ($1 = 81.8430 Indian rupees)
(Reporting by Neha Arora and Nikunj Ohri; Editing by Savio D’Souza)
