Asarco has filed a lawsuit against one time suitor Sterlite Industries for backing out of a $2.6 billion deal to take the US copper miner out of bankruptcy in 2008.
Sterlite Industries, the flagship firm of London-listed Vedanta Resources, may consider legal action if the bankruptcy court favours Grupo Mexico's counter-offer of $4.1 billion for Asarco, the US copper mining giant. Sterlite's takeover bid for Asarco hit a bump when a judge of a bankruptcy court in Texas signalled on Friday that he might give Grupo Mexico, Asarco's estranged corporate parent, a last chance to resume control of its US subsidiary.
Sterlite Industries, the flagship firm of London-listed Vedanta, may get the support of rival bidder Harbinger Capital Partners in its takeover plan for the bankrupt US copper mining firm, Asarco. Harbinger has decided to withdraw from the race, informing the bankruptcy court that its plan to restructure Asarco should not be considered.
Countering Grupo Mexico's bid to acquire US-based bankrupt miner Asarco, Vedanta Resources group firm Sterlite Industries today said it has increased the cash component of its offer by about $500 million to nearly $2.1 billion.
Anil Agarwal-controlled Sterlite Industries has got a leg-up in its takeover battle for bankrupt copper miner Asarco in the United States. A district court in Texas has allowed Sterlite to argue for its amended bid of $2.56 billion, which was earlier rejected by a lower court.
Asarco's unsecured creditors will support Sterlite Industries, the flagship firm of London-listed Vedanta group, in the bidding war for the bankrupt US copper mining firm.
Metals and mining major Vedanta Resources will buy bankrupt US copper miner Asarco for $1.1 billion in cash and a note worth $600 million, the latter to be paid over a period of nine years.
Though the verdict of the bankruptcy court needs final approval from the district court, something that Sterlite is banking on, legal experts said that step was just a formality and nothing more. In its ruling filed late Monday, Judge Richard S Schmidt of the bankruptcy court at Corpus Christi in Texas recommended the district court judge to confirm the Grupo Mexico's plan and reject Asarco's own plan, which is sponsored by the Vedanta group company.
Just when everyone wrote him off for his bid for bankrupt mining company Asarco, Vedanta Resources Chairman Anil Agarwal is back with a vengeance.Sterlite Industries, the Vedanta group's flagship, has raised its offer price by a fifth to $2.56 billion to acquire the US copper miner in an all-cash deal -- its third bid in two years. The company on Friday said the modified takeover plan had been submitted to the district court in Texas.
Sterlite's revised offer to acquire Asarco may see fresh rival bids as the valuation of the bankrupt US copper miner fell in line with the commodity prices.
Sterlite Industies (India) on Saturday inked a definitive agreement to acquire the operating assets of Tucson-based Asarco LLC for $2.6 billion in cash, the largest buying abroad by an Indian company this year.Asarco, formerly known as American Smelting and Refining Company, is an over 100-year old company and is currently the third largest copper producer in the US.
The takeover battle for United States copper miner Asarco continues to rage, as its estranged parent Grupo Mexico has offered $1.3 billion to counter Sterlite Industries' offer for the second time.
Vedanta Resources, the UK-listed mining group, is planning to invest $20bn in India in the next four years to expand its metals, mining and electricity generation operations in the country.
Year 2013 saw business leaders facing the ire of hostile investigative agencies.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances